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Thursday 20 October 2022
Stevens Point Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Alexander Kucharski, 21, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 5 years in prison for distributing child pornography. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 12 years of supervised release.
Kucharski was arrested after law enforcement determined that he was creating and administering numerous Kik chat-groups devoted to exchanging child pornography. Whenever a chatroom would get shut down due to the nature of the content, he would open a new one. Each of these rooms had 50 members before they were shut down. Judge Peterson found that by administering these chat rooms, the defendant facilitated the continued victimization of numerous children.
The charge against Kucharski was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Stevens Point Police Department, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, and Plover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2021, Clifton Earl Jiles, 31, purchased the firearm, stating on the ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer of the firearm, however he was not. Jiles admitted to making false statements in this way to purchase at least nine firearms. Jiles also admitted he gave one of the firearms to an individual who was legally unable to possess one.
Jiles pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of false statement during the purchase of a firearm. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.
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Springfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation EnterpriseRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., woman became the fifth defendant today to plead guilty in federal court to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise that victimized at least three children.
Angela Marie Brown, 39, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise from Jan. 1, 2017, to Nov. 6, 2019.
By pleading guilty today, Brown admitted that she engaged in a series of felony violations, including the sexual exploitation of a minor and receiving and distributing child pornography. Those felony violations, constituting three or more separate incidents and involving more than one minor victim, comprise a child exploitation enterprise.
Co-defendants Kevin Grant McMillan, 35, Christine Marie Rossiter, 36, and Amber Marie Baley, 38, all of Springfield, and Casie Dee Rice, 52, of Branson, Mo., have also pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The federal investigation began in May 2019 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified law enforcement that McMillan had uploaded three files of child pornography through his Gmail account. The Springfield Police Department was also investigating McMillan in a separate case involving an 8-year-old victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 2. Springfield investigators identified additional Google accounts that contained child pornography.
On Nov. 6, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at McMillan’s residence, where they contacted a second, 15-year-old victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1, and a 17-year-old minor. Officers seized five laptops, two hard drives, an Apple iPad, a cell phone, and seven USB/micro SD cards. A forensic analyst found images of child pornography depicting Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, and a third victim, a toddler identified in court documents as Jane Doe 3. There were a total of 27,542 pornographic images and videos of subjects whose age is difficult to determine and child erotica. There was a total of 682 images and videos of bestiality pornography. There were 111 videos and images of child exploitive animated pornography located on the devices.
Investigators also found MMS messages between McMillan and Brown, who lived with him on and off for a few years, from January 2017 until April 2019. McMillan said he wanted to drug and sexually assault Jane Doe 1 (who was 13 years old at the time). Brown said she would be interested in assisting him in drugging and raping children and adult women. McMillan also sent Brown sexually explicit images of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 3. They exchanged incest-related pornography, bondage pornography, bestiality pornography, child pornography, and child erotica. They also had conversations about having sexual contact with children and about having children together and impregnating them.
Investigators found Facebook conversations in which McMillan and Brown extensively discussed engaging in sexual contact with other individuals, including children.
Under federal statutes, each of the five defendants is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Southern Ohio woman admits to embezzling $700k from employerRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Sardinia, Ohio, woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to stealing more than $700,000 from the family-owned business for which she worked.
Tina Coday-Townes, 49, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, Coday-Townes previously served as the office manager for a business in Clermont County. In that role, she was responsible for accounts payable and bookkeeping, including inputting and sending data to a third-party payroll company.
The defendant admitted that from 2013 until 2019, she wrote checks using an employers’ signature stamp to pay off her personal credit cards. Coday-Townes made false entries into the accounting database, indicating the checks were to vendors rather than to her personal credit cards.
In addition, Coday-Townes entered overtime hours for herself, even though she was ineligible for overtime as a salaried employee.
As part of her plea agreement, Coday-Townes will pay $697,000 in restitution to her former employer, $11,500 to the State of Ohio for fraudulently paid unemployment benefits, and $35,000 to West American Insurance Company.
Coday-Townes was arrested by federal agents in April 2021.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.
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Six Individuals Charged with Conspiring to Act as Illegal Agents of the People's Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
An eight-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging a total of seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—Quanzhong An, his daughter Guangyang An, Tian Peng, Chenghua Chen, Chunde Ming, Xuexin Hou, and Weidong Yuan—with participating in a scheme to cause the forced repatriation of a PRC national residing in the United States. The lead defendant, Quanzhong An, allegedly acted at the direction and under the control of various officials with the PRC’s government’s Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection (Provincial Commission)—including Peng, Chen, Ming, and Hou—to conduct surveillance of and engage in a campaign to harass and coerce a U.S. resident to return to the PRC as part of an international extralegal repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.”
Quanzhong An and Guangyang An were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. The remaining defendants remain at large.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants engaged in a unilateral and uncoordinated law enforcement action on U.S. soil on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China, in an effort to cause the forced repatriation of a U.S. resident to China,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The United States will firmly counter such outrageous violations of national sovereignty and prosecute individuals who act as illegal agents of foreign states.”
Mr. Peace thanked the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations for its work on the case.
“The victims in this case sought to flee an authoritarian government, leaving behind their lives and family, for a better life here. That same government sent agents to the United States to harass, threaten, and forcibly return them to the People's Republic of China. The actions we allege are illegal, and the FBI will not allow adversaries to break laws designed to protect our nation and our freedom,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
As alleged in the indictment, the defendants participated in an international campaign to threaten and intimidate John Doe-1, a resident of United States, and his family to force John Doe-1 to return to the PRC. These efforts were part of “Operation Fox Hunt,” an initiative by the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security to locate and repatriate alleged fugitives who flee to foreign countries, including the United States. The PRC government has targeted these alleged fugitives and their families to compel cooperation with the PRC government and self-repatriation to the PRC. The PRC government has taken such law enforcement actions on U.S. soil in a unilateral manner without approval, of or coordination with, the U.S. government.
Quanzhong An, who is a businessman operating in Queens, New York, and the majority shareholder of a hotel in Flushing, acted as the primary U.S.-based liaison for the Provincial Commission’s targeting of John Doe-1 and his family members, including his son, John Doe-2, both in the United States and in the PRC. As part of the scheme, various PRCbased conspirators forced a relative in the PRC (John Doe-3) to travel from the PRC to the United States in September 2018 to meet with John Doe-2 and convey threats that were intended to coerce John Doe-1’s return to the PRC. Yuan—John Doe-3’s superior at the PRC’s State Administration of Taxation—escorted John Doe-3 from the PRC to the United States, under the guise of a visit with a tour group.
On September 11, 2018, John Doe-2 met with John Doe-3 at a restaurant in Queens. In the recorded meeting, John Doe-3 explained that he had been forced to travel to the United States by the Provincial Commission, which wanted to repatriate the 100 most wanted fugitives, a group that purportedly includes John Doe-1. Yuan then joined John Doe-2 and John Doe-3 at the restaurant and indicated that he had been “tasked to relay the message” to John Doe-1 that the “leadership in China would like to encourage the elite overseas Chinese to return” and that the PRC government had already caused the repatriation of 80 of the 100 most wanted fugitives. Yuan explained that he had made “a special trip here,” as John Doe-1’s issue needed to be resolved “sooner or later,” and John Doe-1 needed to return to the PRC.
PRC-based defendants and coconspirators also engaged in a pattern of harassment targeting John Doe-1’s family members. In November 2017, Hou wrote John Doe-2 warning him that “coming back and turning yourself in is the only way out.” Hou further threatened that “avoidance and wishful thinking will only result in severe legal punishments.”The PRC government also harassed John Doe-1 and John Doe-2 through the filing of a lawsuit in New York State court, alleging that John Doe-1 had stolen funds from his former PRC based employer and that John Doe-2 had knowledge of and benefitted from his father’s scheme.
In a series of recorded meetings in 2020, 2021, and 2022, Quanzhong An repeatedly met with John Doe-2 and attempted to persuade John Doe-2 to cause the return of John Doe-1 to the PRC. In these meetings, Quanzhong An acknowledged that he is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which enforces the rules and regulations of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abroad. At various times, he attributed his instructions to Chen, Ming, and Peng and acknowledged that the Fox Hunt operation was motivated by the PRC government’s need to “save their faces” and repatriate as many fugitives as possible.
In the meetings, Quanzhong An admitted that the civil lawsuit filed against John Doe-1 and John Doe-2 would be withdrawn if John Doe-1 returned to the PRC. He stated that “they are still suing you to place additional pressure on you” and “will keep pestering you through a lawsuit” because the cost of it “really is a drop in the bucket for a country to spend $1 billion or $0.8 billion to meet the political task assigned by the Central Government.”
Quanzhong An admitted that he was acting as an agent of the Provincial Commission to increase his standing in the PRC. During his meetings with John Doe-2, Quanzhong An repeatedly transmitted threats on behalf of the PRC government. If John Doe-1 did not return, the PRC government would “keep pestering you, [and] make your daily life uncomfortable,” in addition to actions to “target and monitor” John Doe-1’s relatives in the PRC. On another occasion, he stated that “they will definitely find new ways to bother you” and “it is definitely true that all of your relatives will be involved.”
