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20 March 2023
Two Fresno Women Indicted for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — On March 17, 2023, a three-count indictment was unsealed charging Genevra Winton, 51, and Shannon Bargas, 51, both of Fresno, with charges related to a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2023, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Winton’s residence and elsewhere. After the searches, Winton and Bargas were charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, Bargas was charged with distributing fentanyl pills, and Winton was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Winton was convicted of a felony in 2010 and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by FORT, a team focused on investigating fentanyl overdose cases and composed of officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Winton and Bargas face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for the fentanyl distribution conspiracy. Bargas faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for fentanyl distribution. Winton faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the felon in possession of a firearm charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Two Colorado Men Arrested and Facing Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges in Southern UtahRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging two Colorado men for possession of illicit drugs with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in relation to the crime.
According to court documents, Dylan Kelly, 19, of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Navin Daryan Wright, 20, also a Colorado resident, are each charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in January. On March 15, 2023, Wright was arrested in Grand Junction and had his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Kelly had his initial court appearance March 20, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Utah in St. George.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS); Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) and State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Brady Wilson, of the District of Utah, Southern Region is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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 merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Timber Lake Woman Sentenced for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Timber Lake, South Dakota, woman convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
Brenna Low Dog, age 37, was sentenced to eight 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.
Low Dog was indicted for Second Degree Murder by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. She pleaded guilty on December 8, 2022.
On January 14, 2022, Low Dog and her boyfriend got into a verbal argument. Low Dog reported to law enforcement that her boyfriend pushed her down, struck her three times in the arms with his fists, and pulled her hair. Low Dog stabbed her boyfriend once in the chest with a knife that had a five-inch serrated blade, and he died as a result.
This case was investigated by the Dewey County Sheriff’s Office, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Low Dog was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Three Consecutive Life Sentences for Man Who Participated in the Murder of Three People Including A Federal WitnessRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kevin Coles, age 37, of New York and Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment for his role in the June 25, 2016, murders of three individuals in Mercersburg, Franklin County, one of whom was cooperating with state and federal drug investigators. The consecutive sentences were imposed by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, who also sentenced Coles to multiple additional consecutive terms of imprisonment amounting to 35 additional years for various firearms convictions.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Coles’ conviction was the result of a six-year investigation into murders of three individuals that occurred on June 25, 2016, on a property along Welsh Run Road in Mercersburg, Franklin County. When Pennsylvania State Police officers were called to the crime scene, they found the bodies of Wendy Ann Chaney, 39, Hagerstown, Md, Brandon Cole, 47, Fayetteville, PA, and Phillip Matthew Jackson, 36, Mercersburg, PA, in a barn on victim Jackson’s property. All were shot. The three victims had their hands zipped-tied behind their backs and had been set on fire. Jackson and Cole were shot once in the head. Chaney was shot twice, once in the back and once in the neck. Wendy Chaney and Brandon Cole were already dead when the police responded to the scene. Phillip Jackson was transported to York Hospital where he died shortly after arrival.
Coles was tried by a jury in Harrisburg in April 2022, and convicted on all 16 counts of the indictment, to include interstate travel to commit murder, murder of a witness, and drug trafficking offenses. The evidence established that Wendy Chaney was in a relationship with Kevin Coles and a coconspirator and had been previously assisting both with their drug distribution operation. Coles, the coconspirator, and co-defendant Devin Dickerson learned that Chaney was cooperating with federal authorities and contracted for her to be murdered. Co-defendants Jerell Adgebesan and Kenyatta Corbett recruited members of a Baltimore based gang known as the Black Guerilla Family and others from Baltimore to travel to the Jackson property to kill Wendy Chaney. The killers were promised that they could take as payment $20,000 that was to be in a safe in the barn and any drugs and firearms that they could locate on the Jackson property. Once there, the killers encountered not only Wendy Chaney but also Brandon Cole and Phillip Jackson. Chaney was killed to protect the drug trafficking activities of Coles, and his co-conspirators. Jackson and Cole were murdered to prevent them from being witnesses to the crimes of violence that were committed at the Jackson property. The killers never found any money on the property but stole some drugs and firearms.
The following individuals were charged along with Coles as a result of the investigation:
- Devin Dickerson, age 31, Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine and is awaiting sentencing;
- Kenyatta Corbett, age 38, Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing;
- Michael Buck, age 30, Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing;
- Nicholas Preddy, age 29, Baltimore, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a witness and is awaiting sentencing;
- Johnnie Jenkins-Armstrong, age 22, Baltimore, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing;
- Terrance Lawson, age 31, Baltimore, sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness;
- Tyrone Armstrong, age 30, Baltimore, sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness; and
- Christopher Johnson, age 31, Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to multiple counts including murder for hire and is awaiting sentencing;
- Mark Johnson, 35, Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to obstructing the grand jury’s investigation and was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment;
- Llesenia Woodard, 46, Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty to providing false testimony to the grand jury investigating the murders and is awaiting sentencing
- Jerell Adgebesan, age 35, of Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty in June 2022 to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery. Judge Conner sentenced Adgebesan in February 2023 to life imprisonment and a consecutive 10-year term of imprisonment;
- Torey White, 32, Waynesboro, PA, and Florida, was indicted on multiple counts to include murder of a witness, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, and firearms offenses. His trial is currently scheduled to commence in May 2023.
- Yolanda Diaz, 31, Hagerstown, was indicted on multiple counts of perjury and obstruction of justice based upon her testimony at the Coles trial. Her trial is currently scheduled for May 2023.
Joshua Davis, age 30, previously pled guilty to participating in the conspiracy to locate and kill an individual believed to be cooperating with federal authorities in the investigation of the triple murders. Davis was sentenced to serve 100 months’ imprisonment.
The following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participated in the investigation: Drug Enforcement Administration Harrisburg Resident Office; Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg; Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H; Franklin County Drug Task Force; Franklin County Adult Probation; Pennsylvania State Probation and Parole; Hagerstown Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division; Drug Enforcement Administration, Hagerstown Resident Office; Washington County Narcotics Task Force; Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office, Strike Force Group 1; Maryland State Police Homicide Unit; Baltimore Police Department Narcotics, Fugitive And Homicide Units; Baltimore County Police Department Narcotics and Gang Unit; Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Management Unit, Quantico, VA; US Marshal’s Service Harrisburg, PA and Phoenix, AZ; Franklin County District Attorney’s Office; United States Attorney’s Office, District Of Maryland; and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Judy Fernandez, Manager of Analytic Services at LexisNexis Special Services, Inc., (LNSSI) provided expert assistance to investigators and the prosecutors in the areas of analysis, support, and the rendering of her expert opinion.
Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Consiglio are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This prosecution is also part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) identified as “Retribution for Welsh Run.” OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Suburban Man Found Guilty of Robbing Three Banks and Additional Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has found a suburban Chicago man guilty of three counts of bank robbery, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and conspiracy to transfer a firearm to a felon.
As revealed at trial, between May 11 and May 31, 2018, JAMES D. WILLIAMS, 46, of Bartlett, along with a co-conspirator, robbed three banks: Second National Bank located at 323 East Norris Drive, Ottawa on May 11, Norstates Bank located at 5384 Grand Avenue, Gurnee on May 21, and Aurora Bank and Trust located at 2287 West Galena Boulevard, Aurora, on May 31. Prior to the first robbery, Williams obtained an AK-47-style firearm, which he used in each of the three robberies. A day after the second robbery, Williams’ wife, Jessica Sweeney Williams, purchased a handgun. Williams used that handgun, as well as the rifle, in the third robbery. During the third robbery, Williams discharged one of the firearms but did not cause any injuries. Williams and his co-conspirator used disguises during each robbery and traveled in vehicles that were either rented or borrowed.
Sentencing has not yet been set before U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey. Williams faces a sentence of at least 24 years, up to life, in federal prison. Williams’ co-conspirator, Alexis T. Handelman, 25, of Bartlett pled guilty to committing the bank robberies and is awaiting sentencing. Williams’ wife, Jessica Sweeney Williams, pled guilty to providing a firearm to Williams and was sentenced to 24 months in prison by Judge Blakey.
The verdict is announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Ottawa Police Department, Gurnee Police Department, Aurora Police Department, and Palatine Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Edenfield and Jasmina Vajzovic.
Stakeholders of the China Super Buffett in Mobile sentenced and forfeit over $1.5 Million in Assets for Harboring AliensRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Former stakeholders of the China Super Buffet in Mobile, Alabama, were sentenced for harboring aliens who were illegally employed at their restaurant and subjected to hefty forfeiture orders.
