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24 October 2022
Van Wert County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – John Charles Coy, 72, of Van Wert County, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, October 20, 2022, to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp II after Coy pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, in November 2020, local, state and federal law enforcement authorities began an investigation into Coy after receiving information that Coy, a long-time softball coach of minors in Marion County, may have been involved in sexual conduct involving several minors.
As a result of the investigation, authorities discovered that Coy possessed child pornography. On July 26, 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Coy’s residence in Van Wert County. During the search, authorities seized a cell phone belonging to Coy. Further investigation revealed that Coy had saved images of child pornography to his cloud account for his cell phone, including of a minor under the age of twelve.
This case was investigated by the Toledo Division of the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Marion Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey B. Tangeman.
Vallejo Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Possessing Crack Cocaine for DistributionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lewis Clarence McCutcheon, 51, of Vallejo, was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 20, to nine years in prison for possessing crack cocaine for distribution, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 15, 2017, officers executed a search warrant at McCutcheon’s home in Vallejo and seized over 1.83 kilograms of powder cocaine and 1.56 kilograms of crack cocaine packaged for sale, as well as two digital scales and packaging materials.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Berkeley Police Department’s Special Investigations Bureau with assistance from the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Sayler Fleming Announces District Election Officers Responsible for Handling Election Day ComplaintsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States Attorney Sayler A. Fleming announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) Hal Goldsmith and Jennifer Roy will lead the efforts of her office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8, 2022, general election. AUSAs Goldsmith and Roy have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the Eastern District of Missouri, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
U.S. Attorney Fleming said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
U.S. Attorney Fleming stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs/DEOs Goldsmith and Roy will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. They can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (314) 539-7733.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by calling Election Crimes Coordinator Special Agent Steve Singleton at (314) 589-3211.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
U.S. Attorney Fleming said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
United States Attorney Appoints District Election Officers in Nationwide Federal Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - United States Attorney Erek L. Barron announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSAs) Leo J. Wise and Geonard Butler will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSAs Wise and Butler have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the District of Maryland, and in that capacity they are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Barron said, “The Department of Justice works tirelessly to ensure that every citizen is able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Nor will we tolerate unlawful threats of violence to election officials and staff, who are integral to our country’s election process. The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We will bring to justice those who seek to corrupt that right.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Barron stated that: “In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Wise and Butler will be on duty in Maryland while the polls are open. AUSA Wise can be reached by the public at 410-209-4800 and AUSA Butler can be reached at 301-344-4433. Any allegation of election fraud or voting rights violations will be reviewed in consultation with state and federal authorities where appropriate, and we will pursue any case that warrants prosecution.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 410-265-8080.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
United States Attorney Barron said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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United States Attorney Announces Results of Efforts to Combat Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved to date by the Middle District of Florida to combat human trafficking. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. During fiscal year 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted 11 defendants for human trafficking offenses and has obtained $120,861.98 in restitution for survivors. The defendants include perpetrators directly involved in trafficking, to include recruiters, enforcers, facilitators, buyers/customers, advertisers, and individuals who financially benefit from the exploitation. (See chart below for criminal case details.)
“The fight against human trafficking, a crime that harms some of the most vulnerable members of our society, is one of the highest priorities of the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “We are committed to vindicating the rights of human trafficking crime victims by bringing their traffickers to justice and working to ensure that survivors have access to restitution, services, and assistance that are needed to rebuild their lives.”
Combatting human trafficking is also key priority for the Department of Justice. Earlier this year, the Attorney General released the Department of Justice’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. The Strategy lays out the Department’s multi-year plan to combat all forms of human trafficking; focusing on efforts to protect victims of trafficking, prosecute human trafficking cases, and prevent further acts of human trafficking. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Representative cases prosecuted by the Middle District of Florida this year include:
United States v. Henry Lee White, III – Henry Lee White, III (27) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to over 24 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; transportation of an individual in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution; coercion and enticement; and being a felon in possession of ammunition. White was also ordered to pay $87,121.98 in restitution for his crimes. According to court documents, between June 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021, White used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to cause the victim to engage in commercial sex. During that time, White trafficked the victim within the Middle District of Florida, and transported the victim from Florida to Georgia so that the victim could engage in prostitution. The victim was recovered during a Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force operation in January 2021.
United States v. Jamel Muldrew – Jamel Muldrew (33) pleaded guilty and was sentenced over 21 years in prison for sex trafficking a minor, coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of racketeering, and transporting a person interstate for prostitution. Muldrew was also ordered to pay $27,740.00 in restitution for his crimes. According to court documents, an undercover officer arranged to engage in a commercial sex act with a minor victim at a local hotel. Muldrew drove the minor victim to the hotel, dropped her off, and drove to a nearby mall parking lot to wait. Law enforcement officers arrested Muldrew in the mall parking lot and searched him, recovering multiple fictious identity documents for both himself and the minor victim. Subsequent investigation revealed that, between February and April 2021, Muldrew had trafficked the minor victim across the country to engage in prostitution, including in Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and ultimately Florida, where he was arrested. The minor victim was recovered during a Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force operation in April 2021.
United States v. Bladimir Moreno et al. – Bladimir Moreno (55) pleaded guilty to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and he is awaiting sentencing. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Moreno has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $173,125.44 to his victims. A federal grand jury had previously returned a six-count indictment against Moreno and others for their roles in a federal racketeering conspiracy that victimized Mexican H-2A workers who harvested fruit, vegetables, and other agricultural products in the United States. According to court documents, Moreno owned, operated, and managed Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), a farm labor contracting company, that functioned as a criminal enterprise that forced victims to work in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina. After charging Mexican farm workers exorbitant sums to come into the United States on short-term H-2A agricultural visas to work for LVH, Moreno and his co-conspirators coerced over a dozen workers into providing long hours of physically demanding agricultural labor, six to seven days a week, for very little pay. Moreno and his co-conspirators used various coercive means, including imposing debts on workers; confiscating the workers’ passports; subjecting workers to crowded, unsanitary and degrading living conditions; verbally abusing and humiliating the workers; threatening workers with arrest, jail, and deportation; isolating workers by preventing them from interacting with anyone other than LVH employees; and threatening to physically harm the workers’ family members back in Mexico if the workers failed to comply with their demands. Moreno and his coconspirators also harbored H-2A workers in the United States after their visas had expired, committed visa fraud and fraud in foreign labor contracting. Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty to related offenses. Christina Gamez (43) a U.S. citizen, who worked for LVH as a bookkeeper, manager, and supervisor, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and agreed to pay $9,353.91 in restitution. Efrain Cabrera Rodas (32) a citizen of Mexico, who worked for LVH as a recruiter, manager, and supervisor, also pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and agreed to pay $24,732.20 in restitution. Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza (45) a citizen of Mexico, who worked for LVH as a manager and supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation.
Some of the prosecutions described above were investigated by the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. Through this multi-agency partnership, members of the task force work together to identify victims, investigate and prosecute these crimes, and support survivors by directing them to victim-centered, trauma-informed services. More information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/humantrafficking.
In addition to vigorously prosecuting traffickers and customers of human trafficking, the USAO-MDFL is also committed to providing education, prevention, and technical and training assistance. Most recently, in June 2022, the USAO-MDFL led a presentation during the Circuit 5 Human Trafficking Symposium. Attendees were trained on how to identify signs of human trafficking as well as on tactics used by traffickers. Attendees included approximately 278 law-enforcement officers, prosecutors, juvenile-justice and health-care professionals, and faith-based groups, located in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties.
The cases identified in the chart below have been investigated by the following agencies: Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program, the Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project, and Selah Freedom.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
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.
Human Trafficking Prosecutions in FY 2022
Charged Cases
Defendant(s) (Age)
Charge(s)
Penalties
Type of Human Trafficking
Tampa Division
Mateus Fernandes Evangelista Da Silva (22) *
Attempted Child Sex Trafficking; and
Possession of Child Pornography
Mandatory Minimum: 10 years
Maximum: Life
Child Sex Trafficking
George Thayer (51)
Child Sex Trafficking;
Production of Child Pornography; and
Possession of Child Pornography
Mandatory Minimum: 15 years
Maximum: Life
Child Sex Trafficking
These human trafficking cases in the Tampa Division are being prosecuted by AUSAs Lisa M. Thelwell and Ilyssa Spergel.
Jacksonville Division
Nicholas Christopher Carwise (31)
Attempted Child Sex Trafficking; and
Enticement of a Minor
Mandatory Minimum: 10 years
Maximum: Life
Child Sex Trafficking
This human trafficking case from the Jacksonville Division is being prosecuted by AUSA Ashley Washington.
Adjudicated Cases
Defendant(s) (Age)
Charge(s)
Penalties
Type of Human Trafficking
Tampa Division
Leslie Reio (25) *
Conspiracy to Commit Child Sex Trafficking
Mandatory Minimum: 10 years
Maximum: Life
Child Sex Trafficking
Bladimir Moreno (55)
Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor;
RICO Conspiracy
Maximum: 20 years
Labor Trafficking
Christina Gamez (43)
RICO Conspiracy
Maximum: 20 years
Labor Trafficking
Efrain Cabrerra Rodas (32)
RICO Conspiracy
Maximum: 20 years
Labor Trafficking
Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza (45)
Conspiracy to Obstruct Federal Investigation
Maximum: 20 years
Labor Trafficking
These human trafficking cases in the Tampa Division are being prosecuted by AUSAs Erin C. Favorit and Ilyssa Spergel, and Trial Attorneys Avner Shapiro, Maryam Zhuravitsky, and Matthew Thiman of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Jacksonville Division
Mark Manuel Marino (27)
Attempted Child Sex Trafficking;
Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography
Mandatory Minimum: 15 years
Maximum: Life
Child Sex Trafficking
This human trafficking case in the Jacksonville Division is being prosecuted by AUSA Kelly S. Karase.