As set forth in the detention memorandum, Quanzhong An met with John Doe-2 again on September 29, 2022. During this meeting, Quanzhong An pressed for John Doe-1 to execute an agreement to return to the PRC in advance of the CCP’s 20th National Congress,
which began on October 16, 2022. As part of such agreement, Quanzhong An sought a written confession from John Doe-1, which would be submitted directly to the PRC government.As also alleged in the indictment, Quanzhong An and Guangyang An engaged in a money laundering scheme involving millions of dollars from the PRC to the U.S. financial system. As part of the scheme, the defendants and their coconspirators repeatedly lied to U.S.
financial institutions to obscure the ownership and control of the funds. As a result of the money laundering charge, the government has charged forfeiture allegations against Quanzhong An’s hotel in Flushing, New York, as well as the defendants’ residences in Roslyn, New York.The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of acting as agents of the PRC, Quanzhong An faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. The money launderingconspiracy charge against Quanzhong An and Guangyang An carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. The remaining charges, including conspiring to act as agents of the PRC and conspiring to commit interstate and international stalking, carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Sara K. Winik, and Antoinette N. Rangel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney
Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Morris of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.The Defendants:
QUANZHONG AN
Age: 55
Roslyn, New YorkGUANGYANG AN
AGE: 34
Roslyn, New YorkTIAN PENG
AGE: 38
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINACHENGHUA CHEN
Age: Unknown
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINACHUNDE MING
Age: Unknown
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINAXUEXIN HOU
Age: 52
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINAWEIDONG YUAN
Age: 55
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINAE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR- 460 (KAM)
Seventeen Western Washington Tribes awarded DOJ grants for a variety of public safety programsRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Nick Brown announced today that 17 tribes in Western Washington will get millions of federal dollars to support programs focused on community safety. The grant awards total more than $15.8 million.
“It is fitting that on this day when we wear purple to show support for victims of domestic violence, we are announcing significant grants to tribal communities to assist victims of crime, in ways that are tailored by the tribes to fit the needs of their citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Some of these grants strengthen the re-entry services for enrolled tribal members leaving jails and prisons – this is critical work for increasing community safety.”
Sixteen of the Western Washington tribes will receive grants to improve services for victims of crime. The tribes and grant amounts are:
- Quinault Indian Nation - $1,889,616
- Lummi Nation - $504,456
- Cowlitz Indian Tribe - $410,246
- Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe - $347,240
- Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe - $347,240
- Nooksack Indian Tribe - $410,246
- Squaxin Indian Tribe - $410,246
- Nisqually Indian Tribe - $504,456
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians - $918,594
- Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians - $347,240
- Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe - $347,240
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community - $410,246
- Tulalip Tribes of Washington - $609,742
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe - $504,456
- Port Gamble S’Kallam Tribe - $410,246
- Skokomish Indian Tribe - $410,246
Two tribes successfully competed for grants to improve re-entry services for tribal citizens leaving jails or prisons. The Port Gamble S’Kallam tribe was awarded $750,000 and the Puyallup Tribe was awarded $899,672.
Two tribes focused applications on drug treatment and drug courts: The Makah Indian Tribe was awarded $742,362 for its Tribal Healing and Wellness Court. The Lummi Nation was awarded $1 million to expand care and reduce barriers for those suffering with addiction and mental health issues. It’s Drug Court and Family Court services will be enhanced.
Two tribes were awarded grants under the Support for the Adam Walsh Act program. The Skokomish Tribe was awarded $396,361 for implementation if its sex offender registration program. Similarly, the Nooksack Tribe was awarded $376,841 for its sex offender registration program.
Two tribes were awarded grants to assist them in reviewing and reinvigorating their tribal justice programs. The Swinomish Tribe was awarded $105,000 to help develop a comprehensive strategic plan for its justice system, and an additional $450,000 for a new advocacy program for child victims of crime. The Port Gamble S’Kallam tribe was awarded $1,211,379 for physical improvements to its justice center, including its Behavioral Health Center.
Finally, the Quinault Indian Nation was awarded $637,923 to enhance its ability to share data with the National Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Seven Chicago-Area Residents Charged with $16 Million COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Seven Chicago-area residents have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining at least $16 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
The defendants engaged in fraud related to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) – one of the sources of relief under the CARES Act, according to a 33-count indictment returned Wednesday in the Northern District of Illinois. Charged with wire fraud and money laundering are MAJA NIKOLIC, 34, of Brookfield, Ill., MARKO NIKOLIC, 34, of La Grange, Ill., NEBOJSA SIMEUNOVIC, 37, of Lyons, Ill., MIJAJLO STANISIC, 33, of Willowbrook, Ill., BRANKO ALEKSIC, 33, of Chicago, MILICA SUMAKOVIC, 31, of Chicago, and DORDE TODOROVIC, 32, of Chicago.
Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; R. Sean Fitzgerald, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Homeland Security Investigations; J. Russell George, Inspector General of the Treasury Department Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago; and Hannibal Ware, Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Malgorzata Tracz Kozaka and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kavitha J. Babu.
The EIDL program provided loan assistance or grants to cover working capital and other operating expenses. According to the indictment, the defendants in the spring and summer of 2020 submitted to the SBA fraudulent applications in which they claimed to own and operate various businesses in Illinois and Florida. The applications and supporting documents contained materially false representations about the defendants’ companies, including the number of purported employees, revenue amounts, and other expenses, the indictment states.
The indictment alleges that the defendants caused the SBA to disburse at least $16 million in EIDL loans and grants into bank accounts controlled by the defendants and others. The defendants allegedly used the money to make cash withdrawals and transfers for their personal benefit.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Each wire fraud and money laundering charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Seattle man, who worked as a babysitter, charged with production and possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 23-year-old Seattle resident is charged federally with production and possession of child pornography following an investigation by the Seattle Police Internet Crimes against Children task Force. Antonio Diego Brugnoli-Baskin was taken into custody this morning and appeared in federal court today. Brugnoli-Baskin was previously charged in King County Superior Court.
Brugnoli-Baskin remains detained pending additional hearings.
According to the criminal complaint, Brugnoli-Baskin came to the attention of law enforcement when electronic service provider Google Inc. reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an account later associated with Brugnoli-Baskin had uploaded 129 images of child sexual abuse. Law enforcement sought to determine the owner of the account and location of the account owner. Brugnoli-Baskin was contacted by law enforcement in early September 2022. Law enforcement learned he has been offering his services as a baby-sitter.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison to life in prison. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the FBI.
Any families whose children may have been left in Brugnoli-Baskin’s care can contact SPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children detective [email protected].
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Deputy King County Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation crimes in federal court.
Red Lake Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release for sexually abusing a minor announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2020, within the exterior boundaries of the Red Lake Indian Reservation, Keith Allen Ehrich, 40, engaged in sexual acts with a minor.
Ehrich pleaded guilty on July 7, 2022, to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District court by Senior Judge Michael J. Davis.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Red Lake Police Department, the Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander D. Chiquoine and Chelsea A. Walcker prosecuted the case.
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Rapid City Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender.
Gary Lewis Halfe, a/k/a Gary Redstone, age 66, was indicted in August of 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on October 19, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Between February 2020 and May 2020, in Rapid City, Halfe failed to register as a sex offender as required of him under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The charge is merely an accusation and Halfe is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Halfe was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Raleigh County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jamie Vass, 45, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 7, 2022, Vass sold approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at her Beckley residence. Vass further admitted to selling approximately 47 grams of methamphetamine to the confidential informant at her residence on March 27, 2022.
On April 5, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Vass’ residence and found quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as a Ruger LC 9mm pistol, a Lorcin L22 .22-caliber pistol and $827. Vass admitted to telling the officers that she had been selling approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine every four days and approximately 7 grams of fentanyl per week from December 2021 until her arrest on April 5, 2022.
Vass is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-115.
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Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – James Pratt, 30, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2021, Pratt was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement officers in Beckley. Pratt possessed a Browning, model Hi-Power, 9mm pistol found by officers in the vehicle during the traffic stop.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Pratt knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions in Raleigh County Circuit Court for first-degree robbery on August 5, 2010, and child abuse resulting in injury on July 29, 2013.
Pratt is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani 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.
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. 5:22-cr-106.
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Portales man pleads guilty to production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Augustin Gallegos pleaded guilty on Oct. 17 to production of child pornography. Gallegos, 37, of Portales, New Mexico, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has been scheduled for Jan. 17, 2023.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, from approximately March 31, 2018, to May 16, 2019, Gallegos knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a child, identified as Jane Doe, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Gallegos engaged in sexual acts with the victim, who was approximately nine years old at the time, and photographed the acts. The images were later located on a memory card inside a Sony Cybershot digital camera.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Gallegos faces 18 to 23 years in prison and must register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory, with assistance from the Texico (New Mexico) Police Department, Portales Police Department, and 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program is a nation-wide network of task forces including over 90 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in New Mexico dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to Internet crimes against children.
The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Admits Role in Health Care Fraud and Criminal HIPAA SchemesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former pharmaceutical sales representative admitted his role in two criminal conspiracies involving health care fraud and wrongful obtaining and disclosure of patients’ protected personal health information, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced today.
Keith Ritson, 42, of Bayville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiring to wrongfully disclose and obtain patients’ individually identifiable health information in violation of the criminal provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2014 to 2016, Ritson was a pharmaceutical sales representative who promoted compound prescription medications and other medications. Compound medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient is allergic to a dye or other ingredient.
