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7 October 2022
Oakland Dealer Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl over Months in San Francisco’s TenderloinRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Alex Murillo pleaded guilty today to all eight counts in a federal indictment charging him with multiple sales of fentanyl and methamphetamine that occurred in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.
Murillo, 25, who resides in Oakland, was arrested on June 21, 2022, following the filing of a federal criminal complaint charging multiple street drug sales by Murillo in the Tenderloin. The complaint alleged that on April 7, 2022, Murillo met up with two undercover police officers near 8th and Market Streets in the Tenderloin and sold the undercover officers approximately five grams of fentanyl for $100. The complaint also asserted that on June 8, 2022, Murillo communicated again with one of the undercover police officers and met with the officer near the San Francisco Civic Center BART platform in the Tenderloin. The complaint describes that Murillo sold the undercover officer two ounces of fentanyl and three ounces of methamphetamine for $1,400.
After the complaint was filed, a federal grand jury issued an eight-count indictment that contained, in addition to the complaint’s two charges, six other charges against Murillo for fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking on four other days. The indictment charges in two counts that Murillo on March 23 and again on April 21, 2022, sold fentanyl in the Tenderloin. In those sales, as described in a filed government detention memo, Murillo sold $40 of yellow fentanyl and $750 of pink fentanyl, respectively, to undercover police officers. The indictment also charges that on May 12, 2022, Murillo sold approximately one ounce of fentanyl and two ounces of methamphetamine for $800 to an undercover police officer in the Tenderloin. The indictment lastly charges that on June 21, 2022, Murillo possessed methamphetamine with the intention to sell it. On that date, as described in the government’s memo, law enforcement officers arrested Murillo outside of his Oakland apartment and seized nearly four ounces of methamphetamine from his backpack.
Murillo pleaded guilty today to all of the indictment’s eight counts, which included three counts of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). Each of these counts carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of at least 40 grams of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(l)(B)(vi) and to three counts of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams and more of a substance containing methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(l)(B)(viii). Each of these counts carry a maximum prison sentence of 40 years and a minimum sentence of 5 years. All of these counts also carry a period of supervision after release from prison for at least three years and for up to life. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States District Judge Susan Illston received Murillo’s guilty pleas and set a sentencing hearing for Murillo on January 20, 2023. Murillo remains in custody while awaiting his sentencing hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christa Hall is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and the San Francisco Police Department.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opiate that drug dealers use to create counterfeit pills which appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fentanyl is used because it is cheap. However, very small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a counterfeit pill will have huge effects on the pill’s potency, and these pills easily can and do cause deaths. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to look like pills that are sold at pharmacies, like Percocet, Xanax, and others. For example, counterfeit pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone, but when sold on the street they routinely contain fentanyl. These counterfeits are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in a rainbow of colors, and they often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they can be counterfeit and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to False Statements CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A North Carolina business owner pleaded guilty to lying to the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the Nicholas County coal he pledged as collateral for a $9 million USDA-backed business loan.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Michael James Peters, 42, of Concord, North Carolina, was part owner, president, and operator of Taylor Rose Energy (TRE). On July 24, 2014, TRE obtained a $9,065,165 loan from a Georgia bank to buy out investors’ interest in approximately 146,954 tons of cannel coal in Dixie, Nicholas County. In support of the loan, TRE represented that it intended to convert the coal into “smokeless” coal briquettes for consumer coal-burning home heating systems in Ireland. The USDA Rural Development Business and Industry loan program guaranteed 90 percent of the loan.
By January 2015, Peters owed more than $1.3 million to the owner and operator of another coal company, Aces High Coal Sales Inc. of London, Kentucky. From February 2015 to April 2015, Peters allowed Aces High to remove more than 80,000 tons of the collateralized coal from the Dixie site to settle this debt. Peters was unable to repay the USDA-backed loan, and did not inform the Georgia bank that coal pledged as the loan’s collateral was being taken to address the debt to Aces High.
Peters told the Georgia bank that 90 percent of the coal was “missing” from the Dixie site. On May 8, 2015, representatives from the bank and the USDA visited the Dixie site to investigate the removal of the collateralized coal. Peters falsely told USDA and bank representatives that Aces High had removed the coal from the site without his permission. At the plea hearing, Peters admitted that he lied to the USDA representative during this site visit in order to redirect the focus of the investigation away from his own conduct.
Peters pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture. Peters is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Peters also agreed to pay $1,375,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-159.
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Nigerian National Charged with International Narcotics Conspiracy and Attempted International Narcotics Distribution.Read the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced the transfer of Nigerian national Paul Francis Odhiambo Oyugi (a/k/a “Obi”), age 59, from Haiti based on an indictment returned in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. On October 6, 2022, Oyugi had his initial appearance and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On October 7, 2022, Oyugi was ordered detained pending trial.
On July 19, 2022, a grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned an indictment against Oyugi alleging one count of international drug trafficking and one count of attempted international drug trafficking. According to the indictment, from approximately January 2019 through July 10, 2022, Oyugi conspired with others to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more of cocaine intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe the heroin and cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States. The indictment also alleges that on July 10, 2022, Oyugi attempted to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The DEA Milwaukee Field Office and the DEA Port-au-Prince Country Office investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Haitian National Government, including the Haitian Ministry of Justice, provided substantial assistance in this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Brady, Jr. and Gail J. Hoffman of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
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Public Information Officer
(414) 297-1700
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Newcastle Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Local ChurchRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Last week, DARLA BRALLEY, 58, of Newcastle, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to a two-count felony information charging her with wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Public records reflect that from 2012 until early 2020, Bralley served as the payroll administrator for St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (“St. Paul”), located in Del City, Oklahoma. In her role as the payroll administrator, Bralley had signature authority over St. Paul’s operating account, and she had authority to issue checks for authorized expenses on behalf of St. Paul. Bralley also had authority to conduct online banking transactions for authorized St. Paul expenses.
At a plea hearing on September 28, 2022, Bralley admitted that between early 2014 and January 2020, she issued approximately 198 unauthorized checks drawn on St. Paul’s operating account to pay for various personal items and services, including personal credit card payments, utilities, and living expenses. She further admitted that she routinely accessed St. Paul’s operating account online and made several unauthorized transfers from that account to pay her personal expenses. Bralley admitted that she embezzled approximately $451,177.54 from St. Paul.
In addition to admitting to the wire fraud, Bralley admitted that on March 14, 2019, she signed under penalty of perjury a 2018 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, that she then filed with the Internal Revenue Service. She admitted that the return was false because she only reported total income of $61,189.00, but she knew she had received substantial income in 2018 related to the money she embezzled from St. Paul that she did not report on her tax return.