Zheng Kong Zheng, 57, of Mobile, was sentenced on the charge of harboring aliens to two years’ probation, with the first six months on home confinement with electronic monitoring. Zheng was also ordered to forfeit over $500,000 and five separate residential properties, all obtained with illegal proceeds from harboring aliens.
De Yun Wang, 54, a Chinese national, was sentenced to one year probation on the charge of harboring aliens. She was also ordered to forfeit over $500,000 and five residential properties obtained with illegal proceeds from harboring aliens.
Kong Mei Zheng, 55, a Chinese national, sentenced for harboring aliens to one year probation, ordered to forfeit over $200,000 and a residential property obtained with illegal proceeds from harboring aliens.
According to court documents, Zheng Kong Zheng, and his sister, Kong Mei Zheng, owned and operated the China Super Buffet in Mobile until late 2019. Since at least 2014, the restaurant unlawfully employed aliens and housed them at a harboring residence owned by Zheng Kong Zheng and De Yun Wang near the restaurant in Mobile. The utilities and taxes were paid from restaurant bank accounts and the illegal workers resided there free of charge while they worked at the restaurant.
The restaurant operated for several years by transporting illegal workers in a passenger van between the harboring residence and the restaurant. The restaurant concealed the illegal employment practice and the presence of the illegal workers by paying them in cash. Their earnings were not reported to the Alabama Department of Labor while lawful workers’ wages were reported.
In September 2019, Kong Mei Zheng transferred her interest in the restaurant to her brother, Zheng Guo Zheng, who became the sole owner. Despite the ownership change, the unlawful harboring and employment of aliens continued. Zheng Guo Zheng’s wife, Yan Jiao Zhuo, helped manage the restaurant after her husband became the new owner and operator. While Zheng Guo Zheng was the owner, the restaurant applied for funding under Small Business Administration programs designed to assist businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant’s applications contained misrepresentations, including the omission of its illegal employees. The restaurant received a total of $445,307 in SBA loans based on the false information it had provided in its applications.
Co-defendants Zheng Guo Zheng and Yan Jiao Zhuo were previously sentenced in November 2022. Zheng Guo Zheng, a 67-year-old Chinese national, was sentenced to 5 years’ probation for illegal harboring of aliens, ordered to forfeit over $15,000 in illegal proceeds, the passenger van used to transport workers, fined $40,000, and ordered to pay full restitution of $445,307 to the Small Business Administration. In July 2022, Yan Jiao Zhuo, a 58-year-old Chinese national was sentenced to time-served for unlawful employment of aliens.
In total, the defendants entered into plea agreements with the United States in which they agreed to forfeit over $1.5 million in assets, including cash and the estimated value of the residences constituting illegal proceeds stemming from their convictions for harboring and the restaurant’s illegal labor practices.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, the U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu, Kasee S. Heisterhagen, and Justin D. Kopf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
St. Louis County Woman Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Check Scheme that Used Bank Information from Stolen MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from Hillsdale, in St. Louis County, Missouri was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison for engaging in a scheme to deposit tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of counterfeit checks created with information from stolen U.S. mail.
U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig also ordered Tyra G. Robinson, 21, of Hillsdale, to repay victims $10,859. Robinson will be on supervised release for five years after her release from prison.
In her guilty plea in November to four felony counts of bank fraud, Robinson admitted depositing or attempting to deposit counterfeit checks totaling more than $40,000. She received at least $22,000 via the scheme from at least ten financial institutions. She also admitted possessing counterfeit checks belonging to at least ten victims.
Robinson would deposit counterfeit checks typically ranging from $4,0000 to $10,000 into bank accounts. The information Robinson used on the counterfeit checks came from checks stolen from the U.S. mail. She then withdrew the proceeds before the banks realized the checks were bogus. Robinson recruited bank account holders on Facebook and Instagram with promises of kickbacks if they let Robinson deposit the checks into their accounts. Co-conspirators also recruited account holders for Robinson.
On March 10, 2022, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers attempted to pull over a vehicle that Robinson was driving because it was wanted in connection with a burglary. Robinson refused to pull over and fled at a high rate of speed. While trying to get on the highway, she struck another vehicle, causing significant damage to that vehicle. After the crash, officers found a purse with about $11,527 in cash, a gun and multiple bank cards and checks in names other than Robinson's inside her vehicle. Police turned over the evidence to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service who conducted a financial investigation of Robinson’s activity.
“Through her mail theft scheme, the defendant was able to steal thousands of dollars from hard-working postal customers, some of whom continue to deal with the financial repercussions caused by her actions,” said Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Chicago Division. “The swift joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department put an end to her illegal activity. Our agencies will continue to work together to bring justice to victimized citizens of St. Louis.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Southern California Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin in Bakersfield and FresnoRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Luis Noe Hernandez Rojo, 34, of Orange, California, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 7, 2019, Hernandez Rojo sold approximately 2,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to an undercover agent in Bakersfield. On Dec. 13, 2019, Hernandez Rojo was arrested while driving to Fresno with more than 7 kilograms of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, nearly 2 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 7 kilograms of heroin, which were slated for delivery to the same undercover agent.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.
Hernandez Rojo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on July 17, 2023. Hernandez Rojo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
Roberta Diane Dempsey, 58, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Dempsey was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. She pleaded guilty on November 28, 2022.
During her involvement, Dempsey allowed her co-conspirators to use her home to store and repackage multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine. Additionally, she obtained small quantities of methamphetamine from her co-conspirator to distribute to others. Dempsey was personally involved in the distribution of over 500 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Moody County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Dempsey was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
Ryan Garner Gillis, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gillis was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 14, 2022.
On August 21, 2021, Gillis was in a vehicle with his co-conspirators and was legally stopped and searched by law enforcement. Inside, law enforcement found 137.68 grams of methamphetamine. On that same day, law enforcement conducted a search of his residence and seized another 150.63 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, law enforcement searched another residence where Gillis was storing items and seized yet another 212 grams of methamphetamine, along with approximately $46,374 in cash, which was the proceeds of previous methamphetamine sales. Gillis obtained all this methamphetamine with the intent of distributing it to others throughout the Sioux Falls area.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen, who also serves as a prosecutor with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Gillis was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on March 15, 2023.
Kent Mews, age 56, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $5,100.
Mews was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 6, 2022, when Mews attempted to use his cell phone to knowingly persuade and coerce an undercover agent, posing as a 15-year-old male, to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted 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.
Mews was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Failure to RegisterRead 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: International Travel Reporting Violation.
Scott Richard Semrad, age 49, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 17, 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 between February 5, 2022, and February 22, 2022, Semrad, a sex offender by reason of a conviction under state law, unlawfully and knowingly failed to provide information required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act relating to intended travel to a foreign country.
The charge is merely an accusation and Semrad is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals 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.
Semrad was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sikeston Man Sentenced to Serve 125 Months in Federal Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Cameron Melton Malone, 30, of Sikeston, Missouri, was sentenced Monday to serve a total aggregate sentence of 125 months in federal prison for the offenses of felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Malone appeared for his sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
At a guilty plea hearing in December, Malone admitted that on June 12, 2022, he attempted to flee from law enforcement officers in the City of Sikeston after an officer attempted a traffic stop. During a high-speed pursuit, Malone left the roadway and traveled through a parking lot where numerous people had gathered for a party, causing the crowd to run and scatter to avoid being hit. After the vehicle came to rest, Malone fled on foot and was later apprehended hiding in some bushes. He was taken into custody but struggled with officers when being placed in the patrol vehicle. Malone’s vehicle was searched, and a quantity of marijuana, packaged for sale, and a loaded Diamondback AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was seized from the vehicle. The firearm was loaded and ready to fire, with 35 rounds in the magazine and a round in the chamber. Malone is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law because of his status as a convicted felon, including a prior firearms offense for carrying a concealed weapon in 2012 and an assault conviction in 2019.
After serving the 125-month sentence, Malone will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.
This case was investigated by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.
Rip Crew Co-Conspirator Sentenced to 117 Months for Robbery, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Abelardo Rodriguez-Arvizu, 38, of Mexico, was sentenced on March 3, 2023, by United States District Court Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 117 months in prison. Rodriguez-Arvizu was found guilty following a bench trial of one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense.
On October 24, 2015, United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents encountered Rodriguez-Arvizu and several other individuals in the desert south of Tucson. Rodriguez-Arvizu and his co-conspirators were part of a drug “rip crew” whose goal was to rob marijuana backpackers of their drug loads. When Border Patrol agents arrived, Rodriguez-Arvizu fled, but forensic testing later revealed his DNA on a water jug and jacket left behind. Rodriguez-Arvizu and his co-conspirators were armed with at least five semi-automatic firearms, body armor, and other items indicative of a rip crew.
