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11 October 2022
Federal Felon Indicted for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms law, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Isaiah Pridgen, age 25, as the sole defendant.
According to Indictment, on or about Aug. 17, 2022, Pridgen was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Pridgen was previously convicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania of felony crimes including possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Safe Streets Task Force, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Escape from Federal Custody and Illegal Possession of a Firearm Charges Land Two Defendants in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of two cases in the Western District of Louisiana today. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the two defendants as follows:
John Robert Stevens, Jr., 35, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm. Stevens pleaded guilty to the charge on May 25, 2022 which stemmed from an incident that occurred in Lake Charles when officers with the Lake Charles Police Department were dispatched regarding complaints about a suspect named “John.” Officers arrived at the location and after an encounter with Stevens, found a Lorcin L25 in his front pants pocket, along with a glass tube with white residue wrapped in bubble wrap. Officers learned that Stevens was a convicted felon, and he was arrested. Their further investigation determined that Stevens had been walking along the street looking for his girlfriend when he encountered another couple. Stevens told officers he held the gun in his front pocket and gestured with it toward the couple and they were able to see the imprint of the gun through his jacket. Because Stevens has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from having a firearm in his possession.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lake Charles Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy.
Derrick Nathaniel Hartfield, 55, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for escaping from federal custody. Hartfield was previously convicted on federal charges of aggravated identity theft and wire fraud in July 2012. He served his 84-month federal prison sentence and was released in March 2019. On January 8, 2020, his supervised release was revoked due to a violation, and he was sentenced to serve an additional 27 months in prison. During his sentence on the revocation, he was transferred to a CINC facility, also referred to as a halfway house, in Lake Charles to complete his sentence. On August 26, 2021, Hartfield stated he was enroute to the facility returning from work. However, an hour passed, and Hartfield never returned. CINC staff made several attempts to contact Hartfield, but he did not respond.
On September 20, 2021, officers with the San Bernadino County, California, Sheriff’s Office responded to a local pizza restaurant in connection with a theft. Hartfield was identified as the suspect and taken into custody. A complaint was filed on September 23, 2021 charging Hartfield with escape from federal custody without permission.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshal’s Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.
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Department of Justice Announces More than $1.6 Million in Federal Funding for the Yakama Nation to Address Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, today announced two Department of Justice grant awards to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. The first grant allocates $1,000,000 to target violent crimes against women. The second provides $609,751 in additional federal funding to provide services to crime victims on the Yakama Nation. Both grants were awarded on September 21, 2022.
Funding for the $1,000,000 grant was awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, Indian Tribal Governments Program, which provides funds to Tribal nations to develop and enhance strategies for curtailing violent crimes and increasing the safety of Native American women. The Yakama Nation is one of just thirty tribes to receive funding in 2022 through the Indian Tribal Governments Program.
The second grant, totaling $609,751, was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). OVC is charged by Congress with administering the Crime Victims Fund, which supports a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives. Millions of dollars are invested annually in victim compensation and assistance in every U.S. state and territory.
In announcing these awards, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “It is critical that we work together – with our federal, state, local and Tribal partners – to address violent crime on the Yakama Nation. The citizens of the Yakama Nation deserve nothing less.” She continued, “These latest grant awards demonstrate the federal government’s continued commitment to combatting violent crime in Indian country. In fact, in the year since I became the United States Attorney, the FBI has devoted significant increased resources and personnel to fighting violent crime in the Yakima area. For example, we established an FBI Task Force targeting violent crime and drug distribution in the Yakima County. My office also works closely with federal, state, and Tribal law enforcement to diligently investigate – and where appropriate to prosecute – homicides, violent criminal offenses, suspicious deaths, and reports of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. These combined efforts, along with the grant awards announced today, are a further indication the Department of Justice is doing its part to keep all citizens in Eastern Washington safe and strong.”
Additional information about grants and funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs is available at https://www.ojp.gov. Information regarding the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence against Women is available at https://www.justice.gov/ovw. Information about OVC is available at https://ovc.ojp.gov/.
Department of Justice Announces More than $1 Million in Grants Awarded to Kalispel TribeRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, today announced two Department of Justice grant awards to the Kalsipel Tribe of Indians – $ 609,751 in funding to provide services to crime victims on the Kalispel reservation and a $450,000 award to enhance advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children involved in dependency proceedings within the Kalispel Tribal Court as well as in state court proceedings. Both grants were awarded on September 21, 2022.
Funding for the $609,751 grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). OVC is charged by Congress with administering the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund). Through OVC, the Fund supports a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives. Millions of dollars are invested annually in victim compensation and assistance in every U.S. state and territory. The award to the Kalispel Tribe is intended to provide services for crime victims that meet the needs identified by the community, while reflecting Tribal values and traditions.
Funding for the $450,000 grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation. The purpose of the grant is to enhance the Tribe’s ability to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children involved in dependency proceedings within the Kalispel Tribal Court and Pend Oreille County Court. Funding is expected to be used to retain a program manager, conduct volunteer recruitment, and to provide appropriate training. Funding also will be used to procure legal counsel and representation to protect the interests of children involved in complex legal proceedings.
In announcing these awards, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “For many years the Department of Justice and the Kalispel Tribe have enjoyed a strong, cooperative relationship. I’m grateful for the Tribe’s leadership in Eastern Washington and its contributions to the Spokane community. These grants will help the Tribe continue to devote resources to protecting victims, especially abused and neglected children. By allocating these resources now, we are helping future generations build safer and stronger communities on the Kalispel Reservation and throughout Eastern Washington.”
Additional information about grants and funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs is available at https://www.ojp.gov. Information about OVC is available at https://ovc.ojp.gov/.
Department of Justice Announces Grant Award to Kittitas County to Address Mental Health and Substance Abuse NeedsRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, today announced a $483,552 Department of Justice grant to the Kittitas County Sherriff’s Office. The grant provides funding to address mental health needs at the Kittitas County Jail.
The grant, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, was awarded on September 28, 2022. Funding is being made available pursuant to the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP), which distributes resources to assist individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders that come into contact with the justice system. JMHCP provides federal funding to achieve the following goals:
1. Enhance, expand, and operate mental health drop-off crisis stabilization treatment centers providing 24/7, year-round support for law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and people who come in contact with the justice system;
2. Increase community workforce and capacity for certified mental health peer support specialists and increase the availability of wraparound services for supporting people with mental health disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders; and
3. Build and expand existing mental health collaboration programs across people and places in any part of the criminal justice system – e.g., jails, courts, and prosecutors’ offices – to mitigate the risks of recidivism for individuals with mental health and co-occurring substance abuse disorders.
The award to Kittitas County is intended to address increasing mental health needs at the Kittitas County Jail, which is located in Ellensburg, Washington. Funding will be used to hire additional staff with expertise in treating mental health disorders, to add additional training in this area for existing staff, and to provide additional resources to inmates who suffer from mental health and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. By devoting additional resources to addressing mental health needs, Kittitas County is seeking to decrease the likelihood of recidivism when inmates are released from custody.
In announcing the award, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “The United States Justice Department is committed to helping people that suffer from mental health challenges, who come in contact with the criminal justice system.” She continued, “The nearly $500,000 award will help ensure that inmates in Kittitas County have additional resources to get their lives on track and address what – in certain cases – is the root cause of their criminal behavior. To keep Eastern Washington safe and strong, we need to recognize and treat mental health disorders so that those who reenter our communities have the resources they need to become productive citizens.”
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the JMHCP. BJA was created in 1984 to reduce violent crime, create safer communities, and reform aspects of our criminal justice system. BJA works with communities, governments, and nonprofit organizations to reduce crime, recidivism, unnecessary confinement, and promote a safe and fair criminal justice system. More information about BJA is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/about. Information specific to JMHCP is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/justice-and-mental-health-collaboration-program-jmhcp/overview.
Additional information about grants and funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs is available at https://www.ojp.gov/.
Co-Defendant in Cross Country Methamphetamine Conspiracy SentencedRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A former California woman, who recently relocated to Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison on drug distribution charges.