At sentencing, Bralley faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge and up to 3 years in prison for the tax charge.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 106 Months of Imprisonment for Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, that TIJON RICHARDS, a/k/a “Tay,” age 31, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced in the Eastern District of Louisiana for his conduct related to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act. RICHARDS pled guilty to Counts Two and Three of the indictment, charging him, respectively with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced RICHARDS to 46 and 60 months, respectively as to Counts Two and Three. Count Three will be served consecutive to Count Two. Following his release, RICHARDS will be placed on supervised release for 5 years. RICHARDS must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.00.
On September 16, 2020, RICHARDS fled from a Louisiana State Police (“LSP”) trooper on Interstate 10 in Metairie, Louisiana, during a traffic stop. During a search of RICHARDS vehicle, LSP located a loaded FN Herstal, 5.7x28 mm firearm and 2 grams of cocaine base under the driver’s seat where RICHARDS was seated. RICHARDS made good on his escape, but was later arrested in January 2021. While attempting to arrest RICHARDS at his New Orleans residence, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives observed that an air conditioning vent inside of the home appeared to be distorted. Upon removing the vent, a high- capacity rifle magazine fell to the floor. Agents observed two firearms inside of the unit.
While executing a search warrant at the residence, agents located four additional firearms and ammunition inside of the residence. RICHARDS, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Louisiana State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense and Misprision of FelonyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that WARREN PICARD, age 28, of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 5, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to a 96-month term of imprisonment.
According to court records, on June 29, 2022, PICARD pleaded guilty to a two-count superseding bill of information charging him with conspiracy to possess a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and misprision of felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 4. The sentence imposed consists of 60 months imprisonment as to the firearms violation and 36 months imprisonment for misprision of a felon, said terms of imprisonment to be served concurrently.
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.
United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy prosecuted this case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison for Role in Nationwide Sex Trafficking Enterprise that Involved Incapacitating and Stealing from VictimsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RANDY JONAL SCHENCK (a/k/a RuRu, a/k/a “Shaq”), age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana and Downey, California, was sentenced on October 6, 2022 by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe after previously pleading guilty to Counts 1 and 7 of a pending indictment, charging him with interstate transportation and use of an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1952(a)(3) (Count 1), and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 2 (Count 7). Judge Ashe sentenced SCHENCK to 60 months in prison as to Count 1 and 240 months as to Count 7, to run consecutively, for a combined total of 300 months in prison. Judge Ashe ordered that the sentence run consecutively to the sentences Schenck received in two prior proceedings in Fulton County, Georgia, and Cobb County, Georgia. Judge Ashe ordered SCHENCK to serve three years of supervised release after the conclusion of his prison term and pay a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. SCHENCK is also subject to a restitution order after a hearing scheduled for December 29, 2022, at 1:30 pm.
According to court documents, SCHENCK met Dominique Berry in New Orleans in about early 2013 and soon developed a romantic relationship. Shortly thereafter, SCHENCK encouraged Berry to engage in commercial sex activities (i.e., prostitution) with individuals in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and became involved in the scheduling, coordination, and facilitation of Berry’s commercial sex acts. SCHENCK typically kept all, or most, of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts.
Beginning in about March 2014, and continuing through September 2017, SCHENCK and Berry travelled nationally engaging in their prostitution enterprise, including through California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Tennessee, and Georgia. In furtherance of the enterprise, Berry regularly engaged in commercial sex acts on multiple days of nearly every week between about March 2014 and September 2017. SCHENCK and Berry posted numerous advertisements containing photographs of Berry on multiple location-specific online classified ad service websites and social media applications in that invited interested individuals to contact Berry to schedule sexual interactions, many of which were explicitly commercial.
Beginning in about 2015, the prostitution enterprise evolved to include a scheme to defraud, whereby SCHENCK caused Berry to arrange “out call” interactions at the residences of men who met her through online postings. While at those residences, Berry placed substances in the beverages of the men for the purpose of “spiking” their drinks and rendering them unconscious. Berry then took items of value from the incapacitated men, including jewelry, firearms, electronics, cash, and debit and credit cards. SCHENCK and Berry used the items, without the knowledge or authorization of the people to whom the items belonged, for their benefit and the benefit of individuals associated with them. SCHENCK and Berry implemented the scheme numerous times throughout the United States.
In sentencing SCHENCK, Judge Ashe found that he utilized force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion in initially recruiting Berry to work for him and to keep her compliant and under his control. Also, the Court heard substantial evidence of numerous acts of violence that SCHENCK committed against Berry and her family members, as well as threats to commit additional violent acts in the future, particularly after she attempted to leave his control or otherwise disobeyed his instructions. At least one of the instances resulted in Berry’s hospitalization.
In furtherance of the scheme, on about February 24, 2017, Berry met S.A., a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, through a social media application. After exchanging text messages and phone calls, Berry and S.A. agreed to meet at S.A.’s apartment. SCHENCK dropped Berry off at S.A.’s apartment. While at S.A.’s apartment, Berry, as directed by SCHENCK provided S.A. with various substances, including alcohol, to loosen S.A.’s inhibitions and to render him more susceptible to theft. After S.A. became incapacitated, Berry stole S.A.’s personal property, including a debit card. SCHENCK picked up Berry at approximately 1:00 am and then used S.A.’s debit card, later that day, without S.A.’s authorization, to make a purchase at a Walmart Supercenter in New Orleans. Law enforcement authorities performed a wellness check on S.A.’s apartment the following day and found S.A. deceased.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by numerous law enforcement agencies and private entities involved in the investigation, including the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Tucson (Arizona) Police Department, the Salt River (Arizona) Police Department, the Cobb County (Georgia) Police Department, the Sandy Springs (Georgia) Police Department, the Sacramento (California) Police Department, and Talking Stick Casino (Arizona). Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, chief of the Public Corruption Unit, and Melissa Bücher are in charge of the prosecution.
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National Center for Disaster Fraud Warns of Fraud After Hurricane IanRead the Press Release
In the wake of extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) today issued a reminder that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets.
“Fraudsters targeting individuals who are already suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ian is despicable and an inexcusable crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr., who serves as the Executive Director of the NCDF. “We are still in hurricane season, and it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. This is especially true for the citizens of Florida, South Carolina and other states impacted by Ian. The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Offices across all states and territories of the United States, are committed to detecting this type of fraud and will aggressively prosecute the offenders.”
The NCDF, a national coordinating agency, was created by a partnership between the Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Its goal is to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 200,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF:
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Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster
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Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number and account number)
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Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks
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Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging
In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes).
Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud:
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Only make donations to known charities and only after contacting the charity directly and not in response to an email, instant message, phone call, text, etc. A recommended step is to research the charity by visiting recognized charity information/rating websites such as the Give.org, CharityNavigator.org and CharityWatch.org
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Never click on a link in an unsolicited email, instant message, text, etc.