Sentenced Cases
Tampa Division
Defendant(s) (Age)
Charge(s)
Sentence Imposed
Type of Human Trafficking
Restitution
Henry Lee White, III (27) *
Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion;
Felon in Possession of Ammunition
24 years, 4 months in federal prison
Adult Sex Trafficking
$87,121.98
Julius Arline (31) *
Child Sex Trafficking
40 years in federal prison
Child Sex Trafficking
$6,000.00
Jamel Muldrew (33) *
Child Sex Trafficking
21 years, 10 months in federal prison
Child Sex Trafficking
$27,740.00
These human trafficking cases from the Tampa Division were prosecuted by AUSAs Lisa M. Thelwell, Erin C. Favorit, Ilyssa Spergel, and Carlton C. Gammons.
* This case was investigated and prosecuted in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force of the Middle District of Florida, which is one of 13 task forces in the country to receive grant funding from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Task Force is a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with public and private organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, transnational sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. More information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/humantrafficking. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
U.S. Department of Justice’s Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Rick L. Volk will lead the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Volk has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of North Dakota and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl said, "Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process."
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights
Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl stated that: "We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise that right if they choose, and that those who seek to interfere with that right are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Volk will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 701-530-2420.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI Field Office can be reached by the public in North Dakota at 701-223-4875 or the FBI Field Office in Minneapolis, MN, at 763-569-8000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI to Monitor Election Day ComplaintsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – United States Attorney Mark H. Wildasin announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Robert Levine and Steve Jordan will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSAs Levine and Jordan have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the Middle District of Tennessee, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Wildasin said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Levine and Jordan will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. They can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 615-401-6660.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 615-232-7500.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” said U.S. Attorney Wildasin. “It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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U.S. Attorney Graves Announces Appointment of Election Day OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves today announced the appointment of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Joshua S. Rothstein to lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8, 2022, general election.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aloi and Rothstein, of the Office’s Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section, will be responsible for overseeing the Office's handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aloi and Rothstein will be on duty in the U.S. Attorney's Office while the polls are open. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aloi can be reached by the public at 202-252-7212. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rothstein can be reached by the public at 202-252-7164.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. In the District of Columbia, the FBI’s Washington Field Office can be reached at 202-278-2000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Two Orlando Women Convicted of Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns for Three YearsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Erotida Natasha Harden Ortiz guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and six counts of aiding in fraudulent and false statements related to IRS returns. The jury also found Aida Cortes guilty of one count conspiracy to defraud the United States. Ortiz and Cortes were originally indicted on April 13, 2022. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for January 2023.
According to evidence admitted during trial, Ortiz owned Certified Taxes, LLC, and Cortes was her office manager. From 2016 through 2018, Ortiz and Cortes orchestrated a scheme to file taxes for unsuspecting taxpayers by filling out fraudulent Schedule C forms, which showed a business loss and enabled the taxpayers to obtain the Earned Income Tax credit. By obtaining the Earned Income Tax credit the taxpayers were able to receive refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled. As a result, the taxpayers continued to come back to Certified Taxes every year. The evidence revealed that Certified Taxes did not provide the tax returns to the taxpayers to review or go over the tax return with the taxpayers prior to filing them with the IRS.
During the conspiracy, Certified Taxes filed more than 3,600 tax returns with the IRS, with only 1 tax return resulting in a taxpayer owing money to the IRS. For each tax return Certified Taxes charged the taxpayer approximately $400, which resulted in Certified Taxes receiving more than $1 million in tax preparation fees.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.
Two Chinese Intelligence Officers Charged with Obstruction of Justice in Scheme to Bribe U.S. Government Employee and Steal Documents Related to the Federal Prosecution of a PRC-Based CompanyRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging two People’s Republic of China (PRC) intelligence officers with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution in the Eastern District of New York. The defendants remain at large.
According to court documents, Guochun He, also known as “Dong He” and “Jacky He,” and Zheng Wang, also known as “Zen Wang,” allegedly orchestrated a scheme to steal files and other information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to the ongoing federal criminal investigation and prosecution of a global telecommunications company (Company-1) based in the PRC, including by paying approximately $61,000 in Bitcoin bribes to a U.S. government employee who the defendants believed had been recruited to work for the PRC, but who in fact was a double agent working on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Christopher Wray, Director, FBI, announced the charges.
“Today’s complaint underscores the unrelenting efforts of the PRC government to undermine the rule of law,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As alleged, the case involves an effort by PRC intelligence officers to obstruct an ongoing criminal prosecution by making bribes to obtain files from this Office and sharing them with a global telecommunications company that is a charged defendant in an ongoing prosecution. We will always act decisively to counteract criminal acts that target our system of justice.”
“Far more than an effort to collect information or intelligence, the actions of the PRC intelligence officers charged in this case must be called out for what they are: an extraordinary intervention by agents of a foreign government to interfere with the integrity of the U.S. criminal justice system, compromise a U.S. government employee, and obstruct the enforcement of U.S. law to benefit a PRC-based commercial enterprise,” stated Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice will not abide nation-state actors meddling in U.S. criminal process and investigations, and will not tolerate foreign interference with the fair administration of justice.”
“The mission of the FBI is to protect both the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States—and this case represents a threat to both,” stated FBI Director Wray. “By attempting to steal documents from the Eastern District of New York, intelligence officers from the People’s Republic of China threatened not just the proceedings of our criminal justice system but the very idea of justice itself. A threat to justice is a threat to the foundation of our free society, and the FBI remains constantly vigilant and committed to protecting the U.S. from these threats.”
Guochun He and Zheng Wang are charged with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution of Company-1 in federal district court in the Eastern District of New York. Defendant He also is charged with two counts of money laundering based upon bribe payments totaling approximately $61,000 in Bitcoin, made in furtherance of the scheme.
According to the complaint, the defendants are PRC intelligence officers conducting foreign intelligence operations targeting the United States, on behalf of the PRC government and for the benefit of Company-1. Starting in 2019, they directed an employee at a U.S. government law enforcement agency (GE-1), whom they believed they had recruited as an asset, to steal confidential information about the criminal prosecution of Company-1 in order to interfere with that prosecution. In actuality, GE-1 was working as a double agent on behalf of the FBI.
In September 2021, the defendants tasked GE-1 with reporting about meetings that GE-1 was purportedly having with prosecutors in Brooklyn at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. In written communications, the defendants said they were particularly interested in knowing which Company-1 employees had been interviewed by the government and in obtaining a description of the prosecutors’ evidence, witness list, and trial strategy.
In October 2021, GE-1 used an encrypted messaging program to send the defendants a single page from a purported internal strategy memorandum from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York regarding the Company-1 case. The document appeared to be classified as “SECRET” and to discuss a plan to charge and arrest two current Company-1 employees living in the PRC.[1] Guochun He responded that the document was “exactly what I am waiting for” and that he was “waiting for the feedback from some guys” about whether there were any questions about the document. Guochun He then paid GE-1 approximately $41,000 in Bitcoin for stealing that document.
GE-1 also asked the defendants for any feedback about the “SECRET” document. In November 2021, Guochun He stated that “[Company-1] didn’t give me specifically feedback now yet, but they are obviously interested in it, and my boss and they need further information.” Guochun He further told GE-1 that “[Company-1] obviously will be interested” in GE-1 stealing another part of the strategy memorandum, and “maybe will offer more” for that information. In December 2021, in response to a further request by GE-1 for feedback or guidance from Company-1 about “what they want me to get,” Guochun He explained that “they didn’t give me any positive feedback yet, and demanded to communicate with you directly.” Guochun He said that he refused Company-1’s request to speak directly to GE-1 because “it’s too dangerous.”
More recently, in late September 2022, Guochun He told GE-1 that he intended to provide GE-1 with additional payment in Bitcoin for the information GE-1 had provided, because Guochun He’s “organization already decided to give a good reward to you.” Guochun He subsequently, in October 2022, paid GE-1 approximately $20,000 in Bitcoin.
The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Guochun He faces up to 60 years of imprisonment and Wang faces up to 20 years of imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Meredith A. Arfa and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
Guochun HE, also known as “DONG HE” or “JACKY HE”
Age: 45
PEOPLE’s REPUBLIC OF CHINAE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-MJ-1137
ZHENG WANG, also known as “ZEN WANG”
Age: 37
PEOPLE’s REPUBLIC OF CHINAE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-MJ-1137
[1] The documents described in the complaint were prepared by the government for purposes of the investigation and were neither taken from any actual document related to the prosecution of Company-1 nor classified as “SECRET.” Furthermore, the information in the complaint that was provided by GE-1 to the defendants did not accurately recount actual meetings, communications, or other strategy related to the Company-1 prosecution.
Two Arrested and 13 Charged in Three Separate Cases for Alleged Participation in Malign Schemes in the United States on Behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
In three separate cases in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the District of New Jersey, the Justice Department has charged 13 individuals, including members of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) security and intelligence apparatus and their agents, for alleged efforts to unlawfully exert influence in the United States for the benefit of the government of the PRC.
In the Eastern District of New York, an eight-count indictment was unsealed on Oct. 20 charging seven PRC nationals – two of whom were arrested on Oct. 20 in New York – with participating in a scheme to cause the forced repatriation of a PRC national residing in the United States. The defendants are accused of conducting surveillance of and engaging 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.”
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging two People’s PRC intelligence officers with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution in the Eastern District of New York. The defendants remain at large.
In the District of New Jersey, an indictment was unsealed today charging four Chinese nationals, including three Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers, in connection with a long-running intelligence campaign targeting individuals in the United States to act as agents of the PRC.
“As these cases demonstrate, the government of China sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial system that protects those rights. They did not succeed,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the Rule of Law upon which our democracy is based. We will continue to fiercely protect the rights guaranteed to everyone in our country. And we will defend the integrity of our institutions.”