Sally Mae Carr, 42, of Meadowview, Va., formerly of Pomona, Calf., pled guilty in June 2022 to one count of distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents, law enforcement began an investigation concerning drug trafficking by Carr and her co-defendant, Guy Benjamin Bowman, in early 2021. The investigation revealed Carr and Bowman trafficked crystal ice methamphetamine from Bowman’s sources in Chino Hills, California into various locations in Southwest Virginia for redistribution. The organization operated primarily in Washington County from January 2021, through April 2022. When the defendants were arrested, over two pounds of crystal ice methamphetamine was seized.
Bowman was convicted following a jury trial in July 2022 and is scheduled for sentencing on November 28, 2022.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement today.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Virginia State Police, and task force officers from both the Lebanon Police Department and the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Chicopee Company Controller Sentenced for Stealing $1.4 Million from Company FinancesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Springfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for embezzling over $1.4 million from his employer.
Gerald Burke, 70, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Mastroianni to 31 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Burke was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims and the Internal Revenue Service. On April 13, 2022, Burke pleaded guilty to eight counts of bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud and three counts of filing a false tax return.
Burke was employed as the controller of a privately owned metal stamping company in Chicopee and was responsible for the company’s finances, including directing payroll and signing checks on behalf of the company. From October 2011 until his termination in 2018, Burke embezzled $1.4 million by authorizing additional payroll payments to himself and by writing checks to himself and his credit card company from the company account. He failed to report $1.2 million of his illegal income to the IRS over the nearly seven-year duration of the embezzlement scheme, thereby evading more than $160,000 in federal taxes.
United States Attorney Rachel S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Morgan of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Maylik Watson, 29, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2020, Watson sold approximately 174.9 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Charleston for $5,600.
Watson and 11 other individuals have pleaded guilty to charges arising from a long-term investigation dubbed the “Woo Boyz.” The investigation targeted a drug trafficking organization (DTO) with ties to the Bloods and Gangster Disciples criminal gangs that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the Charleston area from July 2020 until February 2021.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the West Virginia State Police, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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. 2:21-cr-32.
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Canton Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Daniel Joseph Kitlak, 37, of Canton, Ohio, was sentenced on Friday, Oct. 10, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, in October 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Kitlak’s Canton-area residence after receiving information that Kitlak had distributed approximately 252 images and videos of child pornography online. During the search, authorities obtained multiple electronic devices later found to contain hundreds of files of child pornography, including at least one image involving a minor under the age of 12.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Kane.
Canadian drug-runner sentenced to ten years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 51-year-old resident of Alberta, Canada, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for his attempt to smuggle nearly 1,432 pounds of methamphetamine from the U.S. into Canada, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Ted Karl Faupel was arrested on May 25, 2022, in a small boat on Puget Sound near the San Juan Islands. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered the boat riding low in the water near Stuart Island. Law enforcement seized 28 locked duffle bags loaded with 539 packages of highly pure methamphetamine. Faupel also had a loaded firearm within reach.
“This huge load of methamphetamine represents hundreds of thousands of doses on the streets of Canada,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “We know violent criminal gangs get rich off the pain of addiction. I am glad this shipment is off the streets and not furthering addiction and the gang violence that is part and parcel of the drug trade.”
According to records filed in the case, officers with CBP’s Office of Field Operations, Air and Marine, encountered the 18’ Bayliner Capri
Boat loaded with methspeedboat as it was headed towards Canada. The boat had Canadian registration numbers. The Customs and Border Protection vessel used lights and siren to get the watercraft to stop. The officers noted that the speedboat was riding very low in the water. Faupel was taken into custody and the boat was taken to the Bellingham Coast Guard Station where a drug dog alerted to the presence of narcotics.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart noted that gang paraphernalia was found in the boat. “You don’t start transporting drugs for (a violent street gang) if you fear for your family…. This is a very dangerous group and (Faupel) chose to gamble with his family’s safety.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Office of Field Operations, and Border Patrol.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.
Duffle bags of drugsBuffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge and Failing to Appear in CourtRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Edwin Colon, 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and failure to appear after pre-trial release before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz W. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that on March 19, 2018, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Colon’s Hickory Street residence in Buffalo, recovering a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, multiple rounds of ammunition, and a quantity of cocaine. Colon was subsequently indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Following his arraignment, Colon was released on conditions, with orders to return to federal court on April 16 and May 7, 2019. However, Colon failed to appear as required, and an arrest warrant was issued. Colon was arrested on the warrant in October 2019.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jeremy Bell.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 8, 2023, before Judge Sinatra.# # # #
Buffalo Man Going to Prison for His Role in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Louis Gilbert, 44, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Antoine and Laura A. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that between July 2019, and January 10, 2020, the defendant conspired with others to sell cocaine. On January 10, 2020, Gilbert, and co-defendant Saan Thompson engaged in a text communication regarding a drug sale. Thereafter, investigators set up surveillance in the vicinity of 189 May Street and observed Thompson and Gilbert meet inside of the residence. Afterwards, Erie County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Gilbert was driving and he was found in possession of suspected cocaine. Saan Thompson was previously convicted.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jeremy Bell; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito.
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Brooklyn Center Man Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud After Staging a Politically Motivated Arson AttackRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Center man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after filing fraudulent insurance claims for a staged arson, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on September 23, 2020, Denis Vladmirovich Molla, 30, falsely reported to law enforcement that someone had lit his camper on fire and that three unknown males were near his home when he heard an explosion. Molla also reported that his garage door was vandalized with spray painted graffiti stating, “Biden 2020,” “BLM,” and an Antifa symbol, and that his camper was targeted because it had a Trump 2020 flag displayed on it. In reality, Molla started his own property on fire and spray painted the graffiti on his own garage.
According to court documents, Molla submitted multiple insurance claims seeking coverage for the damage to his garage, camper, vehicles, and residence caused by the fire. When Molla’s insurance company denied some of those claims, Molla submitted a written complaint to the insurance company claiming that it was defrauding him and threatened to report the company to the Department of Commerce and to the Attorney General. Molla also created and allowed others to create two GoFundMe accounts to benefit Molla and his family. In total, Molla submitted more than $300,000 in fraudulent insurance claims, and he received approximately $61,000 from his insurance company. Molla also received more than $17,000 from individual donors via GoFundMe.
Molla pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge David S. Doty to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz and Kimberly A. Svendsen are prosecuting the case.
Boulder County Veterinarian Indicted for Fentanyl FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Lindsay Oklesh, 37, of Boulder County has been indicted by a federal grand jury for fraudulently obtaining fentanyl, which is a controlled substance.
According to the indictment, between March 10, 2020 and September 22, 2021, Oklesh, a doctor of veterinary medicine, utilized her Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number to purchase controlled substances from a distributor while misrepresenting that they were for the use of legitimate veterinary patients, rather than for her personal use.
Oklesh made her initial appearance before Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews on October 11, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Mance.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case Number: 22-cr-316
Boston Man Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for distributing methamphetamine from his condominium in Boston’s Back Bay area.
Corey Goldberg, 47, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr., to 30 months in prison and six years of supervised release. Goldberg was also ordered to pay forfeiture of $282,604. In September 2020, Goldberg pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.
In August 2019, investigators became aware that Goldberg was distributing crystal methamphetamine to customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, some of whom were then reselling the drugs to retail customers. On three different dates between Aug. 23, 2019 and Sept. 18, 2019, Goldberg sold between one and two ounces of methamphetamine to a cooperating witness. These sales all took place in Goldberg’s Back Bay condominium. During a search of Goldberg’s residence in October 2019, investigators seized approximately 39.2 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine from the kitchen and approximately 246.6 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine from a safe in Goldberg’s bedroom.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Merrimack (N.H.) Police Chief Brian Levesque; and Portsmouth (N.H.) Police Chief Mark Newport made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dapcic of Rollins’ Asset Forfeiture Unit prosecuted the case.