Ritson and his conspirators discovered that certain insurance plans with pharmacy benefit management services – including plans for state and local government employees and eligible dependents – covered compound medications from a Louisiana pharmacy, Central Rexall Drugs, Inc. (Central Rexall). The pharmacy benefits administrator paid prescription drug claims and then billed the state of New Jersey and other insurance plans for the amounts paid. The conspirators identified that certain compound medication prescriptions would reimburse by insurance for thousands of dollars on a monthly basis. Ritson received a percentage of the amount that Central Rexall received from the pharmacy benefits administrator for the prescriptions he arranged. Ritson recruited individuals with insurance plans that covered the compound medications to receive the medications, regardless of their medical need for them. Ritson himself also received medically unnecessary compound medication prescriptions. Ritson earmarked patients who had insurance plans that covered the compound medications at the medical practices of Dr. Frank Alario.
As a pharmaceutical sales representative not associated with Alario’s medical practices, Ritson was not permitted to access and obtain patients’ individually identifiable health information and protected health information. As part of the criminal HIPAA scheme, Alario permitted Ritson to have significant access to his medical offices, medical files, and patient information. Ritson was present in the office both during and outside normal business hours and had access to areas of the office restricted to staff, including areas with patient files and office computers. Ritson looked up patients’ information in files and on office computers to determine if they had insurance that covered the compound medications. Ritson then would earmark files in advance so that Alario knew to whom to prescribe the medications. Ritson also joined Alario in patient exam rooms during appointments, which gave patients the impression that Ritson was employed by or affiliated with the medical practices. Ritson used patients’ confidential information to fill out prescription forms that Alario authorized, and then Ritson received commissions on those prescriptions. Alario pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2022, to conspiring to wrongfully disclose patients’ individually identifiable health information. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7, 2023.
Three former executives of Central Rexall – Christopher Kyle Johnston, 43, of Mandeville, Louisiana; Trent Brockmeier, 60, of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Christopher Casseri, 54, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana – were charged on Sept.17, 2020, in a 24-count indictment with health care and wire fraud and other offenses. The charges against them remain pending. A fourth former pharmacy executive, Hayley Taff, 39, of Hammond, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy on Aug. 12, 2020, and is scheduled to be sentenced March 13, 2023. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment against Johnston, Brockmeier and Casseri are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ritson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the health care fraud conspiracy count, and a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $50,000 fine on the criminal HIPAA conspiracy count. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2023.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; IRS Office of Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina O. Hud of the Criminal Division; R. David Walk, Jr., Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the Criminal Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Ward, Senior Trial Counsel of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit.
Otsego County Man Sentenced to Approximately 7 Months’ Imprisonment for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Michael Hawkins, age 60, of Maryland, New York was sentenced today to just short of seven months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York, and Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
During his earlier change of plea hearing, Hawkins acknowledged that he was convicted in 1997 in Rhode Island of First-Degree Child Molestation and Second-Degree Child Molestation. He served 20 years in prison for those crimes and became required to register as a sex offender under SORNA for 25 years upon his release. At the time of his arrest in this case, Hawkins had been residing in Otsego County New York for several months after having relocated from Rhode Island and did not report his change of address to the Sex Offender Registry in either jurisdiction, as required by SORNA.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
October is Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett joins the United States Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), advocates, survivors, victim service providers, justice professionals, police and first responders, and communities across the United States in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Domestic violence is more prevalent than many realize. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence in the United States every year. If each adult experienced only one incident of violence, an adult in the United States would suffer violence every three seconds. Because domestic violence is a pattern, many experience repeated acts of abuse annually. That means an incident of abuse happens far more frequently than every three seconds.
We can do better. We must do better. The women and men of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky are committed to holding people accountable for acts of domestic violence by enforcing federal laws designed to address the issue. “We will use all the tools at our disposal—and leverage our partnerships with local law enforcement and prosecutors—to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice,” noted United States Attorney Bennett.
Today is #PurpleThursday, a national day of action. Please join us in our commitment to end domestic violence.
If you need help, contact the National Hotline (@ndvhofficial) at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or the Strong Hearts Hotline (@strongheartsdv) at 1-844-762-8483. #DVAM2022
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Nurse Practitioner Admits to Perpetrating $4.37 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme; Will Forfeit the Profits of His FraudRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A registered nurse and nurse practitioner who fraudulently billed commercial health insurers and Medicare nearly $4.4 million for services that he falsely claimed to have provided to patients in Rhode Island, New York, and Florida, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in federal court in Rhode Island to an eleven-count information charging him with health care fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and causing the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Alexander A. Istomin, 56, admitted that he routinely submitted fraudulent claims for in-person patient services that he falsely claimed to have performed at his offices in Rhode Island, New York, and Florida. In some instances, the patients that Istomin claimed he met with in person were out of the country at the time of the alleged visits. On many other occasions that he claimed to have been seeing patients, Istomin himself was either in a different state or another country, often times in Russia. The investigation also determined that the supposed office that Istomin maintained in East Greenwich, and to which he had some payments mailed, was a non-existent medical practice at which no medical services were provided.
Additionally, Istomin admitted to a federal judge that he waived copayments for some Medicare patients, despite being aware that waiving copayments is prohibited. By waiving copayments that patients otherwise would be responsible for, Istomin induced his patients not to report his fraudulent billing to Medicare.
Istomin also admitted that he carried out schemes in which he would use patient names and information to get prescriptions to be filled at pharmacies. He arranged for those prescriptions to be returned to him so that he could then distribute those drugs to individuals other than those in whose names the prescriptions were filled.
According to a signed Plea Agreement filed with the court, in addition to pleading guilty to charges of health care fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and causing the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, Istomin will forfeit $4,379,158.98, the sum of money equal to the amount he received from perpetrating health care fraud.
Istomin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2023. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Milind M. Shah and Mary Rogers.
The matter was investigated the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; and the FBI.
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North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Offense Against A MinorRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – David William McConnell, 39, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 15, 2022, until May 30, 2022, McConnell used the Kik messaging app, exchanged text messages and communicated by phone with a woman he believed to be a single mother of 11-year-old and 13-year-old daughters in Beckley, West Virginia. During these conversations, McConnell expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the two minor females and teaching the woman to engage in sexual acts with her daughters.
McConnell admitted to telling the woman that he planned to travel from his Charlotte residence to a Beckley hotel to meet her and the two minor females on May 30, 2022. McConnell further admitted to telling the woman that he planned to shower with each of the minor children and engage in sexual acts with both of them. On May 30, 2022, McConnell was arrested in Beckley.
McConnell is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. McConnell must also register as a sex offender.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) West Virginia Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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. 5:22-cr-124.
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Nine Multi-National Cocaine Traffickers IndictedRead the Press Release
A ten-count indictment was unsealed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging defendants Carlos Ernesto Angucho Guerrero, Eduard Mauricio Rendon Agudelo, Clemente Riascos Coral, Luis Fernando Sánchez Isaza, Alejandro Alberto Estupiñan Alzate, Belcy Gomez Murcia, Diego Fernando Ceron Munoz, Jhon Armando Panta Gutierrez, and Carlos Adolfo Meza Sanchez, with an international cocaine-distribution conspiracy that resulted in the attempted distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine destined for the United States.
Estupiñan Alzate was extradited to the Eastern District of New York from Colombia today. The defendant was arraigned this morning before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes, Jr., and ordered detained pending trial.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); New York Division; Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Steven A. Nigrelli, First Deputy Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the charges.
“As alleged, the defendants’ attempt to traffic thousands of kilograms of cocaine into our communities was stopped by the coordinated cross-border efforts of law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is working tirelessly with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to hold these narcotics distributors accountable and dismantle their criminal enterprise.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Direccion Antinarcoticos, Unidad Especializada Contra el Trafico de Cocaina and Sensitive Investigative Unit of the Colombian National Police and the Ecuadorian National Police’s Sensitive Investigations Unit for their assistance.
“This investigation shut down a drug pipeline that shipped multi-ton quantities of cocaine from clandestine laboratories in the jungles of Colombia to the streets of the United States,” said DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino. “I commend the men and women in the New York Strike Force, U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York, DEA Special Operations Division, DEA Bogota Country Office, and the Colombian National Police for their diligent efforts to intercept and identify the organization responsible for trafficking this significant amount of poison.”
“HSI, in collaboration with our partners at the New York Strike Force, leverages every resource across the globe to stem the tide of illegal substances into our communities. It’s a direct result of these multi-lateral relationships that law enforcement successfully disrupted the drug trafficking organization’s capability to profit from threatening our public safety,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Alfonso
“Today’s charges demonstrate that the investigative efforts of New York City law enforcement are far-reaching, precisely focused, and patient,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “As long as individuals – wherever they are based – are involved in illegal narcotics trafficking, the NYPD and our partners will relentlessly work to stop the threat to public safety. I commend and thank all of our local, state, and federal colleagues who took part in this New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation for their tireless efforts in building this strong, multinational conspiracy case.”
