Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
18 October 2022
District Election Officers Appointed to Receive Election Day ComplaintsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney Jessica D. Aber announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Harvey, Avi Panth, and Anthony Mozzi, will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEO) for the Northern Virginia region, Assistant U.S. Attorney Panth for the Central Capitol region, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mozzi for the Tidewater region. In this 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.
“The ability to vote freely and without interference is the right of every eligible American,” said U.S. Attorney Aber. “In order for fair, impartial elections to take place, election officials and staff must be able to do their work in facilitating the vote without suffering threats or violence. EDVA, in partnership with the Department of Justice, has taken the measure of appointing these District Election Officers with the intent of responding rapidly and effectively to any reports of voting-related criminal conduct to ensure our district’s election process is lawful and accurate.”
The Department of Justice and EDVA have 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 on November 8, the DEOs will be on duty while the polls are open. From 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., any calls should be directed to 703-299-3700. From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., calls should be directed to the below phone numbers:
Alexandria - Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey, 703-299-3700
Norfolk and Newport News - Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi, 757-441-6331
Richmond - Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth, 804-819-5400
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.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also 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/ .
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.
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.
DOJ awards multiple grants to state, cities, counties, and non-profits in Western Washington to combat gun violence and support community safetyRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Nick Brown today announced 19 U.S. Department of Justice grants totaling nearly $10 million that will support community safety, meet the needs of law enforcement, and provide a foundation for youth violence intervention programs. The grant funding is through four different DOJ programs, with the bulk of the grants awarded via the Byrne grant program.
“Each year police and sheriff’s departments identify specific needs and apply for Byrne Grant funding. These federal dollars help each department meet its local priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Western Washington organizations also obtained funding for innovative programs aimed at youth violence intervention. I’m pleased to see the Peacemaking Academy, the Children and Youth Justice Center, Burien’s Enhanced Youth Services, and the Washington Partnership on Juvenile Justice all obtained substantial federal dollars to support their work.”
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility Foundation was awarded $300,000 to support the Peacemaking Academy – a program that works to divert juveniles from the traditional court process to a transformative approach that utilizes Peacemaking Circles.
The Children and Youth Justice Center in Seattle was awarded $2 million to support the Leadership, Intervention & Change (LINC) program working with 200 at-risk youth in King County, to reduce youth gun violence and gang involvement.
The city of Burien Enhanced Youth Services program was awarded $300,000 for its violence intervention program that works with families and youth to provide therapeutic and restorative services to disrupt community violence.
Finally, nearly $1 million was awarded to Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice for its work focused on innovations and improvement to the juvenile justice system. The funds support increasing alternatives to incarceration as well as re-entry services for youth who have been incarcerated.
Ten cities, three counties and Washington State were awarded Byrne grants to support local police needs. Washington State was awarded $3.7 million which can be used to support local jurisdictions’ needs. The other Byrne grant recipients are:
- Seattle - $829,956
- Tacoma- $310,110
- Lakewood -$42,486
- Bellingham $38,840
- Bremerton -$15,979
- Lynnwood - $10,528
- Marysville - $14,207
- Everett – $37,989
- Puyallup - $11,618
- Longview - $10,664
- Kitsap County - $42,997
- Thurston County - $25,621
- Clark County - $120,575
In addition to the Byrne grant funding, the City of Seattle was awarded nearly $1 million for its body-worn camera program. The funding will help migrate and integrate the 2.1 million digital files that SPD has from its body-worn cameras. The migration to the cloud will assist in making the videos available for investigators as well and the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The Byrne Grants are named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne, who was killed in the line of duty on February 26, 1988. Officer Byrne was just 22 years old.
DOJ and Des Moines, Washington, dental clinic resolve complaint over Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violationRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice and the Center for Endodontic Care, Inc. d/b/a Dental Specialty Clinic (DSC) have resolved a complaint that the clinic failed to provide interpretation services to a patient who is deaf, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The clinic agrees to undertake a number of improvements to ensure appropriate interpreter services for clients who are deaf. The complainant in the case will be paid $45,000 in compensation for the discrimination she suffered.
“Effective communication with patients is critical in medical and dental appointments, and auxiliary aids and services are required by law for patients who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Our office is a leader in bringing these cases on behalf of Washingtonians who are deaf or hard of hearing. I hope that providers will assess and improve their services for those who are deaf and hard of hearing before complaints, such as this one, require federal intervention.”
According to the settlement agreement the complainant scheduled emergency dental treatment with the Dental Specialty Clinic (DSC) in June 2020. The complainant had been told by her routine dentist that due to pain she was suffering, she needed to have her wisdom teeth removed and possibly one other tooth, as well as a possible root canal. DSC told the patient it was likely there would not be a sign language interpreter available. The complainant understood that she would be contacted if no interpreter was available. However, the clinic did not contact her, and when she arrived for treatment, there was no interpreter. She was unaware that she agreed to the removal of seven teeth which caused her significant physical pain and emotional distress.
In addition to the $45,000 in compensation to the patient, DSC agrees to institute new procedures such as using an effective communication intake form with each patient and keeping that information in each patient file. The clinic will contract with a qualified interpreter services provider to ensure that there are sign language interpretation services either in person or by video during its hours of operation. The clinic agrees not to use a family member for such interpretation services unless it is an emergency of imminent threat to safety, or if the patient requests that the family member provide interpretation. The clinic will post notices about its interpretation services in the clinic and on its website.
The clinic has agreed to provide training for all its employees about the new procedures, record keeping, and ways to access the interpretation services. For three years the clinic will provide reports and records, and copies of any complaints, to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure the clinic is complying with this agreement.
For more information about our office’s civil rights program, or to file a complaint, go to: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/civil-rights
The clinic cooperated fully with the investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The settlement was negotiated by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Waldrop.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Drugs and FirearmRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Johntavious Tiller, 31, of Wewahitchka, Florida, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted at jury trial of possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and pleading guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“I am proud of our federal, state, and local partners for their tireless efforts to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to support the efforts our law enforcement partners as we work together to investigate and prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”
On September 21, 2019, officers of the Panama City Police Department arrested Tiller after discovering nine small baggies of methamphetamine, a small baggie of heroin, a small digital scale, and a .45 caliber pistol during a traffic stop.
After bonding out of state custody, Tiller was arrested on October 29, 2019, by officers of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in possession of 31 small baggies of cocaine and a .44 caliber revolver.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms adopted the case for federal prosecution and conducted additional investigation. Tiller had eleven prior felony convictions, including multiple convictions for drug and firearm offenses. Tiller had only been out of prison for six months at the time of the September 21, 2019, offense. Tiller was determined to qualify as a Career Offender, which provided for an enhanced sentence.
This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Panama City Police Department, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Panama City Beach Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
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.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html
Convicted Felon Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Possessing A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Raymond Reeves (22, Jacksonville) to 27 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Reeves to forfeit a Taurus 9mm pistol that was used in the offense. Reeves had pleaded guilty on July 22, 2022.
According to court documents, Reeves was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) after he was observed driving recklessly. After the traffic stop, JSO officers arrested Reeves and recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from the floorboard of his car. Reeves had a prior conviction for armed carjacking and had been released from prison in 2020. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot and was previously prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus Zomorodian. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling the forfeiture of assets.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Citizen of Mexico Indicted for Attempted Possession of FentanylRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Sinaloa, Mexico, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Eduardo Rosario Acosta Montoya, age 21, formerly of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, on or about Sept. 21, 2022, Acosta Montoya knowingly attempted to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $10,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chinese Foreign National Attending Southeast Missouri State University Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The United States Attorney's Office announced that Haoyu Wang, age 29, has been sentenced to serve seven years in federal prison for the offense of Possession of Child Pornography. Wang appeared for his sentencing hearing Monday before United States District Judge Stephen R. Clark at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Wang’s residence in January 2021 after developing probable cause that he was uploading videos containing child pornography. Wang, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, was attending Southeast Missouri State University on a student visa at the time. Numerous items were seized from Wang’s residence, including his cell phone and computer. Investigators subsequently discovered a large volume of child pornography on the devices. At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Wang admitted that he downloaded the material over the internet. After serving his sentence, Wang will be deported back to China.This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Carter Healthcare Affiliates and Two Senior Managers to Pay $7.175 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for False Florida Home Health BillingsRead the Press Release
Carter Healthcare LLC, an Oklahoma-based for-profit home health provider, its affiliates CHC Holdings and Carter-Florida (collectively Carter Healthcare), and their President Stanley Carter and Chief Operations Officer Bradley Carter have agreed to pay $7.175 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing the Medicare program for medically unnecessary therapy provided to patients in Florida. Bradley Carter will pay $175,000, Stanley Carter will pay $75,000, and Carter Healthcare will pay the remaining $6.925 million of the settlement.