USBP agents arrested Rodriguez-Arvizu on November 18, 2019, for his role in the crimes. Co-conspirators Francisco Javier Caballero-Bustamante and Jose Carlos Lemus-Veliz were arrested by USBP and sentenced, prior to Rodriguez-Arvizu’s arrest, by Judge Zipps to 98 months and 144 months, respectively, for their roles in the rip crew.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-1390-003-TUC-JGZ-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-039_Rodriguez-Arvizu# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Othello Woman Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Alondra Yanez, age 25, of Othello, Washington, to 46 months in federal prison after Yanez had pleaded guilty on December 14, 2022 to being a Felon in Possession of Firearms. Judge Rice ordered that Yanez’s 46 month federal sentence be served consecutively to a 12 month sentence for theft in the second degree imposed by the Adams County, Washington, Superior Court. Yanez will also serve three years of supervised release after her release from confinement.
According to court documents, on February 24, 2021, a co-defendant, Guillermo Valdez, participated in a residential burglary in Spokane County, Washington, during which Valdez stole eleven firearms. Yanez helped Valdez traffic the stolen firearms by advertising the firearms for sale using Facebook Messenger. One of the stolen firearms sold by Yanez was used during the homicide of a four-year-old child in Othello, Washington, during a domestic dispute on February 27, 2021.
United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref, who is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the Eastern District of Washington, stated, “Ms. Yanez endangered our community by trafficking in stolen firearms. Her conduct directly led to the tragic homicide of a four-year-old child. I’m grateful for the joint efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, who helped bring Ms. Yanez to justice and who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and our neighborhoods strong.”
“Ms. Yanez’s brazen conduct clearly warranted this significant sentence,” said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Sterling Nixon. “ATF is committed to keeping members of our communities safe from individuals who provide firearms to dangerous criminals.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Othello Police Department, the Moses Lake Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Patrol. This case was prosecuted by Michael J. Ellis, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
2:22-cr-00021-TOR-2
Oklahoma Helicopter Charter Company Pays $155,000 to Settle Civil Penalty Claims Stemming from Alleged Unauthorized Charter Operations Involving Fixed-Wing AircraftRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Interstate Helicopters, Inc. ("Interstate"), an Oklahoma corporation based in Bethany, Oklahoma, paid $155,000 to the United States to settle civil penalty claims arising from allegations that Interstate conducted unauthorized charter operations involving fixed-wing aircraft, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Interstate is the holder of an air carrier certificate which authorizes Interstate to conduct flights in helicopters, but not fixed-wing aircraft. The United States alleges that from December 8, 2016, through April 17, 2017, Interstate conducted eleven fixed-wing charter operations ("Charter Flights") in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 40101, et seq. ("Act"), and the regulations promulgated under the Act. More specifically, the United States contends Interstate conducted the Charter Flights in violation of its operations specifications, and when none of the pilots had, within the previous 12 months, passed required knowledge, competency and flights tests, and had not completed required training. The United States also alleges that the Charter Flights were conducted in a careless or reckless manner which endangered the life or property of another. To resolve these allegations, Interstate agreed to pay $155,000 to the United States.
In reaching this settlement, Interstate did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Aviation Administration. It was referred for prosecution by the Enforcement Division of the Federal Aviation Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRIAN TARDY, age 31, resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty on Thursday, March 16, 2023 to all counts of a three-count superseding bill of information for drug and weapons violations, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. TARDY’s sentencing is set for June 22, 2023.
In Count 1 of the superseding bill of information, TARDY is charged with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D) for which he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of at least 2 years of supervised release. Additionally, in Count 1, TARDY is charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) for which he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a period of at least 3 years of supervised release. In Count 2, TARDY is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1) for which he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years to life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 5 years supervised release. Finally, Count 3 charges TARDY with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g) and 924(a)(2) for which he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. For each count, TARDY also faces payment of $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kelvin Vazquez-Pagan, age 25, of Passaic, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on March 16, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Vazquez-Pagan admitted to possessing four kilograms of cocaine for further distribution. The charge stems from an incident on March 23, 2022, in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop of a vehicle in Lackawanna County in which Vazquez-Pagan and another individual, Carlos Perez-Rivera, age 37, of West New York, New Jersey, were traveling. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately four kilograms of cocaine found hidden inside the vehicle.
Co-conspirator Perez-Rivera previously entered a guilty plea before Judge Mannion on March 3, 2023 and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O’Hara and Brian J. Gallagher are prosecuting the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The charge carries a maximum penalty under federal law of up to twenty years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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National Freight Carrier to Pay Civil Penalties and Implement Stormwater Compliance Measures for Clean Water Act NoncomplianceRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH – ABF Freight System Inc. (ABF), a freight carrier that operates more than 200 transportation facilities in 47 states and Puerto Rico, has resolved allegations that it violated requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA) relating to industrial stormwater at locations across the country. Under the proposed settlement, ABF will enhance and implement its comprehensive, corporate-wide stormwater compliance program at all its transportation facilities except those located in the state of Washington, and will pay a civil penalty of $535,000, a portion of which will be directed to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the State of Maryland, and the State of Nevada who all joined this settlement.
The complaint in the case, filed contemporaneously with the proposed consent decree, alleges that ABF failed to comply with certain conditions of their CWA permits (e.g., spills that had not been cleaned up; failure to implement required spill prevention measures; failure to implement measures to minimize contamination of stormwater runoff; failure to conduct monitoring of stormwater discharges as required; and failure to provide all required training to ABF’s employees) at nine of its transportation facilities.
“Water quality affects every citizen equally, it’s importance simply cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas. “This agreement ensures that ABF will take significant steps towards ensuring that water quality is not negatively affected by its operations. This settlement would not have been possible without the commitment and cooperation of all the federal, state, and local agencies involved along with ABF.”
“Companies must comply with Clean Water Act provisions to prevent waterways from being contaminated by industrial pollutants,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This consent decree ensures that measures will be implemented at hundreds of transportation facilities across the nation to protect nearby waterways and the communities that live along them.”
“Through this settlement ABF will implement an enhanced, comprehensive stormwater management program at transportation facilities they operate across the country,” said acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement exemplifies EPA’s commitment to working with companies like ABF who notify EPA of noncompliance and then work to improve compliance with the Clean Water Act to help ensure the protection of local water resources.”
In April 2015, ABF voluntarily disclosed to EPA that it failed to obtain industrial stormwater permit coverage at multiple facilities and had discovered additional areas of noncompliance with the CWA through the company’s own compliance audits which were conducted at nearly all its facilities during 2013 and 2014. Between October 2016 and April 2019, EPA, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the State of Maryland, and the State of Nevada conducted 15 inspections of ABF’s facilities and observed noncompliance with applicable stormwater laws at both CWA permitted facilities and No Exposure Certification (NEC) facilities.
To address the extent of ABF’s noncompliance, the proposed consent decree requires ABF to continue to implement and enhance its comprehensive, corporate-wide stormwater compliance program. This includes a memorialization of stormwater roles and responsibilities, comprehensive employee training with contractor awareness, implementation of standard operating procedures, stormwater pollution prevention plan management, and tracking facility-specific corrective actions. The settlement also requires ABF to conduct tiered management oversight inspections at its permitted and NEC facilities throughout the three-year implementation of this consent decree.
Stormwater runoff from industrial facilities can pick up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils and sediment that can harm waters throughout the country. Pollutants in stormwater can cause changes in hydrology and water quality that result in habitat modification and loss, increased flooding, decreased aquatic biological diversity, and increased sedimentation and erosion. It is critical that all facilities requiring permit coverage appropriately apply for permit coverage and adhere to applicable stormwater regulations to ensure environmental impacts are effectively minimized.
The injunctive relief measures set forth in the proposed consent decree are designed to result in effective stormwater runoff management at ABF’s facilities, including those facilities that conduct vehicle maintenance and equipment cleaning.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, is subject to a 30-day federal public comment period and approval by the federal court. The consent decree can be viewed at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
National Freight Carrier to Pay Civil Penalties and Implement Stormwater Compliance Measures for Clean Water Act NoncomplianceRead the Press Release
ABF Freight System Inc. (ABF), a freight carrier that operates more than 200 transportation facilities in 47 states and Puerto Rico, has resolved allegations that it violated requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA) relating to industrial stormwater at locations across the country. Under the proposed settlement, ABF will enhance and implement its comprehensive, corporate-wide stormwater compliance program at all its transportation facilities except those located in the state of Washington, and will pay a civil penalty of $535,000, a portion of which will be directed to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the State of Maryland, and the State of Nevada who all joined this settlement.