As alleged in the charging documents, between December 2016 and October 2017, the defendants belonged to an international drug trafficking organization and conspired to coordinate the transportation of thousands of kilograms of cocaine from laboratories in the rural areas of Cauca and Nariño in southwestern Colombia to the Pacific Coast of Colombia and/or Ecuador. The organization regularly operated in Ecuador, using land routes to transport cocaine from laboratories to the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. To distribute these drugs internationally, the criminal enterprise shipped cocaine via sea vessels, including submarines, in the eastern Pacific Ocean and by land in Central America to Mexico, en route to the United States.
Using intelligence from sources including lawfully intercepted calls and communications, this investigation revealed that these sophisticated criminal co-conspirators operated in multiple countries to coordinate the shipment of thousands of kilograms of cocaine ultimately destined for the United States. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement successfully seized multiple-hundred-kilograms of cocaine traced to this criminal organization.
If convicted, Estupiñan Alzate faces a mandatory term of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York Strike Force. The New York OCDETF Strike Force is housed at the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA; the New York City Police Department; the New York State Police; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; the U. S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Marshals Service; New York National Guard; U.S. Coast Guard; Port Washington Police Department; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. 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. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret Schierberl and Chand Edwards-Balfour are in charge of the prosecution. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia provided valuable assistance in the investigation and with securing the arrest and extradition of Estupiñan Alzate.
The Defendant:
DIEGO FERNANDO CERON MUÑOZ (also known as “Galleta”)
Age: 36
ColombiaJHON ARMANDO PANTA GUTIERREZ (also known as “Gafas”)
Age: 48
EcuadorCARLOS ERNESTO ANGUCHO GUERRERO (also known as “Corleone” and “Flaco”)
Age: 40
ColombiaEDUARD MAURICIO RENDON AGUDELO (also known as “Oz”)
Age: 41
ColombiaCLEMENTE RIASCOS CORAL (also known as “Pastuso”)
Age: 55
ColombiaLUIS FERNANDO SÁNCHEZ ISAZA (also known as “Gym” and “Pechuga”)
Age: 55
ColombiaALEJANDRO ALBERTO ESTUPINAN ALZATE (also known as “Porcelana” and “Armitage”)
Age: 43
ColombiaBELCY GOMEZ MURCIA (also known as “La Senora” and “Jesus”)
Age: 57
ColombiaCARLOS ADOLFO MEZA SANCHEZ (also known as “Lechuga” and “Charly”)
Age: Unknown
EcuadorE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-367 (MKB)
Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for Role in Romance Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kenneth Ogudu, also known as Kenneth Lee, 28, a citizen of Nigeria residing in Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to two years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ogudu was also ordered to pay $324,865.85 in restitution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 2019 to October 8, 2020, Ogudu participated in a romance fraud scheme that defrauded more than 200 victims, many of them elderly, of at least $2.5 million. Ogudu was living in Huntington during part of this conspiracy, from May 2019 to December 2019. The scheme targeted individuals looking for romantic partners, friendship, and other close personal and business relationships on dating websites and other social media platforms. The conspirators created profiles using fictitious names, locations, and images that allowed Ogudu and other co-conspirators to contact victims and cultivate relationships with them. Induced into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship or business relationship with the false personas, the victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas.
Ogudu admitted that he allowed victims to transfer money to his bank account that he knew was from unlawful activity. Ogudu kept some of the money for himself and forwarded some of the money to his co-conspirators via wire transfers or Zelle. Ogudu admitted that he disguised the illegal nature of the money being transferred, adding another layer to the fraud and money laundering scheme. Ogudu further admitted that he and his co-conspirators transferred large sums of their fraud proceeds to offshore accounts. Ogudu obtained funds from at least 12 different fraud victims during the money laundering conspiracy.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and R. Gregory McVey prosecuted the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-68.
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New York Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Transporting Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Armando Daniels, 33, of New York, was sentenced in federal court today in Omaha, Nebraska, for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Daniels to 10 years of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Daniels will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Between January and April of 2021, Daniels (32 years old at the time) communicated with a 15-year-old female (“Victim”) from Sarpy County, Nebraska, via cellular phone and internet applications including Discord. In April of 2021, Daniels drove from his home in New York to pick up Victim and take her to New York. On the evening of April 6, 2021, Daniels arrived in Nebraska, picked up Victim, and began driving her to New York. Victim left her cell phone at home in Nebraska. That evening, when Victim’s family became aware she was missing, they called authorities and Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office instantly began trying to find her.
Using call records associated with Victim, deputies obtained cell phone location data of phones that had recently been in contact with Victim. Located data showed the phones traveling east across Iowa and Illinois. Location data showed that on the evening of April 7, 2021, the phones were in Princeton, Illinois. The investigation later revealed that Daniels sexually assaulted Victim at a hotel in Princeton, Illinois. Surveillance footage from the hotel showed Daniels and Victim together at the hotel.
At about 4 a.m. on April 8, 2021, Indiana State troopers located Daniels and Victim in Elkhart, Indiana. Daniels and Victim were parked in Daniels’s car. Indiana State troopers arrested Daniels.
This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the Indiana State Police, the Suffolk County, New York Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and 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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Laundering Millions from Fraud Schemes Perpetrated by Ghana-Based Criminal EnterpriseRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FREEMAN CELVIN, a/k/a “Celvin Freeman,” was sentenced today to 78 months for his participation in a fraud and money laundering conspiracy based in the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) involving the theft of millions of dollars. On March 30, 2022, CELVIN was convicted after a jury trial of all seven counts against him before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed today’s sentence. CELVIN was previously arrested on February 17, 2021, and has been detained since his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Freeman Celvin used an auto business in New Jersey as a front to launder millions of dollars in fraud proceeds to scam artists in Ghana. The online scams perpetrated by Celvin’s partners in Ghana were lucrative and callous, as they targeted vulnerable, elderly men and women and tricked them into transferring their life savings to the defendant, who then took his laundering fee and sent the money abroad. Today’s sentence demonstrates that money launderers who assist online scammers abroad will be held accountable and brought to justice for their crimes.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
From in or about 2014 through in or about February 2021, a criminal enterprise based in Ghana (the “Enterprise”) committed a series of business email compromises and romance scams against individuals and businesses located across the United States, including in the Southern District of New York. The objective of the Enterprise’s business email compromise fraud scheme was to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds into accounts controlled by the Enterprise through the use of email accounts that “spoofed” or impersonated employees of a victim company or third parties engaged in business with a victim company. The Enterprise also conducted romance scams by using electronic messages sent via email, text messaging, or online dating websites that deluded victims, many of whom were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone, into believing the victim was in a romantic relationship with a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had gained the trust of the victims using the fake identity, they used false pretenses to cause the victims to wire money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when in fact the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise, like CELVIN.
CELVIN received fraud proceeds from victims of the Enterprise in personal bank accounts as well as business bank accounts for his company Freeman Autos LLC, a company purportedly involved in, among other things, automobile sales. The defendant also received fraud proceeds from other U.S.-based members of the Enterprise either by wire transfer or cash deliveries. Once CELVIN received fraud proceeds, he took out a percentage fee and then withdrew, transported, and laundered those fraud proceeds to other members of the Enterprise abroad in Ghana. The defendant primarily laundered the fraud proceeds by using the money to purchase automobiles and other goods and shipping those products to Ghana and elsewhere. The defendant’s transactions had the appearance of legitimate business transactions. This trade-based money laundering scheme was designed to obscure the origin of the fraud proceeds as well as the identity of the ultimate beneficiaries of these schemes.
From in or about 2016 through in or about 2021, CELVIN controlled more than eight bank accounts that had deposits that totaled over approximately $5.7 million during that time period. The vast majority of those deposits consisted of large wire transfers and check or cash deposits from U.S.-based individuals and entities that were victims of the Enterprise’s fraud schemes.
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In addition to his prison term, CELVIN, 48, of East Orange, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and further ordered to forfeit $290,604.15. CELVIN’s co-conspirators, FRED ASANTE and LORD ANING, were previously sentenced to 108 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, earlier this year.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sagar K. Ravi, Katherine C. Reilly, and Mitzi Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.
New Jersey Construction Company Operator Indicted for Tax Crimes and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Newark unsealed an indictment today charging the operator of a New Jersey construction business with tax evasion, employment tax crimes, aiding the filing of false tax returns, and making false statements in bankruptcy.
According to the indictment, Zeki Donuk, of Landing, operated a construction business first under the name Titan Builders LLC and later as Titan Steel Construction LLC (collectively, “Titan”). From at least 2016 through 2019, Donuk allegedly cashed checks payable to Titan instead of depositing them into business bank accounts. Donuk allegedly concealed the cashed checks and did not report them either as gross receipts on Titan’s corporate tax returns, or as income on his or his wife’s personal returns.
According to the indictment, from the third quarter of 2016 through the third quarter of 2017 Donuk also did not collect, account for, or pay over to the IRS employment taxes on behalf of Titan’s employees, despite a legal obligation to do so. For those quarters, Donuk allegedly did not file quarterly employment tax returns on behalf of the businesses.
The indictment charged that in 2019, Donuk allegedly made false statements on documents he filed in a personal bankruptcy case. Specifically, Donuk allegedly concealed from the Bankruptcy Court that he owned a vacation property in Pennsylvania, had signatory authority over certain bank accounts, owed tax debts to the IRS, and operated his construction business as Titan Builders and Titan Steel.