Baldwin Felon Indicted for Firearms Law ViolationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of suburban Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Maurice White Jr., age 21, formerly of Baldwin, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about September 21, 2022, White Jr. knowingly, possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
For White Jr., the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 15 years in prison, a fine of no greater than $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, or a combination thereof. 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 defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bakersfield Relatives Plead Guilty to Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Charles Abieanga, 31, Viviana Cervantes, 23, and Simon Abieanga, 28, all of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to separate fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Charles Abieanga and Viviana Cervantes, husband and wife, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for their roles in two different fraud schemes. The first scheme involved submitting false claims to the California Employment Development Department and obtaining benefits associated with those claims. The second scheme involved impersonating a supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) and defrauding hospitals by selling non-existent medical supplies including surgical gowns and N-95 protective masks. Charles Abieanga also pleaded guilty separately to a scheme involving the sale of non-existent pets, horses, and vehicles to victims online. Charles Abieanga and Viviana Cervantes’s conduct caused actual losses of over $210,000.
Simon Abieanga, Charles’s brother, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a two separate, but similar, fraud schemes. The first scheme involved submitting false claims to the California Employment Development Department and obtaining benefits associated with those claims. Simon Abieanga’s second scheme involved the sale of non-existent pets, horses, and vehicles to victims online. Simon Abieanga’s conduct caused actual losses of over $105,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the California Employment Development Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Joe Barton are prosecuting the case.
The brothers are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba Jan. 17, 2023, and Cervantes is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2023. Charles Abieanga and Viviana Cervantes face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence for the aggravated identity theft. Simon Abieanga faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The actual sentences, 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.
Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Possession of a Counterfeit Postal KeyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Marcum, 46, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession of a counterfeit postal key, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Marcum was being investigated for his involvement in breaking into multiple community mailboxes. While executing a search warrant at Marcum’s residence, law enforcement officers found a semi-automatic firearm with no serial number, rounds of 9 mm ammunition, stolen mail, and a counterfeit postal key that was subsequently discovered to have been forged by Marcum. Marcum is a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandre Dempsey is prosecuting the case.
Marcum is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba on Jan. 23, 2023. Marcum faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Armed Wilmington Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Massimo Campana, 31, of Wilmington, was sentenced last week to 144 months in prison for armed drug trafficking. On May 25, 2022, Campana pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of a Substance containing Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The investigation uncovered that from August 2021 until the time of his arrest, Campana took part in a conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of more than 3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Campana was on federal supervised release at the time he committed these offenses.
“This is yet another example of the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement to disrupt the drug trafficking organizations that are engaged in violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are successfully investigating and prosecuting these cases to put violent criminals behind bars.”
“Fighting the threat of illegal firearms and dangerous narcotics is always a joint effort,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF’s work with our local law enforcement partners, along with our U.S. Attorney, continues to take these threats out of our communities and better public safety.”
“I am very proud of the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department for making this arrest and getting this violent criminal off the streets. I also would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies both local, state, and federal who work with us consistently to put these individuals behind bars. We are committed to reducing violence within our community and will continue to work tirelessly to get drugs off of our streets to create a safe environment for all,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams.
According to court documents and other evidence presented in court, on September 15, 2021, an ATF undercover agent made a controlled purchase of an ounce of methamphetamine from Campana at a business in Brunswick County. During the deal Campana bragged about the potency of his methamphetamine.
On October 20, 2021, a Wilmington Police Officer observed Campana driving a car with a fictious tag leaving a hotel on Market Street. The officer attempted to stop the car. Campana refused to stop and traveled at speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour on the city streets in an attempt to elude law enforcement. When law enforcement finally boxed in Capana at the intersection of Wrightsville and South College Road, Campana put his car in reverse and rammed a police vehicle. An officer had to break the driver side window to remove Campana from his car at gun point as he attempted to flee the scene. During of a search of Campana, officers found a quantity of methamphetamine and a loaded .380 caliber handgun.
This is part of operation “Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabe Diaz and Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00027-BO.
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Anderson Community School Corporation Bookkeeper Charged with Embezzling nearly $1 Million over More than Five YearsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Carla Burke, 62, of Anderson, Indiana, has been charged with wire fraud, and will make her initial appearance before a Magistrate Judge in federal court in Indianapolis in the coming weeks.
The Anderson Community School Corporation (“ACSC”) is a public school corporation in charge of at least ten public schools in Anderson, Indiana. As part of its operations, ACSC employs teachers, administrators, coaches, custodians, and other professionals, and is responsible for the education of more than 6,000 children. Burke was the ACSC Food Service Department’s Bookkeeper. As part of her duties, Burke maintained the financial records for the Food Service Department. Burke was also responsible for issuing checks on behalf of ACSC approved by her supervisor.
According to court documents, between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2019, Burke used her position as a bookkeeper for ACSC to embezzle nearly $1 million from the school corporation. Rather than submit legitimate vendor expenses, Burke issued approximately 312 checks to herself from ACSC totaling $976,773.29. To conceal her theft, Burke falsified ACSC records making it appear that the payments were to an ACSC vendor. Burke used the stolen funds for her own personal expenditures, including gambling at several casinos. Burke also willfully failed to report approximately $225,381 in income she derived from the scheme on her tax returns and lied to federal agents when questioned about her illegal conduct.
If convicted, Burke faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Indianapolis Field Office; and Paul Joyce, State Examiner of the Indiana State Board of Accounts; made the announcement.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who is prosecuting this case.
An Information is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
30-Year-Old Tucson Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Smuggling Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On September 29, 2022, Dominque Trinidad Valdez-Velasquez, 30, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 18 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Valdez-Velasquez previously pleaded guilty to Transporting Illegal Aliens, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.
Valdez-Velasquez was arrested on December 29, 2021, during an immigration checkpoint traffic stop near Amado, Arizona. At the checkpoint, a United States Border Patrol canine alerted agents to the trunk of Valdez-Velasquez’ vehicle. When the agents asked Valdez-Velasquez to open the trunk, they discovered four undocumented noncitizens from Mexico. According to court documents, after traveling for an hour, the noncitizens were left in the trunk, unable to move or leave, for more than four hours while Valdez-Velasquez slept in a hotel.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-0173-TUC-RM-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-173_Valdez-Velasquez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
23 Ohioans indicted as part of narcotics distribution ring involving bulk amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine & other narcoticsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The government added 12 defendants and 28 new charges to a federal narcotics conspiracy case that now charges 23 total individuals.
A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July after a federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in central Ohio within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school.
A superseding indictment unsealed Friday now charges additional co-conspirators with distributing those same drugs in addition to methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone.
According to the 42-count superseding indictment, from at least January 2008 until 2022, the drug trafficking organization sold drugs out of local West side Columbus residences to customers and distributed larger amounts to regional drug traffickers who then trafficking those narcotics to places such as West Virginia and the Northern District of Ohio.
Most of the alleged drug dealing took place within 1000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School in Columbus.
The indictment also alleges two defendants distributed fentanyl and crack cocaine that initially resulted in serious bodily harm to the victim, who ultimately died of an overdose.
As part of this case, local, state, and federal law enforcement officers have executed more than 20 search warrants at various locations throughout Central Ohio and seized more than $1.7 million in alleged drug proceeds. For example, while executing a search warrant at Car-Go storage units, law enforcement officials discovered at least $1.2 million in cash. Searches of residences yielded 47 firearms, diamonds, Rolex watches and additional bulk amounts of cash.
Those originally charged include:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Cordell A. Washington, aka Corey, Dub, Bro
35
Columbus, Ohio
Patrick M. Saultz, aka White Boy Pat
44
Columbus, Ohio
David E. Price, aka DP
53
Columbus, Ohio
Allison E. Smith, aka Alli
27
Columbus, Ohio
Tavaryyuan Johnson, aka Gucci
22
Columbus, Ohio
Tyler N. Bourdo
28
Columbus, Ohio
Alexis C. Lewis
30
Columbus, Ohio
Michael Fowler
45
Canton, Ohio
Carmela Brooks
48
Canton, Ohio
Dustin A. Speakman, aka Dawg
32
Columbus, Ohio
Danny G. Mullins
53
Columbus, Ohio
Defendants added in the superseding indictment unsealed today include:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Robert E. Tinsley, III, aka Cam
22
Columbus, Ohio
Priscilla L. Washington
58
Columbus, Ohio
Lauren E. Brezney
29
Shallotte, N.C./Columbus, Ohio
Brittany A. Williams
36
Columbus, Ohio
Gabriel R. Smith, aka Gabe
34
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Robert L. Pyles, aka Pork
45
Columbus, Ohio
Mitchell A. Powers
33
Columbus, Ohio
Vincent T. Griffin
50
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Caitlin R. Duff
27
Columbus, Ohio
Michael D. Burton
39
Columbus, Ohio
Brian K. Long, II
32
Columbus, Ohio
Anthony B. Frierson, aka Royal
31
Columbus, Ohio
Twenty-two defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone. The narcotics conspiracy is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission task force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
This investigation 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.