The complaint in the case, filed contemporaneously with the proposed consent decree, alleges that ABF failed to comply with certain conditions of their CWA permits (e.g., spills that had not been cleaned up; failure to implement required spill prevention measures; failure to implement measures to minimize contamination of stormwater runoff; failure to conduct monitoring of stormwater discharges as required; and failure to provide all required training to ABF’s employees) at nine of its transportation facilities.
“Companies must comply with Clean Water Act provisions to prevent waterways from being contaminated by industrial pollutants,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This consent decree ensures that measures will be implemented at hundreds of transportation facilities across the nation to protect nearby waterways and the communities that live along them.”
“Through this settlement ABF will implement an enhanced, comprehensive stormwater management program at transportation facilities they operate across the country,” said acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement exemplifies EPA’s commitment to working with companies like ABF who notify EPA of noncompliance and then work to improve compliance with the Clean Water Act to help ensure the protection of local water resources.”
“Water quality affects every citizen equally, it’s importance simply cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas. “This agreement ensures that ABF will take significant steps towards ensuring that water quality is not negatively affected by its operations. This settlement would not have been possible without the commitment and cooperation of all the federal, state and local agencies involved along with ABF.”
In April 2015, ABF voluntarily disclosed to EPA that it failed to obtain industrial stormwater permit coverage at multiple facilities and had discovered additional areas of noncompliance with the CWA through the company’s own compliance audits which were conducted at nearly all its facilities during 2013 and 2014. Between October 2016 and April 2019, EPA, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the State of Maryland, and the State of Nevada conducted 15 inspections of ABF’s facilities and observed noncompliance with applicable stormwater laws at both CWA permitted facilities and No Exposure Certification (NEC) facilities.
To address the extent of ABF’s noncompliance, the proposed consent decree requires ABF to continue to implement and enhance its comprehensive, corporate-wide stormwater compliance program. This includes a memorialization of stormwater roles and responsibilities, comprehensive employee training with contractor awareness, implementation of standard operating procedures, stormwater pollution prevention plan management, and tracking facility-specific corrective actions. The settlement also requires ABF to conduct tiered management oversight inspections at its permitted and NEC facilities throughout the three-year implementation of this consent decree.
Stormwater runoff from industrial facilities can pick up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils and sediment that can harm waters throughout the country. Pollutants in stormwater can cause changes in hydrology and water quality that result in habitat modification and loss, increased flooding, decreased aquatic biological diversity, and increased sedimentation and erosion. It is critical that all facilities requiring permit coverage appropriately apply for permit coverage and adhere to applicable stormwater regulations to ensure environmental impacts are effectively minimized.
The injunctive relief measures set forth in the proposed consent decree are designed to result in effective stormwater runoff management at ABF’s facilities, including those facilities that conduct vehicle maintenance and equipment cleaning.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, is subject to a 30-day federal public comment period and approval by the federal court. The consent decree can be viewed at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Mission Man Convicted of Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Dylan Blue Bird, age 30, of Mission, South Dakota, of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on March 16, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Blue Bird was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022.
On September 30, 2022, at approximately 11:30 PM, officers with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services attempted a traffic stop on Blue Bird after observing traffic violations in Todd County. Blue Bird did not stop and led officers on a high-speed pursuit on Highway 18, reaching speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Blue Bird drove in the opposing lane of travel towards an officer engaged in the pursuit, forcing the officer off the roadway. The pursuit came to an end after officers deployed spike strips, disabling Blue Bird’s vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
A sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Micronesian Couple Sentenced for Withholding Passports to Coerce Labor of Two Men in Meat Processing PlantRead the Press Release
U.S. District Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced defendants Nesly Mwarecheong, 46, and Bertino Weires, 51, U.S. residents and Federated States of Micronesia citizens, to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and nearly $70,000 in restitution to the victims for withholding passports to coerce labor of two men in a meat processing plant.
The defendants previously pleaded guilty in October 2022 to two counts of unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking or forced labor for recruiting two young men from Micronesia to come to the United States for the purpose of coercing their labor in a meat processing plant for the defendants’ financial gain.
According to court documents, the defendants convinced the two victims to leave their homes in Micronesia in December 2019 and travel to the United States by promising them they could work in the United States and send money back to their families. Once in the United States, the defendants confiscated the victims’ passports and obtained jobs for them at a meat processing plant in Ottumwa, Iowa. Each week, the defendants took the victims to cash their paychecks before seizing almost the entire amount and leaving the victims with a nominal amount each week. The defendants used various means to compel the victims’ labor and services, including confiscating the victims’ passports and social security cards, imposing debts on them, limiting and monitoring their communication with family, physically and socially isolating them and creating a system of total financial dependence on the defendants. In so doing, the defendants created a situation where the victims either had to continue complying with the defendants’ demands or risk being homeless and without a means of supporting themselves in a foreign country where they did not speak the language and had no means of returning home.
“These defendants used the promise of well-paid jobs to lure the victims to come to the United States in search of a better future for themselves and their families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These defendants then proceeded to callously exploit the victims, using their power over them to profit off their hard work. The Department of Justice remains committed to seeking justice for survivors of forced labor schemes, holding perpetrators accountable and stripping wrongdoers of their illegal profits.”
“Forced labor can happen anywhere in the United States, including Iowa. We will continue fighting for victims to ensure those who exploit the promise of working in the United States to coerce labor are held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa. “Thanks to the diligent work of law enforcement, these acts of coercion and compulsion were stopped.”
Investigator Jeremy Tosh of the Ottumwa Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Virginia Bruner and Ryan Leemkuil for the Southern District of Iowa and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Micronesian Couple Sentenced for Withholding Passports to Coerce Labor of Two Men in Meat Processing PlantRead the Press Release
U.S. District Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced defendants Nesly Mwarecheong, 46, and Bertino Weires, 51, U.S. residents and Federated States of Micronesia citizens, to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and nearly $70,000 in restitution to the victims for withholding passports to coerce labor of two men in a meat processing plant.
The defendants previously pleaded guilty in October 2022 to two counts of unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking or forced labor for recruiting two young men from Micronesia to come to the United States for the purpose of coercing their labor in a meat processing plant for the defendants’ financial gain.
According to court documents, the defendants convinced the two victims to leave their homes in Micronesia in December 2019 and travel to the United States by promising them they could work in the United States and send money back to their families. Once in the United States, the defendants confiscated the victims’ passports and obtained jobs for them at a meat processing plant in Ottumwa, Iowa. Each week, the defendants took the victims to cash their paychecks before seizing almost the entire amount and leaving the victims with a nominal amount each week. The defendants used various means to compel the victims’ labor and services, including confiscating the victims’ passports and social security cards, imposing debts on them, limiting and monitoring their communication with family, physically and socially isolating them and creating a system of total financial dependence on the defendants. In so doing, the defendants created a situation where the victims either had to continue complying with the defendants’ demands or risk being homeless and without a means of supporting themselves in a foreign country where they did not speak the language and had no means of returning home.
“These defendants used the promise of well-paid jobs to lure the victims to come to the United States in search of a better future for themselves and their families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These defendants then proceeded to callously exploit the victims, using their power over them to profit off their hard work. The Department of Justice remains committed to seeking justice for survivors of forced labor schemes, holding perpetrators accountable and stripping wrongdoers of their illegal profits.”
“Forced labor can happen anywhere in the United States, including Iowa. We will continue fighting for victims to ensure those who exploit the promise of working in the United States to coerce labor are held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa. “Thanks to the diligent work of law enforcement, these acts of coercion and compulsion were stopped.”
Investigator Jeremy Tosh of the Ottumwa Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Virginia Bruner and Ryan Leemkuil for the Southern District of Iowa and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
McKeesport Felon Gets 9 Years in Prison after Pleading Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on Friday to a one-count Indictment and was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The defendant, Urian Jones, 47, pled guilty to felony possession of a firearm and ammunition and violating his conditions of federal supervised release. United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV, sentenced Jones to a total of nine years for Jones’ violation of federal law and his supervised release conditions. Judge Stickman also sentenced Jones’ to term of three years of supervised release following his term of incarceration and to pay a special assessment of $100.
Jones’ sentence stems from an incident on Nov. 7, 2019, whereby he was found in possession of firearms and ammunition after having already been convicted of multiple crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. At this time, Jones was still serving his term of supervised release for a prior federal case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Ann Stockey and Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania State Parole, DANET, and the McKeesport Police Department 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.
Man Sentenced to More than 16 Years for Importing 80 Pounds of Counterfeit Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Moises Moreno of Moreno Valley, California, was sentenced in federal court today to 200 months in prison for importing more than 36 kilograms of fentanyl from Mexico into the United States.