“The actions announced today take place against a backdrop of malign activity from the government of the People’s Republic of China that includes espionage, attempts to disrupt our justice system, harassment of individuals, and ongoing efforts to steal sensitive U.S. technology,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The men and women of the Department of Justice will continue to defend the United States, our institutions, and our people from foreign threats that violate the law — no matter what form they take.”
“These indictments of PRC intelligence officers and government officials – for trying to obstruct a U.S. trial of a Chinese company, masquerading as university professors to steal sensitive information, and trying to strong-arm a victim into returning to China – again expose the PRC’s outrageous behavior within our own borders,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI, working with our partners and allies, will continue to throw the full weight of our counterintelligence and law enforcement authorities into stopping the Chinese government’s crimes against our businesses, universities, and Chinese-American communities.”
“These cases highlight the threat the PRC government poses to our institutions and the rights of people in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We will not tolerate these brazen operations: the harassment and attempted repatriation by force of individuals living in the U.S.; the effort to corrupt our judicial system; and the attempt to recruit agents for the PRC under the cover of a front academic organization. Countering such threats is a cornerstone of the mission of the National Security Division.”
United States v. Quanzhong An, et al., Eastern District of New York
An eight-count indictment was unsealed on Oct. 20 in Brooklyn charging a total of seven nationals of the PRC – Quanzhong An, 55, of Roslyn, New York; Guangyang An, 34, of Roslyn, New York; Tian Peng, 38, of the PRC; Chenghua Chen of the PRC; Chunde Ming of the PRC; Xuexin Hou, 52, of the PRC; and Weidong Yuan, 55, of the PRC – 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 on Thursday and were arraigned that afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes Jr. The remaining defendants remain at large.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “The United States will firmly counter such outrageous violations of national sovereignty and prosecute individuals who act as illegal agents of foreign states.”
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 PRC-based 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.
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.
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 Sept. 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 Oct. 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.
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 10 years in prison. The money laundering conspiracy charge against Quanzhong An and Guangyang An carries a maximum sentence of 20 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 is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Sara K. Winik, and Antoinette N. Rangel and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Morris of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
United States v. Dong He, et al., Eastern District of New York
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging two People’s Republic of China (PRC) intelligence officers with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution in the Eastern District of New York. The defendants remain at large.
According to court documents, Dong He, aka Guochun He and aka Jacky He, and Zheng Wang, aka Zen Wang, allegedly orchestrated a scheme to steal files and other information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to the ongoing federal criminal investigation and prosecution of a global telecommunications company (Company-1) based in the PRC, including by paying a $41,000 Bitcoin bribe to a U.S. government employee who the defendants believed had been recruited to work for the PRC, but who in fact was a double agent working on behalf of the FBI.
“Today’s complaint underscores the unrelenting efforts of the PRC government to undermine the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “As alleged, the case involves an effort by PRC intelligence officers to obstruct an ongoing criminal prosecution by making bribes to obtain files from this Office and sharing them with a global telecommunications company that is a charged defendant in an ongoing prosecution. We will always act decisively to counteract criminal acts that target our system of justice.”
Dong He and Zheng Wang are charged with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution of Company-1 in federal district court in the Eastern District of New York. Defendant He also is charged with money laundering based upon a bribe payment of $41,000 in Bitcoin made in furtherance of the scheme.
According to the complaint, the defendants are PRC intelligence officers conducting foreign intelligence operations targeting the United States, on behalf of the PRC government and for the benefit of Company-1. Starting in 2019, they directed an employee at a U.S. government law enforcement agency (GE-1), whom they believed they had recruited as an asset, to steal confidential information about the criminal prosecution of Company-1 in order to interfere with that prosecution. In actuality, GE-1 was working as a double agent on behalf of the FBI.
In September 2021, the defendants tasked GE-1 with reporting about meetings that GE-1 was purportedly having with prosecutors in Brooklyn at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. In written communications, the defendants said they were particularly interested in knowing which Company-1 employees had been interviewed by the government and in obtaining a description of the prosecutors’ evidence, witness list and trial strategy.
In October 2021, GE-1 used an encrypted messaging program to send the defendants a single page from a purported internal strategy memorandum from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York regarding the Company-1 case. The document appeared to be classified as “SECRET” and to discuss a plan to charge and arrest two current Company-1 employees living in the PRC. Dong He responded that the document was “exactly what I am waiting for” and that he was “waiting for the feedback from some guys” about whether there were any questions about the document. Dong He then paid GE-1 approximately $41,000 in Bitcoin for stealing that document.
GE-1 also asked the defendants for any feedback about the “SECRET” document. In November 2021, Dong He stated that “[Company-1] didn’t give me specifically feedback now yet, but they are obviously interested in it, and my boss and they need further information.” Dong He further told GE-1 that “[Company-1] obviously will be interested” in GE-1 stealing another part of the strategy memorandum, and “maybe will offer more” for that information. In December 2021, in response to a further request by GE-1 for feedback or guidance from Company-1 about “what they want me to get,” Dong He explained that “they didn’t give me any positive feedback yet and demanded to communicate with you directly.” Dong He said that he refused Company-1’s request to speak directly to GE-1 because “it’s too dangerous.”
The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Dong He faces up to 40 years of imprisonment and Wang faces up to 20 years of imprisonment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Meredith A. Arfa and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
United States v. Wang Lin et al., District of New Jersey
A federal indictment was unsealed today charging four Chinese nationals, including three Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers, in connection with a long-running intelligence campaign targeting individuals in the United States to act as agents of the PRC.
As alleged in the indictment, from at least 2008 to 2018, Wang Lin, 59; Bi Hongwei, age unknown; Dong Ting, aka Chelsea Dong, 40; Wang Qiang, 55, and others engaged in a wide-ranging and systematic effort to target and recruit individuals to act on behalf of the PRC in the United States with requests to provide information, materials, equipment, and assistance to the Chinese government in ways that would further China’s intelligence objectives. These recruitment efforts included targeting professors at universities, a former federal law enforcement and state homeland security official, and others to act on behalf of, and as agents of, the Chinese government.
As part of the conspiracy, MSS intelligence officers Wang Lin, Dong Ting, and others used a purported academic institute at Ocean University of China – referred to as the Institute for International Studies (IIS) – as cover for their clandestine intelligence activities. Acting under cover as the purported director of the IIS, Wang Lin, in coordination with other MSS operatives operating under the guise of academics at the IIS, targeted professors at American universities and others in the United States with access to sensitive information and equipment.
According to the indictment unsealed today, MSS intelligence officers Wang Lin, Bi, Dong, and others, acting for and on behalf of the MSS and the Chinese government, systematically targeted United States persons, including but not limited to a coconspirator who was a resident of the state of New Jersey and a second individual who was a former federal law enforcement officer and state homeland security official and a professor at an American university.
Among other things, the conspiracy targeted the second individual by inviting the individual in 2008 and 2018 on all-expenses-paid trips to China sponsored by the IIS. During those trips, Wang Lin, Dong, and others sought to recruit this individual as a human source, requesting that the individual provide sensitive fingerprint technology, information, and assistance with stopping planned protests along the 2008 Olympic Games torch route in the United States, which the conspirators expressed would be “embarrassing” to China. The individual also was requested to sign a contract for purported consulting services with a Chinese company whose “core value” was the “national interest and national security” of China, with an objective to “protect the national interest and Chinese enterprises’ overseas interest[s]” and to “build sources and channels to collect security information.” Recognizing Wang Lin, Dong, and others as Chinese intelligence officers, the individual refused these requests and reported them to law enforcement.
The conspiracy also targeted the coconspirator in New Jersey by tasking the coconspirator to take specific action in the United States in furtherance of the MSS’ intelligence objective. Wang Qiang coordinated a meeting in 2016 between the coconspirator, Wang Lin, and Bi Hongwei in the Bahamas, at which time MSS intelligence officers Wang Lin and Bi directed the coconspirator to obtain U.S. currency and provide it to a designated individual in New Jersey. The coconspirator returned to New Jersey and did as Wang Lin and BI instructed. Wang Qiang then visited the coconspirator in New Jersey, at which time Wang Qiang and the coconspirator discussed in detail their and others’ activities taken on behalf of the Chinese government in the United States.
Lin, Bi, Dong and Qiang, all are nationals and residents of the People’s Republic of China. They each are charged in the indictment with conspiracy to act in the United States as agents of a foreign government, namely, the People’s Republic of China, without prior notification to the Attorney General of the United States, as required by law, and to direct such unlawful action by others in the United States. The conspiracy charge carries a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Brendan Day, Attorney in Charge of the Trenton Branch Office, and Joyce M. Malliet, Chief of the Office’s National Security Unit.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Twin Falls Man Sentenced for Threatening to Kill a ProsecutorRead the Press Release
BOISE - Nathanael Michael West, 25, of Twin Falls, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison for three counts of mailing threatening communications, U.S. Attorney Joshua D. Hurwit announced today.
In imposing his sentence, U.S. Chief District Judge David C. Nye recognized that while West did not carry out his threats, the harm he caused was “very real.” Chief Judge Nye also ordered West serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. West pleaded guilty to the charge on July 26, 2022.
According to court records, West admitted that on three dates between July and August 2021, he knowingly sent threatening letters through the United States Postal Service to three prosecutors in the state of Idaho. Two of the prosecutors had previously prosecuted West. In profane and graphic terms, West wrote that he would torture and murder the prosecutors.
After the prosecutors received the various letters, law enforcement officers interviewed West. After law enforcement advised him of his Miranda rights, West admitted to sending the letters. West sent the letter from the Idaho Department of Correction, where he is currently housed for other criminal acts. The 84-month sentence imposed for mailing threatening communications will begin after he has served his existing state sentence and a prior sentence for similar conduct.