Indictments merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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10 October 2022
U.S. Attorney hosts public safety Tribal ConsultationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Oct. 5, Alexander M.M. Uballez, the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, hosted delegations from the Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Nambé, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Ohkay Owingeh, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Zuni, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Navajo Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women in a Special Session Tribal Consultation held in Albuquerque.
The Special Session was the beginning of an ongoing conversation with Tribal law enforcement partners about public safety efforts in Tribal Territories. The Tribal delegations provided comment and recommendations regarding the demand for additional resources to combat violence against women, youth and children, the necessity of more flexible intake criteria and support for drug trafficking investigations, and the need for additional training.
“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and every day, the United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working alongside, and learning from our Tribal partners, with respect, sincerity and a shared interest in the wellbeing of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “Indigenous knowledge through Tribal consultation is at the heart of this effort. Our approach will be victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community and confident that law enforcement will be vigilant in the investigation of crimes against community members.”
One of the new initiatives to address public safety in Indian Country is the assignment of an individual AUSA liaison to each Tribal community in the state of New Mexico. The Special Session was an opportunity for Tribal leaders and law enforcement to meet with their Tribal liaison and address the U.S. Attorney. Representatives from each Pueblo, Tribe and Nation in attendance provided comments relating to issues unique to their communities as well as issues common throughout the District of New Mexico.
U.S. Attorney Uballez, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Aja Brooks, Criminal Chief Kristopher Houghton, Indian Country Crimes Section Supervisor Elisa Dimas along with Tribal Liaisons Kyle Nayback, Eliot Neal, Alexander Flores, Nicholas Marshall, Brittany DuChaussee, Mark Pfizenmayer, Matthew McGinley, and Novaline Wilson, as well as Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski received the comments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will incorporate the comments into an Operational Plan to address public safety in Indian Country.
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Homeland Security Investigations Recognizes Asheville Federal Prosecutor for Her Work Combating Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has awarded Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Alexis I. Solheim the agency’s “Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Year” award, for her exemplary work in child exploitation cases investigated and prosecuted in the Western District of North Carolina. HSI’s recognition ceremony was held on Friday, October 7, 2022.
“The protection of the most vulnerable among us is a priority for my Office and the Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney King. “AUSA Solheim is tasked with bringing to justice individuals who harm innocent children, which are often some of the most difficult and challenging cases handled by federal prosecutors. Through her legal work and advocacy, AUSA Solheim has demonstrated exemplary legal skill and professionalism, advocating for crime victims and holding offenders accountable for their actions. I am proud of AUSA Solheim’s achievement and I commend her for her legal successes and her work focusing on prevention and intervention.”
AUSA Solheim is a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville and serves as the Western District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator. In this capacity, AUSA Solheim is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of cases involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors. Launched by the Department of Justice in 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
The HSI award recognizes AUSA Solheim for her outstanding work in numerous federal criminal prosecutions involving the production, receipt and distribution of child pornography, “traveler” or enticement crimes, and online child exploitation cases, among others. In addition to prosecuting federal matters, as the District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, AUSA Solheim conducts trainings of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on how to investigate and prosecute computer-facilitated crimes against children. AUSA Solheim also participates in community education programs, in order to raise awareness about the threat of online sexual predators and to provide the tools and information to children and parents on how to protect children and report possible violations.
AUSA Solheim began her career in public service in 2014, when she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), working on criminal and civil matters in federal court. Ms. Solheim then became an Assistant District Attorney in Buncombe County, where she prosecuted state criminal offenses. In 2018, Ms. Solheim returned to federal prosecution as a SAUSA with North Carolina’s 43rd Prosecutorial District until 2021, when she was hired to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
AUSA Solheim received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from the Campbell University School of Law.
7 October 2022
Yukon Man Pleads Guilty to Computer Access Fraud in Connection with Scheme to Misrepresent FAA Mechanic Certification to Local Aviation CompanyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – GORDON BELLAMY, JR., 42, of Yukon, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty earlier this week to computer access fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On August 17, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Bellamy for alleged offenses while he was employed by Ally Aerospace Services as a contractor for AAR Corporation. The Indictment alleged that Bellamy worked as an aircraft maintenance mechanic at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and that he supervised mechanic crews responsible for removing and reattaching panels as part of the maintenance of commercial aircraft. Under Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") regulations, supervising employees must be certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanics. According to the Indictment, in October of 2018, Bellamy illegally accessed an FAA database that contained records of all Airframe and Powerplant mechanic’s certificates, obtained a certificate belonging to another licensed mechanic, and falsely presented it to his employer as his own.
Count 1 charged Bellamy with wire fraud, and Count 2 charged him with computer access fraud. Count 3 alleged Bellamy committed aggravated identity theft.
On October 3, 2022, Bellamy pleaded guilty to computer access fraud before U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman. As part of the plea hearing, Bellamy admitted that he intentionally accessed an FAA computer and obtained information from the FAA in furtherance of his scheme to defraud his employer, by misrepresenting himself as a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.
At sentencing, Bellamy will face up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, the government has agreed to dismiss at sentencing the remaining counts of the indictment. A sentencing date will be set by the court. Bellamy has been in federal custody since his arrest on August 23, 2022.
This case is a result of an investigation by the United States Department of Transportation-Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle London.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Westfield Woman Indicted for Alleged Hoax Bomb Threat Made to Boston Children's HospitalRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Westfield woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a hoax bomb threat made against Boston Children’s Hospital.
Catherine Leavy, 37, was indicted on one count of making a false bomb threat and one count of intentionally conveying false or misleading information that a bomb was on the way to Boston Children’s Hospital. Leavy was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 15, 2022 with one count of explosive materials - willfully making a false bomb threat. She will appear in federal court at a later date.
According to the charging documents, in August 2022, agents began monitoring threats made against Boston Children’s Hospital and its employees. Among the wide range of healthcare services it provides, Boston Children’s Hospital is home to the Gender Multispecialty Service (GeMS) program – the first major healthcare program in the United States to focus on gender-diverse and transgender adolescents.
On Aug. 30, 2022, Boston Children’s Hospital received a telephonic bomb threat. As a result of the call, the hospital and surrounding area was placed on lockdown status and a bomb squad was dispatched. An investigation determined no explosive devices were located at the Hospital. Law enforcement obtained subscriber and call detail records and location information for the phone number that called in the bomb threat. According to court documents, the phone number was subscribed in Leavy’s name and cell tower data indicated the phone was nearby Leavy’s residence at the time the bomb threat was made.
During a search of Leavy’s residence on Sept. 15, 2022, the phone allegedly used to make the threat from Leavy’s residence was recovered.
The charge of making a false bomb threat provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of intentionally conveying false or misleading information provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Westfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadine Pellegrini and Jared C. Dolan, Chief and Deputy Chief of Rollins’ National Security Unit, respectively, are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Waupaca Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WI. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Justin Baumgardt, 37, formerly of Waupaca, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Baumgardt pleaded guilty to these charges on June 29, 2022.
On May 26, 2021, Baumgardt traveled to Barron County, Wisconsin after agreeing to sell three ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. When Baumgardt arrived at the location of the anticipated drug deal, law enforcement officers made contact with him and searched his car. Inside the car, officers found bags containing a total of 116 grams of methamphetamine.
At the time he was arrested, Baumgardt was on active state extended supervision for robbery with use of force and was also out on bond for an open state drug trafficking case from 2019.