After a two-day jury trial in October 2022, a jury found that Moreno knowingly imported more than 80 pounds of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl from Mexico into the United States. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Moreno attempted to smuggle the pills into the United States inside a sophisticated compartment in the roof of his pickup truck. The compartment was created by welding sheet metal underneath the truck’s roof to create a false ceiling where the pills were hidden.
Prosecutors also presented evidence from Moreno’s cell phone and calls Moreno made to unidentified associates after his arrest. During his calls from jail, Moreno bragged about how he “played dumb” after his arrest and “acted like he thought they found weed in his car.” Moreno further boasted to another associate about the amount of drugs he was caught smuggling and sang that he “got keys [a slang term for kilograms] coming from overseas,” a line from a popular hip hop song discussing drug trafficking.
The jury also heard the story Moreno told investigators at the time of his arrest: that he spent the weekend preceding before being caught at the border with a female friend in Mexico. Moreno told investigators that this friend must have set him up to import drugs in the vehicle without his knowledge. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury rejected Moreno’s story and returned a guilty verdict.
“This sentence sends a clear message to any would-be drug courier that you will receive a significant sentence in this district for your role in importing dangerous narcotics like fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.
Grossman thanked the prosecution team and Homeland Security Investigations for their hard work on this case.
“HSI will continue to direct its full range of investigative authorities toward those who smuggle deadly drugs across the border and into our communities,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego. “This significant sentence demonstrates the U.S. government’s resolve with holding all those who traffic in drugs accountable for their actions.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 22-CR1375-BAS
Moises Moreno Age: 38 Phoenix, AZ; Moreno Valley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Importation of Fentanyl – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 851 and 952/960
Mandatory Minimum: Fifteen years in prison
Maximum penalties: Life in prison and $10 million fine
AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dario George, age 32, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 16, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than forty grams of fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, George admitted to distributing between 280 grams and 400 grams of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area in 2021 and 2022. The charge stems from an investigation in which investigators made four purchases of fentanyl from George and then, on May 19, 2022, obtained a search warrant for George’s residence in Nanticoke. A search of that residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 30,000 individual bags of fentanyl and additional amounts of heroin and cocaine, $8098 in U.S. currency, and drug packaging materials.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
Under federal law, George faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of forty years in prison, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Assault of an Intimate Partner by StrangulationRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
William Thigh a/k/a William Fire Cloud, age 38, was sentenced to 20 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.
Thigh was indicted for three counts of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, and two counts of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 12, 2022.
Between the November 28, 2021, and November 30, 2021, at Lower Brule, Thigh assaulted his intimate partner by strangling her. Thigh placed his hands around the victim’s neck and applied pressure.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley prosecuted the case.
Thigh was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Local man convicted at trial sentenced to 7 years in prison for illegally possessing machine ‘ghost gun’Read the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Jesse Carter, 32, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 84 months in prison for illegally possessing a fully-automatic weapon and possessing a pistol and ammunition after previously being convicted of a felony.
A federal jury found Carter guilty following a trial in May 2022 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in March 2020, Carter illegally possessed a pistol, a fully-automatic weapon and more than 400 rounds of ammunition.
The fully-automatic weapon was an AR-style “ghost gun” with no markings. Ghost guns are often assembled from kits, do not contain serial numbers, and are sold without background checks, making them difficult to trace. In April 2022, the Department of Justice announced a new rule modernizing the definition of firearms to make ghost gun kits subject to the same regulations as traditional firearms.
The Government presented at trial that Carter referred to the ghost gun as “the big one” in jail calls in which he described the location of the ghost gun, which had been concealed behind the sub-woofer in his car.
Carter was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2020.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the sentence imposed today by Judge Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa Taiwo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan W. Myers of the Cincinnati City Solicitor’s Office are representing the United States in this case.
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Leaders of North Carolina Drug-Trafficking Organization Convicted of Murder-for-Hire in NorfolkRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted four Greensboro men for their role in a murder-for-hire that resulted in the death of 59-year-old Norfolk resident, Lillian Bond, on April 19, 2016.
“This day has been a long time coming, especially for the family of Lillian Bond. This drug enterprise took the life of an innocent person, a woman well known to be kind and compassionate to her friends and family, and I hope that today’s verdict brings some measure of justice to her family,” said Jessica D. Aber, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to continuing to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to reduce the amount of drug-related violence in our communities.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jaquate Simpson, 38, and Landis Jackson, 38, were the leaders of a long-running criminal enterprise responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into central North Carolina and the Hampton Roads region.
On April 13, 2016, a Norfolk-based drug dealer failed to pay over $81,000 for a multi-kilogram delivery of cocaine. Simpson and Jackson’s organization retaliated by hiring a Nine Trey gang member, Kalub Shipman, 35, to kill the next person to exit a house associated with where the Norfolk dealer had been known to frequent. Shipman initially traveled to Virginia within hours of being offered the murder-for-hire contract with a fellow gang member. They conducted surveillance on the residence and then returned to Greensboro.
Shipman then recruited Nelson Evans, 32, to assist in the murder-for-hire, offering him a portion of the $10,000 Shipman would receive upon completion. Shipman and Evans traveled to Virginia on April 18, 2016. The following morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Shipman and Evans entered the Ingleside neighborhood of Norfolk and shot Lillian Bond as she was taking out the trash on Trice Terrace. Ms. Bond had been an employee of the Children’s Hospital for King’s Daughters for approximately 20 years and was described as a pillar in her community.
"The suspects in this case had a complete disregard for anyone but themselves, and because of pure greed, took an innocent woman’s life to send a message. While the family of Lillian Bond can never be made whole because of these men’s senseless actions, today’s convictions can hopefully bring her family some semblance of justice and closure," said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office. "This case is a stark reminder of how gun violence devastates our local communities. The FBI is committed to continuing to work with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt this type of crime and dismantle organized criminal enterprises."
The jury found each defendant guilty of the following charges:
Name
Charges
Jaquate Simpson, a/k/a
“Quay,” “J,” “Stacks,” “Predator”Continuing criminal enterprise; murder while engaged in continuing criminal enterprise; narcotics conspiracy; murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense; distribution of cocaine; use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire
Landis Jackson, a/k/a “Juve,” “Juvie”
Continuing criminal enterprise; murder while engaged in continuing criminal enterprise; narcotics conspiracy; murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense; distribution of cocaine; use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire
Kalub Shipman, a/k/a “Kato,” “Baydo”
Murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense; use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire; felon in possession of a firearm
Nelson Evans
Use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire
All four men face mandatory life sentences when sentenced. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mike Goldsmith, Interim Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney accepted the verdict.
The case was investigated by the FBI Norfolk Field Office, Department of Homeland Security, DEA, United States Postal Inspection Service, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Police Departments of Norfolk, Greensboro, Thomasville, Winston-Salem, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Sheriff’s Departments of Guilford and Davidson County, and the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe DePadilla, John F. Butler and Kristin G. Bird are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated as part of four Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Burning Man, Operation Cash Cab, Operation Goodfellas and Operation Cardinal Sin. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-90.
Leader of Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Conspiracy Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced James Mirabal (46, St. Cloud) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The court also ordered Mirabal to forfeit $124,598, traceable proceeds of the offense. Mirabal had pleaded guilty on December 27, 2022. Mirabal’s two conspirators, Johnathan Beharry and Vilnarie Figueroa Matos, previously pleaded guilty. Beharry was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison on February 14, 2023. Figueroa Matos is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2023.
According to court documents, Mirabal conspired with numerous others to distribute kilograms of cocaine. During the investigation, Mirabal had discussed, among other things, a seizure of 50 kilograms of cocaine in April 2022, as he arranged for the delivery of 20 kilograms of cocaine to Beharry. The drugs were later seized during Beharry’s arrest on October 17, 2022. Mirabal routinely discarded cellphones and, when arrested on October 31, 2022, was found in possession of 24 cellphones and $124,598 in currency.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Winter Garden Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, the Clermont Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Apopka Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Operation Titan Fall is a multi-agency Organize Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Last individual admits role in nationwide fraud scheme targeting elderly victimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Indian citizen has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Anirudha Kalkote admitted he participated in a fraud ring from 2019-2020 which operated out of various cities including Houston. The scheme targeted elderly victims throughout the United States and elsewhere.
The ring tricked and deceived victims using various ruses and instructed them to send money via wire through a money transmitter business such as Western Union or MoneyGram, by buying gift cards and providing to the fraudsters or by mailing cash to alias names via FedEx or UPS.
Part of the scheme involved fraudsters contacting victims by phone or via internet sites for computer technical support and directing victims to a particular phone number. Once victims contacted the fraudsters, they were told various stories such as they were communicating with an expert that needed remote access to their computer in order to provide technical support services. The fraudsters then gained access to victims’ personal data and bank and credit card information.