Between 2014 and 2016, Carter Healthcare allegedly billed the Medicare Program knowingly and improperly for home healthcare to patients in Florida based on therapy provided without regard to medical necessity and overbilled for therapy by upcoding patients’ diagnoses.
“Payment under Medicare for home health care is permitted only for those who provide medically necessary services to eligible beneficiaries,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “As this settlement demonstrates, the Department is committed to ensuring that providers bill only for appropriate procedures and amounts.”
“Medicare fraud costs our taxpayers billions annually,” said U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “These overpayments drain the Medicare trust fund and unfairly raise the premiums our senior citizens must pay. We take this fraudulent activity very seriously and will continue to prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This settlement is a stark reminder to home health providers that our agents are working tirelessly with the Department of Justice to pursue providers that inappropriately bill federal health care programs to boost profits, as alleged here,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), Miami Regional Office. “Our agency will not hesitate to investigate such allegations to protect federal health care programs and the patients served by these programs.”
Both Stanley Carter and Bradley Carter agreed to be excluded from participation in all Federal health care programs for a period of five years pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7(b)(7), the statutory authority to exclude from federal health programs individuals or entities who engaged in fraud or kickbacks.
Carter Healthcare also agreed to be bound by the terms of a corporate integrity agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General that requires the company to implement compliance measures designed to avoid or promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to the settlement.
The settlement includes the resolution of an action brought by Sharon Mahaffey and Mark Brimer, therapists formerly employed by Carter Healthcare, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions permit a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States for false claims and receive a portion of any recovery. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Mahaffey and Brimer v. Carter Healthcare, Stanley Carter and Brad Carter, CV 16-80459 MARRA (S.D. Fla.). Mahaffey and Brimer will together receive $1.3 million as their share of the settlement.
Contemporaneous with the settlement announced today, Carter Healthcare has agreed to pay an additional $22,948,004.54 to resolve another qui tam action captioned U.S. ex rel. Duffield et al. v. CHC Holdings, LLC et al., Case No. 17-CV-826-HE (W.D. Okla.), brought in the Western District of Oklahoma, which alleged that Carter Healthcare improperly paid remuneration to its home health medical directors in Oklahoma and Texas for the purpose of inducing referrals of Medicare and TRICARE home health patients between 2013 and 2020.
The government’s resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The United States’ investigation of this matter was handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Gregory Mason of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys James A. Weinkle and John Spaccarotella for the Southern District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Carter Healthcare Affiliates and Two Senior Managers to Pay $7.175 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for False Florida Home Health BillingsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Carter Healthcare LLC, an Oklahoma-based for-profit home health provider, its affiliates CHC Holdings and Carter-Florida (collectively Carter Healthcare), and their President Stanley Carter and Chief Operations Officer Bradley Carter have agreed to pay $7.175 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing the Medicare program for medically unnecessary therapy provided to patients in Florida. Bradley Carter will pay $175,000, Stanley Carter will pay $75,000, and Carter Healthcare will pay the remaining $6.925 million of the settlement.
Between 2014 and 2016, Carter Healthcare allegedly billed the Medicare Program knowingly and improperly for home healthcare to patients in Florida based on therapy provided without regard to medical necessity and overbilled for therapy by upcoding patients’ diagnoses.
“Medicare fraud costs our taxpayers billions annually,” said Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “These overpayments drain the Medicare trust fund and unfairly raise the premiums our senior citizens must pay. We take this fraudulent activity very seriously and will continue to prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Payment under Medicare for home health care is permitted only for those who provide medically necessary services to eligible beneficiaries,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “As this settlement demonstrates, the Department is committed to ensuring that providers bill only for appropriate procedures and amounts.”
“This settlement is a stark reminder to home health providers that our agents are working tirelessly with the Department of Justice to pursue providers that inappropriately bill federal health care programs to boost profits, as alleged here,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), Miami Regional Office. “Our agency will not hesitate to investigate such allegations to protect federal health care programs and the patients served by these programs.”
Both Stanley Carter and Bradley Carter agreed to be excluded from participation in all Federal health care programs for a period of five years pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7(b)(7), the statutory authority to exclude from federal health programs individuals or entities who engaged in fraud or kickbacks.
Carter Healthcare also agreed to be bound by the terms of a corporate integrity agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General that requires the company to implement compliance measures designed to avoid or promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to the settlement.
The settlement includes the resolution of an action brought by Sharon Mahaffey and Mark Brimer, therapists formerly employed by Carter Healthcare, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions permit a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States for false claims and receive a portion of any recovery. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Mahaffey and Brimer v. Carter Healthcare, Stanley Carter and Brad Carter, CV 16-80459 MARRA (S.D. Fla.). Mahaffey and Brimer will together receive $1.3 million as their share of the settlement.
Contemporaneous with the settlement announced today, Carter Healthcare has agreed to pay an additional $22,948,004.54 to resolve another qui tam action captioned U.S. ex rel. Duffield et al. v. CHC Holdings, LLC et al., Case No. 17-CV-826-HE (W.D. Okla.), brought in the Western District of Oklahoma, which alleged that Carter Healthcare improperly paid remuneration to its home health medical directors in Oklahoma and Texas for the purpose of inducing referrals of Medicare and TRICARE home health patients between 2013 and 2020.
The government’s resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The United States’ investigation of this matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James A. Weinkle and John Spaccarotella, and Trial Attorney Gregory Mason of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
###
Career Offender in the U.S. Illegally Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking, Firearm, and Immigration ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national previously deported in 2004 following his conviction and incarceration on drug trafficking charges was sentenced on Monday to ten years in federal prison on illegal reentry, drug trafficking, and firearm charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Stevens Morales Rivera, 47, was arrested by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force in October 2021, following a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into his renewed drug trafficking activity. A court-authorized search of the defendant’s residence at the time of his arrest yielded 13 pounds (6.53 kilograms) of cocaine; 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of fentanyl; a 25 caliber, semi-automatic handgun; a pill press; and $8,995 in cash. The drugs and firearm were located unsecured and easily accessible in a bedroom adjacent to a room where two small children were present when law enforcement entered the residence.
At the time of his arrest, Morales Rivera was found to have fingerprints on file with law enforcement under a different name. He was also found to have criminal records under two names, including a conviction in Massachusetts for trafficking cocaine, and he had previously been deported and reentered the United States illegally.
Morales Rivera pleaded guilty on April 7, 2022, to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; and illegal re-entry to the United States following removal. He was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of federal supervised release. He will face deportation proceedings once he completes his term of incarceration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General; Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; the East Providence, Cranston, Coventry, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments; and Amtrak Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
###
Career Criminal Sentenced for Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 150 months in prison for distributing cocaine after previously receiving at least two felony convictions for controlled substance offenses.
According to court documents, Craig Antonio Dawson, 51, helped co-conspirator Charles Boomer, 46, of Portsmouth, operate a drug stash house in Portsmouth across the street from an elementary school. On September 17, 2018, this location was the site of an attempted armed robbery where a third co-conspirator, Keith Redman, 27, also of Portsmouth, was shot. Police caught the three of them in a car, with Boomer sitting on wholesale amounts of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and marijuana. The officers also recovered a gun used in the shooting on the floorboard within reach of all three of them. When Boomer exited the car, the arresting officer observed cash falling out of his pant legs and recovered more cash and the magazine matching the gun from his pockets. Dawson had additional crack cocaine in his pocket.
Dawson and Boomer were arrested then released from jail within the next week or two. By the next summer, they had moved to another drug stash house in Portsmouth and been the subject of three controlled buys of cocaine coordinated by law enforcement. Investigators searched the residence, recovering even more crack and powder cocaine.
In 2020, Boomer and Redman were sentenced to 16 years and 10 years in prison respectively for their role in the conspiracy. Since 2018, four additional defendants, all from Portsmouth, have been sentenced in connection with this case. For their roles in the conspiracy, Michael Howard, 42, was sentenced to 108 months, William Peele, 48, was sentenced to 121 months, Antonio Brown, 47, was sentenced to 210 months, and Roman Hurdle, 43, was sentenced to 108 months.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Stephen Jenkins, Interim Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Jackson prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). Dawson is the final defendant to be sentenced under OCDETF Operation Promotional Deceit. This operation resulted in seven convictions, more than 84 years in prison sentences, and multiple kilograms of heroin, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine removed from the streets.
The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-31.
California Woman Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California woman was sentenced yesterday in connection with travelling across the country to deliver fentanyl to an undercover officer.