Baumgardt was later interviewed by law enforcement officers. He admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and estimated distributing approximately 40 pounds of methamphetamine in Wisconsin.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Peterson noted Baumgardt’s methamphetamine dealing was very destructive to the community. Chief Judge Peterson highlighted Baumgardt’s prior criminal history, which included acts of violence and poor performance while on supervision.
The charge against Justin Baumgardt was the result of an investigation conducted by the Barron, Rusk, and Washburn County Sheriffs’ Offices and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary J. Corey and Steven P. Anderson prosecuted the case.
Watertown Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Carrie Wetherell, 44, of Watertown, New York, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud related to her scheme to withdraw and spend the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits of a deceased relative.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
As part of her guilty plea, Wetherell admitted to using her deceased relative’s identity and ATM card to withdraw SSI benefits that had been deposited into the relative’s bank account after her death. At the same time Wetherell withdrew these funds, she was also receiving Temporary Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the Jefferson County Department of Social Services. However, she failed to disclose the money she withdrew from her deceased relative’s account knowing that such disclosure would disqualify her from receiving those benefits. As part of her plea, Wetherell agreed to pay $85,980.05 in restitution to the Social Security Administration and the Jefferson County Department of Social Services and agreed to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $6,194.00.
At sentencing, currently scheduled for February 9, 2023, Wetherell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of up to five years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck and Assistant United States Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.
Waterloo Man Who Fled from Police with Stolen Gun and Later Shot at a House Sentenced to 103 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who fled from police while in possession of a stolen and loaded gun and then, three weeks later, shot a different gun at the house of someone with whom he was angry, was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.
Ivan Luckett Clay Jr., age 22, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 2, 2022 guilty plea to carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Clay has a prior felony conviction for possessing marijuana with the intent to deliver it.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that, in April 2021, Clay possessed a stolen and loaded firearm, along with marijuana, in Waterloo. He was driving a car through Waterloo, with the firearm and a pound of marijuana, when law enforcement stopped his car. Clay fled from the police, crashed the car into a tree, and then continued to flee on foot until he was detained by officers. Three weeks later, using a different gun, Clay shot five times at a home of someone with whom he was angry, to scare them. Officers then searched Clay’s home and found the gun, over a pound of marijuana, and more than $4,000 in cash.
Clay was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Clay was sentenced to 103 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Clay is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa Williams and Kyndra Lundquist. It was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2061.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Victor Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – A Victor, Iowa man pleaded guilty on October 5, 2022, to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court documents, Daniel Shawn DeRycke, age 59, admitted he conspired with one or more other persons to impede and obstruct the Internal Revenue Service in the assessment and collection of income taxes. DeRycke admitted that from April 2017 to March 2019, through his business, DeRycke’s Crop Depot, he engaged in conduct to help customers reduce income tax owed by accepting backdated checks, generating false expense invoices, and exchanging checks to give the appearance of an expense that was not in fact incurred by the customers.
DeRycke is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023 and faces up to 5 years in prison. DeRycke has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $189,919. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“This investigation is evidence to criminals that you cannot falsify figures on your own tax returns, let alone aid others with documents to bolster lies to the federal government on their tax returns,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue to be on the front lines to defend the American tax system from fraud and deception.”
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and the Internal Revenue Service made the announcement.
The Internal Revenue Service, United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN –United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz joins the Department of Justice, the Office on
Violence Against Women (OVW), advocates, survivors, victim service providers, justice professionals, police and first responders, and communities across the
U.S. in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).Domestic violence is more prevalent than many realize. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.
“Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for our Office to remind the communitythat we are here and available to support victims and survivors of the Western District,” said United
States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz.Purple Thursday is a National Day of Action during DVAM. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and an easy way for us to show our commitment to promoting safe communities. Please join us on October 20 by wearing purple and starting a conversation about domestic violence!
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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition of Malaysian National for Large-Scale Trafficking of Rhinoceros HornsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Edward J. Grace, Assistant Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, announced today that TEO BOON CHING, a/k/a “Zhang,” a/k/a “Dato Sri,” a/k/a “Godfather,” was charged for participating in a conspiracy to traffic in more than 70 kilograms of rhinoceros horns valued at more than $725,000 that involved the illegal poaching of numerous rhinoceros, an endangered wildlife species. In addition, CHING was charged with laundering the proceeds of his illegal rhinoceros horn sales. CHING, a citizen of Malaysia, was arrested in Thailand on June 29, 2022, at the request of the United States pursuant to our bilateral extradition treaty. CHING was extradited to the United States earlier today and will appear before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein this afternoon. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
Earlier today, CHING and his associated entities were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) pursuant to E.O. 13581, as amended.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Teo Boon Ching is alleged to be the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise trafficking in rhinoceros horns, enriching poachers responsible for the senseless illegal slaughter of numerous endangered rhinoceros, and furthering the market for these illicit products. The protection of endangered wildlife and the preservation of our natural resources is an important priority for this Office. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this defendant has been caught and brought to the United States to answer for his alleged crimes.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Edward J. Grace said: “This extradition is a major success for wildlife and people. Thanks to our federal and international partners, this wildlife trafficker now will have his day in court. Wildlife traffickers run complex international criminal enterprises that require a multinational law enforcement effort to investigate, arrest and prosecute them for their crimes. I laud the efforts of our special agents, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State Office of Foreign Assets Control, and especially the Royal Thai Police for their commitment in addressing this global problem that is pushing many species to extinction.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
CHING was the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in Asia with significant operations in Malaysia and Thailand which engaged in the large-scale international trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns resulting from the poaching of numerous endangered rhinoceros. Trade involving endangered or threatened species violates several U.S. laws as well as international treaties implemented by certain U.S. laws. CHING served as a specialized smuggler, transporting rhinoceros horns from rhinoceros poaching operations primarily in Africa to the eventual customers primarily in Asia. CHING also claimed to be able to ship rhinoceros horns to the United States.
From at least in or about July 2019 through at least in or about August 2019, CHING conspired to transport, distribute, sell, and smuggle at least approximately 73 kilograms of rhinoceros horns resulting from the poaching of numerous rhinoceros and having an estimated value of at least approximately $725,472.
On a number of occasions, CHING met with a confidential source to negotiate the sale of rhinoceros horns. For example, on July 17 and 18, 2019, the confidential source met with CHING in Malaysia. During those meetings, CHING stated that he served as a “middleman”—one who acquires rhinoceros horns poached by co-conspirators in Africa and ships them to customers around the world for a per-kilogram fee. During their communications, CHING sent the confidential source numerous photographs of rhinoceros horns that CHING had available for sale and shipment, including the following:
In August 2019, the confidential source, at the direction of law enforcement, purchased 12 rhinoceros horns from CHING with money that CHING believed were the proceeds of other illegal wildlife trafficking and was in bank accounts in New York. At CHING’s direction, law enforcement deposited the purported proceeds into numerous Chinese bank accounts at an underground banking facility in Thailand to disguise the origins, source, and purposes of the monetary transactions.
On August 23, 2019, CHING then arranged for his co-conspirators to deliver twelve rhinoceros horn pieces to undercover law enforcement personnel in Bangkok, Thailand. A photograph of the rhinoceros horns delivered by CHING is below:
A United States Fish and Wildlife Service forensics laboratory examined these rhinoceros horns and concluded that two horn pieces were black rhinoceros horns and the other 10 pieces were white rhinoceros horns, both endangered species.
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CHING, 57, of Malaysia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and two counts of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, Mr. Williams thanked the Royal Thai Government for its assistance in the extradition of CHING to the United States and commended law enforcement authorities and conservation partners in Thailand, including the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the Attorney General. Mr. Williams also thanked the Embassy of the United States in Bangkok and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for providing substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant and noted that the investigation is ongoing.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Herman is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and its description set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Plead Guilty to Smuggling Firearms into MexicoRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Edwin Alejandro Rodriguez, 21, pleaded guilty this week and Martin Najera, 30, pleaded guilty last week to buying firearms and then smuggling them to Mexico. Both are U.S. citizens living in Mexico.
According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation in April 2022 into reports that Rodriguez and Najera were purchasing firearms and exporting them to Mexico. Agents from HSI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were able to identify approximately 31 firearms that were bought by the pair and then transported to Mexico.