Victims typically paid a fee to conspirators for the fake technical support but were later told they were due a refund. Through paying for “technical support” or through the “refund” process, the ring gained access to the victim’s bank account(s) and credit cards and manipulated the accounts to make it appear the victim was paid too large a refund due to a typographical error. Victims were then instructed to reimburse the ring by various means.
Victims were sometimes re-victimized multiple times and threatened with bodily harm if they did not pay.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 26. At that time, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Four others have already pleaded guilty in relation to the scheme and are awaiting sentencing April 20. MD Azad, 26, Sumit Kumar Singh, 25, Himanshu Kumar, 25, and MD Hasib, 27 are Indian nationals who illegally resided in Houston.
All five individuals remain in custody pending sentencing.
The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States including the Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office of Augusta County, Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Quincy Ollison are prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as a part of the Elder Justice Initiative. Its goal is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults.
In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice launched National Elder Fraud Hotline to help combat fraud against older Americans and provide services to victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, we encourage you to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311).
The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish and other languages.
LaPlace Man Charged with Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – ERNEST X. TAYLOR, JR., of LaPlace, LA, age 38, was indicted on March 17, 2023, by a federal grand jury for two counts of making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
On March 27, 2020, The CARES Act became effective and established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
According to court documents, TAYLOR made false statements to an approved lender on or about March 2, 2021, for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a PPP loan. TAYLOR falsely claimed in his PPP application that he had not been convicted of any felony involving “fraud, bribery, embezzlement, or a false statement in a loan application or an application for federal financial assistance” within the last 5 years. In truth, TAYLOR pleaded guilty in 2016, in the Eastern District of Virginia to conspiracy to commit federal student loan fraud and mail fraud in a scheme that involved stolen identities. Based upon these misrepresentations, TAYLOR received approximately $18,500 . TAYLOR then made the same false statements to an approved lender on or about April 21, 2021, when he applied for a second draw PPP loan. TAYLOR received approximately $18,5000 for the second loan.
TAYLOR faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for each false statements count. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count due after conviction.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Kirkville Man Pleads Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Michael Pupello, age 35, of Kirkville, New York, pled guilty to one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Division.
Pupello admitted to distributing cocaine to customers from 2017 through October 2019 and depositing the cash proceeds from the sale of cocaine into a personal checking account and a business checking account that he maintained at JPMorgan Chase Bank. Pupello admitted to using CashApp, a mobile phone application that allows users to make cashless payments to other users, to receive payment from several of his cocaine customers. Pupello further admitted to transferring the proceeds he received via CashApp to both of his accounts at JPMorgan Chase and withdrawing $14,000 of drug proceeds from his business checking account.
Pupello will be sentenced on July 12, 2023, before the Hon. David N. Hurd in Utica, N.Y. The charge filed against Pupello carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; New York State Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force, the Madison/Oneida County Sheriff Drug Task Force, and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson is prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Lakewood Felon of Bank Robbery, Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces a federal jury has found James David Trujillo Jr., age 25, of Lakewood, guilty of bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and brandishing a weapon during a federal crime of violence.
According to facts presented at trial, on June 15, 2022, Trujillo was one of two men who robbed a Canvas Credit Union on West 5th Avenue in Lakewood. The men were armed with an AR-15 and shotgun. The codefendant, Darren Michael Connolly, was wearing a GPS bracelet at the time of the robbery. Both men were covered in masks and ran from the bank to a waiting getaway car. Connolly was arrested on June 16, 2022 and charged. Investigators were able to determine the identity of the second robber soon thereafter.
Judge Christine M. Arguello presided over the five-day trial. After five hours of deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict convicting Trujillo on all counts on March 17, 2023. Trujillo will be sentenced on July 17, 2023. Co-defendant Darren Michael Connolly pleaded guilty on February 28, 2023, to the same charges and will be sentenced on July 18, 2023.
"We cannot thank the jury and the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force enough for their tireless commitment to upholding justice and holding bank robbers accountable,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “We will not tolerate such brazen criminal conduct in our communities.”
“Bank robbery is not a victimless crime,” said Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The threat of violence in these incidents can have a traumatic and lasting impact on the employees and customers who live through them. FBI Denver and our Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force will continue to work with our local partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue federal prosecution and reduce violence in our communities.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Coccaro handled the prosecution.
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.
CASE NUMBER: 21-cr-00213
Canvas Credit UnionIdaho’s U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Prison Sentences for Four Fentanyl DealersRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the prison sentences in three separate cases involving the distribution of fentanyl last week.
“Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for an exponential increase in overdose deaths here in Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Through close collaboration with our state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, we continue to hold accountable those who distribute this poison in our communities.”
1. Two Boise Residents Sentenced to Over 15 Years and 10 Years, Respectively, for Running a “One Stop Mobile Drug Shop.”
In one case, Misty Dawn Sykes, 46, and Keisha Dawn Murdoch, 28, both of Boise, were sentenced to 188 and 128 months in federal prison, respectively, for possessing over 1.3 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 1,300 fentanyl pills, an ounce of cocaine, 16 grams of heroin, 16 grams of Alpha-PHP (synthetic cathinone), and 12.6 grams of fluorfentanyl (a deadly fentanyl analogue) with intent to distribute it to another.
According to court records, Sykes and Murdoch were operating a one stop mobile drug shop in the Treasure Valley area. Murdoch told investigators that she and Sykes purchased anywhere from eight to ten pounds of methamphetamine and 2,000 to 4,000 fentanyl pills every two weeks for redistribution. She also indicated that they would purchase heroin and cocaine whenever available. In addition to the controlled substances seized from Sykes and Murdoch, law enforcement also seized a Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number, and nearly $30,000 in cash.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered both Sykes and Murdoch to serve five years of supervised release following their prison sentences.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and Garden City Police Department for this investigation.
2. Washington Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years for Firearms and Fentanyl Offenses.
In a separate case, Jordan Khan, 27, of Washington, was sentenced to 98 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court records, on January 27, 2022, United States Marshals were searching for a wanted fugitive believed to be at Khan’s residence. During the search, Khan was found in possession of a .40 caliber pistol and trafficking amounts of fentanyl. He was charged and released subject to pretrial conditions. Khan was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2018 conviction for a residential burglary. After a federal indictment was obtained, an arrest warrant was issued. On April 18, 2022, when the federal warrant was served, Khan was found with over 700 fentanyl pills.
Khan moved to the Treasure Valley in 2021, after being released from Washington state prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and taking a vehicle without permission. He has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary, and assault.
“The strong partnerships we have with our federal, state, and local partners ensure repeat offenders like Mr. Khan are held accountable for their crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Salt Lake City FBI. “We will continue to work together to prevent gun offenses in Idaho and prevent deadly drugs like fentanyl from causing more damage in our communities.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Khan to serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Khan pleaded guilty to the federal charges in November 2022.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and U.S. Marshals Service for their efforts in this case. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Boise Police Department; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; Meridian Police Department; Nampa Police Department; and Idaho Department of Correction.
The Khan case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
3. Arizona Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.
In a third case, Brian David Schroeder, 47, of Arizona, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for distributing large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to court records, on September 25, 2022, Schroeder, was stopped by sheriff deputies while driving on Highway 93 through Jerome, Idaho. After deputies observed a marijuana dispensary container in the car, a search was conducted. Inside the car, police found approximately 3.25 pounds of fentanyl, 3.15 pounds of methamphetamine, and a loaded 9mm handgun. Schroeder was traveling through Idaho with the intention of distributing the drugs in Washington.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also sentenced Schroeder to five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Schroeder pleaded guilty to the crime in December 2022.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office and Jerome County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their work which led to the charges in the Schroeder case.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Eddie Guy Jewell, 49, of Huntington, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 26, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jewell’s Idlewood Drive residence in Huntington. Officers found approximately 73.73 grams of fentanyl, a Bushmaster, AR-15 5.56mm rifle, and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol. Jewell admitted to possessing the fentanyl, intending to distribute it in the Huntington area. Jewell further admitted that the search occurred after he sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant on multiple occasions.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-155.
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Greenfield Township School Transportation Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 16, 2023, Brian Propst, age 51, of Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to a charge of tax evasion.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Propst operates DKB Transportation, Inc., a bussing company that provides transportation for various school districts in Northeastern Pennsylvania. During 2016 through 2019, DKB Transportation, Inc. employed a number of individuals approximately one-half of which Propst paid “under the table,” with no employment tax monies either withheld or accounting for and paid over to the IRS.
Propst agreed to cooperate fully with the IRS, and to pay all taxes owed together with interest and penalties as determined by the court.