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Never assume that charity solicitations posted on the internet and social media are legitimate
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Avoid cash donations to charities - use a credit card or pay with a check
-
Never transmit donations to a specifically named individual
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Charities do not seek donations via electronic fund (financial institution)/wire transfers, so do not wire donations
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Avoid being victimized by impersonators of government officials, insurance companies, investment companies, etc., by terminating the phone call or other exchange of information (e.g., email, texts) and calling the actual government agency, insurance company, and/or investment company directly using a well-advertised phone number or email address
Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
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National Center for Disaster Fraud Warns of Fraud After Hurricane IanRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – In the wake of extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) today issued a reminder that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets.
“The people of our district are working tirelessly to recover from the devastating impact Hurricane Ian had on our region,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “During this time, it’s especially important to be vigilant against fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters. Our office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who commit this type of fraud.”
The NCDF, a national coordinating agency, was created by a partnership between the Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Its goal is to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
Historically, the NCDF has echoed federal, state, and local law enforcement messaging designed to assist individuals to avoid becoming the victim of crimes related to disaster fraud. This messaging has included warnings regarding electronic (email, internet, phone/robocall, social media, etc.) communications designed to obtain information and money from individuals affected by disasters. These communications are frequently disseminated prior to a disaster striking (e.g., targeting individuals in the potential path of hurricanes and wildfires) or immediately after disaster strikes (now for victims of Ian).
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 200,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF:
- Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster
- Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number, and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number, and account number)
- Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding, and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks
- Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging
In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes).
Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud:
- Only make donations to known charities and only after contacting the charity directly and not in response to an email, instant message, phone call, text, etc. A recommended step is to research the charity by visiting recognized charity information/rating websites such as the Give.org, CharityNavigator.org, and CharityWatch.org
- Never click on a link in an unsolicited email, instant message, text, etc.
- Never assume that charity solicitations posted on the internet and social media are legitimate
- Avoid cash donations to charities - use a credit card or pay with a check
- Never transmit donations to a specifically named individual
- Charities do not seek donations via electronic fund (financial institution)/wire transfers, so do not wire donations
- Avoid being victimized by impersonators of government officials, insurance companies, investment companies, etc., by terminating the phone call or other exchange of information (e.g., email, texts) and calling the actual government agency, insurance company, and/or investment company directly using a well-advertised phone number or email address
Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
Disaster fraud awareness PSA narrated by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAqORFvRGLw
National Center for Disaster Fraud Warns of Fraud After Hurricane IanRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In the wake of extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) today issued a reminder that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets.
“Fraudsters targeting individuals who are already suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ian is despicable and an inexcusable crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., who serves as the Executive Director of the NCDF. “We are still in hurricane season, and it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. This is especially true for the citizens of Florida, South Carolina, and other states impacted by Ian. The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Offices across all states and territories of the United States, are committed to detecting this type of fraud and will aggressively prosecute the offenders.”
“We do not tolerate fraud,” said United States Attorney Jason R. Coody, of the Northern District of Florida. “Individuals, families, and businesses have suffered, and will continue to suffer, tremendous losses. Dozens of agencies, investigators, and prosecutors are ready to respond to credible allegations of fraud and abuse, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to prey on the good people of Florida. If you are aware of fraud, I urge you to call the National Disaster Fraud Hotline.”
The NCDF, a national coordinating agency, was created by a partnership between the Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Its goal is to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
Historically, the NCDF has echoed federal, state, and local law enforcement messaging designed to assist individuals to avoid becoming the victim of crimes related to disaster fraud. This messaging has included warnings regarding electronic (email, internet, phone/robocall, social media, etc.) communications designed to obtain information and money from individuals affected by disasters. These communications are frequently disseminated prior to a disaster striking (e.g., targeting individuals in the potential path of hurricanes and wildfires) or immediately after disaster strikes (now for victims of Ian).
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 200,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF:
- Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster
- Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number, and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number, and account number)
- Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding, and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks
- Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging
In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes).
Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud:
- Only make donations to known charities and only after contacting the charity directly and not in response to an email, instant message, phone call, text, etc. A recommended step is to research the charity by visiting recognized charity information/rating websites such as the Give.org, CharityNavigator.org, and CharityWatch.org
- Never click on a link in an unsolicited email, instant message, text, etc.
- Never assume that charity solicitations posted on the internet and social media are legitimate
- Avoid cash donations to charities - use a credit card or pay with a check
- Never transmit donations to a specifically named individual
- Charities do not seek donations via electronic fund (financial institution)/wire transfers, so do not wire donations
- Avoid being victimized by impersonators of government officials, insurance companies, investment companies, etc., by terminating the phone call or other exchange of information (e.g., email, texts) and calling the actual government agency, insurance company, and/or investment company directly using a well-advertised phone number or email address
Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are strongly encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
National Center for Disaster Fraud Warns of Fraud After Hurricane IanRead the Press Release
In the wake of extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) today issued a reminder that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets.
“Fraudsters targeting individuals who are already suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ian is despicable and an inexcusable crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr., who serves as the Executive Director of the NCDF. “We are still in hurricane season, and it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. This is especially true for the citizens of Florida, South Carolina and other states impacted by Ian. The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Offices across all states and territories of the United States, are committed to detecting this type of fraud and will aggressively prosecute the offenders.”
The NCDF, a national coordinating agency, was created by a partnership between the Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Its goal is to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 200,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF:
- Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster
- Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number and account number)
- Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks
- Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging
In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes).
Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud:
- Only make donations to known charities and only after contacting the charity directly and not in response to an email, instant message, phone call, text, etc. A recommended step is to research the charity by visiting recognized charity information/rating websites such as the Give.org, CharityNavigator.org and CharityWatch.org
- Never click on a link in an unsolicited email, instant message, text, etc.
- Never assume that charity solicitations posted on the internet and social media are legitimate
- Avoid cash donations to charities - use a credit card or pay with a check
- Never transmit donations to a specifically named individual
- Charities do not seek donations via electronic fund (financial institution)/wire transfers, so do not wire donations
- Avoid being victimized by impersonators of government officials, insurance companies, investment companies, etc., by terminating the phone call or other exchange of information (e.g., email, texts) and calling the actual government agency, insurance company, and/or investment company directly using a well-advertised phone number or email address
Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
Montgomery Man Sentenced Following Federal Gun and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 5, 2022, Michael Daniel Ruff, 64, from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of the methamphetamine offense, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Ruff’s plea agreement and other court documents, on January 26, 2022, an Alabama State Trooper patrolling Elmore County initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle Ruff was driving. During the stop, Ruff agreed to allow the trooper to search the vehicle. The search resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine and a handgun inside the vehicle. Ruff admitted both belonged to him.