Adelaida Yudit Garibay, 46, of Burbank, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 57 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On June 9, 2022, Garibay pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
In September 2021, Garibay drove from California to Boston to deliver two kilograms of fentanyl to an individual who was an undercover officer. On Sept. 29, 2021, officers observed Garibay picking up fentanyl in Jamaica Plain and then get into a ride-sharing vehicle prior to her scheduled meeting with the undercover officer. During a subsequent traffic stop, two kilograms of fentanyl were found inside the vehicle in a bag at Garibay’s feet.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance with the investigation was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been sentenced for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Jean Aman, 36, was sentenced on Oct. 13, 2022 by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to eight years in prison and four years of supervised release. On April 7, 2022, Aman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Aman was charged along with 24 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
Aman was identified as a drug runner and drug distributor for one of the main cocaine suppliers in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Intercepted communications and surveillance revealed Aman coordinated drug deals and participated in drug trafficking conduct, including meeting with a main cocaine supplier. A traffic stop following an observed cocaine deal recovered 62 grams of crack cocaine from Aman. During a subsequent search of Aman’s residence, magazine clips and ammunition, over 350 grams of cocaine, over 150 grams of cocaine base and over $195,000 in cash were recovered. In total, Aman was responsible for distributing approximately over one kilogram of cocaine base and nearly 400 grams of cocaine.
Aman is the third defendant to be sentenced in the Fidelis-Way related drug conspiracy. The remaining defendants are either pending sentencing or have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial. One defendant, Derek Hart, remains at large.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boise Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – Zane Beckman, 29, of Boise, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, the investigation began in April of 2020, when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) Task Force received a report that Beckman had communicated online with a 10-year-old child in Texas and solicited explicit images from her. In August of 2020, ICAC, and other members of law enforcement, executed a federal search warrant at Beckman’s Boise residence and seized his electronic devices. On his cellphone, ICAC located explicit images of a 4-year-old child and an 8-year-old child that Beckman had produced at his Boise residence. ICAC also located evidence that Beckman had communicated online with other minors and had solicited, and received, explicit images from them. ICAC located hundreds of other images of child pornography on Beckman’s cellphone and other electronic devices.
Chief United States District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Beckman to serve a lifetime term supervised release following his prison sentence, to forfeit the electronic devices that were used to commit the offense, and to pay $69,053.12 in restitution to the victims in the images he produced and possessed. Beckman also paid $68,000 in lieu of forfeiture of his residence. As a result of the conviction, Beckman will be required to register as a sex offender.
“This sentence sends the message that significant time in federal prison awaits those who produce, distribute, or possess child pornography,” U.S. Attorney Hurwit said. “We will continue to vigorously pursue anyone involved in these crimes. And this case highlights the importance of the partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in rooting out this evil and protecting our children.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit, of the District of Idaho commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boise Police Department, and Garland Police Department in Texas which led to charges.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal 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.
###
Birmingham Attorney Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Chase Tristian Espy, 36, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography arising out of events that occurred from March 2021 to August 2021, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon accepted the plea and set sentencing for January 24, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
The plea agreement filed states the investigation was initiated when Espy engaged in online chats with undercover law enforcement whom Espy believed was a 15-year-old girl. Upon being arrested, Espy’s cell phone was seized, and a search warrant was obtained. From this search, approximately 69 videos and four images of child sexual abuse material were found.
“The hard work of the agents involved in this case reflect how local, state, and federal law enforcement are committed to protecting children from predators,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Possessing child pornography is not a ‘victimless’ crime. Each time images of the innocent are shared or viewed, the child is re-victimized.”
“The FBI is committed to protecting our children from sexual abuse and exploitation, and we will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who would prey on our most vulnerable,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Rivera said. “I want to thank the members of the FBI Birmingham Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force and our partners for their outstanding work in this case.”
Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek imprisonment of Espy consistent with the high end of the advisory United States Sentencing Guideline range as calculated by the Court at the time of sentencing.
The FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF), the Homewood Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) participated in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Jonathan Cross are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Billings man caught with 10 pounds of meth in vehicle sentenced to five years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking drugs after he broke into the Drug Enforcement Administration’s building to see if agents had found the 10 pounds of meth hidden in his truck was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Anthony Jacob Johnson, 43, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in January 2021, an investigation into methamphetamine distributing led to Johnson as a source of supply. Agents determined that Johnson traveled to Colorado in March and again in April 2021. Upon Johnson’s return to Montana, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop of Johnson’s vehicle. Agents executed a search warrant on the vehicle and located 10 vacuumed sealed bricks of meth. The bricks totaled approximately 10.39 pounds of meth, which is the equivalent of about 37,653 doses. In the early morning, the DEA discovered a large hole in a garage door at its facility. Evidence showed that Johnson had gone to the facility the night before, cut a large hole in the garage and entered his seized vehicle while it was in DEA’s custody, hoping agents had not located the meth. Johnson admitted he distributed approximately 80 pounds to 100 pounds of meth in the community over five months.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the DEA and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Berkeley County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniel Kion Garrison, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 27 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Garrison, 30, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” Garrison admitted to working with another to illegally purchase a .380 caliber pistol from a licensed dealer in Berkeley County in May 2021.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Arizona couple indicted for attempting to extort Georgia TechRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Ronald Bell was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Regina Cannon on charges arising from a conspiracy to extort the Georgia Institute of Technology by falsely claiming an individual associated with its basketball program committed sexual assault. Bell and co-defendant Jennifer Pendley were indicted on these charges by a federal grand jury on August 24, 2022.
“The defendants are alleged to have falsely accused Georgia Tech’s coach of sexual assault,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “They then demanded a large payment in exchange for a retraction of the claim. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and our other federal law enforcement partners are especially proficient in exposing false allegations designed to extort money. Individuals who attempt to perpetrate such criminal schemes at the expense of law-abiding citizens will be caught and prosecuted.”
“Once again, greed does not pay,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These defendants sought to damage the reputations of the institution and coach for their own financial gain. The FBI will not stop in bringing people who try and commit this type of fraud to justice. “
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Ronald Bell and his girlfriend, Jennifer Pendley, allegedly conspired with each other, and a Georgia Tech security guard, to falsely accuse an individual associated with Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team of sexual assault. Bell is alleged to have recruited the security guard to claim falsely that he witnessed an assault of Pendley. Pendley filed a lawsuit claiming sexual battery, sexual assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Bell allegedly told the security guard that the false accusation of sexual assault could be worth $20 million and promised the guard a share of the money. Bell is also alleged to have communicated with representatives of Georgia Tech and demanded money in exchange for not reporting the claimed sexual assault. Ultimately, the security guard admitted to law enforcement that his statements were false and that Bell asked him to participate in the scheme to support the false sexual assault claim.
The indictment alleges Ronald Bell, 56, and Jennifer Pendley, 50, both from Oro Valley, Arizona, committed conspiracy to transmit a threat interstate, conspiracy to extort property from another, and attempted extortion. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking & Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Levi Bagne, 31, Buckeye, Arizona, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 16 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and money laundering. Bagne pleaded guilty to these charges on May 24, 2022.
The government’s investigation revealed that Bagne was the undisputed leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing over 20 pounds of methamphetamine into central Wisconsin from Arizona. As a result of his lucrative operation, Bagne used drug funds to make mortgage payments on his house, buy a trailer, ATVs, and a motorcycle, as well as build a swimming pool.
On November 12, 2019, and again on February 15, 2020, Bagne and co-defendant Krista Sparks mailed packages containing methamphetamine from Arizona to co-defendant Cory Freyermuth’s residence in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The packages were seized by law enforcement and subsequent searches of the packages revealed a total of six pounds of methamphetamine.
On September 2, 2020, agents executed a search warrant on a storage unit belonging to Bagne and Freyermuth in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. During the search, agents recovered 10 pounds of methamphetamine.
The investigation also revealed that Bagne and Sparks used multiple bank accounts to launder drug proceeds. After selling methamphetamine in Wisconsin, Freyermuth returned the drug proceeds to Bagne in Arizona. Bagne devised a plan that allowed Freyermuth to deposit cashier’s checks into Sparks’ bank accounts. The investigation revealed that Bagne and Sparks played an active role in setting up the bank accounts and withdrawing the proceeds.
On May 26, 2021, agents arrested Bagne and executed a search warrant at his house in Buckeye, Arizona. During the search, agents found a safe containing $40,050 in cash, nine firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. As part of his plea agreement, Bagne agreed to forfeit his residence in Buckeye, $40,050 in cash, a 2021 PJ 22-foot trailer, and a 2019 Honda CBR1000RR motorcycle.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson concluded that a significant sentence was warranted because Bagne’s organization was responsible for bringing a tremendous amount of methamphetamine into Wisconsin for a significant period of time. Judge Peterson stated that Bagne exercised tight control over members of the organization and helped finance local dealers by fronting them large amounts of methamphetamine. Judge Peterson noted that Bagne had multiple prior drug trafficking felony convictions and prior prison sentences had not deterred him from dealing drugs. Judge Peterson also found that Bagne’s history demonstrated a “lack of self-control” and a “propensity for violence.” Judge Peterson also expressed concern regarding the “arsenal” of weapons found at Bagne’s home in close proximity to a large amount of cash.