This case was investigated by the Scranton Office of the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley is prosecuting the case.
The combined maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Green Bay Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Manufacturing and Trafficking 3D-Printed Ghost GunsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on March 20, 2023, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Mitchell J. Guerrero (age: 30) to a total sentence of 46 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release for manufacturing and trafficking 3D-printed firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns” because they lack serial numbers and thus are untraceable.
According to court records, in November 2021, investigators with the Brown County Drug Task Force searched Guerrero’s residence in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and located a 3D printing lab in his basement. Near the lab, investigators seized a fully functional 3D-printed plastic handgun, 3D-printed magazines and rounds, 3D-printed silencers, and a 3D-printed “sear” that could convert an AR-15 rifle into a fully automatic weapon. Investigators also located evidence that Guerrero was in the beginning stages of manufacturing a 3D-printed AR-15.
The 3D-printed plastic handgun was sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Firearms Technology Criminal Branch for a technical examination, where it successfully fired. The firearm also was subjected to a Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) metal detector. During the test, the firearm successfully went through TSA screening without setting off the alarm. This is the first known fully operational plastic firearm seized by ATF that has successfully passed through a TSA metal detector.
Investigators also discovered evidence that Guerrero offered to sell ghost guns and traded one firearm for methamphetamine. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach discussed the dangerousness of trafficking untraceable firearms and noted that this type of crime will not be tolerated.
This matter was investigated by ATF and the Brown County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
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Georgia Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Human Capital Management AgenciesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Walter Gaillard, age 43, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Gaillard belonged to a conspiracy that targeted human capital management agencies located throughout the United States. In connection with the scheme, a member of the conspiracy registered businesses in Georgia and Minnesota. Afterwards, an online presence for the companies was created to include email addresses and websites. In reality, the companies were shells lacking employees, clients, or physical assets. The organizer of the conspiracy then entered into management agreements in which the management agencies agreed to handle the companies’ payroll and employee withholding in exchange for reimbursement of the advanced payroll and a service fee. Between 2017 and 2019, Gaillard and other members of the conspiracy submitted fake time sheets to the management agencies which wired money into bank accounts controlled by Gaillard and other conspirators. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Gaillard agreed that he was responsible for causing a loss of $150,000-$250,000 to the management agencies. The management agencies terminated the agreements after receiving no response for repeated claims for payment.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2023, at 11:00 am. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court released Gaillard on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Leo Ivory is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gaillard.
Gang Member Sentenced for Kidnapping and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A North Andover man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conspiring to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the Essex County Jail.
Steven Rios, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2022, Rios pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to distribute Suboxone.
Rios 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. The investigation intercepted phone calls between Rios and other gang members, who conspired to kidnap and assault a marijuana supplier from Maine. The dispute originated from an alleged drug debt and suspicions that the drug supplier had stolen one of Rios’s breeding dogs. Following related search warrants, Rios was again intercepted in phone calls planning to smuggle Suboxone into the Essex County Jail when he was arrested. Jail officials were able to screen Rios, who had attempted to smuggle drugs into the jail by swallowing them. After several days at the hospital, jail officials seized Suboxone from Rios.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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.
Fresno Woman Sentenced to 34 Months in Prison for Role in Two Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Sarah Jo Sumpter, 30, of Fresno, was sentenced today to two years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $16,984 in restitution for mail fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Sumpter stole mail from a number of locations in California and used the stolen mail to commit multiple identity theft related fraud schemes. One of these schemes involved Sumpter stealing a victim’s driver’s license and impersonating the victim in order to purchase a vehicle. Another scheme involved Sumpter depositing stolen checks into victim accounts and then withdrawing funds from the accounts without the victim’s consent.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Madera County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.
Former Missouri State Worker Admits Stealing $140,000 in Unemployment Insurance FundsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former Missouri state employee on Monday admitted abusing her position to send $140,500 in unearned unemployment benefits to friends, relatives and others.
Vicky Hefner, 63, of Jefferson County, Missouri, was working for the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security as a benefit program specialist at the time of the crimes, which occurred from July to December of 2020. As part of her guilty plea to one count of theft of public money, Hefner admitted logging into the accounts of approximately eight friends, relatives and associates to either make them eligible for unemployment benefits when they were not otherwise eligible or increase their benefits. She also backdated some claims to increase benefits and changed the status of some who were receiving pandemic-related unemployment assistance to regular unemployment assistance to fraudulently increase the benefits they received, the plea says.
Hefner had worked at the agency since 2009.
At her sentencing, scheduled for June 22, Hefner could face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. She will also be ordered to repay the money.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General at both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III is prosecuting the case.
Former Middle School Paraprofessional Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sextortion SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Coon Rapids man has been sentenced to 240 months in prison followed by 12 years of supervised release for a sextortion scheme that targeted minors through social media and an online gaming forum, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Glen Robert Anderson, 24, previously worked as a middle school paraprofessional in special education. Anderson used multiple internet applications and social media accounts for email, file sharing, and chatting with minors, including Snapchat and Grindr. Anderson also owned and administered an online gaming forum. To participate in the forum, users were required to submit an application, which included the age of the user. As Anderson knew, many of the users were minors. Between April 1, 2016, through August 20, 2021, Anderson used his position as the forum administrator to groom minors to produce child pornography and engage in sexual activity with him, including by providing minors with in-game perks, privileges, and other gifts. For example, Anderson coerced a 13-year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit acts for the purpose of producing images and videos. Anderson later threatened to release those sexually explicit images if the victim did not respond to Anderson’s demands.
Anderson pleaded guilty on June 28, 2022, to two counts of production of child pornography, one count of enticement of a minor, and one count of interstate communications with intent to extort. He was sentenced on March 15, 2023, before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, the Erie County (Ohio) Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Waterloo Regional Police Service in Ontario, Canada.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela M. Munoz and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi prosecuted the case.
Former Director of Operations for O.C. Pharmacy Sentenced to 9½ Years in Prison for Defrauding the U.S. Military’s Health Care PlanRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Florida man who once was the director of operations at a now-shuttered Irvine pharmacy was sentenced today to 114 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme in which kickbacks were paid for prescriptions for “compounded” medications – a scam that cost Tricare, the United States military’s health care plan, more than $3 million in losses.
Marcus Orlando Armstrong, 56, of Miami, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also ordered Armstrong to pay $3,070,091 in restitution.
Armstrong pleaded guilty in October 2022 to two counts of paying illegal kickbacks for health care referrals.
Armstrong was the director of operations for the now-defunct Irvine Wellness Pharmacy, which made compounded medications. Compounded drugs are tailor-made products doctors may prescribe when the Food and Drug Administration-approved alternative does not meet the health needs of a patient.
In mid-2014, Armstrong agreed to pay a physician, identified in court documents as “N.G.,” kickbacks in exchange for prescriptions bearing N.G.’s name and credentials. Armstrong intended that Irvine Wellness Pharmacy would fill the prescriptions and Tricare would pay to reimburse them. Armstrong further intended to receive a portion of the reimbursements and then, out of those funds, Armstrong intended to pay kickbacks to N.G.
In February 2015, Armstrong wrote two checks – one for $16,418 and the other for approximately $10,000 – to N.G. that were noted as being for “marketing.” In fact, the checks were illegal kickback payments to N.G. in exchange for prescriptions that were not medically necessary.
A co-defendant, Sandy Mai Trang Nguyen, 42, of Irvine, was found guilty by a jury in November 2022 of 21 counts of health care fraud and one count of obstruction of a federal audit. Nguyen was the pharmacist-in-charge at Irvine Wellness Pharmacy.
According to evidence presented at Nguyen’s trial, from late 2014 to May 2015, Nguyen and others under her supervision filled approximately 1,150 compounded prescriptions for pain, scarring and migraines that Tricare reimbursed for tens of thousands of dollars per prescription. Nearly all the prescriptions were sent to the pharmacy by so-called marketers who were paid kickbacks of nearly half of the Tricare reimbursements paid to the pharmacy.
The beneficiaries were solicited to provide their Tricare insurance information for medications they did not seek out or need, and most were never examined by a physician. The prescriptions were electronically sent from marketers or telemedicine businesses and submitted by the pharmacy for reimbursement even though Tricare rules excluded reimbursements for claims based on telemedicine visits and would not, in any event, have been authorized had Tricare known the prescriptions originated based upon the payment of kickbacks.
Nguyen’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 3.
Co-defendants Leslie Andre Ezidore, 53, of West Los Angeles, and Alexander Michael Semenik, 51, of Las Vegas, have pleaded guilty to felony charges in this case and await sentencing.