If convicted, Donuk faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count of tax evasion, employment tax violations, and bankruptcy fraud charges and a maximum penalty of three years in prison on each of the counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false tax returns. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nesbit Man Sentenced to Prison for Racist ThreatsRead the Press Release
Oxford, Miss. – A Nesbit man was sentenced today to 2 1/2 years in prison for transmitting a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure the person of another.
According to court documents, Aubrey Suzuki, 21, was communicating on an encrypted messaging platform with members of a white nationalist organization. Authorities were alerted when Suzuki began making threats to accelerate and wage a race war in the United States. Suzuki made numerous statements about Nazi and white supremacist ideology, and also stated:
Honestly I don’t want to be a normal person. I want to breathe revolution. I want to be in the middle of the boondocks with my mates killing n****** sp*** fa***** and blowing up the system.
While investigating the online threats made by Suzuki, agents learned that he was in the process of purchasing an AR-15 rifle from an online dealer. Suzuki was arrested immediately thereafter.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner stated “The defendant in this case made credible threats to shoot members of various minority groups, and then purchased a semi-automatic rifle. While all Americans enjoy a constitutional right to free speech, that right does not include a right to threaten or terrorize other individuals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute such conduct, and the agents and prosecutors who worked to stop this potential mass shooting are to be commended.”FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby remarked, "Mr. Aubrey Suzuki sought to intimidate members of the community through his threats. The FBI prioritizes the protection of civil rights to ensure citizens remain safe without fear of any harm. We remain committed to tirelessly thwarting the nefarious actions of those, like Mr. Suzuki, who intend to impart fear upon citizens based on biases."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton A. Dabbs prosecuted the case.Native of Mexico Indicted on Unlawful Reentry ChargeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Magdiel Perez-Bartolon, age 24, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on illegal reentry charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Perez-Bartolon was removed from the United States on November 28, 2009, through Nogales, Arizona. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after that date, and was located in the United States on September 29, 2022, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime M. Keating is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 2 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.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Morris County Man Indicted on Tax and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man was arrested today by federal agents on charges of tax and bankruptcy fraud, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division announced.
Zeki Donuk of Landing, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with three counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, two counts of tax evasion, five counts of failure to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over trust fund taxes, and two counts of making false statements in bankruptcy proceedings. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Donuk operated a construction business first under the name Titan Builders LLC and later as Titan Steel Construction LLC (collectively, “Titan”). From at least 2016 through 2019, Donuk allegedly cashed checks payable to Titan instead of depositing them into business bank accounts. Donuk allegedly concealed the cashed checks and did not report them either as gross receipts on Titan’s corporate tax returns or as income on his or his wife’s personal returns. From the third quarter of 2016 through the third quarter of 2017 Donuk also did not collect, account for, or pay over to the IRS, employment taxes on behalf of Titan’s employees, despite a legal obligation to do so. For those quarters, Donuk allegedly did not file quarterly employment tax returns on behalf of the businesses. In 2019, Donuk allegedly made false statements on documents he filed in a personal bankruptcy case. Donuk allegedly concealed from the bankruptcy court that he owned a vacation property in Pennsylvania, had signatory authority over certain bank accounts, owed tax debts to the IRS, and operated his construction business as Titan Builders and Titan Steel.
Each count of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of failure to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over trust fund taxes carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of making false statements in bankruptcy proceedings carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit in Newark and Trial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division in Washington, D.C.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Miles City meth trafficker sentenced to six years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Miles City man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Robert George Medina, 39, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement investigating a drug trafficking organization in Miles City arranged for controlled purchases of methamphetamine and a firearm from Medina in November and December 2019. When arrested on Dec. 9, 2019 for a probation violation, Medina was found with 38.4 grams of pure meth.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Middlesex County Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man has been charged in connection with production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Sunil Vaid, 50, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of production of child pornography. He appeared on Oct. 18, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Vaid used multiple fraudulent online personas on a social media platform and several email accounts to target female victims under the age of 18 and solicit them to provide Vaid with nude photos and videos of themselves. Vaid interacted with the victims on the social media platform, then used an email account to communicate with the victims. At different times, he posed as a male who was interested in a romantic relationship and could help them start their modeling careers, a female who could help their careers, and a personal trainer.
The production of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and members of the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrest. He also thanked the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the North Brunswick Police for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Michigan woman admits to role in drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Aaliyah Snowden, of Eastpointe, Michigan, has admitted to her role in methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin drug distribution operation, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Snowden, age 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises.” Snowden admitted to working with another to run an apartment in Star City for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine from April to June 2020.
Snowden faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $500,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zelda E. Wesley and Sarah E. Wagner are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force in partnership with the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City Police Departments. The investigation was also assisted by the following law enforcement partners: the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office; the FBI in Houston, Texas; the Houston Police Department's Multi Agency Gang Initiative; the United States Postal Inspection Service in Houston; and the FBI and DEA in Los Angeles, California.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/25-people-indicted-drug-trafficking-operation-spanned-several-states
Michigan Man Sentenced to Life for Stalking, Sexually Assaulting 14-Year-Old Lubbock GirlRead the Press Release
A Michigan man who stalked and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Lubbock girl was sentenced today to life in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
In June, a jury convicted Thomas John Boukamp, 22, on 16 counts: one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct, one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of enticement of a minor, two counts of receipt of child pornography, ten counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, and one count of cyber stalking. He was sentenced today to U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.
“This man stalked and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old, then had the gall to claim in federal court that their so-called ‘relationship’ was consensual. The child, who bravely faced her abuser in court, asserted in no uncertain terms that his advances were unwelcome. By law, 14-year-olds simply cannot consent to sexual contact with adults. We are immensely proud of this child and hope this sentence brings some solace to her and her family,” U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham said.
"This defendant displayed reprehensible behavior, which was countered by the bravery of the victim that so courageously testified against him," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for victims and their families, hold perpetrators accountable and protect others from harm."
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Boukamp met the child, identified in court as Jane Doe, on the instant messaging platform Discord when she was just 13 years old.
The pair exchanged a series of messages, in which he threatened to hurt her family if she disclosed their budding “relationship.”
Mr. Boukamp later transported Jane Doe, then 14 years of age, to his home in Michigan, where he sexually assaulted her, forcibly removed her braces with pliers, strangled, and hit her.
The victim’s father testified at trial that when she ran away to Michigan, his terrified daughter brought her baby blanket with her.
The victim herself also testified at trial and described the abuse she suffered at Boukamp’s hands.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors introduced into evidence a recorded jailhouse phone call in which Mr. Boukamp insisted he would not apologize for “quote unquote ‘raping a 14-year-old.’”
“I like teenage girls! They don’t like that I like that,” he said of federal agents and prosecutors. “I frankly don’t care what the morality of this current time and place says. It’s not wrong. There’s nothing wrong about it. And they’re not going to ever convince me of its wrongness. So up theirs. I hate this nation.”
Reminded that authorities were monitoring his jailhouse calls, he threatened, “if you’re listening to this, yeah, your family is going to die.”
“Play this at my [expletive] sentencing! Do it! I hate you!” he said, before hurling specific invectives at a federal judge and two federal prosecutors.
At the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorneys also introduced into evidence a letter Mr. Boukamp wrote to a family member noting his victim’s supposed “betrayal” and asking for help to escape prison.
The victim’s father submitted a statement to the court describing the trauma his daughter continues to endure:
“Her childhood was ended too soon. He took that from her,” he said. “She struggles with her self-esteem. I don’t know if she’ll ever be able to truly love herself again… We hope that she can be okay. We hope that she can make it through this. We know that she will never be the same. We know that she will never get her innocence back.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas and Detroit Field Offices, the Lubbock Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and the Antrim County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Child Advocacy Center of the South Plains. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Woolam and Jeff Haag prosecuted the case.
Miami Federal Prison Nurse Charged with Smuggling Drug-Laced Documents to InmatesRead the Press Release
MIAMI -- Ruben Montanez-Mirabal, 32, has made his first appearance in federal court to face charges that he accepted bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband, including illegal drugs, into the Federal Detention Center in Miami (FDC-Miami) and delivering it to inmates. Montanez-Mirabal is a licensed registered nurse who has worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at FDC-Miami since February 2020.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, from November 2021 to August 2002, Montanez-Mirabal smuggled drug-laced legal documents and other prohibited items to inmates at FDC-Miami in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes and other things of value. It is alleged that the documents that Montanez-Mirabal delivered to inmates were sheets of paper that had been soaked in liquids containing illegal drugs, then dried. The inmates who received the laced paper from Montanez-Mirabal then resold it to other inmates at FDC-Miami, says the complaint.
It is alleged that in addition to money, Montanez-Mirabal accepted other bribes, such as the free use of a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce.
The criminal complaint charges Montanez-Mirabal with bribery, providing contraband in prison, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. His bond hearing is set for October 21 at 10:00 a.m. in federal duty magistrate court in Miami. If convicted, Montanez-Mirabal faces up to 45 years in prison.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Juan Antonio Gonzalez, FBI Miami Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt, and Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General, Miami Field Office Special Agent in Charge James Boyersmith made the announcement.
FBI Miami and DOJ-OIG Miami are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-mj-03762.