A total of six individuals have been charged for participating in this methamphetamine distribution scheme. All six individuals have pleaded guilty.
The charges against Bagne are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Wausau Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Everest Metro Police Department, and Wisconsin's National Guard Counterdrug program; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Unit, and Merrill Police Department. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JOSHUA MICHAEL ARCHULETA, age 34, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, on October 11, 2022, for distribution of fentanyl. He received a sentence of 39 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $500 in community restitution and a $100 special assessment. The crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced JARVIS JEFFERSON, age 50, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, on October 11, 2022, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a sentence of 33 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Jefferson was arrested during a traffic stop on March 29, 2022, because he had an active arrest warrant out of Laramie County for failing to appear. Two firearms were found in his vehicle during the traffic stop and arrest. This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced CHAD ALLEN KEMPER, age 50, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, on October 11, 2022, for failing to register as a sex offender. He received a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Kemper was arrested in Cheyenne for failure to register as a sex offender. He has a lifetime registration requirement due to a conviction from December 2003 out of Iowa. This crime was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced GEORGE MANZANARES, age 35, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, on October 5, 2022, for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. He received two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
17 October 2022
Worcester Man Sentenced in Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and heroin.
Jector Torres, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 7, 2022, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Torres was charged in October 2019 along with co-conspirators John Robles, Cintia Franco and Amauris Antonio Rosario Garcia, all of whom have since pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
In early 2019, Robles was identified by investigators selling purported oxycodone pills, which were later determined to be counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, at Albino’s Market in Worcester. Intercepted communications from Robles’ phone identified that Garcia was the supply source and that Garcia was distributing pills through Robles and Torres. The investigation also revealed that Garcia and Franco were distributing heroin, fentanyl pills and powdered fentanyl directly to users in Worcester.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Noto and Danial E. Bennett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Vancleave Man Sentenced to over 33 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine While Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Vancleave man was sentenced to a total of 404 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Jeremy Green, 37, was sentenced on October 13, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on October 20, 2021, police were called to the residence of Jeremy Green for a domestic dispute. Green’s wife had suffered a fractured nose and had to receive 3 staples to the back of her head, among other injuries. Law enforcement officers were able to arrest Green after a brief stand-off. At the time of his arrest, Green possessed 80 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen .45 caliber pistol. A subsequent investigation revealed that Green possessed the firearm for protection due to his drug trafficking activities and sold a total of 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the month leading up to his arrest.
Green was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 23, 2022. He pled guilty on June 27, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Vallejo Man Sentenced to 30 years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tariq Arrhamann Majid, 44, of Vallejo, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of children, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Majid was arrested in late 2018, following an investigation involving online sharing of child pornography. Investigators discovered images and videos of Majid sexually abusing two minors, one of whom was 9 years old at the time of the offense. Investigators eventually identified the two child victims depicted in the videos, and Majid admitted that he was the abuser depicted in the videos. During the investigation, it was discovered that Majid had contact with many other minors, many of whom came from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds. Majid sought out opportunities to work with children, both in formal and informal settings, and he would purport to be their mentor while grooming them for sexual abuse. Several additional victims of Majid’s abuse have come forward since the investigation began, and Majid has been charged in Solano County Superior Court with his crimes against these victims. That case is pending.
“The lengthy sentence imposed today reflects the abhorrent crimes that this defendant committed against multiple children,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “My office will continue to work in partnership with state, federal, and local law enforcement to pursue predators such as this defendant and ensure the safety of our community’s most vulnerable members.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol Computer Crimes Investigation Unit, the Golden Gate Special Investigations Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith 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.
United States Files Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Cigna for Artificially Inflating Its Medicare Advantage PaymentsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that the United States has filed a civil healthcare fraud lawsuit against CIGNA CORPORATION and its subsidiary Medicare Advantage Organizations (collectively, “CIGNA”). The lawsuit seeks damages and penalties under the False Claims Act for CIGNA’s submissions to the Government of false and invalid patient diagnosis codes to artificially inflate the payments CIGNA received for providing insurance coverage to its Medicare Advantage plan members. The Government is intervening in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower, which was originally filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and later transferred to the Middle District of Tennessee.
The Government’s complaint alleges that the reported diagnoses codes were based solely on forms completed by vendors retained and paid by CIGNA to conduct in-home assessments of plan members. The healthcare providers (typically nurse practitioners) who conducted these home visits did not perform or order the testing or imaging that would have been necessary to reliably diagnose the serious, complex conditions reported and were prohibited by CIGNA from providing any treatment during the home visit for the medical conditions they purportedly found. The diagnoses at issue were not supported by the information documented on the form completed by the vendor and were not reported to CIGNA by any other healthcare provider who saw the patient during the year in which the home visit occurred. Nevertheless, CIGNA submitted these diagnoses to the Government to claim increased payments and falsely certified on an annual basis that its diagnosis data submissions were “accurate, complete, and truthful.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, CIGNA obtained tens of millions of dollars in Medicare funding by submitting to the Government false and invalid diagnoses for its Medicare Advantage plan members. CIGNA knew that, under the Medicare Advantage reimbursement system, it would be paid more if its plan members appeared to be sicker. This Office is dedicated to holding insurers accountable if they seek to manipulate the system and boost their profits by submitting false information to the Government.”
Medicare Advantage, also known as the Medicare Part C program, provides health insurance coverage for tens of millions of Americans who opt out of traditional Medicare. Under Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage Organizations (“MAOs”), typically operated by private insurers like CIGNA, provide coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. In return, MAOs receive capitated payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) based on demographic information and the diagnoses of each plan beneficiary. MAOs submit diagnosis data, typically passed along from beneficiaries’ healthcare providers, to CMS. CMS then uses that diagnosis data, in conjunction with demographic factors, to calculate a “risk score” for each beneficiary and, in turn, the amount of the monthly capitated payment that the MAO will receive for covering that beneficiary. The Medicare Advantage payment model is intended to pay MAOs more to provide healthcare for sicker enrollees (expected to incur higher healthcare costs) and less for healthier enrollees (expected to incur lower costs).
The following allegations are based on the Complaint that was filed in federal court:
CIGNA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates numerous MAOs that administer Medicare Advantage Plans. CIGNA contracted with several vendors to conduct home visits of Medicare Advantage plan members across the country as part of its broader so-called “360 comprehensive assessment” program. The home visits were typically conducted by nurse practitioners, and on occasion by other non-physician healthcare providers such as registered nurses and physician assistants (the “Vendor HCPs”). Based on the visit, the Vendor HCPs completed a CIGNA-created form (“360 form”) that included a check-the-box multi-page list of a wide range of medical conditions. CIGNA had its coding teams identify diagnosis codes that corresponded to the recorded medical conditions and then submitted those to CMS for risk adjustment payment purposes.
CIGNA structured the 360 home visits for the primary purpose of capturing and recording lucrative diagnosis codes that would significantly increase the monthly capitated payments it received from CMS. The purpose of the visits was not to treat patients’ medical conditions, and CIGNA explicitly prohibited the Vendor HCPs from providing actual patient treatment or care. As CIGNA acknowledged in an internal document discussing the program, “[t]the primary goal of a 360 visit is administrative code capture and not chronic care or acute care management.” But this was not disclosed to CIGNA’s plan members when the home visit was scheduled or during the actual visit. When identifying plan members to receive home visits, CIGNA targeted individuals who were likely to yield the greatest risk score increases and thus the greatest increased payment.
The Vendor HCPs spent limited time with the patients and did not conduct a comprehensive physical examination. When completing the assessments and recording the diagnoses, the Vendor HCPs relied largely on the patient’s own self-assessment and their responses to various basic screening questions. Vendor HCPs did not have access to the patient’s full medical history and typically did not obtain or review relevant records from the patient’s primary care physician in advance of the visit.
CIGNA’s 360 home visit program regularly generated false and invalid diagnosis codes for certain serious, complex conditions that cannot be reliably diagnosed in a home setting and without extensive diagnostic testing or imaging. In tens of thousands of instances, CIGNA submitted diagnosis codes that represent serious, complex medical conditions that (a) were based only on the home visits conducted by the Vendor HCPs; (b) required specific testing or imaging to be reliably diagnosed, which was not performed; (c) were not supported by the information documented on the 360 form completed by the Vendor HCPs; and (d) were not reported by any other healthcare provider who saw the plan member during the year in which the home visit occurred (the “Invalid Diagnoses”). The Invalid Diagnoses included, but are not limited to, diagnoses for complex medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes with renal complications. According to CIGNA’s own clinical guidelines, accurately diagnosing these conditions requires specialized testing.