Rodriguez and Najera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States. Sentencing for both defendants is expected in December. The defendants face up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; HSI Special Agent in Charge Frank Burrola, El Paso Division; and ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II, Dallas Division, made the announcement.
HSI and ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Denum is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Two More Sentenced to Federal Prison in Cedar Rapids Heroin and Fentanyl Wiretap CaseRead the Press Release
Two men who distributed large quantities of heroin laced with fentanyl and fentanyl analogues were sentenced this week to a total of more than six years in federal prison.
Jerry Dwyane Banghart, age 31, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received his prison term after an April 8, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Thomas Nathaniel May, age 27, from Seattle, Washington, received his prison term after a June 2, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that, during an early 2021 wiretap investigation involving a large-scale heroin distributor in Cedar Rapids named Brian Dennis, May was identified as one of the top callers to Dennis’s phone, and Banghart was also identified as a regular caller to the phone. May was typically purchasing at least 3.5 grams of heroin and upwards of 10.5 grams of heroin per day from Dennis and his associates, totaling well over 100 grams in a six-week period. In April 2021, May was arrested after meeting with Dennis and found in possession of 7.39 grams of a substance containing heroin, fentanyl, and synthetic opioids acetyl fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl and metonitazene. Information presented at sentencing showed that Banghart obtained over 50 grams of heroin from Dennis, including obtaining nearly 10.5 grams of a mixture containing heroin, fentanyl, and synthetic opioids acetyl fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl and metonitazene at one time, which Banghart then distributed to another member of the conspiracy.
Four other individuals, Cody Scott Deklotz, Andrew James Lehman, Ryan Rick Schlitter, and Melinda Salvatora Werning, previously pled guilty to the heroin conspiracy and have been sentenced. Ryan Rick Schlitter was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. Andrew James Lehman was sentenced to 10 months and 16 days’ imprisonment. Cody Scott Deklotz was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. Melinda Salvatora Werning was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. Four other individuals charged in the same indictment, including Dennis, have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Banghart and May were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Banghart was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment and May was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment. Each man must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Banghart and May are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21‑CR‑32‑CJW.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Top Money Launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel Sentenced to More than 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Daniel E. Zipp (619) 546-8463
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 7, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Juan Manuel Alvarez-Inzunza, a high-level money launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel, was sentenced to 188 months in prison today for his role in a conspiracy to transfer millions of dollars in drug proceeds out of the United States.
According to court records, starting in 2013, agents with Homeland Security Investigations intercepted the communications of Alvarez-Inzunza and other high-level Sinaloa Cartel members as they discussed the transfer of drug proceeds. Alvarez-Inzunza, who had a law degree and worked as an attorney in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, regularly received requests originating from the top leadership of the cartel—including Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman—to arrange for the collection of drug proceeds in cities across the United States including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Detroit. Alvarez-Inzunza then worked with associates in Bogota, Colombia to arrange for the transfer of those funds to Mexico, Central America, and other locations.
Using information from wire intercepts, agents were able to seize over $4 million in bulk currency drug proceeds before they could leave the country, and intercepts showed Alvarez-Inzunza orchestrating the transfer of millions more on behalf of the cartel. Alvarez-Inzunza was arrested by Mexican authorities while traveling in the state of Oaxaca in March of 2016, and he was extradited to the United States last year. On May 3, 2022, He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(h).
In court today, Chief Judge Dana M. Sabraw noted that the Sinaloa cartel is “a very violent organization” and “they don’t exist without money.” Money laundering operations, like that headed by Alvarez-Inzunza, are “integral” to the operation of the cartel and provide the “fuel that keeps these organizations in business.”
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said, “Large-scale drug cartels in Mexico can only survive by manipulating the international financial system to transfer the proceeds of their drug sales out of the United States. Today’s sentence sends a message to global money launderers that they are not safe, wherever they may reside, and we will continue to work with our international partiers to bring them to justice.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.
“Today’s sentencing is the result of relentless work by HSI targeting the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge of HSI Diego. “This multiyear investigation highlights HSI’s unwavering commitment to pursue cartel members responsible for importing dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods. This lengthy sentence serves as resounding message that transnational criminal organizations are being continuously investigated by HSI and their leaders will be brought to justice.”
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
DEFENDANT Case Number 14CR2253-DMS
Juan Manuel Alvarez-Inzunza Age: 41 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control
Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs
Three Kentucky Correctional Officers Face Additional Civil Rights Charges for Assaulting Inmates and Attempting to Cover it UpRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in London, Kentucky, filed a superseding indictment against three federal correctional officers — two officers and a lieutenant — for their respective roles in assaults against three federal inmates and subsequent cover-ups.
Officers Samuel Patrick, 41, Clinton Pauley, 40, and Lieutenant Kevin Pearce, 37, had previously been indicted in connection with the assaults of two federal inmates, C.T. and N.D, and subsequent cover-ups. The superseding indictment brings new charges for their assault of a third federal inmate, E.G., and attempts to cover it up.
The superseding indictment alleges that, on March 30, 2021, Patrick and Pauley, who were officers at the U.S. Penitentiary-Big Sandy, and Lieutenant Pearce, who was a supervisory officer, physically assaulted an inmate, identified in the indictment as E.G., violating that inmate’s constitutional rights. The indictment also alleges that the assault resulted in bodily injury and that the defendants attempted to cover up the assault by writing false reports. The indictment also charges Patrick and Pearce with witness tampering based on their efforts to pressure a fellow correctional officer to write an untruthful report. Lastly, the indictment charges Pauley with making false statements to agents of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for the assault offenses and 20 years of imprisonment for each of the witness tampering and false report offenses.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge William J. Hannah of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s Chicago Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
The Office of the Inspector General and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky is prosecuting the case in partnership with Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Texarkana High School Band Instructor Charged with Federal Child Exploitation ViolationsRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana, Arkansas, man has been charged in a federal complaint with violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Brandon Neil Sams, 46, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Boone Baxter on Oct. 7, 2022, on a federal complaint charging him with enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice.
According to the complaint and information presented in court, from March 2022 through September 2022, Sams, while serving as a band instructor at Texas High School, allegedly attempted to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. On Sep. 26, 2022, Sams allegedly attempted to obstruct or conceal information from law enforcement.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If convicted, Sams faces from 10 years to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Texarkana Independent School District. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.
An indictment or complaint is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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St. Louis Woman Sentenced to a Year in Prison, Ordered to Repay $267,000 in Pandemic Rental FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Friday sentenced a woman from St. Louis County, Missouri to a year and a day in prison and ordered her to repay the $267,239 she reaped in a pandemic-related fraud.
Semaj Portis, 43, registered a company called Forever Riding with the Missouri Secretary of State on Jan. 15, 2021, then submitted 52 fraudulent applications for rent assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which administered Emergency Rental Assistance and COVID-19 Emergency Solutions Grants. Portis listed herself or Forever Riding as the landlord and also submitted fraudulent rental leases.
The grants were designed to help both landlords and their financially struggling tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic and “could have and should have gone to Missourians who were struggling during the darkest days of the pandemic,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman said in court Friday.
Portis, who used the money for vacations and to purchase real estate, took “advantage of a once-in-a-generation crisis,” Wiseman said.
“For too many Missourians, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented time of financial hardship, turmoil, and suffering. But for Defendant Semaj Portis, it constituted a lucrative opportunity to line her pockets with relief payments earmarked for struggling Missourians,” Wiseman wrote in a sentencing memo.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
“The United States Secret Service will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to aggressively target individuals and groups who attempt to take advantage of federal programs designed to help those in need,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Landry of the U.S. Secret Service St. Louis Field Office.
Anyone with information about rental assistance fraud should contact the FBI at [email protected] or (314) 589-2500.
St. Louis Man Who Carjacked Two People Sentenced to 19 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Friday sentenced a man from St. Louis, Missouri who carjacked two vehicles in 2020 while armed to 19 years in prison.