“Threats against public officials, including law enforcement agents and prosecutors, is a growing problem, and it is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “It is our privilege to seek justice for the victims in this case who, through their work, do so much to protect our communities throughout Idaho.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho is committed to prosecuting cases involving threats to public servants. In August 2022, Erik Ehrlin, 33, of Greenleaf, Idaho was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm and assaulting a federal officer.
According to court records, Ehrlin was investigated for vandalism on U.S. Government Property in the Mann Creak Area starting in March 2021 by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The vandalism included markings of “SAI,” which refers to the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho. The vandalism also included threats to federal employees. During a later encounter with law enforcement, Ehrlin struck the USFS agent with his pickup truck as he attempted to flee. In Ehrlin’s campsite, law enforcement officers located a semi-automatic rifle. In Ehrlin’s truck, law enforcement located body armor, eight loaded high-capacity magazines, a 9mm handgun with four additional loaded magazines, handcuffs, a red and blue siren, and a “POLICE” patch. On Ehrlin’s person, law enforcement located a Boise Police badge. Ehrlin is not a police officer. Investigators found ammunition in Ehrlin’s possession that contained writing on it, stating “DIE McLean,” “FUCK FEDS,” and “FUK BLM.” Ehrlin was previously convicted of sexual abuse in the first degree in Oregon and cannot lawfully possess firearms.
Additional recent cases involving threats to public servants prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys office for the District of Idaho:
Middleton Man Sentenced for Threatening an FBI Agent
Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Violation
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Three Men Convicted of $1 Million ‘Upfront-Fee’ SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two men from New Jersey and another from Nevada were convicted by a federal jury for their roles in defrauding multiple victims out of money through a $1 million “upfront-fee” scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Following a five-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court, Jerrid Douglas, 49, of Freehold, New Jersey, Harold Mignott, 60, of Voorhees, New Jersey, and Roy Johannes Gillar, 50, of Las Vegas, were each convicted on Oct. 21, 2022, of wire fraud conspiracy and four counts of wire fraud. Gillar and Douglas were also each convicted of one count of transacting in criminal proceeds.
According to documents in this case and evidence at trial:
From March 2016 through June 2016, Douglas, Gillar, and Mignott, along with a fourth conspirator, agreed to defraud the owners of the victim company of approximately $1 million. The defendants fraudulently induced the two victim company owners to enter a joint venture agreement with the defendants’ New Jersey-based shell company. The defendants falsely represented that their company could acquire and provide a “standby letter of credit” (SBLC) backed by either €1 billion in cash or highly lucrative Mexican gold bonds. An SBLC is a guarantee of payment issued by a bank on behalf of a client that is used should the client fail to fulfill a contractual commitment with a third party.
The victim company wanted access to the standby letter of credit so it could purchase raw gold overseas and sell it to gold refineries. As part of the joint venture agreement, the company agreed to pay the defendants $1 million for the bank fee associated with the standby letter of credit.
In order to cover up the scheme and convince the victims to approve the transfer of the funds, the defendants made numerous verbal and written misrepresentations, including providing the victims with a phony letter from a major international bank saying that it was ready, willing, and able to provide a €1 billion SBLC to the defendants’ shell company.
However, after the victim company owners transmitted $800,000 of the $1 million to the defendants, the defendants failed to provide an SBLC or anything of value. Instead, the defendants misappropriated the money for their personal use.
The wire fraud conspiracy charge and the wire fraud charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The transacting in criminal proceeds charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason S. Gould and Joshua L. Haber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Three Indicted, Arraigned in Alleged Conspiracies to Defraud Land Rover DealershipsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Three Rhode Island men were arraigned on Friday in federal court in Providence, charged by way of indictment for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to use stolen identities to defraud Land Rover dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged that on April 25, 2022, Dennis Odoom, 24, of Pawtucket, took custody of a Land Rover from a Rhode Island dealer. That purchase was financed for more than $120,559 with the use of a stolen identity. It is further alleged that, on May 10, 2022, Roy Sweets, 25, of Providence, allegedly took custody of a Land Rover from a New Hampshire dealership, financed for $111,183, again with the use of a stolen identity. It is further alleged that, two days after the delivery in New Hampshire, a person, posing as the “brother” of the New Hampshire buyer, attempted to take possession of another vehicle after a dealer financing application had been submitted online and approved. That delivery was halted when a dealership employee determined that the driver’s license presented by the buyer may have been altered. Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 25, of Providence, was arrested by Bedford, NH, Police when he appeared at the dealership to take possession of the vehicle.
During their appearance in court on Friday, Odoom, Sweets, and Romero pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The three men, previously charged by way of federal criminal complaints, were released on unsecured bond. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Ferland and Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
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Texas man admits to role in drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Anthony Allen, of Rosenberg, Texas, has admitted to his role in methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin distribution operation, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Allen, age 36, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.” Allen admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base, cocaine hydrochloride, and fentanyl from the Spring of 2018 until October 2020.
Allen faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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
Texas Mexican Mafia General Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced last week to 25 years in prison for his role in distributing methamphetamine and heroin in the San Antonio area.
According to court documents, Donald Trevino, aka Fluffy, D, Uno, and Gordo, 34, was the “free world” General of the Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM). The TMM is a prison and street gang that engages in significant illegal activities, including narcotics trafficking and extortion. In October 2020, Trevino and 11 other codefendants were arrested on charges in connection with a methamphetamine/heroin/cocaine trafficking operation in the San Antonio area. During the investigation, authorities seized dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine and numerous firearms.
On March 30, 2022, Trevino pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
In addition to his prison sentence, Trevino was ordered to forfeit more than $10,000. Trevino has remained in federal custody since his arrest on October 2, 2020.
“This investigation demonstrates our office's commitment to dismantling criminal organizations in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “This defendant was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in San Antonio. We are thankful for the outstanding collaboration of our federal, state and local partners who helped bring him to justice.”
“Violence and drugs go hand and hand, which ruins communities and lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Houston Division. “Together and through our combined efforts with our local partners, we will continue putting violent criminals who bring drugs and unrest to our communities behind bars.”
“I am proud of the work done by the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and our law enforcement partners in arresting this offender,” said SAPD Chief William McManus. “SAPD remains committed to the safety of our residents and we will continue to ensure that dangerous individuals involved in criminal activity are off our streets.”
“Texas families deserve to live in peace in their communities, safe from the threats posed by violent street gangs,” said FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. “This sentence is welcome news and sends a strong message to violent criminal enterprises that the FBI and its law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue these offenders and bring them to justice.”
The DEA, SAPD and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen is prosecuting the case.
This indictment resulted from an Texas Anti-Gang Center (TAG) investigation conducted by San Antonio TAG member agencies including the DEA, FBI, San Antonio Police Department’s Gang Unit, Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Anonymous tips involving gang crime and wanted fugitives can be submitted at www.stopsanantoniogangs.org.
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Tampa Couple Sentenced in Multimillion Dollar Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Virginia Garcia Moreta (35, Tampa) and Hector Rodriguez Mendez (47, Tampa) to 70 and 63 months in federal prison, respectively, for conspiring to commit money laundering. As part of their sentences, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $21,567,939, which represented the proceeds of the conspiracy. The couple had pleaded guilty on June 10, 2022.
According to court documents, Garcia Moreta and Rodriguez Mendez led a Tampa-based money laundering organization responsible for laundering more than $20 million in drug proceeds in over 400 transactions. During the conspiracy, the couple received substantial amounts of drug proceeds, then gave bundles of cash with purchase instructions to people whom Rodriguez Mendez had recruited in order to purchase cashier’s checks. These checks often listed as the remitter either a co-conspirator or a business registered in the co-conspirator’s name. The co-conspirators then often traveled to several banks in the same day in order to avoid suspicion. These cashier’s checks were then given to other businesses and individuals involved in the conspiracy.
On June 18, 2019, troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol stopped Garcia Moreta while she was in possession of a bag containing cashier’s checks and receipts for cashier’s checks totaling more than $1 million.
In total, investigators identified $21,567,939 that was laundered in furtherance of the conspiracy. The defendants’ share of the proceeds for their role in the scheme was approximately three percent.
“The main motivation of these drug trafficking organizations is profit at the expense of the safety and health of our citizens. The actions of these individuals assisted the drug traffickers bringing this poison into our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This successful collaboration between the DEA Miami Field Division and our federal partners highlights the importance of financial investigations in the fight against narcotics trafficking in Florida.”
“The dirty cash from drug trafficking cannot legally be introduced into the commerce stream, so traffickers rely on money launderers to “clean it”,” said Brian Payne, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “Those who launder drug proceeds are just as vile and culpable as the traffickers themselves, which is why today’s sentences properly hold the defendants responsible for their actions.”
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Highway Patrol. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Baez. The forfeiture was handled by U.S. Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
Tampa Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Raequan M. Nelson (23, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Nelson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2022. Nelson had been indicted on May 25, 2022.
According to court documents, on February 13, 2022, Nelson was arrested on two active Hillsborough County warrants. At the time of the arrest, Nelson had previous felony convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. During the arrest, officers recovered a Glock 9mm pistol and various ammunition from Nelson. As a previously convicted felon, Nelson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Stockton Resident Sentenced for Attempted Sexual Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. – Daniel Peralta 31, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Peralta used the messaging application Skout to engage in sexually explicit chats with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female. On July 26, 2020, he traveled from Stockton to Fresno to meet the purported minor for sexual activity.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Clovis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.
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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
South Bay Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Scam Involving Fake Open Houses at Not-for-Sale HomesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man, who along with his sister and other co-conspirators participated in a $6 million real estate scam that listed homes for sale without owners’ consent and collected money from multiple would-be buyers, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison.
Adolfo Schoneke, 45, of Torrance, who pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner. A restitution hearing was scheduled for December 12.