CIGNA exerted pressure on Vendor HCPs to record high-value diagnoses that significantly increased risk adjustment payments. CIGNA management identified at least twelve classes of generic chronic diagnoses that they thought were “often underdiagnosed” among its Plan members and, through trainings and seminars, encouraged the Vendor HCPs to make these diagnoses during the home visits. CIGNA also closely tracked the volume and nature of the diagnoses generated by each vendor’s home visits, as well as how the diagnoses affected risk-adjusted payments. CIGNA provided trainings to vendors to improve their “performance” when they failed to deliver the expected level of high-value diagnosis codes.
Indeed, CIGNA tracked the return on investment of the 360 home visit program by comparing the costs of the in-home visits (i.e., payments to vendors) against the additional Part C payments generated by increased risk scores. For example, according to an internal report, CIGNA determined that, during the first nine months of 2014, one vendor’s 6,658 in-home visits resulted in more than an additional $14 million in Medicare payments, which dwarfed the approximately $2.13 million that CIGNA paid to the vendor. When specific providers were found to have captured fewer diagnoses than expected, CIGNA asked the vendor to prepare a “performance improvement plan” for the provider.
The Invalid Diagnoses generated by the 360 home visits also did not conform with the International Classification of Diseases (“ICD”) Office Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (the “ICD Guidelines”), as required by applicable federal regulations. The Invalid Diagnoses did not affect patient care, treatment, or management during the home visit, as required under the ICD Guidelines, and thus were ineligible for risk adjustment. In addition, the Invalid Diagnoses were not supported by the minimal information recorded on the 360 forms, in violation of the ICD Guidelines’ medical record documentation requirement. In fact, in some cases, the 360 forms include clinical exam findings that contradict the supposed diagnosis. For example, one patient received a congestive heart failure diagnosis from a home visit even though the 360 form explicitly noted that physical exam results found her heart to be “regular” and “normal” and stated, “cardiac reviewed and unremarkable.”
Through its 360 home visit program, CIGNA submitted diagnosis codes for tens of thousands of Invalid Diagnoses to CMS that constituted false claims for payment. Based on these unlawful false claims, CIGNA improperly received tens of millions of dollars in risk adjustment payments from CMS, in violation of both the False Claims Act and the common law.
Mr. Williams thanked HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee for their assistance with this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Aronoff is in charge of this case.
United States Attorney Damian Williams Announces the Formation of New Conviction Integrity CommitteeRead the Press Release
“The Conviction Integrity Committee of the Southern District of New York will strive to ensure justice is done in every case both by evaluating claims of factual innocence in our own cases, as well as providing assistance and access to information from SDNY cases that may bear on claims of factual innocence of defendants convicted in other jurisdictions. This committee will be the first of its kind in this Office and only the second formal federal conviction integrity body nationally.
The formation of the committee builds on work the Office has done historically to support credible claims of factual innocence in other jurisdictions, both as a resource for defendants and their counsel and as a liaison to the conviction integrity processes in other prosecutors’ offices. The committee institutionalizes that practice and also aims to bring the same level of rigor to review of our own convictions. Our solemn obligation as prosecutors to protect the community and seek justice for victims of crimes requires that we take every step to ensure that the guilty are held responsible and the innocent are set free.
Though infrequent, wrongful convictions engender mistrust of law enforcement and erode the public’s faith in the fundamental fairness of the criminal justice system. If the committee’s comprehensive review yields but one remedy of an unjust conviction or results in the freedom of even one wrongly incarcerated, innocent individual, we will consider it a successful endeavor to further the cause of justice for all. We also hope to leverage the Committee’s work and leadership to ensure the Office’s practices on investigative techniques and disclosure are designed to prevent wrongful convictions.”
Conviction Integrity Committee
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces More Than $20 Million in Justice Department Grant Funding Awarded to Support Local InitiativesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded more than $20 million in grant funding in Fiscal Year 2022 to various entities, organizations and programs in the Northern District of Ohio to support law enforcement and public safety initiatives, assist victims of crime, provide training and technical assistance, conduct research and to implement programs that improve the criminal, civil and juvenile justice systems.
“We are grateful for the Department’s continued support of law enforcement initiatives and public safety organizations in this district,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “These investments will continue to fund and support the work our office, our partners and community members do to address the most pressing issues facing our communities.”
Significant grant funding awards announced include:
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO), Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Kit Taskforce. $2,500,000.00.
Cleveland, Ohio.
The CCPO was awarded grant funding to continue work on the county’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Taskforce. Funding will be directed towards utilizing advanced DNA methodologies to identify and prosecute sexual offenders, investigate and prosecute leads and leverage experiences to inform practices locally and nationally.
City of Cleveland. $1,994,908.00
Cleveland, Ohio.
The City of Cleveland was awarded grant funding to support city-led, collaborative community violence intervention (CVI) planning and strategies administered through the mayor’s Office of Prevention, Intervention, and Opportunity in partnership with non-profits and community-based organizations in Cleveland.
Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS). $1,000,000.
Findlay, Ohio.
The Hancock County ADAMHS Board was awarded grant funding to support a collaborative approach to address and prevent the illicit use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances within a predominantly rural county.
Summit County Court of Common Pleas, SCORR Program. $792,701.
Akron, Ohio.
The Summit County Court of Common Pleas was awarded grant funding to support the development, implementation and evaluation of an expansion to the Summit County Offender Recidivism Reduction (SCORR) program. This program provides an increased level of accountability and structure to promote long-term offender behavior change and to improve offender outcomes for an overall reduction in substance abuse, recidivism and incarceration.
Mahoning County Common Pleas Honor Court (MCCPHC). $750,000.
Youngstown, Ohio.
The MCCPHC was awarded grant funding to serve Veterans charged with non-violent, low-level felony offenses in an effort to divert them from the traditional criminal justice system by providing the tools needed to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle while holding them accountable.
To view a full list of grant awards for this fiscal year, visit Justice.gov/grants
###
Department of Justice Grant Agencies includes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
These agencies support law-enforcement initiatives and programs such as advancing the practice of community policing, disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge and best practices, administering grants for the implementation of crime-fighting strategies and providing federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and strengthening services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Announces More than 23 Million Dollars in Justice Department GrantsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $ 143,935 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the District of Puerto Rico. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the Puerto Rico Department of Housing, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our federal, state and local law enforcement and community partners will continue to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems we face in Puerto Rico,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “Our partnerships are the most powerful tool to protect our communities from violent crime.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
In addition to the grant listed above, in recent weeks the Department of Justice has awarded the following additional grants to entities and organizations in Puerto Rico:
Date
Recipient Agency
Grant
Amount
8/12/22
PR Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners
$ 288,426
8/25/22
PR Department of Justice
Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act (SORNA) Reallocation Program
$ 251,001
8/25/22
PR Department of Justice
VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant
$ 385,000
8/25/22
PR Department of Justice
VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant
$13,684,986
8/31/22
PR Department of Justice
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Reallocation Funds Program
$ 125,500
9/6/22
PR Department of Justice
Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program
$ 400,000
9/6/22
University of Puerto Rico
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence
$ 550,000
9/8/22
Oficina para el Desarrollo Socioeconómico y Comunitario
Title II Formula Grants Program
$ 608,772
9/16/22
PR Department of Justice
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
$ 2,134,687
9/22/22
PR Department of Justice
John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program
$ 78,115
9/27/22
Instituto de Ciencias Forenses
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program
$ 293,954
9/27/22
Administración de Servicios de Salud Mental y Contra la Adicción
Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
$ 1,400,000
9/27/22
PR Department of Justice
Building State Technology Capacity and Jabara-Heyer No HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting
$ 500,000
9/29/22
Taller Salud, Inc.
Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative
$ 2,000,000
9/29/22
Instituto de Ciencias Forenses
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
$ 621,890
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
###
U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds Announces $399,000 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $399,193 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Northern District of California. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Hairston Announces $177,090 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, NC – United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $177,090 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Middle District of North Carolina. Funding will support comprehensive efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to be administered by the NC Department of Public Safety Governor’s Crime Commission for the benefit of the district’s 12 PSN sites, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime in a comprehensive manner, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a cornerstone of the crime prevention effort in the Middle District of North Carolina, and we are thrilled to receive this grant in support of such an important strategy,” said U. S. Attorney Sandra Hairston. “The grant will support 12 PSN sites around the district as they continue to grow and assist law enforcement and community groups in their efforts to reduce crime and protect not only the citizens of the Middle District, but those in neighboring districts as well.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN partnerships are convened by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. PSN places emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability. The PSN model has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
###
Two Rochester Men Arrested, Charged with Defrauding Two Victims Out of Tens of Thousands of DollarsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Timothy Siverd, 34, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud and money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that in November 2021, Siverd was a vice president at Tompkins Community Bank. According to the complaint, Siverd defrauded a person that he knew (Victim 1) through multiple schemes, including: • In November 2021, Siverd convinced Victim 1 to invest in $25,000 in a group of four residential duplexes in Rochester. A few weeks later in December 2021, Siverd contacted Victim 1 and stated that the real estate investment had been called off, purportedly due to a mold issue. Victim 1 requested his investment of $25,000 be returned to him, but Siverd encouraged Victim 1 to instead commit an additional $10,000 to open a savings account at Tompkins bank that was getting a higher-than-average rate of return. Siverd never opened the account for Victim 1.