Methamphetamine Distributor Sentenced to over 7 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Steven John Gallardo, 43, of Boise, Idaho was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, between March and July 2021, Gallardo was involved in the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine in the Boise area. On three occasions, Gallardo sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. In July 2021, officers obtained a search warrant for Gallardo’s residence. Inside they found more methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and $11,129 in drug proceeds.
Following Gallardo’s arrest, he informed officers that he had been selling methamphetamine to supplement his income for over a year because he did not want to work a seven-dollar-an-hour job. He further stated that he was selling approximately one pound of methamphetamine every one to two weeks prior to his arrest.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also sentenced Gallardo to five years of supervised release, which will commence upon completion of his prison sentence. Gallardo pleaded guilty to the crime on July 26, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Joshua D. Hurwit, of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, Meridian Police Department, Boise Police Department, and Ada County Sheriff’s Office, which led to charges.
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Man Who Fired Fatal Shots in Reality Show Star’s Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy Sentenced to 32 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis man who killed a reality show star’s nephew to 32 years in prison.
Travell Anthony Hill, 31, pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and one count of murder-for-hire in the death of Andre Montgomery Jr. on March 14, 2016.
In court Thursday, Hill re-affirmed what he’d admitted in his plea agreement. He admitted meeting with Montgomery’s uncle, James Timothy Norman, on the day of the murder. He admitted understanding that Norman wanted Montgomery killed, and that a woman would provide him Montgomery’s location so he could commit the murder.
Hill then obtained a .380-caliber handgun and fatally shot Montgomery, 21, at 3964 Natural Bridge Avenue in St. Louis after the woman lured Montgomery outside. Hill disposed of the gun and his phone and was paid $5,000 two days later.
Hill testified at Norman’s trial in September, before jurors convicted Norman, 43, of murder-for-hire and insurance fraud charges.
In court Thursday, Montgomery’s brother, Darren Griggs spoke of the effect of the murder on his family, saying, “We’re not whole and we never will be again.”
Judge Ross called Hill’s ambush of Montgomery “incredibly cold and callous” before stating Hill’s sentence.
Norman, of Jackson, Mississippi, is scheduled to be sentenced March 2.
Norman and Montgomery appeared on the reality show Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s. Norman arranged for his nephew’s murder after fraudulently obtaining a life insurance policy worth $450,000 on Montgomery.
Ellis and the insurance agent, and Waiel “Wally” Rebhi Yaghnam, 44, both pleaded guilty on July 22. Ellis, an exotic dancer from Memphis, Tennessee who was paid $10,000 for locating Norman, pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire conspiracy charge. Yaghnam pleaded guilty to a charge of wire and mail fraud conspiracy and admitted submitting five separate life insurance applications containing numerous false statements about Montgomery and then helping Norman file a claim.
Yaghnam is scheduled to be sentenced November 1 and Ellis on January 10.
The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angie Danis and Gwendolyn Carroll are prosecuting the case.
Man Indicted for St. Louis CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from East St. Louis, Illinois was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for a July 12 carjacking in St. Louis.
Brandon Best, 20, was indicted on a carjacking charge and a charge of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Charging documents say Best was one of two men who took a woman’s 2011 Kia Optima at gunpoint early on the morning of July 12. The woman told officers of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department that she was confronted by two armed men when she opened the door of her car, which had been parked in the 1000 block of Geyer Avenue. One man demanded her keys before fleeing in her vehicle.
The victim’s Kia was spotted driving into East St. Louis and chased by police there back to St. Louis, where Best was arrested near Interstate 44 and South Jefferson Avenue. A black, semi-automatic 9mm pistol was found nearby, charging documents say.
Best was charged by complaint October 4 with the same offenses.
The carjacking charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The firearm charge is punishable by at least seven years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
These cases were investigated by the FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel is prosecuting the case.
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 John Williams, age 42, of Kingston, Luzerne County, pleaded guilty on October 19, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Williams admitted to conspiring with his co-defendant, Lee Crawford, age 59, of Wilkes-Barre, and with others, to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area between July 2020 and February 2021. Williams and Crawford were indicted by a grand jury in March 2021. The charges against Crawford are still pending.
The charges against the defendants resulted from an investigation conducted by the Kingston Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Luzerne County Drug 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.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin and fentanyl 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 and fentanyl related offenses.
Under federal law, Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to a maximum sentence of forty 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. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Lowell Money Manager Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Clients of Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday to engaging in a scheme to defraud his clients of millions of dollars.
Steven Xigoros, 55, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of filing a false tax return. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 23, 2023. Xigoros was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021.
Between 2015 and 2021, Xigoros used his position as an accountant, tax preparer, and investment advisor to misappropriate millions of dollars from his clients. He induced clients to entrust their money to him to make various investments, to purchase securities, and to lend him money for purported business ventures. Xigoros then used those funds for his own expenses, including to make payments against his gambling debts. In order to deceive his clients about the fact that he had stolen their money, Xigoros made a series of false statements about how their money was invested and when he would repay it. In total, Xigoros defrauded his clients of more than $3.5 million, including the entire life savings of one elderly couple, who entrusted $1.3 million to him to make investments on their behalf. By failing to report the misappropriated funds as income, Xigoros also failed to pay taxes due and owing of approximately $1.16 million to the Internal Revenue Service.
While on pre-trial release, Xigoros was arrested at the Newark Liberty International Airport, boarding a flight to Greece in an attempt to flee from prosecution.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed for wire fraud, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and David Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
Law Enforcement Announces Creation of Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team and its First ProsecutionRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO— The United States Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations today announced the creation of, and first case brought by, the newly formed Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Formed in September 2022, the group known as “FAST” is a multi-agency task force led by Homeland Security Investigations working in conjunction with state and local agencies to target significant fentanyl distributors in San Diego County. FAST’s mission is to identify and disrupt distribution networks in San Diego County that are responsible for fatal and non-fatal overdoses. FAST will support and provide additional resources to build upon the work of the already-existing DEA’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) to ensure that the most significant fentanyl dealers and those who sell deadly doses of fentanyl face prosecution.
Today, federal authorities brought their first FAST prosecution. James Michael Bradford was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford on a single count of distribution of fentanyl. The complaint alleges that Bradford distributed fentanyl resulting in the death of a victim identified in court records as M.R.S.
On October 12, 2022, Carlsbad Police found the victim at a home in Carlsbad. After investigating the scene, law enforcement identified Bradford as M.R.S.’s source of supply, and they arrested Bradford later that day. Following his arraignment, Bradford was detained. Bradford’s next court date is a Preliminary Hearing set for November 3, 2022.
“FAST is an important step in targeting drug dealers in San Diego County driving our unacceptable number of fatal fentanyl overdoses,” according to U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Together with our state and federal partners, our Office will prosecute those engaging in this deadly trade.”
“By leading this critical task force, HSI’s unwavering commitment to closely work with our law enforcement partners to coordinate, deconflict, and prioritize individuals and criminal organizations responsible for supplying fentanyl that results in overdose deaths remains our priority,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “Opioid deaths in San Diego are becoming all too common; we must address this issue at the root by utilizing all of our law enforcement tools as a united team.”
“The creation of FAST brings collaboration between law enforcement to a new level in the fight against fentanyl overdoses and the ongoing work being done to save lives across San Diego County” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Addressing the fentanyl overdose epidemic in our community remains a priority for my office through prosecution, prevention and education. FAST leverages the cooperative power of all the agencies involved to put fentanyl suppliers out of business and hold them accountable for the destruction they're causing to families in our region.”
Carlsbad Police Department Assistant Chief Christie Calderwood stated: “I want to thank our detectives involved in this case at the Carlsbad Police Department as they investigate overdose deaths while we navigate the fentanyl crisis affecting our nation. Our department prioritizes educational and investigative efforts, as well as collaborative work like this with our local law enforcement partners, and all the agencies involved in the newly formed FAST team. We appreciate the U.S Attorney’s Office amazing teamwork, while we move forward with an overarching goal of saving lives and arresting those that bring deadly criminal activity into our community.”
“Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug, one that we did not see ten years ago, and one that is incredibly potent in even very small amounts. Nearly every American community has been impacted by the opioid crisis,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “The creation of FAST utilizes multi-agency collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners boosting our effectiveness to disrupt the illicit importation of this deadly narcotic. We need to aggressively continue to investigate and bring to justice those who are contributing to this epidemic.”
“San Diego law enforcement will continue to protect our community by targeting dangerous drug dealers driving addiction,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe.
“Removing fentanyl from our communities and those who distribute it are our top priorities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The FBI will continue to partner with our state and local agencies to bring to justice those who endanger public health and safety by propagating this deadly poison.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 22-MJ-3812
Jason Michael Bradford Age: 48 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl – Title 18, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
AGENCY
Carlsbad Police Department
Drug Enforcement Administration
Enforcement and Removal Operations
Escondido Police Department
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Homeland Security Investigations
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
United States Customs and Border Protection
United States Marshals Service
Laurel Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Kilograms of Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Marijuana Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallaher sentenced Michael Fisher, a.k.a. “Mark Wilson,” age 47, of Laurel, Maryland, today to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a large-scale drug trafficking organization involving fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana shipped from California to Maryland through the U.S. mail. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Gallagher found that approximately 120 kilograms of cocaine, 6.5 kilograms of fentanyl and 50 kilograms of marijuana were attributable to Fisher as part of the conspiracy.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division.