On June 3, 2022, Ruff pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine and firearm offenses. During the sentencing hearing, the federal prosecutor noted to the court that law enforcement agents found on Ruff’s phone multiple text messages referring to selling methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the FBI, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
Montgomery County Drug Dealer Sentenced to over Nine Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl That Led to an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Enitan Mouroukeji Agbi, a/k/a “Anton Agbi” and “Tone,” age 38, of Germantown, Maryland to 114 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. A victim died from using drugs that Agbi distributed. Judge Grimm also ordered Agbi to pay restitution of at least $1,125.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Darryl McSwain of the Maryland National Capital Park Police; Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department; and Chief Victor Brito of the City of Rockville Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on August 10, 2020, Victim 1 contacted Agbi by telephone to obtain heroin/fentanyl and agreed to meet Agbi at Hotel A in Gaithersburg, where Agbi was staying. Upon arriving at the hotel, Victim 1 texted Agbi and Agbi went out to Victim 1’s car to complete the transaction. A short time later, Victim 1 left the area and went straight home, without making any other stops.
At about 10:00 p.m. on August 10, 2020, Victim 1 was found dead in her bedroom. Law enforcement officers located a clear plastic baggie containing .42 grams of fentanyl mixed with heroin and a straw next to Victim 1’s body. No one else was in Victim 1’s residence at the time of Victim 1’s death and Victim 1 lived alone. An autopsy determined that Victim 1’s cause of death was acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, despropionyl fentanyl, and morphine. Victim 1 was an otherwise healthy individual.
After August 25, 2020, Agbi relocated to Hotel B in Germantown, Maryland. On August 28, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Agbi’s hotel room and recovered approximately 10 clear plastic capsules containing a total of approximately 2.76 grams of fentanyl mixed with heroin, knotted bags containing a total of approximately 2.6 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, and drug distribution paraphernalia, including a digital scale and sandwich bags used to package controlled substances, which were consistent with the clear plastic baggie found with Victim 1 on August 10, 2020. After Agbi was arrested he admitted that he was a user and distributor of opioid drugs and that he provided Victim 1 with opioid drugs on August 10, 2020.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Maryland National Capital Park Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the City of Rockville Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Joel Crespo, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Monmouth County Man Indicted for Laundering Money for Black Axe in South AfricaRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man has been indicted for laundering money on behalf of the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Andrew Suarez, 29, of Middletown, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with money laundering conspiracy, substantive money laundering counts, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From August 2017 through December 2017, Suarez worked with conspirators to launder money to entities in the Cape Town, South Africa, area, including to an account in the name of Abravoo Trading Company, an entity controlled by a founding member of the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe. Black Axe members were responsible for widespread internet-based fraud schemes.
Suarez opened up bank accounts in the United States, which were then used to conceal money obtained through business email compromises and other fraud schemes. Suarez transferred the proceeds of the fraud schemes to other U.S. bank accounts and wired proceeds to bank accounts in Cape Town, South Africa. To avoid detection, Suarez changed the information on some of his bank accounts, so the accounts listed the name and address of a victim.
Each of the money laundering charges carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the transfer, whichever is greater. The aggravated identity theft count carries a mandatory two-year prison term, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and a fine not to exceed $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and the U.S. Secret Service’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jose Riera, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. He also thanked the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago, for its assistance in the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie H. Solano of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Minneapolis Man Arrested, Charged with Carjacking a Woman at GunpointRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been arrested and charged with carjacking a woman at gunpoint in Arden Hills, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents and a law enforcement affidavit, on September 13, 2022, at approximately 7:25 a.m., Raphael Raymond Nunn, 50, approached a woman who had just parked her vehicle in an underground parking garage in Arden Hills. Nunn, who was wearing a dark baseball cap, dark jacket, surgical mask, and cloth gloves, and carrying a handgun, pushed the victim to the ground and then forced her at gunpoint to get back into her vehicle. Nunn ordered the victim to drive to an ATM machine and forced her to withdraw cash. Nunn then ordered the victim to drive to Matthews Park in south Minneapolis. Upon arrival, at Nunn’s direction, the victim gave her keys to Nunn and exited the vehicle.
According to the affidavit, Nunn was captured on surveillance videos from cameras around the scene of the crime. Nunn can be seen exiting the victim’s vehicle, removing his hood and mask, and entering a nearby deli and grocery store. Four days later, Nunn returned to the same store driving a vehicle registered in his name and wearing the same shirt he wore during the carjacking incident. Nunn was arrested on September 17, 2022, at his Minneapolis residence.
Nunn is charged with one count of carjacking. He made his initial appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright and was ordered to remain in detention pending further proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hudleston is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Milwaukee Man convicted for scheme to obtain over $80 million in fraudulent tax refunds.Read the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 5, 2022, Francis T. Burns (52) was convicted after a two-day jury trial. Burns was indicted on December 17, 2019, and a superseding indictment was filed on November 17, 2020. The superseding indictment charged Burns with committing wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and submitting a false claim to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, 1957, and 287.
At trial, the United States proved that between 2016 and 2019, Burns engaged in a scheme to defraud the IRS into paying millions of dollars in refunds to which Burns was not entitled. To obtain those refunds, Burns claimed to be filing returns on behalf of an estate or a trust that in reality did not exist. Burns’ false tax returns attached and were based on fake 1099s that falsely claimed significant sums of income were withheld for federal taxes by third parties such as banks. In reality, Burns was unemployed and there was no estate, no trust, and no income.
Over the period of the scheme, Burns filed five false tax returns asking for refunds totaling more than $80 million. Although Burns did not receive the majority of the money, he spent the refunds he did receive on an expensive house in Chicago, a Mercedes, and other personal expenses. The IRS later seized and forfeited a significant percentage of the money, the house, and the car.
Burns is scheduled to be sentenced before Hon. Lynn Adelman on January 4, 2023. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the mail and wire fraud convictions, up to ten years’ imprisonment on the money laundering charges, and up to five years’ imprisonment for filing a false claim. He also faces three years of supervised release for each count.
The Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and John P. Scully prosecuted.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Henderson, 34, of Michigan, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 3, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Henderson was a passenger in downtown Charleston. During the traffic stop, a police K-9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances in a duffel bag belonging to Henderson. Officers searched the bag and found approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine.
Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a $20 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-65.
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Mexico citizen arrested in Kalispell on suspicion of trafficking fentanyl appears in courtRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Mexican citizen who was arrested in Kalispell on suspicion of trafficking fentanyl after law enforcement seized approximately 12,000 fentanyl pills, a firearm and more than $62,000 cash from a vehicle in which he was a passenger had an initial appearance on Oct. 6 on a criminal complaint, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
A criminal complaint filed in the case accuses Cuauhtemoc Cervantes Samaniego, 29, of Mexico, of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious charge, Samaniego faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years to life of supervised release.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Samaniego was detained pending further proceedings.