• Also in December 2021, Siverd encouraged Victim 1 to invest in a complex of townhomes on Cedar Rock Road in Webster, NY, known as “The Carriages at Cedar Rock.” Siverd convinced Victim 1 to make payments totaling $48,429 for the alleged purchase.
• In January 2022, Victim 1 agreed to purchase a house on Keuka Lake house with Siverd and in February 2022, Victim 1 wired $40,000 to an account controlled by Siverd.
• Also in January 2022, Siverd encouraged Victim 1 to invest $35,000 to purchase “Creek Crossing Townhomes” in Hilton, NY.In March 2022, Siverd approached Victim 2, another person that he knew, with a series of investment opportunities. Siverd again convinced Victim 2 to invest in multiple fraudulent schemes, including: • Victim 2 invested $169,191.55 for the purchase of “Greenwood Townhomes” in Rochester.
• Siverd also convinced Victim 2 to invest $52,200 towards the acquisition of a company.
• Siverd stated to Victim 2 that he was experiencing cash flow problems, which resulted in a $25,000 loan from Victim 2 to Siverd.
• Victim 2 also invested $100,000 in the Dunwood Green Apartments.None of the properties that Siverd convinced his victims to “invest” in were actually for sale and Siverd used the Victims’ money to pay a co-conspirator and for gambling and personal expenses.
In total, Victim 1 paid Siverd approximately $158,429, believing that Siverd was investing the funds in various real estate transactions. Eventually realizing that the transactions were fraudulent, Victim 1 demanded repayment. Siverd returned $108,429 of Victim 1’s funds, using funds fraudulently obtained from Victim 2. In total, Victim 2 paid Siverd $346,511.55, also believing the funds would be invested in various real estate and financial transactions. Siverd never returned any of Victim 2’s funds.
The complaints are the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Two Fresno Men Plead Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Edward Page, 33, and Trayvon Smith, 32, both of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 24, 2021, law enforcement officers received a report of two individuals possessing a firearm in a hotel parking lot. When the officers responded to the parking lot, they located the suspected car and activated their emergency lights. Page and Smith exited a car, Smith initially fled, but both were eventually detained. The officers then searched the car and found two loaded firearms. Page and Smith are both prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of their criminal history.
Page and Smith are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba. Page and Smith face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. 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 the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio 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 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.
Three York Men Sentenced for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luis Manuel Quesada Rodriguez, age 32, Alex Rivera Ramos, age 30, and Pedro Diaz, age 27, all from York, Pennsylvania, were each sentenced by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 120 months’ imprisonment for trafficking cocaine.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between December 2015 and March 2020, the defendants coordinated and received parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine sent from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Mail, and then distributed the cocaine in and around York. Each of the three defendants, along with a fourth co-defendant, Carlos Joel Nieves Ortega, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute between 5 and 15 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride. As part of the investigation, the government disrupted the organization’s cocaine shipments and seized 7.5 kilograms of cocaine along with $16,895 in drug proceeds.
Co-defendant Carlos Joel Nieves Ortega, age 37, of York, was previously sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and co-defendant Jose Colon Declet, age 36, of York, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Dalke and Daryl F. Bloom prosecuted the case.
This prosecution 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.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
# # #
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Celebrates 40th AnniversaryRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) was created by Presidential Order four decades ago. On Oct. 14, 1982, in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice building, President Ronald Reagan announced a new coordinated federal government effort bringing together prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to attack the command and control elements of the drug trafficking organizations responsible for moving massive quantities of illicit narcotics into the country.
The White House directed that the OCDETF’s top priority would be to disrupt the sales and distribution networks of the traffickers. Some of the department’s most notable successes against drug cartels have resulted from OCDETF coordinated investigations and prosecutions. OCDETF was instrumental in taking down the powerful Colombian cartels of the 1980s; the notorious and violent Mexican cartels such as the Tijuana, Juarez and Gulf Cartels in the 1990s; and the methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and opioid threats from all over the world in the last two decades.
As criminal networks have grown more sophisticated in the last 40 years — branching out to more varied types of criminal activity — OCDETF has responded by expanding its mission beyond drug trafficking organizations and money laundering networks to all forms of transnational organized crime. OCDETF is fully engaged in all manner of investigations into criminal networks involved in human smuggling, sophisticated financial fraud, cyber-enabled crime, illicit finance, arms trafficking, government benefits theft, business e-mail compromise and U.S. sanctions evasion. OCDETF is uniquely and ideally structured to support the fight against transnational organized crime through operational integration, collaboration and law enforcement information sharing.
“Since its founding, OCDETF has been a synchronizer and our role is to incentivize prosecutors to lead smart, creative law enforcement agents in investigations focused on priority targets of organized criminal groups and the illicit financial networks that support them,” said OCDETF Director Adam W. Cohen. “Today, OCDETF provides a forward leaning structure for our partners to work together and leverage each other’s strengths, capabilities and legal authorities resulting in continued positive impacts to the nation.”
OCDETF’s successes over the last 40 years have been made possible by strong collaboration and coordination with its member agencies. OCDETF is partnered with the 93 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the department’s Criminal Division and 11 federal law enforcement agencies from the Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service), Homeland Security (Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Secret Service), Treasury (Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation), Postal (U.S. Postal Inspection Service), Labor (Office of the Inspector General), and State (Bureau of Diplomatic Security).
OCDETF’s governance, bringing leadership to the multi-agency transnational organized crime mission and focus on joint priority targets has generated genuine measurable accomplishments — over 34,000 multi-agency cases against priority targets, over 124,000 indictments of almost 360,000 defendants, and incredibly, over 15,690 of those resulted in impactful disruption, or even dismantlement of criminal organizations.
“As OCDETF begins our 41st year, we will continue to provide a coordination platform for comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of the most dangerous transnational criminal organizations, the successful result of which is to make our nation safer,” said OCDETF Director Cohen.
Sutter Health Agrees to Pay $13 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Improper Billing for Lab TestsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Sutter Health, a Sacramento-based health care services provider, and its affiliate Sutter Bay Hospitals, the successor to Sutter East Bay Hospitals dba Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (collectively Sutter Health), agreed to pay more than $13 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by billing the United States for toxicology screening tests performed by outside labs, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds; Federal Bureau of Investigation San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General (OPM OIG) Special Agent in Charge Amy K. Parker; Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny; and the Defense Health Agency (DHA).
“Sutter Health agreed to pay $13 million to settle allegations that it billed government health programs for lab tests performed by others,” said U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds. “Government health care programs must be protected, and this office will investigate and pursue health care providers that fail to provide the services paid for by public health care programs.”
“Investigating health care fraud and abuse is a priority for the FBI,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. “These cases are often worked in conjunction with our federal law enforcement partners, and this settlement is a great example of the multi-agency investigative team’s hard work to protect the integrity of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.”
“The OPM OIG is committed to protecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program from fraudulent claims,” said OPM OIG Special Agent in Charge Amy K. Parker. “I applaud the dedicated team for their effort in securing today’s settlement.”
“When medical providers charge federal health care programs for services that other providers actually performed, the integrity of these programs is undermined,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to uproot and investigate such schemes.”
“Today’s announced outcome concludes a collaborative effort to hold Sutter Health accountable for its improper billing practices that harmed our health care system, including the Department of Defense’s TRICARE program,” said DCIS Western Field Office Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny. “DCIS will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the health care system.”
“We commend the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and the other state and federal agencies for their commitment to justice,” stated the Defense Health Agency. “Their efforts protect taxpayer dollars to ensure our service members, veterans and their families continue to receive the highest level of medical care.”
The United States contends in the civil settlement agreement signed by Sutter Health that under the terms of a contract which the Sutter Health hospital Alta Bates Summit Medical Center entered into with Navigant Network Alliance, LLC, Navigant referred urine toxicology specimens obtained from physicians and laboratories across the country to Sutter. Sutter submitted bills, or caused bills to be submitted, for reimbursement of the qualitative and quantitative testing it performed on the specimens. The United States asserts that Sutter did not perform the quantitative testing on thousands of specimens referred under the agreement and that these quantitative tests were instead performed by third-party labs. The United States alleges that Sutter nevertheless sought reimbursement for the tests. In the settlement agreement, the United States contends that between August 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, Sutter billed for urine toxicology tests it did not perform and was paid for the testing by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare.