According to his guilty plea, in November 2019, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking conspiracy that used the U.S. mail to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan area. During the investigation, court-authorized wiretaps of Fisher and his co-conspirator, Dwight Antonio Pitts, revealed conversations in which they discussed the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana with each other and with other individuals. Further, law enforcement conducted surveillance and observed drug transactions by both Fisher and Pitts.
During the conspiracy, Fisher and Pitts traveled to California multiple times to obtain kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl. Once in possession of the narcotics, they mailed the narcotics back to Maryland for distribution.
In May 2020, during drug interdiction activities at a United States Postal Service processing and distribution center in Maryland, postal inspectors interdicted multiple parcels, including a parcel bound for a location in Laurel, Maryland that was identified as a location maintained by Fisher. A search warrant was obtained for this parcel which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
Between June 1, 2020 and June 3, 2020, investigators intercepted several telephone calls between Fisher and Co-Conspirator 2 arranging a drug transaction. On June 3, 2020, Fisher and Co-Conspirator 2 met at a location in Hanover, Maryland. Investigators at that location observed Co-Conspirator 2 retrieve an object, later determined to be a heat-sealed bag containing approximately 501 grams of fentanyl, from Fisher. Co-Conspirator 2 placed the object into the trunk of his vehicle and left the location. Later that day, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Co-Conspirator 2’s vehicle and recovered the heat-sealed bag of fentanyl that Fisher distributed to Co-Conspirator 2 during their meeting.
On August 4, 2020, court-authorized cell phone location data showed Pitts’s cell phone in the area of 3828 North Peck Road, El Monte, California. Two days later, USPIS received an alert that two Priority Mail parcels had been sent from the El Segundo, California Branch Post Office on August 5, 2020. The parcels were bound for locations in Maryland associated with Fisher and the conspiracy. The two parcels were seized by investigators in Maryland before they were delivered. A search warrant was authorized for both parcels, which were found to contain more than two kilograms of cocaine and more than two kilograms of fentanyl., respectively Security footage from the El Segundo Post Office showed that Pitts was at the post office at the time the parcels were mailed.
On August 13, 2020, investigators followed Fisher to a parking lot at 3828 North Peck Road, El Monte, California—the same location where Pitts’s cell phone was located several days earlier. Fisher parked his car and a white Honda SUV with a female driver and a male passenger parked next to Fisher. Investigators saw Fisher remove a box from the trunk of his vehicle, place the box inside the Honda SUV, then return to his vehicle and leave the area. The Honda drove away in a different direction. Investigators conducted a traffic stop of the Honda a short time later and obtained consent to search the vehicle from the driver and from the passenger, Co-Conspirator 3. Investigators located the box Fisher had placed in the Honda, which contained packages of bulk currency, totaling approximately $190,020.
Co-Conspirator 3 then gave investigators consent to search his residence. Two duffle bags containing approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine were seized, along with two additional duffle bags that contained approximately $193,980 in narcotics proceeds. The amount of cash located in the residence did not include the approximately $190,020 that Fisher provided to Co-Conspirator 3 earlier that day.
A few days later, search warrants were executed at six locations in Maryland associated with Fisher and Pitts and at a residence in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was used by Fisher. In addition, on September 1, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at a house in Hanover, Maryland—an additional residence used by Fisher. Investigators seized 15 firearms—six firearms from locations associated with Pitts and nine firearms from locations associated with Fisher—along with kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. In total, during the investigation law enforcement seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 6.5 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 50 kilograms of marijuana. In addition, investigators seized approximately $1,501,308, which was proceeds from the sale of narcotics.
Investigators also executed search warrants on cellular telephones seized from Fisher and others. One of Fisher’s cell phones contained photographs of a drug ledger sent to Fisher from a narcotics source of supply. The ledger confirmed that between November 2019 and May 2020, the conspiracy obtained more than 115 kilograms of cocaine and 2 kilograms of fentanyl in California and mailed the drugs to Maryland for distribution. In several instances, the dates and quantities on the ledger correspond to CCTV footage of Fisher in a Los Angeles Post Office mailing packages to Maryland. In total, between July 2019 and August 2020, the conspiracy was responsible for mailing approximately 121 parcels from Los Angeles-area Post Offices to locations in Maryland.
Co-defendant Dwight Antonio Pitts, age 47, of Hanover, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on March 1, 2022.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) 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 that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The overdose crisis continues to devastate states and local communities. If you believe you may need substance use disorder treatment or recovery services, please call 1800-662-HELP (4357). You may also visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland for further information and resources on opioid awareness here.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the MSP, USPIS, and DEA for their work in the investigation and thanked the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles DEA for their assistance. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.
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Kansas Men Charged in Gun Store BurglariesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men have been charged through criminal complaint in Kansas City, Kansas, on charges related to alleged firearms thefts. Deldrick Bryant, 19, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Benjamin Custis, 19, are charged with two counts of burglary of a licensed firearms dealer.According to a criminal complaint, on October 16, 2022, the Basehor Police Department responded to a commercial burglary at Free State Gun Company. The business owners told officers an estimated 50 firearms were missing including rifle platforms, shotguns, and pistols.
Also according to the complaint, on October 17, 2022, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at Up In Arms, a gun shop in De Soto. After reviewing their inventory, the owners estimated 25 pistols were taken.
Surveillance videos from both scenes show a white Ford pickup was used to breach the businesses by ramming the front doors. On October 18, the pickup truck was spotted in Kansas City, Kansas and investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) began tailing the vehicle. When law enforcement officers attempted to make contact, the driver hit a parked car and fled into Kansas City, Missouri where Kansas City, Missouri police officers were able to apprehend the occupants in the vehicle. Several firearms reported stolen from the businesses were recovered inside the pickup.
ATF agents searched the home where Bryant resides and recovered more stolen weapons.
The Basehor Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jacksonville Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced today to 164 months in prison for trafficking heroin and fentanyl from September 2020, through January 2021. On June 8, 2022, Steven Rolle, also known as “Bank Rolle” pled guilty to two counts of heroin and fentanyl trafficking. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Rolle, who has a prior federal conviction for trafficking in heroin, two assault on a female convictions, and an armed robbery conviction, began trafficking in large amounts of fentanyl less than a year after completing his federal supervised release.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle found that Rolle was responsible for selling at least 172 grams of fentanyl and 27 grams of heroin, maintained a premises for manufacturing or distribution of the drugs, possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking operations, and attempted to obstruct the Government’s investigation by intimidating a witness through Facebook posts. After Rolle completes his federal prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for 48 months.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Jacksonville Police Department, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, and the ATF Wilmington Resident Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Duffy prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00018-BO-1.
Hudson County Man Arrested for Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning for unlawfully using victims’ personal identification information to steal over $1 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Marc Lazarre, 37, of Secaucus, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Lazarre is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From September 2021 through October 2022, Lazarre executed a scheme to enrich himself by using unlawfully obtained bank account and personal identity information to open accounts in victims’ names without their knowledge. He caused the transfer of funds from the victims’ actual financial accounts to the accounts he opened and then withdrew the funds. Lazarre also unlawfully obtained checks made out to victims, used fraudulent identification documents to open accounts in names almost identical to the victims’ names, and then cashed the unlawfully obtained checks. Lazarre caused more than $1 million in actual losses.
The bank fraud count is punishable by a maximum of 30 years in prison. The aggravated identity theft count carries an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison. Both counts have a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; and special agents of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Barnes of the Economic Crimes Unit and Matthew Belgiovine of the General Crimes Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Houston Man Guilty of Trafficking Drugs through Southeast TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Michael Tran, 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson.
According to court documents, on Oct. 15, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Tran for unsafely crossing through the Exxon station parking lot, located at the corner of College Street and Major Drive in Beaumont. Tran was stopped nearby at South Major Drive and Willow Bend Road, where law enforcement immediately noticed an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 6.4 pounds of marijuana, 305 grams of fentanyl pills, 305 grams of methamphetamine pills, and $50,392.00 in cash, located in a false compartment in the backseat. Tran was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2022 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.
“If you are dealing dangerous drugs in our community we are coming after you,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “These drugs are capable of killing many people. There is a dangerous wave of illegal fentanyl poisoning our citizens. Please talk about this, discuss this, share this message with others to save a life. In 2022, fentanyl is suspected of killing more Americans than car crashes and gun crimes combined. This is a problem.”
Tran faces up to 40 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.
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Hammond Man Sentenced to Imprisonment for Wire Fraud related to Covid-19 relief fundsRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Jeffrey Boylett Jr, 40, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon DeGuilio following his guilty plea to wire fraud in connection with obtaining Covid-19 relief funds to which he was not entitled announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Boylett was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and was ordered to pay $109,900 in restitution.
According to documents filed in the case, in April of 2020, Boylett submitted a fraudulent application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program that was enacted to assist small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Boylett’s application fraudulently claimed that he was the owner of a health service business that had five employees. Based on his application, the SBA provided him with $109,900 in the form of a grant and a forgivable loan. Law Enforcement subsequently learned that Boylett fabricated the business in order to obtain money he was never qualified to receive.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath and former Assistant United States Attorney Molly Kelley.
Hamilton County Man Indicted for COVID Relief Fraud Involving Fraudulently Obtained Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Desmond Dondre Williams (34, Jasper) with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Williams faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count and payment of restitution to the United States government.