Schoneke’s sister, Bianca Gonzalez, 39, pleaded guilty in April, admitting her role in the wire fraud scheme, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2023.
Schoneke and his sister, along with co-conspirators, operated real estate and escrow companies based in Cerritos, La Palma and Long Beach under a variety of names, including MCR and West Coast Realty Services. Schoneke and the other members of the conspiracy located properties to list for sale – even though they did not intend to sell the properties to anyone, and in many instances the properties were not for sale at all.
The properties were listed on real estate websites such as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and were marketed as short sale opportunities. In some cases, the homes were marketed through open houses arranged by tricking homeowners or occupants into allowing their homes to be used.
“The fraud scheme [Schoneke] invented, proposed to his co-conspirators, and carried out involved uniquely devious means designed to steal money from as many victims as possible,” according to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors. “Playing on the dream of home ownership and seemingly out of reach home prices, [Schoneke] figured out a way to ‘sell’ homes that he did not own and had no business in listing for sale.”
Multiple offers were accepted for each of the not-for-sale properties, but the co-conspirators hid this fact from the victims and instead led victims to believe their offer was the only one accepted. The co-conspirators strung victims along – sometimes for years – by telling them closings were being delayed because lenders needed to approve the purported short sales.
Office workers opened bank accounts to hide the co-conspirators’ involvement in the fraud. Those accounts were used to receive down payments on the homes and other payments from victims who were convinced to transfer the full “purchase price” after receiving forged short sale approval letters. The co-conspirators directed the office workers to withdraw large amounts of cash from these accounts, which made the proceeds harder to trace.
Schoneke “and his co-conspirators used numerous properties to further the fraudulent scheme, and collected more than $11.7 million from victims as part of the scheme (involving more than 860 transfers from approximately 750 or more victims),” according to the sentencing memo. “Although some of the victims were paid back, the scheme caused more than $6 million in losses to nearly 400 victims.”
In a related case, Mario Gonzalez (no relation to Bianca Gonzalez), 51, of Garden Grove, pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2023.
The FBI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. The investigation was initiated by numerous complaints to the Long Beach Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, both of which provided substantial assistance during the federal investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty on October 21, 2022, in federal court.
Kimberly Hansen, 58, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea hearing showed that Hansen was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from June 2017 through August 2019. Via the mail, Hansen received multiple ounces to pounds of methamphetamine for a local conspiracy leader. Hansen also traveled to California at least six times to acquire pounds of methamphetamine which she brought back to Sioux City for redistribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hansen was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hansen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4086.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Seven set to appear in court on violent crime chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Authorities have taken seven Houston area men into custody on allegations including conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and carrying a weapon in relation to a drug trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Travonte Ardoin, 25, Jcoi Naquon Barley, 23, Maurkael Brown, 27, Terrell Treyvon Davis, 25, Emery Jermaine Goodley, 23, and Jymonte McClendon, 24, all of Houston, and Terry Ardoin, 21, Richmond, are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon at 2 p.m.
Law enforcement took all seven into custody Friday following the filing of a criminal complaint.
The charges allege all are believed members or associates of the Freemoney gang operating in Southeast Houston. The Freemoney gang is suspected of committing a number of violent acts in and around the community, according to the complaint.
On Aug. 14, the seven men planned to participate in a robbery at a residence of a known drug dealer who often advertised his marijuana on an open Instagram page, according to the complaint. Brown had allegedly confirmed with Barley they had people to help commit the robbery. The charges also allege Terry and Barley discussed recruiting or needing more people who could “hit licks, kill and do everything they needed to do.”
Law enforcement was able to intercede and prevent the robbery from occurring, according to the complaint. Authorities allegedly recovered various firearms the men were planning to use at the time of the robbery including three that had glock switches attached to them.
All are charged with conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and carrying a weapon in relation to a drug trafficking offense. The robbery charge carries a potential 20-year prison sentence, while a conviction of the drug conspiracy has a maximum of 40 years. If convicted of the weapons charge, each will receive a minimum of five years and up to life which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. Maurkael Brown and Terrell Davis are also charged with possession of a machine gun in relation to a drug trafficking offense – a crime that carries a minimum of 30 years and up to life which must also be served consecutively.
The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Collins is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of lawSalisbury Woman Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting an Infant in Her CareRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salisbury woman was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of an infant.
Desiree Daigle, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 17 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. On June 24, 2022, Daigle pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child.
“There are no words to adequately capture how truly reprehensible this conduct is. Ms. Daigle violated the trust placed in her by a friend and sexually abused a defenseless infant in her care. That she documented the abuse for the perverse gratification of herself and others is truly disgusting. Ms. Daigle is a danger to our communities and deserves every single day of this prison sentence,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “This case is a stark reminder that child predators come in all genders and that children of all ages can be victimized. While nothing will ever alleviate the pain and devastation Ms. Daigle inflicted upon the victim and their family, we hope today’s sentence provides some measure of accountability. My office and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to ensure the safety of our children by identifying, prosecuting and removing predators like Ms. Daigle from our communities.”
“The actions of Desiree Daigle were beyond heinous. She violated the trust placed in her by her friends and sexually exploited a baby in her care. No child should ever be subjected to this, and no sentence can erase the harm inflicted upon this child and her family,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s sentence keeps Daigle exactly where she belongs, behind bars, being held to account for her depraved actions.”
In November 2018, Daigle was identified in online chats exchanging various child pornography files with another individual. Some of the images depicted an infant in Daigle’s care, taken in Daigle’s home. During the chats, Daigle discussed plans for the other individual to meet the child in person so that they could sexually abuse the child together. That individual is also facing federal charges.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Amesbury, North Andover, Salisbury, Arlington, Billerica, Methuen and Haverhill Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Derick Louangamath, 33, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Nov. 23, 2019, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle that Louangamath was driving and found a Glock 26, along with loaded 10-, 15-, and 33-round magazines. Louangamath has several prior felony convictions — including convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron D. Pennekamp is prosecuting the case.
Louangamath is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Louangamath faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Reagan Taylor Fondren Appointed as First Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, is pleased to announce the appointment of Reagan Taylor Fondren as First Assistant United States
Attorney for the district.Ms. Fondren, a native Memphian and graduate of Central High School, completed her undergraduate studies at Spelman College and her law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She has worked in federal public service with the United States Department of Justice for her entire career and has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for over 14 years.
“As a federal prosecutor for over 14 years, and a career public servant, Reagan Taylor Fondren brings a wealth of experience and absolute professionalism to a role that is vital to the success of our office,” said United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz. “I am confident that Ms. Fondren will lead with skill and integrity in her new role as First Assistant. I look forward to working closely with her to promote and defend the interests of the United States in our District.”
Ms. Fondren began her legal career as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Drug Enforcement
Administration. There she servedin the Office of the Chief Counsel and was responsible for the investigation and institution of charges against DEA registrants accused of violating federal regulations. In 2008, she joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she gained significant trial and appellate experience as a violent crime and homicide prosecutor.Ms. Fondren has served the Western District of Tennessee since 2014, where she has served as senior and lead AUSA in the Civil Rights Unit of the Criminal Division. In this role she managed complex investigations involving multiple law enforcement partners. Four years ago, Ms.
Fondren joined the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, where she has served as
Senior Litigation Counsel. She has defended the United States in an array of civil cases, such as employment discrimination, medical malpractice, and prisoner litigation. As head of the Financial
Litigation and Bankruptcy Divisions, she has worked with government agencies to collect debts and represent the interests of the United States in bankruptcy litigation. Additionally, Ms. Fondren has served as the Chair of the Diversity Committee and Special Emphasis Program Manager for Black
Affairs.
Ms. Fondren is married to Rickey Fondren II and they have two children. Ms. Fondren is active in community and legal organizations including the National Bar Association, the National Black
Prosecutors Association, and Girl Scouts Heart of the South.
###For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.
Pittsburgh Woman Embezzled from Two Area EmployersRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal fraud laws of embezzling funds, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Tracey Smith, 54, of the City’s Lincoln Park area, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between 2014 and 2018 Smith embezzled funds from two separate employers, Pro Towels and Moderne Glass, when she held executive positions with the companies.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Smith’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smith.
Parkersburg Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ashley Kawczynski, 32, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2022, Kawczynski possessed approximately 328 grams of methamphetamine, 164 grams of fentanyl and two firearms, a Ruger Model LCP Max .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Springfield model Hellcat 9mm semi-automatic pistol, at her Parkersburg residence. Kawczynski admitted that she intended to distribute the drugs to other people and that she possessed the firearms to protect herself, her drugs, and her drug proceeds. Kawczynski further admitted to conspiring with others between February 2022 and July 5, 2022, to distribute fentanyl and to selling fentanyl on four occasions to a confidential informant between April and May 2022.
Kawczynski is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5,250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe 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. 2:22-cr-160.
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New York Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Participating in Trip-And-Fall Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARC ELEFANT, a New York lawyer, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent insurance reimbursements and other compensation from fraudulent trip-and-fall accidents. ELEFANT is the third defendant to plead guilty this year. Two other defendants — ADRIAN ALEXANDER, the owner of a litigation funding company, and SADY RIBEIRO, a New York-licensed pain management doctor and surgeon — pled guilty earlier this year. ALEXANDER pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 30, 2022. RIBEIRO pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud on September 29, 2022. All defendants pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “We expect lawyers to follow the rules and act ethically on behalf of their clients, but attorney Marc Elefant acted only for himself, abusing his professional license and position of trust to steal over a million dollars from New York City businesses and their insurance companies through a massive trip-and-fall fraud scheme. Elefant and his co-conspirators preyed upon the most vulnerable members of society in order to enrich themselves. Elefant now awaits sentencing for his reprehensible crime.”