Andre Whitfield, 32, of St. Louis, was also sentenced to 18 months more in prison for violating his supervised release in a 2011 case in which he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On April 21, 2020, Whitfield stole a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix at gunpoint from a woman who had given he and his paramour, Cherri Barton, a ride. Barton had asked the victim, who was her cousin, for the ride before Whitfield pointed a gun at the woman and said, “Give me everything you got and get out of the car,” his plea agreement says.
On May 13, 2020, Barton asked a woman in her 70s for directions before Whitfield flashed a pistol and took the woman’s 2010 Toyota Corolla. The woman’s purse, which contained $700, was in the vehicle when it was stolen. Police later spotted the car, and Whitfield crashed after a high-speed chase. Police found an AR-15 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol in the car.
Whitfield pleaded guilty July 1 to two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Cherri Barton, 36, of Northwoods, pleaded guilty July 7 to one count each of carjacking and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. At her sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 13, she could face at least seven years in prison for the gun charge.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Hillsdale Police Department.
Southeastern Connecticut Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DWAYNE JOHNSON, 46, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 130 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for gun and drug offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 14, 2017, Johnson, who had previously been convicted of several felony offenses and was prohibited from possessing firearms, possessed two 12 gauge shotguns, shotgun shells, and quantities of cocaine and marijuana. On June 5, 2018, as part of an overdose death investigation, members of the Waterford and Town of Groton Police Departments executed a state search warrant at Johnson’s former residence in Waterford and seized approximately 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 100 grams of cocaine, smaller quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, items used to process and package narcotics, 24 cell phones, more than $11,000 in cash, and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
On May 20, 2019, Johnson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a controlled substance.
On August 20, 2019, while he was on released on bond, Johnson was arrested by officers from the Norwich Police Department after a shooting occurred at Johnson’s Norwich residence. A related search of the residence revealed approximately 105 grams of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl. Johnson has been detained since that date.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Town of Groton, Norwich and Waterford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Natasha Freismuth.
South Shore Landscaper Sentenced to Prison for Underreporting $1.5 Million in Taxable IncomeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a residential and commercial landscaping business operating in the South Shore area was sentenced yesterday for failing to report approximately $1.5 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service.
Scott Herzog, 47, of Norwell, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to a year and one day in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. Herzog was also ordered to pay restitution of $499,958 to the Internal Revenue Service. On June 3, 2022, Herzog pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return.
Herzog owned and operated Herzog Landscape Solutions. From 2016 through 2018, Herzog received gross income of at least approximately $4.1 million from landscaping customers but provided his bookkeeper with only partial information about that income from customer payments. Herzog directed customers to pay him personally for jobs and then cashed many of these payments or deposited them into bank accounts unaffiliated with the landscaping business. Herzog then failed to report approximately $1.5 million in these receipts in the tax returns his tax preparer filed on his behalf. As a result of this conduct, Herzog underreported his personal income tax obligations, causing a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $500,000.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
South Georgia Resident with Lengthy Criminal Past Convicted of Distributing Drugs at Valdosta Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Brooks County, Georgia, resident with a lengthy criminal history was found guilty by a federal jury on two charges related to his drug distribution activities out of a Valdosta, Georgia, apartment complex.
Barry Kiya Daise, 44, of Quitman, Georgia, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of maintaining and using a drug involved premises on Oct. 6 following a four-day trial that began on Oct. 3 at the U.S. Courthouse in Albany before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands. Daise faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count, a $1,000,000 maximum fine for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and a $500,000 maximum fine for maintaining and using a drug involved premises. Sentencing will occur at a time determined by the Court.
“The defendant was selling controlled substances out of a Valdosta apartment complex, and he has a long track record in the community of committing this type of criminal offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Persistent, repeat criminal offenders face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia when they choose to disregard the law by committing crimes that clearly harm others and damage neighborhoods.”
“Despite prior felony convictions, Daise continued to plague our communities with drugs and the crimes that result from it,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to our partnership with local law enforcement, he will now spend a lengthy time in federal prison without the possibility of parole.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, investigators with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division executed a search warrant at Daise’s apartment located on West Hill Avenue in Valdosta on Nov. 19, 2019. Daise was on probation at the time for a prior state felony. Officers recovered 48 grams of powder cocaine, evidence of crack-cocaine production, a loaded firearm stolen from Tifton, Georgia, and ammunition. Daise’s cellular phone had communications about him selling drugs to others and meeting in the Valdosta apartment complex’s parking lot to conduct the transactions, as well as photographs of guns and narcotics on his phone.
Daise has multiple prior felony convictions at the state level to include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Lowndes County Superior Court and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Brooks County Superior Court.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Special Operations Division and FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sonja Profit and Robert McCullers are prosecuting the case.
South Florida Man Sentenced to Nine Years After Sharing Child Pornography on Social MediaRead the Press Release
MIAMI -- Kemal Yaslowitz, 50, of Lake Worth, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing and distributing child pornography.
Yaslowitz spent months on a social media messenger application sharing images and videos of children being sexually abused. During an online chat, Yaslowitz sought to exchange child pornography with a user whom Yaslowitz believed shared his interests. Yaslowitz sent the user multiple videos of children being sexually abused.
Law enforcement investigated and arrested Yaslowitz. They determined that Yaslowitz stored hundreds of images of child pornography on his electronic devices and had shared 189 videos of child sexual abuse material on social media.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami announced the sentence imposed in West Palm Beach by U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg.
FBI Miami (West Palm Beach office) investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ralston prosecuted it.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no.: 22-cr-80062.
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Shelton Man Charged with Possessing Gun and Ammo While Awaiting Trial in Another Federal CaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging MIGUEL RIVERA, also known as “Macho,” 30, of Shelton, with possessing a firearm and ammunition while released on bond and awaiting trial in another federal case involving the alleged unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The indictment was returned on September 27, 2022. Rivera appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and pleaded not guilty. He has been detained since July 13, 2022.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2020, Rivera possessed a Romarm/Cugir, AK Type Model, 7.62 x 39mm caliber, semi-automatic rifle containing a fully-loaded large capacity 30-round magazine.
It is alleged that Rivera’s criminal history includes convictions for felony firearm, robbery and burglary offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On September 22, 2020, Rivera was charged by indictment with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He arrested on November 9, 2020, and was released on a $100,000 bond.
The new indictment alleges that, on June 21, 2022, while he was awaiting trial in his initial federal case, Rivera unlawfully possessed a Krieghoff K80 12-gauge shotgun, approximately 50 rounds shotgun ammunition, and approximately 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The indictment charges Rivera with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and committing the offense while on pretrial release. If convicted, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Connecticut State Police.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Professional Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Abel Raphael, 65, of Key West, Florida has pled guilty in federal court to aiding and assisting the preparation and presentation of false tax returns.
Raphael was a professional tax return preparer and operated Abel Income Tax Service Inc., in Monroe County. In connection with his guilty plea, Raphael admitted that he obtained an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) to submit tax returns electronically to the IRS in the names of others. Raphael prepared the returns using false deduction and tax credit figures, then electronically filed them with the IRS.
Sentencing will be scheduled before U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore in Key West, Florida. Raphael faces up to three years in prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Matthew D. Line, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami, and Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the guilty plea.
IRS-CI Miami and FBI Miami Key West Resident Agency investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Thompson.
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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Port Angeles, Washington man sentenced for damaging a communications tower during 3-day stand-off in Olympic National ParkRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 42-year-old Port Angeles, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to three years of probation for interfering with a federal communications system during an armed stand-off in Olympic National Park, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Caleb Jesse Chapman’s actions from August 29, to 31, 2021, resulted in the evacuation and closure of a popular section of Olympic National Park at one the busiest times of the year. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan noted that Chapman had spent 80 days in federal detention, and could face additional prison time if he does not comply with all the conditions of his probation.
“Mr. Chapman’s conduct put many people at risk and spread fear in the community. When he disabled the communications system for the eastern section of the park, he disrupted the ability of park staff to call for help while running chain saws to clear trails, hiking off trail to monitor endangered animals, or checking on hikers in rugged terrain,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “He has spent time since his arrest working to be drug free. We wish him success in that effort.”