According to the indictment, Williams submitted two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. Both PPP loan applications falsely claimed that Williams operated as the “Personal Chef” for his business, “Tastebudz.” Throughout the loan applications, Williams made multiple false statements regarding his purported gross income and expenses associated with operating Tastebudz. In support of his two PPP loan applications, Williams submitted a false IRS Form 1040 “Profit or Loss From Business” for Tastebudz. It contained false statements about operating expenses for his purported business. In truth, Tastebudz did not exist. In reliance on the false statements in his two PPP loan applications, the Small Business Administration funded two PPP loans for Tastebudz, totaling $39,327.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Grand Island Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Phillip D. Goetz, 45, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Goetz to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a three- year term of supervised release.
On May 12, 2021, Omaha Police received a tip from a confidential source that Goetz was going to meet co-defendant Markisha Hill to purchase methamphetamine near 72nd and Grover Streets in Omaha. Detectives conducted surveillance and observed Goetz approach and enter a vehicle driven by Hill. The vehicle went to various locations, but at a Taco Bell, Goetz got out of Hill’s vehicle and entered a beige Jeep Grand Cherokee which left the area briefly before returning. At this point, Goetz got out of the Jeep and returned to Hill’s vehicle.
Officers followed Hill’s vehicle, observed a traffic infraction, and stopped the vehicle on I-80 near the 60th Street exit in Omaha. Law enforcement saw Goetz attempt to conceal something in his jacket. After consent to search the SUV by Hill was denied, officers deployed a trained drug sniffing dog. The dog alerted on the SUV. Officers searched and located one pound of methamphetamine in the SUV’s center console.
Co-defendant Markisha Hill has pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and will be sentenced on December 9, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Gang Member Recently Released from Prison for Murder Receives 7 Years in Federal Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Anthony Jackson, 32, of Wilmington, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine. Jackson was released from North Carolina State prison in January 2021 after serving an approximately 12-year sentence for Second Degree Murder. According to the evidence, on November 2, 2021, Jackson and another person arrived at a location in Brunswick County where Jackson sold an undercover ATF agent 27 grams of actual methamphetamine. Following the sale, law enforcement received information that Jackson had driven to the deal with a semi-automatic handgun in the center console of his car.
This is part of “Operation Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabe Diaz and Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-00039-BO-1.
Former Green Haven Correction Officer Charged with Falsifying Records in Connection with Assault of InmateRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that TAJ EVERLY, a former correction officer at Green Haven Correctional Facility, was charged in White Plains federal court with falsifying records in connection with EVERLY’s May 28, 2020, assault of an inmate at Green Haven. EVERLY was arrested this morning and presented before Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Taj Everly abused his position as a correction officer by assaulting an inmate and then lying about his actions in an incident report. This Office has no tolerance for correction officers like Everly who, as alleged, commit acts of violence against inmates in their care and custody and then lie to cover their tracks. Today’s indictment should send a clear message that this Office will continue to investigate and prosecute civil rights abuses wherever we find them.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As we allege today, Mr. Everly violated his oath to uphold the law when he willingly filed a false report to conceal his malicious actions. Individuals in a position of authority in our criminal justice system are not above the law. The FBI will continue to investigate these types of allegations and ensure those who abuse their power are held accountable.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]
On May 28, 2020, EVERLY, who was then a correction officer at Green Haven Correctional Facility, located in Stormville, New York, assaulted an inmate (the “Inmate”) in the care and custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”). As the Inmate exited a room at Green Haven, EVERLY approached the Inmate and, without provocation, punched the Inmate, causing both EVERLY and the Inmate to fall to the ground.
After the assault, EVERLY prepared an incident report, in which EVERLY falsely stated that the Inmate had first punched him and that EVERLY responded with force.
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EVERLY, 32, of Cortlandt Manor, New York, is charged with falsifying records in connection with a federal investigation, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Keenan is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Former Government of Bolivia Minister Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The former Minister of the Government of Bolivia pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to launder bribes he received in exchange for corruptly helping a U.S. company win a $5.6 million contract from the Bolivian government.
According to court documents, Arturo Carlos Murillo Prijic, 58, of Bolivia, received at least $532,000 in bribe payments from a Florida-based company in exchange for helping that company secure an approximately $5.6 million contract to provide tear gas and other non-lethal equipment to the Bolivian Ministry of Defense. Murillo and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds of the bribery scheme through the U.S. financial system, including bank accounts in Miami, Florida, where Murillo received approximately $130,000 in cash bribe payments.
Murillo’s co-conspirators – Sergio Rodrigo Mendez Mendizabal (Mendez), Luis Berkman, Bryan Berkman, and Philip Lichtenfeld – previously pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2021, to their roles in this scheme. Mendez and Luis Berkman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and Bryan Berkman and Lichtenfeld pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). On June 9, 2022, Mendez was sentenced to 42 months in prison, Luis Berkman was sentenced to 38 months, Bryan Berkman was sentenced to 28 months, and Lichtenfeld was sentenced to 26 months.
Murillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and will be sentenced on a date to be announced. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI’s Fort Lauderdale Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Jill Simon and Assistant Chief Gerald M. Moody Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Former Government of Bolivia Minister Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
The former Minister of the Government of Bolivia pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to launder bribes he received in exchange for corruptly helping a U.S. company win a $5.6 million contract from the Bolivian government.
According to court documents, Arturo Carlos Murillo Prijic, 58, of Bolivia, received at least $532,000 in bribe payments from a Florida-based company in exchange for helping that company secure an approximately $5.6 million contract to provide tear gas and other non-lethal equipment to the Bolivian Ministry of Defense. Murillo and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds of the bribery scheme through the U.S. financial system, including bank accounts in Miami, Florida, where Murillo received approximately $130,000 in cash bribe payments.
Murillo’s co-conspirators – Sergio Rodrigo Mendez Mendizabal (Mendez), Luis Berkman, Bryan Berkman, and Philip Lichtenfeld – previously pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2021, to their roles in this scheme. Mendez and Luis Berkman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and Bryan Berkman and Lichtenfeld pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). On June 9, 2022, Mendez was sentenced to 42 months in prison, Luis Berkman was sentenced to 38 months, Bryan Berkman was sentenced to 28 months, and Lichtenfeld was sentenced to 26 months.
Murillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michel E. Buckley of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI’s Fort Lauderdale Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Jill Simon and Assistant Chief Gerald M. Moody Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Former Detroit Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit BriberyRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A former Detroit Police Officer pleaded guilty today to conspiring with a Detroit police lieutenant to commit bribery in connection with corruption in the towing industry in Detroit, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Daniel Vickers, 54, of Livonia, Michigan, spent his career as a police officer in Detroit. During the plea hearing, Vickers admitted to conspiring with Detroit Police Lieutenant John F. Kennedy. Kennedy at one point commanded the department’s Public Integrity Unit, a division of the Internal Affairs Division responsible for investigating reports of law violations and professional misconduct by police officers and other city employees. The two conspired to commit bribery by accepting money and other items of value in exchange for Kennedy using and promising to use his influence as a supervisor to persuade other officers to make tow referrals to a towing company in violation of the city’s ordinance and Detroit Police Department policy. Under the city’s towing rotation, qualifying private towing companies are called by the police to tow cars that are seized by the police or reported stolen. Kennedy and Vickers were aware that by making towing referrals directly to a towing company which was not on the city’s towing rotation, they were violating the city’s rules and an ordinance which prohibit a towing company from receiving towing referrals if they are not on police department’s towing rotation. Kennedy pleaded guilty to the bribery conspiracy in August 2022.
Vickers also admitted that he and Kennedy conspired to solicit and accept thousands of dollars in cash, cars, car parts, car repairs, and new carpeting for Vickers’ home, in exchange for providing the towing company that Kennedy was investigating with information about the status of the Public Integrity Unit’s case.
In total, between February 2018, and June 2018, Vickers accepted over $3,400 in bribe payments from the towing company. In addition, Kennedy accepted bribes amounting to $14,950 during the course of the conspiracy.
Based on his conviction for bribery conspiracy, Vickers faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Vickers pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Laurie J. Michelson.
Vickers and Kennedy were charged as part of the government’s investigation known as “Operation Northern Hook.” Northern Hook is an investigation of corruption within the government and the Police Department of the City of Detroit relating to the towing industry and other matters. Thus far, six defendants have been charged in the probe.
United States Attorney Ison said, “Today’s plea represents our commitment to holding our law enforcement officers to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our citizens deserve nothing less. We thank Chief of Police James White for his assistance in this investigation.”
“Daniel Vickers used his official position to personally benefit himself. His actions are not in keeping with the integrity and professionalism exhibited by the Detroit Police Department day in and day out,” said James A. Tarasca of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI appreciates the partnership and cooperation of Police Chief James White as we continue to address public corruption in the City of Detroit.”
“The actions of these former officers are completely unacceptable for a Detroit Police officer,” said Detroit Police Chief James E. White. “We appreciate U.S. Attorney Ison’s work to rid our city of corruption and will continue to collaborate in any investigation of alleged wrongdoing by our officers. It is a top priority of my administration to ensure that Detroit citizens can rely on our officers to act ethically.”
The case was investigated by the Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, which is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Detroit Police Department, Michigan Attorney General's Office, Customs & Border Protection U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown and was originally indicted by United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.