According to the Indictment, the Superseding Information filed against ELEFANT, other documents filed in this case, and statements made in court:
MARC ELEFANT, among others, was involved in an extensive fraud scheme through which fraud scheme participants defrauded businesses and insurance companies by staging trip-and-fall accidents and filing fraudulent lawsuits arising from those staged trip-and-fall accidents.
The fraud scheme participants recruited individuals (the “Patients”) to stage or falsely claim to have suffered trip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout the New York City area (the “Accident Sites”). In the course of the fraud scheme, scheme participants recruited more than 400 Patients. In the beginning, scheme participants would instruct Patients to claim they had tripped and fallen at a particular location, when in fact, the Patients had suffered no such accidents. Eventually, at the direction of the lawyers who filed fraudulent lawsuits on behalf of the Patients, scheme participants began to instruct Patients to stage trip-and-fall accidents, i.e., to go to a location and deliberately fall. Common Accident Sites used during the fraud scheme included cellar doors, cracks in concrete sidewalks, and purported “potholes.”
After the staged trip-and-fall accidents, Patients were referred to specific attorneys, including ELEFANT, who would file personal injury lawsuits (the “Fraudulent Lawsuits”) against the owners of the Accident Sites and/or insurance companies of the owners of the accident sites (the “Victims”). The Fraudulent Lawsuits did not disclose that the Patients had deliberately fallen at the accident sites or, in some cases, had not fallen at all. During the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, attempted to defraud the Victims of more than $31,000,000.
The Patients were also instructed to receive ongoing chiropractic and medical treatment from certain chiropractors and doctors, including RIBEIRO. The fraud scheme participants advised the Patients that if they intended to continue with their lawsuits, they were required to undergo surgery. As an incentive to getting surgery, the recruited Patients were offered a payment of typically between $1,000 and $1,500 after they completed surgery (“Post-Surgery Payments”). Patients generally were told to undergo two surgeries. Doctors in the fraud scheme were expected to, and in fact did, conduct these surgeries regardless of the legitimate medical needs of the Patients.
Members of the fraud scheme often recruited individuals who were extremely poor as Patients — individuals desperate enough to submit to surgeries in exchange for the small Post-Surgery Payments. For example, it was common for Patients to ask for food when they would appear for their intake meetings with the lawyers. Many of the Patients did not have sufficient clothing to keep them warm during the wintertime and had poor-quality shoes. Members of the fraud scheme also recruited Patients who were drug addicts. It was also common for scheme participants to recruit Patients from homeless shelters in New York City.
The Patients’ legal and medical fees were usually paid for by litigation funding companies (the “Funding Companies”), including a company owned by ALEXANDER. Funding Companies were used even if the Patient maintained medical coverage through an insurance company or a government-subsidized program. The Funding Companies also paid the fraud scheme organizers and participants referral fees, typically $1,000 to $2,500, for each Patient who signed a funding agreement. In exchange for funding Patients’ medical and legal costs, the Funding Companies charged the Patients high interest rates, sometimes up to 50% on medical loans and up to 100% on personal loans. The interest rates were so high that oftentimes the majority (if not all) of the proceeds that were awarded in the Fraudulent Lawsuits were paid to the Funding Companies, lawyers, including ELEFANT, doctors, and others, with the Patients receiving a much smaller percentage of the remaining recovery.
* * *
ELEFANT, 51, of Long Island, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, ELEFANT agreed to forfeit $955,281 to the United States and to make restitution in the amount of $1,486,000.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. ELEFANT is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Chiuchiolo, Nicholas Folly, Danielle Kudla, and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on October 21, 2022, ALEXIS VIERA, 34, of New Haven, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the DEA New Haven Task Force began investigating a New Haven-based drug trafficking network headed by Michael Smith, also known as “Head.” The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Smith and others were distributing heroin and crack cocaine throughout the New Haven area. Viera converted cocaine into crack cocaine, supplied the drug to Smith, and sold it to other customers. Viera also received crack cocaine from Smith to distribute to his customer base.
In December 2019, Smith was intercepted on a wiretap describing having shot at a rival drug dealer. New Haven Police collected 31 shell casings from a location in the Fair Haven neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Smith was arrested on December 23, 2019.
Viera has been detained since his arrest on September 16, 2020. On September 2, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine base (“crack”).
Smith pleaded guilty to drug, firearm and money laundering charges and, on August 26, 2022, was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, West Haven, Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Elena L. Coronado through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Nevada Man Sentenced for Bringing 17-Year-Old Girl to San Diego to Engage in Commercial Sex ActsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Samaje Evans was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for transporting a 17-year-old girl from Arizona to Nevada to San Diego for the purpose of involving her in commercial sex acts. According to his plea agreement, Evans took all the money earned by the minor - about $1,500 a day. Evans also posted commercial sex advertisements for the girl online.
Evans pleaded guilty on February 2, 2022, to one count of Coercion and Enticement.
On April 22, 2021, the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF) received an alert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a 17-year-old female runaway
believed to be involved in commercial sex in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and San Diego. The NCMEC alert identified a possible sex trafficker and provided social media photographs of that individual.
On April 22, 2021, Task Force Officers from the SDHTTF located the minor and Evans at a San Diego hotel. Evans had checked into the room and was in possession of a card key to the room. A search of the minor’s phone revealed messages from Evans in which he directed her to collect money from sex customers and informed the minor she would have to pay a “fee” for not following the rules. The phone also contained photographs that were used in the commercial sex advertisements. Task Force Officers also located recent videos of Evans and the minor together in the hotel room in San Diego.
“Our office will do everything we can to protect children from being exploited and harmed by sex traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. Grossman thanked the prosecution team and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their excellent work on this case.
“Evans’ exploitation of a minor is reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “The FBI will never stop fighting for minors who are victimized by criminals who care more about money than people. We appreciate the collaboration of our partners at the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for working closely with us to ensure justice is served and victims receive all the resources they need.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 22cr01513-CAB
Samaje Evans Age: 27 Las Vegas, NV
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Coercion and Enticement – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2422(a) Maximum penalty: Life in Prison; $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation & The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section, which leads collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.
Mineral County admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brett Leonza Freeman, of Wiley Ford, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Freeman, 38, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride and Cocaine Base.” Freeman admitted to working with others to sell cocaine from July 2020 to August 2021 in Mineral County and elsewhere.
Freeman faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Miami-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-District Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Hector Enrique Veliz Villeda (30, Hialeah) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Veliz Villeda faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in June and July 2022, Veliz Villeda and unknown co-conspirators were part of a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that were moving kilogram quantities of the drug between several major cities located in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and the Northern District of Alabama. Veliz Villeda received shipments of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Birmingham, Alabama and subsequently transported the methamphetamine into the Miami and Tampa metropolitan areas for resale.
On June 14, 2022, Veliz Villeda obtained crystal methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Alabama at his residence in Hialeah, and later sold it to a confidential source in Bradenton. The following month, Veliz Villeda again travelled from Hialeah to Bradenton and sold more crystal methamphetamine which he had received from co-conspirators.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bradenton Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Members of Violent Mac Ballers Gang Charged with Racketeering Conspiracy, Attempted Murder, Robbery, Narcotics, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); and Keechant Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of a nine-count superseding indictment charging four members of the “Mac Ballers” subset of the national Bloods gang in the Bronx, New York. GLEN CARWELL, a/k/a “Tink,” a/k/a “Tinky,” SHAWNDALE LEWIS, a/k/a “Nore,” COREY BATCHELOR, a/k/a “Corey Balla,” and JORDAN TOWNSEND were charged with racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, and firearms offenses. CARWELL and LEWIS were also charged with narcotics conspiracy. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.
CARWELL was already in custody in connection with robbery and firearms charges contained in a previous indictment related to this prosecution. LEWIS was arrested this morning and presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. BATCHELOR was also arrested this morning in North Carolina and presented before a Magistrate Judge in the Western District of North Carolina. TOWNSEND remains at large.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “We allege that for years, the Mac Baller set of the Bloods has terrorized the New York area, and especially the Bronx, by pouring addictive drugs into our community, committing robberies, and engaging in shootings. These charges reflect our commitment to keeping our community safe by targeting gang members who engage in violence, as we allege these defendants did.”
HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said: “Today, we announce the arrests of multiple members of the ‘Mac Ballers’ street gang who, as alleged, have participated in escalating acts of violence, to include attempted homicide, in their efforts to protect and control their territory. HSI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt and dismantle these dangerous street gangs who terrorize our neighborhoods in an effort to further their criminal enterprises.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito said: “New York residents deserve to live, work, and thrive free of fear and trauma. This is yet another example of law enforcement’s commitment to ensure just that for our citizens. Thanks to the leadership of HSI and NYPD for their hard work to reduce violent crime. ATF is proud to support and work alongside our partners in the collective cause of public safety. Our neighborhoods deserve to flourish without fear or intimidation caused by violent criminal gangs.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Gang violence threatens the safety of New Yorkers and puts communities in the crosshairs of drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. This case highlights the NYPD’s relentless pursuit of those few individuals who drive the violence and disorder in our city, and today’s indictment reflects our continued focus on removing them from our streets. I commend all of our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York Field Division of the ATF for their diligence on this important case.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From at least in or about late 2014 through 2022, the Mac Ballers was a criminal enterprise centered in the northeastern United States, including in the Bronx, New York, and in the jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York. In order to make money for the gang, protect the gang’s territory, and promote the gang’s standing, members of the Mac Ballers engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking, fraud and identity theft, and acts of violence, including robberies and attempted murders. To that end, Mac Baller members sold heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana, promoted their gang affiliation on social media, possessed firearms, and engaged in shootings as part of their gang membership and narcotics trafficking. As part of their membership in the gang, from 2017 to 2022, all four defendants participated in a conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, resulting in the attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon of a victim on October 19, 2021.
* * *
A chart containing the charges and minimum and maximum penalties each defendant faces is attached. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, ATF, the NYPD, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office.