According to records filed in the case, just after midnight on August 29, 2021, Chapman appeared at a stranger’s home armed with a handgun and AR-15 style rifle. Chapman was high on methamphetamine when he handed the stranger a letter outlining his concerns over political events, his difficulty getting ammunition, and his belief that there would be a revolution starting on the Olympic Peninsula, Texas, and elsewhere.
Chapman drove his girlfriend to Olympic National Park where he started a fire and then felled a tree to block a road to the Deer Park campground. Chapman told his girlfriend she was going to die in the “revolution.” The girlfriend called 9-1-1 and Chapman threw a can of soup at her, cutting her leg. Chapman stormed off into the woods with nine firearms including a stolen handgun, an AR-15 and two shotguns. He had more than 3500 rounds of ammunition.
Law enforcement evacuated the Deer Park campgrounds, trailheads, and road areas, and attempted to locate Chapman. Around 3 PM on August 29, 2021, Chapman disabled the Olympic National Park radio communications site (radio repeater) located at the summit of Blue Mountain. The repeater is used by the park for emergency response, public safety, and administrative radio communications. By disabling the repeater, Chapman left the northeast corner of the park without emergency communications. In fact, the Blue Mountain repeater was also the repeater that the NPS Search and Rescue helicopter based at Mt. Rainier would need to use, for a rescue at Olympic National Park.
On August 31, 2021, a drone located Chapman in the park. Chapman fired a short barrel shotgun at the drone. Ultimately, law enforcement was able to negotiate Chapman’s surrender with no injuries to anyone.
In her sentencing memo, Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster noted a variety of impacts and costs caused by Chapman’s actions. “Over 480 overtime hours were required from NPS staff in Washington over those three days, and that does not include the response from out of State NPS employees who flew in, the FBI, or other local law enforcement agencies. This massive law enforcement response took officers and agents from already understaffed agencies away from their regular duties including emergency response, search and rescue, criminal investigations, and generally protecting the public…. Hikers with overnight permits – some who fly in just to hike in ONP – all had to evacuate and were otherwise unable to begin or complete their trips. The Park lost out on significant revenue through the closures, and everyone within that area of the Park had to be evacuated.”
Chapman has agreed to make restitution to those harmed by his actions, including losses to the National Park Service, and to specific individuals, incurred because of the closure of portions of Olympic National Park, including the popular Hurricane Ridge Visitor’s Center. The exact amount of restitution will be determined at a later hearing. Members of the public who were impacted by the park closure should contact the National Park Service at Olympic National Park to supply restitution information.
The case was investigated by the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service, the FBI, and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) which includes officers from Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, the Sequim, Port Angeles, and Port Townsend Police Departments and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.
Pocatello Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Discharging a Firearm During a RobberyRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – A Pocatello man was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for the discharge of a firearm during a robbery that occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation on June 23, 2021. According to court records, Jose Acosta, Jr., 41, entered a camping trailer and demanded money from a female occupant. The victim refused and fought with Acosta. During the struggle, Acosta fired a pump-action .22 caliber rifle multiple times. The female victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital. Acosta fled the scene after the shooting and was arrested the next day after an extensive manhunt.
On October 4, 2022, Acosta was sentenced to a mandatory term of ten years in federal prison by Senior District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill. Acosta was also ordered to serve a term of five years of supervised release once his sentence is completed.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Fort Hall Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bingham County Sherriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the other assisting local agencies which led to charges.
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 was handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction.
The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts.
This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 199 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 27 have been indicted on firearms-related charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 8,892 months (approximately 741 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 54.55 months (4.54 years). Defendants indicted for firearms-related offenses serve, on average, approximately 41.68 months (3.5 years) in federal prison.
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Partner in Mumbai-Based Prescription Drug Company Pleads Guilty to Drug SmugglingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A partner in a Mumbai-based prescription drug company pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to charges arising from his operation of an overseas pharmacy that sold unapproved prescription drugs and controlled substances, including opioids, and shipped them from Asia into the United States.
Manish Kumar, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import misbranded prescription drugs and controlled substances conspiracy to distribute Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances and one count of making false statements to federal officers. U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Jan. 18, 2023. Kumar was charged by complaint and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2021.
Kumar was a partner in a drug company in Mumbai, India that sold prescription drugs, including generic erectile dysfunction drugs, and Schedule II controlled substances, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and tapentadol, and Schedule IV controlled substances, such as tramadol, to customers in the United States who did not have prescriptions. As part of the conspiracy, Kumar personally directed and managed shipments of drugs from drug suppliers in Singapore and India into Massachusetts and other states. Kumar and his co-conspirators operated their business from at least 2015 until 2019, when Kumar was arrested on unrelated charges. After his arrest, Kumar made false statements to law enforcement in February 2020 about his involvement in the sale of controlled substances.
The charges of conspiracy to import illegal drugs and the charge of false statement each provide for a sentence of up to five years of incarceration, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years of incarceration, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial, & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Orange County Doctor Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charge for Illegally Prescribing over 120,000 Opioid Pills over Six-Year SpanRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Orange County physician pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for conspiring to illegally prescribe more than 120,000 opioid pills to 18 different people over a six-year span without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash and insurance payments.
Dr. Dzung Ahn Pham, 61, of Tustin, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to his plea agreement, Pham, who owned Irvine Village Urgent Care, conspired with Jennifer Thaoyen Nguyen, 51, of Irvine, to illegally distribute controlled substances.
Nguyen, a licensed pharmacist who operated the Irvine-based Bristol Pharmacy, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. She is scheduled to enter her guilty plea to the felony charge on October 14.
Pham admitted in his plea agreement that from January 2013 to December 2018, he wrote prescriptions for approximately 53,693 oxycodone pills, approximately 68,795 hydrocodone pills, and approximately 29,286 pills of amphetamine salts. The prescriptions were filled using 18 different patient names. Pham admitted that he acted with the intent to distribute the drugs outside the course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.
On four occasions in November and December of 2017, Pham wrote prescriptions for a patient – identified in court papers as “S.C.” – whom he knew was a drug addict for a total of 704 pills of 30 mg of oxycodone. On two occasions in August 2018, Pham wrote prescriptions in the name of S.C.’s wife, who was not Pham’s patient, never saw Pham for any medical appointment, and was not aware Pham was issuing a prescription in her name for her husband’s use.
Pham knew that many other pharmacies would not fill his prescriptions because they did not have a legitimate medical purpose, according to court documents. So, he directed his patients to Nguyen’s pharmacy, according to Nguyen’s plea agreement. There, Nguyen accepted payments from Pham’s patients and she subsequently gave Pham these payments from his patients for “office visits” even though she knew these patients did not have a legitimate office visit with Pham prior to her filling the prescription, her plea agreement states.
Nguyen admitted in her plea agreement to filling prescriptions for eight individuals outside the usual course of professional medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.
Nguyen further admitted that, from May 2017 to November 2018, she filled Pham-written prescriptions for a total of approximately 160 pills of oxycodone, approximately 1,810 pills of hydrocodone, and approximately 450 pills of amphetamine salts.
Both Pham and Nguyen admitted in their plea agreements to abusing their positions of trust as a physician and pharmacist, respectively.
United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton scheduled a January 6, 2023 sentencing hearing for Pham.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the Irvine Police Department, and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks
Assistant United States Attorneys Brett A. Sagel and Gregory W. Staples of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
Ohio Electrical Engineer Convicted of Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Liberty Center, Ohio man on Oct. 6 of tax evasion after he used a sham trust to help conceal three years of income he earned from his business.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Everson owned an electrical engineering business. From approximately 2012 through 2015, Everson earned more than $1.3 million in income from the business. He attempted to conceal much of this income and evade personal income taxes he owed to the IRS by instructing his clients to pay a trust that he controlled. Everson used the money in the trust to pay personal expenses and make large cash withdrawals. He also funneled some of the trust funds to other bank accounts held in the names of non-profit organizations that he and several family members controlled. To further conceal his income and assets from the IRS, Everson put his home and personal airplane in the name of the non-profit organization. In total, Everson’s conduct caused a loss to the U.S. Treasury of more than $500,000.
Everson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the three counts of his conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and tother statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Sarah Ranney of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody King of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.