Court documents allege that Samaniego was trafficking fentanyl in Flathead County from about May 2022 to October. During the first week of October, law enforcement learned of a possible sizable load of fentanyl that was going to be transported from San Diego, California, to Kalispell for distribution and that the source of the fentanyl was an individual known as “Johnny.” Investigators further learned that “Johnny” was having large quantities of fentanyl transported to Kalispell for distribution. On Oct. 4, law enforcement received information that “Johnny” would be arriving at a location in Kalispell in a black Honda Civic to conduct a drug transaction. Officers located the vehicle, in which “Johnny” was identified as the passenger and later identified as Samaniego. The driver, who owned the vehicle, consented to a search of the car. Law enforcement found approximately 12,000 blue pills known to be fentanyl under the center console. Additionally, law enforcement located a semi-automatic pistol and seized more than $62,000 cash from the vehicle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
PACER case reference. 22-mj-73.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Immigration CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Flaviano Mateos-Hernandez, 45, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today to reentry of a removed alien and was remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 7, 2022, ICE agents arrested Mateos-Hernandez in Pineville after identifying him in the course of an investigation. Mateos-Hernandez admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally and that he had been previously deported from the United States. Mateos-Hernandez had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States.
Fingerprints matched Mateos-Hernandez to a prior administrative removal from the United States, which followed his arrest in West Virginia on June 7, 2016. While in West Virginia, Mateos-Hernandez was twice convicted of misdemeanor DUI in Wyoming County Magistrate Court on May 14, 2015, and April 10, 2016. Mateos-Hernandez also twice agreed to voluntarily return to Mexico following arrests in California on August 15, 2002, and Arizona on April 15, 2009. Mateos-Hernandez never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States, nor did he seek to reenter through other legal means.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing, sentencing Mateos-Hernandez to the time he has served in custody since his June 7, 2022 arrest before remanding him to ICE custody. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-128.
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Member of Gang-Based Criminal Enterprise Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder, Other Charges Related to Series of Home Invasion RobberiesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has convicted gang member Derrick Slade (aka “D” or “Solja”), 28, with racketeering conspiracy, armed robbery, conspiracy, murder, and other crimes following a rash of violence that plagued Broward County from 2015 to 2021.
According to evidence presented at trial, in November 2015, Slade joined a criminal enterprise that committed armed home invasions, armed robberies, assaults, attempted murders, and murders. Slade was convicted of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy that included the commission of murder. According to evidence presented at trial on November 3, 2015, Slade shot and killed a man during the course of a home invasion robbery in Dania Beach, Fla. The next day, on November 4, 2015, Slade was involved in another home invasion robbery in Lauderhill, Fla., that resulted in the death of a second man. On November 25, 2015, Slade shot a third man and left him for dead during a home invasion robbery in Hollywood, Fla., which was captured on a security camera video. Slade also committed two other burglaries in Hollywood in November 2015. He and his fellow gang members advertised their success on social media to advance the gang’s prestige and reputation.
Slade was convicted of 10 counts, including RICO conspiracy, Hobbs Act conspiracy, conspiracy to use or carry a firearm during a crime of violence, causing the death of a person by using a firearm, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He now faces a statutory maximum of life imprisonment on five of those charges, plus an additional 30 years for the discharge of a firearm during the three robberies.
Sentencing for Slade is set for December 13, 2022, at 1:15 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale before the Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Juan Antonio Gonzalez and Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Broward Sheriff’s Office, Hollywood Police Department, Lauderhill Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Davie Police Department, and Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Schwartz and Jeffrey N. Kaplan prosecuted the case.
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.: 20-60107-cr-Dimitrouleas(s).
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Member of Baltimore “Triple C” Gang Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Multiple Murders and Attempted MurdersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced Michael Chester, a/k/a Mikkie, age 24, of Baltimore, to 20 years in federal prison for a racketeering conspiracy, including attempted murder and murder, related to his participation in the violent street gang known as Cruddy Conniving Crutballs or Triple C, that operated throughout Baltimore City.
The sentence was announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to Chester’s plea agreement, Triple C members engaged in a pattern of criminal racketeering activity between 2015 and 2020, including more than a dozen murders and numerous non-fatal shootings, robberies, and carjackings, in order to promote the reputation of Triple C and to command respect from the neighborhood. Other spin-offs of the gang are “SCL” and recently, “TRD.”
As detailed in Chester’s plea agreement, the gang benefitted financially from selling narcotics, murdering drug dealers, taking contract killings, and engaging in street robberies. Triple C members also robbed dice games for cash and occasionally carjacked vehicles. Members divided the proceeds of illegal activities and often contacted each other to commit a robbery if a member needed money.
Triple C members routinely used social media to identify and locate victims and to communicate with each other and share information concerning possible retaliation for violent crimes committed by gang members. Triple C members and associates used at least 14 firearms to commit crimes, often trading with each other or other groups to avoid detection through ballistic evidence. Members limited conversations about criminal plans to other members of Triple C and critiqued each other after committing crimes regarding ways to improve their performance.
Chester admitted that he was present at five murders during which other members of the conspiracy discharged a firearm, including the murder of Devonte Monroe on August 19, 2017, the murder of Carols Jones on August 28, 2017, the murder of Diamante Howard on April 21, 2018, the murder of Darius Mason on July 29, 2018, and the murder of Corey Moseley on December 31, 2018. In addition, Chester was present at an attempted murder on April 4, 2018 and on May 1, 2018 was found with the firearm which is a ballistics match to gun used in that attempted murder. Chester admitted that as part of his activities with Triple C, he distributed controlled substances, including crack cocaine. It was reasonably foreseeable to Chester that members of the conspiracy would commit additional murders, attempted murders, carjackings, and robberies.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in this investigation and thanked the FBI and the Office of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia C. McLane, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn.
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Maryland United States Attorney Erek L. Barron Announces New Civil Rights Section on the First Anniversary of His Appointment as U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On the first anniversary of his appointment as United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron, announced that after a year-long assessment of the needs of the office and collaboration with the leadership of both the Civil Division and Criminal Division, the office is establishing the Civil Rights and Special Victims Section. Sarah A. Marquardt and Paul E. Budlow have been appointed as Co-Chiefs of the new Section and Charles D. Austin has been appointed as Deputy Chief.
“This section will be a beacon for protecting civil rights and addressing victim-related crimes requiring specialized skills,” said Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “Sarah Marquardt, Paul Budlow, and Charles Austin will lead a team of prosecutors, legal professionals, and investigators that represent the office’s best,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.
The Civil Rights and Special Victims Section will be staffed by Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) from the Civil Division and Criminal Division. The Criminal Division’s Major Crimes Section AUSAs and support staff will be incorporated into the new section. The new section will continue Major Crimes’ strong focus on cases involving vulnerable victims and federal criminal civil rights enforcement, including child exploitation, human trafficking, and identity theft. The new section will also enforce a wide spectrum of federal civil rights laws in order to protect the constitutional rights of Marylanders and affirm equal opportunity for all, regardless of one’s race, ethnicity, sex, color, disability, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. The section’s civil rights work will focus on prosecuting hate crimes, eradicating discrimination in housing, preventing voter suppression, prohibiting discriminatory employment practices by state and local government employers, ensuring equal opportunity for Marylanders with disabilities, and investigating denials of equal protection to students by public schools and institutions of higher learning.