The charges are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob R. Fiddelman, Peter J. Davis, Elizabeth A. Espinosa, and Frank J. Balsamello are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant
Age
Charges
Minimum and Maximum Penalties
GLEN CARWELL, a/k/a “Tink,” a/k/a “Tinky”
37
Racketeering Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense; Hobbs Act Robbery; Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence and Controlled Substance Offense
Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 17 years in prison (to run consecutive to any other sentence)
SHAWNDALE LEWIS, a/k/a “Nore”
36
Racketeering Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Use and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense
Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 17 years in prison (to run consecutive to any other sentence)
COREY BATCHELOR, a/k/a “Corey Balla”
24
Racketeering Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Use and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence
Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 10 years in prison (to run consecutive to any other sentence)
JORDAN TOWNSEND
26
Racketeering Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Use and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence
Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 10 years in prison (to run consecutive to any other sentence)
[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.
Martinsburg woman admits to role in drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Farrah Doreen Fletcher, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to her role in a methamphetamine distribution operation, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Fletcher, age 45, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Fletcher admitted to working with others to sell methamphetamine from August to October 2021 in Hampshire County and elsewhere.
Fletcher faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives investigated. The task force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Mineral County Sheriff's Office; the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office; the Grant County Sheriff’s Office; and the Keyser Police Department.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Man Who Sold Pistol Used in Synagogue Hostage Crisis Sentenced to 95 Months in Prison for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
The man who sold Malik Faisal Akram the gun he used to kidnap hostages in a Texas synagogue was sentenced today to nearly eight years in prison for a firearm crime, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Henry “Michael” Dwight Williams, 33, was charged via criminal complaint in January and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in June and was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey to 95 months in federal prison.
“This defendant, a convicted felon, had no business carrying – much less buying and selling – firearms. Whether he suspected his buyer would use the gun to menace a community of faith is legally irrelevant: In the U.S., convicted felons cannot possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who violate our nation’s federal firearm laws, which are designed to keep guns from falling into the hands of dangerous offenders. We are grateful to the FBI, which sprang into action as soon as the synagogue hostage crisis began, and to the agents who worked tirelessly to track the weapon from Mr. Akram to the defendant.”
“Tireless days of nonstop investigation revealed the connection of Mr. Akram to Mr. Williams, we are grateful to the many law enforcement agencies and personnel that traced the weapon’s nefarious source,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. “We are fortunate to be able to celebrate the brave actions of the hostages and will continue to support Congregation Beth Israel and the Jewish community in their process of healing.”
According to the complaint, Mr. Williams – a felon previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance – sold Mr. Akram a semiautomatic Taurus G2C pistol on Jan. 13. In plea papers, Mr. Williams admitted to possession of that firearm despite his prior conviction.
According to the complaint, on Jan. 15, agents recovered the pistol from Colleyville’s Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, where Mr. Akram had held four individuals hostage for several hours before he was fatally shot by federal law enforcement.
As part of its intensive investigation into the hostage taking, the FBI tied Mr. Williams to Mr. Akram through an analysis of Mr. Akram’s cellphone records, which showed the pair exchanged a series of calls from Jan. 11 through Jan. 13.
When agents first interviewed Mr. Williams on Jan. 16, Mr. Williams stated that he recalled meeting a man with a British accent, but that he could not recall the man’s name. (Mr. Akram was a British citizen.) Agents interviewed the defendant again on Jan. 24, after he was arrested on an outstanding state warrant. After viewing a photo of Mr. Akram, Mr. Williams confirmed he sold Mr. Akram the handgun at an intersection in South Dallas. Analysis of both men’s cellphone records showed that the two phones were in close proximity on Jan. 13.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Division, and the Colleyville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Magliolo is prosecuting the case with the support of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Errin Martin, Jay Weimer, Alex Lewis, Nicole Dana, P.J. Meitl, and Lindsey Beran (fmr), along with Trial Attorneys David Smith and Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine that Caused Death of Iowa WomanRead the Press Release
A man who distributed methamphetamine to a woman, which resulted in her death, pled guilty today.
Eric A. Young, age 42, from St. Ansgar, Iowa, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Young admitted to a stipulated version of facts that he provided methamphetamine to a woman from Nashua, Iowa on the night of her death. Young admitted to selling the methamphetamine to the woman in exchange for $90 and was present when the woman became unresponsive. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Young remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Young faces the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $1 million; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. The parties have agreed to a sentence between 168-210 months. The Court is not bound by this agreement.
This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2024-CJW.
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Long Island Man Sentenced to 28 Years' Imprisonment for Creating and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, United States District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Christopher Bertsch to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. As part of his sentence, Bertsch must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and not have unsupervised contact with minors. Bertsch pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2020.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant-Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence removes a dangerous predator who not only abused minors and created videos of it but, horrifically, also operated a chat room where he instructed adults on how to abuse minors and to create and share images of it,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The outstanding undercover work of the FBI made this prosecution possible. I urge parents and caregivers to encourage their children to tell a trusted adult if anyone asks them to engage in inappropriate behavior. Protecting children and holding those who harm vulnerable victims accountable for their actions are priorities of our Office.”
As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum and other court filings as well as on the record in court proceedings, Bertsch sexually abused an 18-month-old toddler, created child pornography with that victim and others, and generated a large collection of child pornography, including what he created and what he received from members of the chat room he operated. Bertsch’s child pornography trove included dozens of videos and hundreds of images of child pornography depicting the defendant engaged in sexual conduct with children. An analysis of his chat room activity revealed that Bertsch sent the images of himself abusing children to others.
In addition, in the chat room he operated, Bertsch instructed other adults on how to initiate and carry out sexual abuse of children, while recording it at the same time. Admission to Bertsch’s chat room required photographic proof of the applicant with a minor under their control. Bertsch shared photos of his sexual abuse of children and encouraged others to engage in such abuse and record it for his viewing.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Madeline O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
CHRISTOPHER BERTSCH
Age: 38
Wantagh, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-109 (JS)Local man sentenced for child exploitation on the dark webRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 61-year-old man residing in Houston has been ordered to federal prison following multiple child pornography convictions, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
David Craig pleaded guilty May 24 to distribution and possession of child pornography.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Craig to a total of 108 months in federal prison. He must also serve 10 years of supervised release following his incarceration, during which time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Craig will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Restitution will be determined at a later date.
Craig came to the attention of law enforcement for his presence on dark web chat sites dedicated to child exploitation and advertising the distribution of child pornography. Law enforcement downloaded several images of child pornography from a particular IP address that led them to Craig’s residence.
Authorities later executed a search warrant and seized various electronic devices including a Dell laptop. Further investigation of the laptop revealed child pornography of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, sado-masochistic conduct with minors and the sexual assault and torture of infants and toddlers.
Craig possessed over 18,000 images and over 4,000 videos of child pornography at his residence.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.
FBI - Houston conducted the investigation with the assistance of FBI – Violent Crimes Against Children Unit in Washington, D.C.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly Ann Leo along with Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Lakeland Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Eddie Winman Thomas (32, Lakeland) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Thomas that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, on April 28, 2022, Thomas was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Thomas had previous felony convictions for Hobbs Act Robbery and conspiracy to obstruct commerce by robbery. As a previously convicted felon, Thomas is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Melvin Theophilius Hill, 38, of Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 2, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hill near 13th Street and Ninth Avenue in Huntington. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded FN 509 9mm handgun in the passenger seat rear pocket. Hill admitted to possessing the firearm and placing it where officers found it during the search.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hill knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions in Boyd County, Kentucky, Circuit Court for second-degree robbery on May 9, 2008, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance on January 12, 2011.
Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans 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. 3:22-cr-134.
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Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Trevor Dean Williams, 35, of Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 19, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to Williams’ Huntington residence after a home alarm system alerted 911. Officer observed suspected drug paraphernalia including a blender containing a powder substance, needles and torn plastic bags as well as ammunition and gun holsters in plain view in the residence. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and found three loaded firearms in Williams’ bedroom: a SCCY CPX-2 9mm pistol, a Glock 27 .40-caliber pistol, and a Hi-Point CF380 .380-caliber pistol.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Williams knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior felony convictions in Boyd County, Kentucky, Circuit Court for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, methamphetamine, on October 31, 2018, and second-degree assault on May 21, 2008.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans 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. 3:22-cr-152.
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Judge Sentences South Bay Accountant to Life in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material of Filipino VictimsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man was sentenced today to life without parole in federal prison after he admitted to producing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of nearly three dozen children, one of whom was exploited over the course of at least two years and performed sex acts online in exchange for money.
Billy Edward Frederick, 52, of Redondo Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who said that “to say his conduct is despicable is an understatement.”
Judge Fischer added that “life in prison adequately reflects the seriousness of the offense” in which Frederick “targeted” victims in a “part of the world where children are known for being sexually exploited.”
Frederick pleaded guilty in September 2021 to two felony offenses: production of child pornography for transportation into the United States and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, Frederick obtained and stored in his Google accounts various images and videos depicting child sex abuse material. In messages sent to Frederick, several victims call Frederick “master.” Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum that Frederick exploited “young boys in the Philippines in need of money for food and school.”
Frederick admitted to producing more than 5,000 images and videos of child pornography involving at least 35 different children by requesting these children engage in specified sexually explicit activity in exchange for money. Some of the videos and images depicted minor victims under the age of 12 being used for sexual acts.
“Using Google chat to bridge their geographical divide, [Frederick], while living in Los Angeles County, exploited numerous boys who lived in the Philippines,” according to the sentencing memorandum. Frederick’s “years-long conversations with these Philippine boys were not coded; they were explicit and lurid – brimming with details regarding what defendant liked, demanded, and expected from his victims, should they wish to be paid.”