Sutter agrees in the settlement agreement to pay $13,091,452 to settle the false claims allegations. Of that amount, Sutter has already paid more than $6.5 million to the United States. Sutter agrees to pay the remaining amount of approximately $6.5 million to the United States within 30 days. The settlement agreement resolves the civil law claims that the United States might have brought based upon these allegations.
This matter is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David DeVito, with assistance from Garland He, Jonathan Birch, Lillian Do, and Alan Lopez. The matter is the result of a coordinated investigation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the FBI, OPM OIG, HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the DHA.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The civil settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by Sutter Health nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
Sumter County Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Destructive Devices, Firearms, and SilencersRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced James Clay Bexley (35, Center Hill) to three years in federal prison for possessing unregistered destructive devices and firearm silencers and for possessing firearms in violation of a domestic violence injunction. Bexley had pleaded guilty on July 28, 2022.
According to court records, Bexley was arrested at his home after contacting his wife in violation of an injunction. Deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office located six firearms, two silencers, and two small explosive devices in Bexley’s vehicle. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad then responded and discovered two destructive devices (pipe bombs) on Bexley’s front porch. After obtaining a search warrant, federal agents recovered approximately 35 pounds of explosive materials and bomb-making equipment from within the residence, along with an additional 12 firearms and two silencers.
Firearm silencers and destructive devices, such as pipe bombs, are illegal to possess unless registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. None of Bexley’s silencers or destructive devices had been registered as required under federal law. Furthermore, it is also a federal crime to possess firearms while subject to a domestic violence injunction.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
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.
Statement of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Passing of Former Attorney General Benjamin Richard CivilettiRead the Press Release
The Justice Department released the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland:
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of former Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti and extend my deepest condolences to his loved ones.
“Attorney General Civiletti was my first boss at the Justice Department in 1979. As one of his Special Assistants, I had the great honor to witness firsthand the skill, integrity, and dedication with which he led the Department.
“Among many other achievements during his tenure, Attorney General Civiletti continued the work begun by his predecessors, Attorneys General Edward Levi and Griffin Bell, in the wake of Watergate to restore public trust in the Department of Justice. Attorney General Civiletti wrote into policy the norms established to ensure the Department's independence, fair application of our laws, and adherence to the Rule of Law. Today, thanks in large part to him, those norms continue to guide the work of every Justice Department employee, every single day.
“Attorney General Civiletti's portrait hangs outside my office, and I am reminded each time I see it of the kind of Attorney General I strive to be. Attorney General Civiletti's dedication to the Justice Department, his work, and his life will continue to be an inspiration for generations of public servants to come.”
Springfield Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
Roderick E. Hebert, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Hebert was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.
On Feb. 10, 2022, Hebert pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Hebert was stopped for speeding by a Springfield police officer on Nov. 16, 2019. At the time, Hebert had active warrants for his arrest. When he got out of his vehicle, a magazine containing .40-caliber ammunition fell out of the vehicle. Officers then searched Hebert’s vehicle and found a .40-caliber Hi Point pistol.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hebert has 11 felony convictions, including multiple convictions for burglary and drug-related offenses. At the time of his arrest, Hebert was on state parole from convictions for forgery and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Shannon Kempf. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Siskiyou County Man Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison for Major Fraud Against the United States for Taking FEMA Grant FundsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Samuel Thomas Lanier, 40, of Dunsmuir, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for seven counts of major fraud against the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. A restitution hearing is set for Dec. 12, 2022.
According to court documents, from approximately June 2013 to March 2018, Lanier engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States by submitting, or causing to be submitted, false reimbursement requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in connection with federal grants awarded to Siskiyou and Shasta County Fire Chiefs Associations to assist them in recruiting and training new firefighters.
In June 2013 and June 2014, respectively, the Siskiyou and Shasta County Fire Chiefs Associations were awarded grants as part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. Each grant was over $1 million. The purpose of these grants was to assure that communities have adequate protection from fire-related hazards, and to help the recipients attain and maintain 24-hour staffing.
Lanier, as an owner or executive of two companies located in Dunsmuir, was hired by the Fire Chiefs Associations to administer these grants. In this capacity, Lanier knowingly submitted to FEMA false and fraudulent reimbursement requests, seeking and obtaining reimbursement for goods and services that were not, in fact, actually obtained on behalf of the fire associations. According to court documents, Lanier misappropriated over $1.2 million by both submitting false reimbursement requests to FEMA and diverting additional funds that should have been used to support the firefighters.
“This fraud scheme siphoned vital federal funds from fire departments supporting communities devastated by wildfires. This sentencing sends a clear message that the theft of federal funds meant to support our front line firefighters and first responders will not be tolerated,” stated Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Major Frauds & Corruption Unit of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica M.A. Alegría prosecuted the case.
Seven Arrested in Human Smuggling Event Near Morses LineRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that seven persons were arrested near Morses Line on October 12, 2022 in connection with what is believed to be an attempt to smuggle individuals without legal status into the United States. Manuel Molina-Romero, 29, a Honduran national who has been living in Texas since 2019 while awaiting an immigration hearing, and Estefany Arreaga-Herrera, 23, a Guatemalan national who has been living in Texas since 2016 while also awaiting an immigration hearing, appeared today in United States District Court in Burlington on a charge that they transported individuals without legal status within the United States. Two of the five individuals being transported, Carlos Aguiar-Ovando, 23, a Mexican national, and Anvar Ataev, 36, a native of Uzbekistan, both of whom have no legal status in the United States, also appeared in court today on a charge that they unlawfully entered the country. United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered that all four defendants be detained pending further court proceedings. The other three individuals arrested on October 12, all without legal status in the United States, were taken into immigration custody for expedited removal from the United States.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the criminal complaints are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty. The transportation charge is punishable by up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The unlawful entry charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months of imprisonment. The actual sentences on the felony charges would be determined with reference to United States Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest credited the agents of the United States Border Patrol for their continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of foreign nationals by human smuggling organizations.
Molina-Romero is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. Arreaga-Herrera is represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq. Aguiar-Ovando is represented by Bob Behrens, Esq., and Ataev is represented by William Kraham, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Second Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Racially-Motivated Attack on a Black Man Using Axe HandleRead the Press Release
Roy Lashley, 55, pleaded guilty today to a federal hate crime for attacking a Black man because of his actual and perceived race.
According to the plea agreement, on Nov. 17, 2021, Lashley traveled to the Family Dollar in Citrus Springs, Florida, where the victim, a Black man, was shopping inside. Lashley repeatedly used racial slurs inside the store in reference to the victim and then followed the victim into the parking lot. There, Lashley retrieved an axe handle from the bed of his truck and struck the victim multiple times with it. Lashley directed racial slurs towards the victim before, during and after the attack. The victim sustained painful injuries to his face and legs, including a laceration to the inside of his mouth.
“Racially motivated and hate-fueled attacks on Black people have no place in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As we mark 13 years since passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, we renew our commitment to using all the tools in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute unlawful acts of hate.”
“The defendant in this case deliberately and brutally attacked the victim because of his race,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “There is no place in our country for this type of abhorrent behavior, and we will prosecute those who commit these heinous crimes to the fullest extent of the law.
“Civil rights investigations are at the heart of what we do at the FBI,” Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks for the FBI Jacksonville Field Division. “Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim; they are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community. Because of their wide-ranging impact, investigating hate crimes is among the FBI's highest priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for victims and their communities.”
A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Lashley faces a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Lashley was charged in an indictment that was unsealed on June 17. The indictment charged Lashley and co-defendant Robert Dewayne Lashley, each aiding and abetting one another, with willfully causing bodily injury to the victim because of the victim’s actual and perceived race. Robert Dewayne Lashley pleaded guilty on Oct. 4.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Handberg and Special Agent in Charge Onks made the announcement.
The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hamilton for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
Second Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Racially-Motivated Attack on a Black Man Using Axe HandleRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Roy Lashley, 55, pleaded guilty today to a federal hate crime for attacking a Black man because of his actual and perceived race.
According to the plea agreement, on Nov. 17, 2021, Lashley traveled to the Family Dollar in Citrus Springs, Florida, where the victim, a Black man, was shopping inside. Lashley repeatedly used racial slurs inside the store in reference to the victim and then followed the victim into the parking lot. There, Lashley retrieved an axe handle from the bed of his truck and struck the victim multiple times with it. Lashley directed racial slurs towards the victim before, during and after the attack. The victim sustained painful injuries to his face and legs, including a laceration to the inside of his mouth.
“Racially motivated and hate-fueled attacks on Black people have no place in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As we mark 13 years since passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, we renew our commitment to using all the tools in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute unlawful acts of hate.”