Today’s announcement is the culmination of a year of accomplishments, including the hiring of a diverse group of 19 new Assistant United States Attorneys, the appointment of the most diverse group of supervisors in the history of the Office, and the Office’s selection to be part of two national fraud task forces—the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force. The COVID-19 Strike Force teams will deter, detect, and disrupt pandemic fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
As part of the Office’s continuing efforts to protect older adults and to bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice, the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force is dedicated to disrupting and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target seniors, including “grandparent scams,” romance scams, and advance-fee schemes. The office also has a robust outreach effort to make seniors and their family members aware of how to spot and avoid financial scams.
Reducing violent crime is one of the highest priorities for the office. U.S. Attorney Barron previously announced the formation of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, which combined the Violent Crime and Narcotics Sections into one unit. In addition, U.S. Attorney Barron announced an unprecedented level of state funding to support the USAO’s violent crime reduction efforts, including the hiring of 30 additional personnel. The U.S. Attorney further announced that prosecutors will use all available resources to investigate and prosecute repeat violent offenders—specifically utilizing a federal school zone statute that makes it a crime to possess a gun within 1000 feet of a school and looking at any wrongdoing that meets office priorities, including COVID-19 CARES Act fraud, in particular unemployment insurance fraud, Paycheck Protection Program fraud, Economic Injury Disaster Loan fraud.
Community outreach is another way the office tries to reduce violent crime. The Office’s reentry program has sponsored or assisted with reentry fairs around the state to provide resources and assistance to returning citizens and their families. In addition, the Office has begun outreach to schools and youth programs in an effort to prevent young people from becoming victims or perpetrators of crime.
“I am proud of the accomplishments of the office to date, and I look forward to continuing to do all I can to serve Marylanders—keeping our communities safer through outreach and holding criminals accountable,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.
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Manchester Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston, and Manchester Police Chief William Darby today announced that LUIS ROSADO, 29, of Manchester, was arrested yesterday and charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.
Following his arrest, Rosado appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond into home confinement and under GPS monitoring.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in April and June 2022, Rosado used two separate Kik Messenger accounts to upload and distribute 83 video files depicting the sexual abuse of children, including prepubescent children.
The complaint charges Rosado with distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Connecticut State Police, the Manchester Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cummings through U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Man Indicted for Dog-Fighting Violations of the Animal Welfare ActRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment yesterday charging Antonio Casillas-Montero, a.k.a. Stone City Kennel with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General (USDA OIG) as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) are in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Humacao Strike Force East; the Puerto Rico Police Bureau Welfare and Protection of Animals (Bienestar y Protección de los Animales) from the Arecibo area; the FBI San Juan Cyber Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Humane Society of the United States.
“Dogfighting for entertainment and profit is the organized and atrocious business of breeding and conditioning dogs to fight each other until one dog kills the other,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “Beyond the needless suffering it inflicts on animals, it exacts a toll on local animal shelters, humane organizations, and people in general. This arrest ends the defendant’s decades-long involvement in this illegal business, and hopefully will deter others who seek to profit from forcing animals to fight to the death.”
“To force dogs to fight, in some occasions to death, is not only a federal crime, it is also cruel and despicable,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos. “HSI will remain vigilant and will support our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those committing these heinous crimes.”
According to court documents, Casillas and his co-conspirators (including one who has been living in Florida) have operated for over 30 years in Puerto Rico and elsewhere “Stone City Kennel,” which breeds and fights pit-bull type dogs in the United States and internationally. Stone City Kennel has participated in over 150 dog fights in locations that have included Puerto Rico, México, Ecuador, Perú, the Dominican Republic, New Jersey and New York. In 2020, Casillas explained that Stone City is “Me [and] my partner in Florida.” According to Casillas, he does not “pick up” dogs during fights, meaning that he does not remove a losing dog from a fight.
During the course of the conspiracy, Casillas trained dogs in Puerto Rico for fights. This included using steroids on the fighting dogs, including winstrol, metenolone, and sustanon. Casillas also would chain pit-bull type dogs to tread mills to walk or run for miles.
Casillas sometimes sent his dogs outside of the United States to be conditioned for fighting. This included sending dogs to St. Croix and Ecuador. Some of the reasons were, according to Casillas, the risk associated with conditioning the dogs in the United States and that he had friends abroad who worked the dogs well. The Dominican Republic was the location of several dog fights, where Casillas traveled. After one fight in Santo Domingo, he explained that his dog died after he “got hit with bleeder on nose that never stop[ped].” Dog fights could last over an hour.
The defendant sold pit-bull type dogs for animal fighting ventures, including a female “champion” (a dog who has won around three fights) for approximately $20,000. Other dog sales were negotiated for prices ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with shipment to the continental United States via airplane cargo for $200, in addition to the veterinary and kennel expenses. Casillas encouraged potential buyers to fly to Puerto Rico to pick up the dogs in his possession.
On October 6, 2022, four pit-bull-type dogs chained to stakes in the ground near over-turned barrels were found on property associated with Casillas in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
If convicted, Casillas faces 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.
If you have information regarding dog fights or animal cruelty, please call PRPB Office of the Coordinator of Law 154 at (787)793-1234, extensions 3128 and 3131.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Man Charged with Setting Chinatown Spa on Fire with Victim Trapped InsideRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Laura Kavanagh, Acting Fire Commissioner for the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”), announced the unsealing yesterday of a one-count Indictment charging MARIO LUCAS with arson. LUCAS was initially charged by Complaint and arrested on August 8, 2022. LUCAS’s case has been assigned to the Honorable Edgardo Ramos.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Mario Lucas committed a horrific arson of a Manhattan business with a victim trapped inside. Luckily, the victim survived. As reflected by the charge today, this Office is committed to holding individuals who would commit violence in this City accountable for their crimes.”
John B. DeVito, ATF Special Agent in Charge said: “This alleged heinous act of arson is unacceptable. Thankfully, the victim has survived. ATF remains steadfast in our commitment to bring our expertise and resources to investigate and apprehend those who commit violent crimes. We will continue to work alongside our local partners to build safer communities.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “As alleged, the arson Mario Lucas sparked in June was not just a crime against a single victim in one business, but a violent assault that endangered an entire community and all the first responders who rushed in to help. I commend our NYPD officers for their prompt response in arresting Mr. Lucas and thank them for their outstanding work in this case along with our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the ATF’s New York Field Division, and the FDNY.”
Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said: “Intentionally setting a fire is a heinous crime, and doing so while knowing there is a person trapped inside is reprehensible. We are grateful to our Fire Marshals and all law enforcement for quickly apprehending this man and keeping him off our city’s streets.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, the Complaint, and statements made in open Court:[1]
At approximately 4:46 p.m. on June 19, 2022, LUCAS entered a spa located in Chinatown (the “Spa”), in Manhattan, New York. LUCAS then appeared to engage in a conversation with an individual working in the Spa (the “Victim”). At approximately 4:55 p.m., the Victim exited the lobby into the back room of the Spa, and LUCAS remained in the lobby. At approximately 4:56 p.m., LUCAS opened his backpack and pulled out a white plastic bag that appeared to contain a plastic container full of liquid. LUCAS then poured that liquid around the lobby of the Spa. After pouring the liquid, LUCAS took a lighter out of his pocket and lit the liquid on fire. The room then went up in flames.