In addition to the life sentence, Judge Fischer ordered Frederick to pay $5,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015; $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018, and $8,000 in restitution to one of the victims.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathy Yu of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Husband and Wife Are Sentenced to Prison for Stealing $200,000 from A High School Booster ClubRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The former president of a Charlotte high school Booster Club and his wife were sentenced to prison today for stealing more than $239,000 from the organization. The husband was also sentenced for obtaining over $236,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to cover up the theft, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Anthony Sharper, 42, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a money judgement of $310,832.80. Deana Sharper, 47, also of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a money judgment of $239,742.80.
Michael C. Scherck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) which oversees Charlotte, and Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing between 2017 and June 2020, Anthony Sharper and Deana Sharper executed a scheme to defraud and embezzle at least $239,000 from a Charlotte-area high school Athletic Booster Club by writing checks to themselves for purported reimbursement, wiring funds directly to their personal bank account, and using the Booster Club’s debit cards and credit card to pay for personal expenditures. Court documents show that, Anthony Sharper, who is a certified public accountant, also committed tax fraud by failing to report any of the embezzled funds on the couple’s joint 2018 and 2019 tax returns filed with the IRS.
According to court records, to cover up the theft and to enrich himself, between March and May 2020, Anthony Sharper submitted three fraudulent applications for federal COVID-19 relief funds, including two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, one in the name of the Booster Club and one in the name of his accounting firm, A. Sharper CPA, PLLC, and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of his CPA firm. All three applications contained false information, including fake revenues and fake payroll and employment data. As a result of the fraudulent applications, Anthony Sharper obtained more than $236,000 in COVID-19 relief funds intended for existing businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic. After receiving the loan proceeds, Anthony Sharper used the funds to pay for personal expenditures and to cover up the couple’s theft of the Booster Club’s funds.
Anthony Sharper previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud, making a false statement to a financial institution, engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, and tax fraud. Deana Sharper pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Both defendants were released on bond and will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving their sentence upon designation of a federal facility.
The FBI, USPIS, and IRS-CI investigated the case. The prosecution is handled by Assistant United States Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina are also encouraged to call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator.
Graves County Man Charged with Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY –A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging a Graves County, KY man with federal firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court records, Christian Carrico, 27, of Mayfield, KY was charged with two counts of illegal transfer and possession of a machinegun and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
The defendant made an initial court appearance on Friday, October 21, 2022 before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Carrico faces up to 30 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Seth Hancock, Branch Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Office, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Galesburg Man Sentenced to over 15 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced that on October 21, 2022, Chad Kraft, 41, of Galesburg, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for distributing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney also imposed a 20-year period of supervised release to follow Kraft’s incarceration. Judge Maloney stated, “it would be an understatement to describe Kraft’s conduct as grotesque.”
“We take very seriously the crimes of viewing, receiving, and sharing images of children being sexually abused,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office will continue to aggressively pursue those who contribute to the serial abuse of children through the distribution of child pornography.”
Kraft’s conviction followed his 2011 state conviction for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and his 2015 federal conviction for failing to register as a sex offender. Kraft also had a history of using aliases, different dates of birth, and different Social Security numbers to avoid registration and evade detection. In March 2022, law enforcement received a tip that Kraft, who had not registered as a sex offender since May 2021, was residing in Galesburg and had sexually explicit images of children on his phone. Law enforcement seized Kraft’s phone and a forensic examination showed that Kraft used a messaging application to request and share child pornography, including videos of children under the age of five being sexually abused.
“This case highlights the important role our community members play in bringing predators like Kraft to justice,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar. “By seeing something and speaking up, we can all work to end the victimization of innocent children.”
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend.
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Former Tampa Postal Employee Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Nearly $400,000 in Federal Tax Refund Checks from the MailRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Kevin Mark Streeter, Jr. (38, Tampa) to four years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy, receipt of stolen government property, and aggravated identity theft. Streeter had pleaded guilty on June 14, 2022.
According to court documents, Streeter was employed by the U.S. Postal Service at a mail processing center in Sarasota. He exploited his position by stealing approximately 40 federal tax refund checks from the U.S. mail that were enroute to the intended taxpayers living in the Middle District of Florida. Streeter and others then sold or attempted to sell the checks to third parties. The tax refund checks, issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, ranged in amounts from $4,000 to over $100,000, with an aggregate value of over $398,000.
“As a postal employee, Mr. Streeter should have been delivering the mail, not stealing it,” said Brian Payne, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentence demonstrates the consequences for individuals, especially those in a position of trust, who steal government funds and commit identity theft.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
Former Raleigh Investment Advisor Found Guilty in Healthcare Fraud that Targeted the Elderly and DisabledRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, Healthcare Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft on October 19, 2022. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Furman Alexander Ford, 52 years old, and his co-conspirator Jimmy Guess, who pled guilty on September 16, 2020 to healthcare fraud, conspired in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting false claims to Medicare for mental health services that were never provided to Medicare beneficiaries. According to witness testimony and evidence presented at trial, Ford and Guess submitted over 5,000 claims to Medicare, totaling approximately $534,438, for mental health services allegedly provided to approximately 145 beneficiaries between October 2018 and February 2020. Defendant executed several fraud schemes to obtain the beneficiaries’ Medicare information. In one scheme, Ford’s company offered Electronic Health Records conversion and teletherapy counseling to assisted living homes for the elderly and disabled. In another scheme, Ford’s company offered free food in exchange for the Medicare information of low-income elderly parishioners at churches in Bladen County, and by cold calling unsuspecting victims offering telehealth services.
U.S. Attorney Easley stated: “The defendant in this case preyed upon the most vulnerable in our society - the elderly, the poor, and the disabled. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring such offenders to justice.”
"It is disturbing when fraudsters exploit vulnerable Medicare enrollees and defraud federal health care programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Today’s verdict in this case shows that our agency, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold bad actors accountable and protect both Medicare and those served by this program.”
Ford faces up to 52 years in prison when sentenced during Judge Dever’s January 2023 term of court.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Gilmore and Ethan Ontjes are prosecuting 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.5:20-cr-00448-D-1.
Former Department of State Employee Pleads Guilty to Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Department of State employee pleaded guilty today to two counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.
According to court documents, Dean Edward Cheves, 63, was serving at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines from 2017 to 2021, during which time he met multiple minors over the internet. From December 2020 to March 2021, Cheves communicated online with a then 15- to 16-year-old Philippine minor, who he paid to produce and send to him sexually explicit images of the minor. Additionally, in February 2021, Cheves engaged in sex acts on two separate occasions with a second 16-year-old Philippine minor who he met online, using his government-issued cell phone to film the sex acts on at least one occasion. The child sex abuse material Cheves produced and received of these minors was found on devices seized from Cheves’s embassy residence in the Philippines. Cheves knew the ages of both minors at the time he engaged in the conduct.
Cheves is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2023. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison on each count. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the Homeland Security Investigations Attaché’s Office in the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Pomerantz Halper and Zoe Bedell and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-177.
Former Department of State Employee Pleads Guilty to Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
A former U.S. Department of State employee pleaded guilty today to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.
According to court documents, Dean Edward Cheves, 63, was serving at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines from 2017 to 2021, during which time he met multiple minors over the internet. From December 2020 to March 2021, Cheves communicated online with a then 15 to 16-year-old Philippine minor, who he paid to produce and send to him sexually explicit images of the minor. Additionally, in February 2021, Cheves engaged in sex acts on two separate occasions with a second 16-year-old Philippine minor who he met online, using his government-issued cell phone to film himself doing so on at least one of those occasions. The child sex abuse material that Cheves produced and received of these minors were found on devices seized from Cheves’s embassy residence in the Philippines. Cheves knew the ages of both minors at the time he engaged in the conduct.
Cheves is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison on each count. 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 and U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Office of Special Investigations investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the DSS Regional Security Office and the Homeland Security Investigations Attaché’s Office in the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Pomerantz Halper and Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
Flexsteel Industries Agrees to Pay for the Cleanup of the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site in Elkhart, IndianaRead the Press Release
Flexsteel Industries Inc. has agreed to a consent decree that requires it to pay $9.8 million for the cleanup of contamination at the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site (Lane Street Site) in Elkhart, Indiana, and to reimburse the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a portion of its past costs incurred at the Lane Street Site.
According to the complaint filed simultaneously with the proposed consent decree in the Northern District of Indiana, Flexsteel is liable for the cleanup because its former manufacturing operations contributed to contamination at the Lane Street Site. Previously, EPA entered into administrative settlements with two other potentially responsible parties for their alleged contributions to the contamination at the Lane Street Site.
“This settlement ensures that the responsible party and not the taxpayers fund the cleanup of the Lane Street Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The cleanup funded by this agreement protects the environment and the health of the surrounding community.”
“This is an excellent settlement that funds necessary cleanup of a contaminated groundwater plume in Elkhart, Indiana,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “This cleanup will protect the drinking water and health of Elkhart residents.”
“Groundwater is a drinking water source for wells and public water systems and it also flows to above-ground rivers and streams,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “Through this settlement and others like it, EPA is taking action to protect the health of communities and the environment by holding polluters accountable for groundwater contamination.”
“Indiana proudly works with our federal partners and industries across our state to make sure the health of Hoosiers and our environment is protected,” said Commissioner Brian Rockensuess of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “This settlement is great news for the people of Elkhart and will help ensure the cleanup of long-standing water contamination.”
The Lane Street Site consists of approximately 65 acres of residential and light industrial properties in Elkhart, Indiana, impacted by a groundwater plume contaminated primarily with solvents and degreasers such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene. In 2016, EPA issued its record of decision for the Lane Street Site that selected a remedy for treating the groundwater plume by breaking down the contamination into harmless compounds. The proposed consent decree funds implementation of the selected remedy.
The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval and will be available for public review on the Department of Justice website at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
More information about the Site is available on the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination website (https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0510229).