The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; the Defense Criminal investigative Service; the FBI; the Amtrak Office of Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation; the United States Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration; the California Department of Insurance; and the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Aveis and Ali Moghaddas of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Former Chicago Public Schools Employee Sentenced to 18 Months of ProbationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a former Chicago Public Schools employee to 18 months of probation after he pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
PEDRO SOTO, 48, of Chicago admitted in a plea agreement that he intentionally misled the FBI while the agency was conducting a criminal investigation into Soto’s interactions with a lobbyist and the lobbyist’s colleague regarding the awarding of a custodial services contract valued at approximately $1 billion. Soto was a member of a CPS evaluation committee tasked in 2016 with recommending to the Chicago Board of Education which company or companies CPS should hire to perform the services, and the lobbyist and the lobbyist’s colleague were assisting one of the companies bidding for the contract. Soto admitted in the plea agreement that he repeatedly provided non-public information to the lobbyist’s colleague concerning the award of the contract, and that he had done so, in part, because the lobbyist’s colleague had promised to extend various benefits to Soto. Soto further admitted that in 2019 he intentionally made false statements to the FBI when he denied having provided the lobbyist’s colleague with inside information about the awarding of the contract.
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Soto 18 months of probation, along with a $3,000 fine and 100 hours of community service on March 16, 2023.
The sentence 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 Chicago Board of Education Inspector General’s Office provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet Bhachu and Michelle Kramer.
Former Bureau of Prisons Corrections Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Assaulting Inmate in Los Angeles JailRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former corrections officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) who sexually assaulted a woman in custody was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison.
Jose Viera, 49, of Monterey Park, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who ordered Viera immediately remanded into custody. Judge Wright also scheduled a June 20 restitution hearing in this case.
Viera pleaded guilty in May 2022 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Viera was a BOP corrections officer assigned to work at Metropolitan Detention Center-Los Angeles (MDC-LA), a federal prison which holds male and female pre-trial detainees and persons serving custodial sentences. In his role as corrections officer, Viera was required to uphold the Constitution and ensure the safety and security of persons housed at MDC-LA.
In December 2020, Viera was assigned to supervise incarcerated women who were quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure and infection. During the morning of December 20, 2020, Viera entered the cell of the victim, who was in COVID-19 isolation, as he had done on previous occasions to bring her breakfast. Instead, Viera laid down next to the victim in her bed, sandwiching her between his body and the wall. Then, he sexually assaulted her. Viera committed this assault despite knowing that the victim did not consent and that his actions violated her constitutional rights.
When the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) conducted a voluntary interview of Viera about the sexual assault allegations, Viera lied to federal agents about his misconduct.
“By breaching his duty of trust, Viera harmed not only the victim, but also the system of justice he was entrusted to serve,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office will continue in its mission to ensure that no one is above the law, regardless of their position, and that victims receive justice.”
“A corrections officer’s job is to ensure the safety and security of those in custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Instead, the defendant’s actions did just the opposite, destroying this woman’s sense of peace and trust in law enforcement. We hope this sentence provides a measure of justice to the victim and a reminder to would-be offenders that the Justice Department is committed to ensuring that those who work in federal prisons and abuse their positions of authority by sexually assaulting people in their care will be held accountable.”
“Mr. Viera abdicated his duty and obligation to treat the prisoners in his care with dignity,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI prioritizes cases involving abuse under the color of law and works with our partners to bring justice to those who deny others their Constitutionally protected rights.”
“Viera abused his power and sexually assaulted the inmate in her cell while she was extremely vulnerable in COVID-19 isolation,” said Special Agent in Charge Zachary Shroyer for the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s sentencing shows that Correctional Officers that abuse inmates will be brought to justice.”
The FBI and DOJ-OIG investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted this case.
Former BOP Corrections Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting a Woman in Federal Custody in Los AngelesRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), was sentenced to 120 months and three years of supervised release today in federal court in the Central District of California for sexually assaulting a woman in custody.
Jose Viera, 49, was sentenced for one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law for sexually assaulting a woman in custody in December 2020. He entered his guilty plea on May 24, 2022.
According to court documents, at the time of the assault, Viera was a BOP corrections officer assigned to work at Metropolitan Detention Center-Los Angeles (MDC-LA), a federal prison that holds male and female pre-trial detainees and persons serving custodial sentences. In his role as corrections officer, Viera was required to uphold the U.S. Constitution and ensure the safety and security of persons housed at MDC-LA. In March 2022, Viera was placed on administrative leave.
In December 2020, Viera was assigned to supervise incarcerated women who were quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure and infection. During the morning of Dec. 20, Viera entered the cell of the victim, who was in COVID-19 isolation, as he had done on previous occasions to bring her breakfast. On that morning, Viera laid down next to the victim in her bed, sandwiching her between his body and the wall. Then, he sexually assaulted the victim. Viera committed this assault despite knowing that his actions violated her constitutional rights. When the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), and the FBI conducted a voluntary interview with Viera about the sexual assault allegations, Viera lied to federal agents about his misconduct.
“Law enforcement officials must be held accountable when they abuse their authority and exploit their power to sexually assault the very people they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant’s actions destroyed this woman’s sense of peace, caused incalculable pain, and shattered her trust in law enforcement. We hope this sentence stands as a reminder to would-be offenders that the Justice Department is committed to holding officials accountable when they sexually assault people held inside jails and prisons.”
“By breaching his duty of trust, Viera harmed not only the victim, but also the system of justice he was entrusted to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “My office will continue in its mission to ensure that no one is above the law, regardless of their position, and that victims receive justice.”
“Viera abused his power and sexually assaulted the inmate in her cell while she was extremely vulnerable in COVID-19 isolation,” said Special Agent in Charge Zachary Shroyer for the DOJ-OIG, Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s sentencing shows that Correctional Officers that abuse inmates will be brought to justice.”
“Law enforcement officers are charged with upholding civil rights. The defendant in this case completely abused his position of power,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is dedicated to protecting the American people and pursuing justice on behalf of victims in cases like this.”
The DOJ-OIG Los Angeles Field Office and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Rybarczyk for the Central District of California and Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney and former Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Federal Judge Sentences Mint Hill Man to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of A MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced Brandon Grunwald, 47, of Mint Hill, N.C., to 360 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Upon release from custody, Grunwaldt will also be placed on supervised release for 20 years and will be required to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board in any state or jurisdiction where he works or resides.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Joseph Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and today’s sentencing hearing, between February 16 and October 31, 2020, Grunwaldt secretly recorded a minor on five different occasions while the minor was undressing and showering. The Mint Hill Police Department initiated an investigation into Grunwaldt after the minor reported discovering a cell phone hidden in the bathroom recording the minor while using the shower. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized Grunwaldt’s cell phones and other electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the devices by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that Grunwaldt created and possessed five videos that depicted the minor using the shower and undressing. Law enforcement also determined that Grunwaldt frequently visited a website with pornographic videos similar to those he made. On February 15, 2022, a federal jury convicted Grunwaldt of five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
In announcing today’s sentence, Judge Conrad said that Grunwaldt’ s offense involved some of the most vile and disturbing conduct he has seen.
Grunwaldt is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI and the Mint Hill Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Spaugh, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Tennessee Man and Kentucky Woman for Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on March 8, charging a Tennessee man with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The indictment further charged that the defendant conspired with a Kentucky woman to commit that crime.
According to the indictment, between Aug. 8 and 11, 2022, Portier Q. Govan, 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, used force, threats of force and coercion to compel an adult woman to engage in commercial sex. The indictment also charges Govan and Brittany R. Howard, 24, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, with entering into an agreement to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.
Govan made his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky on March 20, 2023. Howard is expected to make her initial appearance later this week. If convicted of sex trafficking, Govan faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to life imprisonment. If convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, Govan and Howard face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The Bowling Green Police Department and the FBI Louisville Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
The FBI is asking anyone with information about Portier Govan or Brittany Howard to contact the FBI Bowling Green Resident Agency at (270) 781-4734. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Tennessee Man and Kentucky Woman for Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on March 8, charging a Tennessee man with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. The indictment further charged that the defendant conspired with a Kentucky woman to commit that crime.
According to the indictment, between Aug. 8 and 11, 2022, Portier Q. Govan, 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, used force, threats of force and coercion to compel an adult woman to engage in commercial sex. The indictment also charges Govan and Brittany R. Howard, 24, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, with entering into an agreement to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.
Govan made his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky today. Howard is expected to make her initial appearance later this week. If convicted of sex trafficking, Govan faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to life imprisonment. If convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, Govan and Howard face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The Bowling Green Police Department and the FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
The FBI is asking anyone with information about Portier Govan or Brittany Howard to contact the FBI Bowling Green Resident Agency at (270) 781-4734. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.