LUCAS tried to open the front door, but the door would not open. The Victim appears to have still been in the back room at this time.
Video from outside the Spa shows, at approximately 4:59 p.m., smoke and fire within the Spa. A crowd gathered around the Spa on the street, and a man used a bar stool to force open the door. At approximately 5:00 p.m., LUCAS escaped from the Spa and ran down Eldridge Street. Approximately one minute later, the Victim exited the Spa.
Law enforcement was able to track LUCAS’s movements through security camera footage collected from various locations in the vicinity of the Spa. This footage showed that LUCAS removed his hooded sweatshirt and shirt and left them on the street. He also dropped his black backpack. LUCAS appeared to be suffering from severe burns and appeared to be trying to remove his clothing as a result.
At a location approximately two blocks from the Spa, members of the NYPD intercepted LUCAS and placed him in an ambulance. LUCAS provided NYPD with a Guatemalan identification card bearing the name “Mario Lucas.”
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LUCAS, 46, of Guatemala, is charged with arson resulting in injury to another person, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
The maximum and minimum potential sentences in this case 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 investigative work of the ATF, NYPD, and FDNY. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Marshals Service for their assistance in this case.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Espinosa, Adam S. Hobson, and Dominic Gentile are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the Complaint, and the description of the Indictment and the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Luzerne County Man Indicted on Computer Crime ChargeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Molinaro, age 28, of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for intentionally damaging a business’ private computer system.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between May 2022 and July 2022, Molinaro used the internet to transmit information which intentionally interrupted the network operations of a Lackawanna County business, resulting in a loss of more than $5,000.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Lincoln Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Chance Devlin Eddings, 30, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Eddings to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute/possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. After serving his sentence, Eddings will be placed on supervised release for 5 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
From October 13, 2018, until June 30, 2021, Eddings conspired with at least nine other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in Nebraska. During that time, Eddings purchased methamphetamine in 3.5 gram to half pound quantities to resell to others, and Eddings sold methamphetamine quantities ranging from 1.75 grams to 2 ounces to at least six others. In all, Eddings purchased and distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine within that timeframe.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Liberty Center Electrical Engineer Convicted of Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody King of the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Sarah Ranney of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Leaders of Poly-Drug Distribution Network Plead Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Salvador Barrera, Jr., 27, and Ricardo Jonathan Gomez, 27, both of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed documents and statements made in court, Barrera and Gomez were leaders of a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for the distribution of substantial quantities of narcotics in Charlotte and surrounding areas. According to court documents, over the course of the multi-agency investigation into the DTO, law enforcement seized large quantities of narcotics, including approximately 328 kilograms of cocaine, 26 kilograms of fentanyl, and a kilogram of heroin. In addition to the narcotics, law enforcement seized approximately 60 firearms, 18 high capacity magazines, more than $2.4 million in cash drug proceeds, over $300,000 in jewelry, two residences, ten vehicles, a boat, and two tractor-trailers with hidden compartments for smuggling narcotics.
Barrera and Gomez are currently in federal custody. The drug trafficking charge to which they pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. A sentencing date for the defendants has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Mint Hill Police Department, the Cornelius Police Department, the Pineville Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Salisbury Police Department, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, the Albemarle Police Department, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Anderson County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Office, and the York County (South Carolina) Drug Enforcement Unit for their coordination and investigation of the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
La Grande Man Faces Federal Charges After Sexually Abusing Two Minors He Met on SnapchatRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A La Grande, Oregon man faces federal charges today after he sexually abused and transported across state lines two minors he met on Snapchat.
Albert Wayne Johnson, 40, has been charged by criminal complaint with coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct.
According to court documents, on August 8, 2022, deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of two minors abandoned at Barton Park in Boring, Oregon. The children told the deputies they met Johnson on Snapchat and that he had driven them from Washington State through Idaho and into Oregon and had sexually abused both repeatedly during the trip. Along the way, Johnson stopped at a motel in Othello, Washington and a campground in La Grande where he continued abusing both children. After arriving in Boring, Johnson left the children at a campsite in Barton Park and never returned.
On August 18, 2022, after receiving information about the abduction and alleged abuse that occurred in Othello, detectives from the Othello Police Department contacted the motel in Othello and obtained surveillance footage showing Johnson with the two children.
On August 30, 2022, officers and deputies from the La Grande Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Probation Department, and Umatilla Tribal Police Department located Johnson at his residence in La Grande and arrested him on an outstanding parole violation warrant.
Johnson made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
Coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct are both punishable by up to life in prison with 10-year mandatory minimum sentences per count of conviction.
This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) with assistance from the Othello Police Department, La Grande Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Probation Department, Umatilla Tribal Police Department, and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Cadotte is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department Resolves Fair Housing Claims Against Florida Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that Concord Court at Creative Village Partners LTD., Concord Management LTD., related entities and a property manager have agreed to pay $265,000 to resolve allegations that they discriminated against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act by imposing unlawful restrictions on minors at an apartment complex in Orlando, Florida. The complex, Amelia Court at Creative Village, is a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit development with more than 250 market-rate and affordable units.
Under the consent order, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the defendants will pay $260,000 to residents who were harmed by their practices and a civil penalty to the government to vindicate the public interest. The settlement also requires the defendants to implement nondiscrimination policies and provide fair housing training to employees with management or leasing responsibilities at over 80 residential rental properties they own or operate in Florida.
“Families with children should not be subject to discrimination to access or live in affordable housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to fight for the fair housing rights of families across the country.”
“Discriminatory practices that deny families equal and fair access to housing and all of their available amenities are inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to ensure that the nation’s fair housing laws are enforced throughout our district.”
“Families with children should not be denied the full use and enjoyment of their home because of discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria L. McCain of HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD appreciates its partnership with the Department of Justice and commends the agency for safeguarding the housing rights of all families.”
Amelia Court at Creative Village includes two apartment towers, Concord Court and Amelia Court. The defendants manage both towers and own Concord Court’s residential units. The government’s complaint, also filed today, alleges that the defendants refused to issue building access devices to minor residents, prohibited children from common areas and amenities unless supervised by adults and misrepresented the availability of units in Concord Court to families with children.
The case arose when ten families who resided at the complex filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which determined that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act. The matters were referred to the Justice Department, which conducted its own investigation and filed this lawsuit.
Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at Amelia Court at Creative Village because they have children should send an e-mail to the Justice Department at [email protected] or leave a message at 1-833-591-0291 (press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then dial 1 for discrimination in housing and 4 to reach the voicemail box for this case).