“The defendant in this case deliberately and brutally attacked the victim because of his race,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “There is no place in our country for this type of abhorrent behavior, and we will prosecute those who commit these heinous crimes to the fullest extent of the law.
“Civil rights investigations are at the heart of what we do at the FBI,” Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks for the FBI Jacksonville Field Division. “Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim; they are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community. Because of their wide-ranging impact, investigating hate crimes is among the FBI's highest priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for victims and their communities.”
A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Lashley faces a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Lashley was charged in an indictment that was unsealed on June 17. The indictment charged Lashley and co-defendant Robert Dewayne Lashley, each aiding and abetting one another, with willfully causing bodily injury to the victim because of the victim’s actual and perceived race. Robert Dewayne Lashley pleaded guilty on Oct. 4.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Handberg and Special Agent in Charge Onks made the announcement.
The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hamilton for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
Schuylkill County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of A Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Alnaldo Perez-Rodriguez, age 36, of Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Perez-Rodriguez admitted to possessing a loaded Walther .380 caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge stems from an incident on December 3, 2021, in Shenandoah, in which State Parole Agents, members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force and members of the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force arrested Perez-Rodriguez for a violation of the conditions of his state parole. Perez-Rodriguez was found in possession of a loaded Walther .380 caliber pistol, an additional 35 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, packets of fentanyl for distribution, packages of methamphetamine for distribution, and $875 in U.S. currency.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force, State Parole Agents, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles:
fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Under federal law, Perez-Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of life, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
###
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Court Security OfficerRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Adam Fuller, 36, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to assault on a federal employee or officer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2019, Fuller approached a Federal Court Security Officer outside the federal courthouse in Sacramento and punched him in the face. The punch knocked the officer to the ground and split open his forehead, requiring five stitches.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Protective Services, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.
Fuller is set to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Fuller faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 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.
Romance Scammer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges, Admitting He Stole Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Nearly 20 VictimsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for defrauding 19 victims – some of whom he developed romantic relationships with – and then laundering the proceeds of his scheme.
Ze’Shawn Stanley Campbell, 35, of Irvine, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
According to his plea agreement, from April 2014 to April 2020, Campbell convinced his victims that he was reliable by befriending them and starting romantic relationships with them. To enhance his purported creditworthiness in their eyes, he told them lies, such as falsely saying that he had millions of dollars and operated successful businesses, including McDonald’s franchises, a security company and a chain of gyms in Texas. Campbell also boosted his stature with the victims by falsely telling them he was a successful investor in real estate and Bitcoin, as well as claiming he had served as a Navy SEAL in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Having convinced his victims of his bona fides, Campbell induced them to provide money and property to him, claiming that he would use the victims’ money and property to support his businesses, fund investments made on the victims’ behalf and pay his purported medical bills. Rather than use the victims’ money as he promised, however, Campbell used it to pay personal expenses and to buy luxury items for himself.
For example, in December 2017, one victim wrote Campbell a check for $61,452, which Campbell deposited via interstate wires into a Wells Fargo bank account he controlled. Campbell promised the victim that the money would be used for an investment in Bitcoin on the victim’s behalf. In fact, Campbell spent the money on himself, including by making payments on a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz that he had leased in a different victim’s name.
In total, Campbell admitted to causing losses of at least $250,000 and up to $1.5 million to 19 different victims, including 10 individuals and nine companies.
United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi scheduled a January 9 sentencing hearing, at which time Campbell will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Ranee A. Katzenstein, Chief of the Major Frauds Section, is prosecuting this case.
Rhode Island Law Enforcement Nets More Than $1.2 Million in Justice Department GrantsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha today announced that the City of Central Falls has been awarded nearly $1.2 in grant funding through the Justice Department’s Office of Community Policing Services (COPS Office) Cops Hiring Program (CHP), and that the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety has been awarded $84,187 in support of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.
Central Falls is one of just 180 law enforcement agencies across the country selected to share in $139 million in direct funding from the COPS Program to hire additional law enforcement professionals. The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance award of $84,187 in support of the PSN Program to the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety is in support of community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district.
“As law enforcement agencies across the nation continue to experience recruitment and retention challenges, we are proud to provide these resources to help alleviate those challenges confronting the profession,” said COPS Office Acting Director Robert Chapman in announcing the CHP grants to bolster the number of officers on the street.
In announcing the PSN grants, Office of Justice Programs Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg commented , “Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
“These grant awards support two critical aspects of the Justice Department’s efforts to ensure safety and effective law enforcement in our community, by funding targeted efforts to address gun crimes, and by promoting effective, responsive policing that responds to community needs and conditions,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “The Department is proud to partner with local law enforcement in these critical efforts.”
COPS Hiring Program
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers and deputies to enhance their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 180 agencies awarded grants today, nearly half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 30 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 26 will focus on other areas of violence; and 28 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
###
Repeat Sacramento Sex Offender Indicted for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Joshua Klomp, 47, of Sacramento, was arrested today after a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging him with possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, during a probation visit in 2018, Klomp was found to be in possession of two cellphones that contained thousands of images and video files of child pornography. In 2006, Klomp was convicted for possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release. A condition of his release is that he could not possess or use computers or devices with access to the internet. Prior to the 2006 federal conviction, Klomp was convicted in Butte County of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of fourteen.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Klomp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Pittsburgh Man Admits Lying on a Federal Firearms Purchase FormRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has pled guilty on a charge of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Jaylin Banks, age 34, of the City’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood, pleaded guilty before Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between August 2020 and August 2021, Banks purchased four firearms. On Nov. 22, 2021, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police recovered two of those firearms at the scene of a shooting. Due to the brief period of time between the purchase of one of those firearms and its use in crime, in addition to the recovery of multiple firearms in the possession of others, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) opened a straw purchase investigation into Banks. As part of the investigation, the ATF flagged Banks’ identifiers so that in the event he attempted to purchase another firearm, the federal firearm licensee would notify the ATF.
On Nov. 23, 2021, a federal firearm licensee notified the ATF that Banks was attempting to purchase a firearm at its store in Monroeville, PA. Agents with the ATF and a Pittsburgh Police detective traveled to the federal firearm licensee in order to interview Banks. During the interview, Banks admitted to buying a firearm for another person. Banks recalled that the individual drove Banks to Dunham’s Sports in Monroeville, PA, provided Banks cash, and identified for Banks the specific handgun that he wanted. Banks admitted to falsely stating at the time of the purchase that Banks was the actual purchaser of the firearm.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2023. The law provides for a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years and/or a special assessment of $100. 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 Banks on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jaylin Banks.
Pharmacist Convicted for Health Care Fraud and Black-Market Prescription Drug Diversion SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a California woman last Friday, Oct. 14 for a health care fraud and prescription drug diversion scheme involving two Southern California pharmacies.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Irina Sadovsky, 53, of Calabasas, the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Five Star RX doing business as Five Star Pharmacy (Five Star Pharmacy) and Ultimate Pharmacy Inc. (Ultimate Pharmacy), engaged in a health care fraud and black market prescription drug diversion conspiracy that began in or around September 2016, and continued through in or around April 2017. Sadovsky submitted claims to Medicaid of California (Medi-Cal) and Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed to beneficiaries but rather were provided to co-conspirators to sell on the black market.
Sadovsky’s co-conspirators created fraudulent prescriptions, either by writing the prescriptions themselves or by paying kickbacks to marketers with access to patients and prescribers. Sadovsky recommended the combinations of prescription drugs to be written, checked the eligibility of the patients for reimbursement, and fraudulently submitted claims to Medi-Cal and Medicare.
Sadovsky was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the health care fraud conspiracy, and five years in prison for the unlicensed distribution conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California; Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Los Angeles Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The California Department of Justice provided valuable assistance.
Assistant Chief Alexis Gregorian and Trial Attorneys Justin Givens and Alex Michael of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ivan Lee Burton, 47, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2022, Burton sold approximately 24 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Parkersburg. Burton admitted to conspiring with others to complete numerous drug transactions in the Parkersburg area between April 2022 and September 2022. Burton further admitted to using other individuals to sell drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” during this time.
Burton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force (PNTF).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin 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-190.
###
Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Lester Taylor Barnhouse, 43, of Craigsville, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 13, 2022, Barnhouse fled from law enforcement officers trying to arrest him. During the pursuit, Barnhouse hid a backpack under a waterfall in the woods near Nallen, Nicholas County. An officer following Barnhouse’s tracks in the snow found the backpack, which contained approximately 646.6 grams of methamphetamine, 129 grams of fentanyl, a loaded Taurus Millennium G2 pistol, and $6,740. Barnhouse admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and fentanyl, and that the cash was proceeds from drug transactions.
Barnhouse is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney R. Gregory McVey 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-85.
###