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of familial status, race, color, national origin, religion, sex and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, e-mailing the Justice Department at [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777, or by filing a complaint with HUD online.
Justice Department Resolves Fair Housing Claims Against Florida Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – The Justice Department announced that Concord Court at Creative Village Partners LTD., Concord Management LTD., related entities and a property manager have agreed to pay $265,000 to resolve allegations that they discriminated against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act by imposing unlawful restrictions on minors at an apartment complex in Orlando, Florida. The complex, Amelia Court at Creative Village, is a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit development with more than 250 market-rate and affordable units.
Under the consent order, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the defendants will pay $260,000 to residents who were harmed by their practices and a civil penalty to the government to vindicate the public interest. The settlement also requires the defendants to implement nondiscrimination policies and provide fair housing training to employees with management or leasing responsibilities at over 80 residential rental properties they own or operate in Florida.
“Families with children should not be subject to discrimination to access or live in affordable housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to fight for the fair housing rights of families across the country.”
“Discriminatory practices that deny families equal and fair access to housing and all of their available amenities are inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to ensure that the nation’s fair housing laws are enforced throughout our district.”
“Families with children should not be denied the full use and enjoyment of their home because of discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria L. McCain of HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD appreciates its partnership with the Department of Justice and commends the agency for safeguarding the housing rights of all families.”
Amelia Court at Creative Village includes two apartment towers, Concord Court and Amelia Court. The defendants manage both towers and own Concord Court’s residential units. The government’s complaint, also filed today, alleges that the defendants refused to issue building access devices to minor residents, prohibited children from common areas and amenities unless supervised by adults and misrepresented the availability of units in Concord Court to families with children.
The case arose when ten families who resided at the complex filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which determined that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act. The matters were referred to the Justice Department, which conducted its own investigation and filed this lawsuit.
Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at Amelia Court at Creative Village because they have children should send an e-mail to the Justice Department at [email protected] or leave a message at 1-833-591-0291 (press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then dial 1 for discrimination in housing and 4 to reach the voicemail box for this case).
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of familial status, race, color, national origin, religion, sex and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, e-mailing the Justice Department at [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777, or by filing a complaint with HUD online.
Jamaica Plain Man Indicted for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Jamaica Plain man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with the May 20, 2022 robbery of a TD Bank in Cambridge.
Jalonni Shabazz, a/k/a Jalonni Tucker, 40, was indicted on one count of bank robbery. Shabazz was previously charged by criminal complaint on July 15, 2022.
According to the charging documents, On May 2, 2022, at approximately 12:49 p.m., a suspect wearing a royal blue baseball hat and surgical mask entered the TD Bank on Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. The suspect handed the teller a note that read, “All of the Money - No Dye packs - or alarms,” and then told the teller, “This is a robbery honey.” The man then fled on foot after taking cash from the teller.
During a search of the area surrounding the bank, investigators located a royal blue baseball hat consistent with that worn by the suspect during the robbery. It is alleged that DNA obtained from the strap and interior headband of the hat belonged to Shabazz. In addition, analysis of the bank’s surveillance footage allegedly identified Shabazz’s features – including his tattoos, hair and clothing – to be consistent with that of the suspect.
At the time of the alleged robbery, Shabazz was on supervised release following a 2017 federal conviction for two bank robberies for which he was sentenced to 54 months in prison.
The charge provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release as well as a $250,000 fine. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and MBTA Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is 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.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Oct. 4 was:
Evirso Real Ampude,47, of Box Elder, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious charge, Ampude faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Ampude was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-72.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Oct. 6 was:
James Cale Allen, 28, of Lame Deer, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, strangulation and assault resulting in bodily injury to partner. If convicted of the most serious charge, Allen faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and a mandatory minimum five years of supervised release. Allen was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-101.
Appearing on Oct. 4 was:
Julianna Castro, 23, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Castro faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Castro was released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-14.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Graham, Washington, man pleads guilty to tax fraud and aiding and assisting with false tax returnsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 53-year-old resident of Graham, Washington, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to tax fraud and aiding and assisting with false tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Philippe Mbowamba faces up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on January 9, 2023. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than six months in prison with a restitution obligation for Mbowamba of $141,392.
According to the plea agreement, between 2012 and 2019, Mbowamba operated a tax preparation business. An analysis of the returns Mbowamba filed revealed that he had falsely claimed deductions and tax credits on behalf of many of his clients. Most of the clients were immigrants from Africa who were referred to Mbowamba by other members of the immigrant community. Mbowamba, a naturalized U.S. citizen, had originally immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The immigrants trusted Mbowamba and were unaware of the false information on their tax returns.
In all, the Internal Revenue Service: Criminal Investigation analysis found 22 tax returns where Mbowamba had falsified the credits and deductions.
In addition to false returns for other people, Mbowamba falsified his own return, failing to report more than $56,000 in income for tax year 2014. The tax loss on that one return was $26,531. In total from his own and others’ tax returns the tax loss was $141,392.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, the IRS may still level additional civil tax, penalties, and/or interest. Mbowamba has agreed to accept a permanent injunction, barring him from preparing tax returns for anyone other than himself.
“’If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying,’ definitely does not apply when it comes to taxes,” said Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “Unfortunately, Mr. Mbowamba decided to learn this lesson the hard way by deliberately cheating on his own tax return as well as by falsifying the returns of his clients. While everyone enjoys the satisfaction of maximizing their tax refund, no one is entitled to cheat, lie, and defraud in order to get more than they are entitled to.”
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service: Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachery Dillon.
Georgia Man Going to Prison for His Role in Cocaine Conspiracy Stretching from El Paso, Texas to BuffaloRead 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 Adrian Grier, 47, of Jackson, Georgia, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Seth T. Molisani, who handled the case, stated that between October 2017 and December 7, 2018, Grier conspired with 11 others to sell cocaine. One of Grier’s co-defendants brokered bulk quantity cocaine to multiple areas in the country including Buffalo, Kentucky, and Georgia. On two occasions, Grier coordinated trips to Kentucky to acquire kilograms of cocaine and was intercepted discussing plans to increase the quantity of cocaine he could obtain in Georgia.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; and Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations. Additional assistance was provided by the New York National Guard. Additional assistance was provided by HSI-Louisville; the Kentucky State Police; the Louisville Metro Police; and the Greater Hardin County Drug Task Force.
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Fresno Woman Pleaded Guilty to Two Separate Identity Theft-Related Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Sarah Jo Sumpter, 30, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to one count of mail fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between November 2019 and January 2020, Sumpter stole mail from a number of locations in California and used the stolen mail to commit multiple identity theft-related fraud schemes. One of these schemes involved Sumpter stealing a victim’s driver’s license and impersonating the victim in order to purchase a vehicle. Another scheme involved Sumpter depositing stolen checks into victim accounts and then withdrawing the money from the accounts without the victim’s consent.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Madera County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Henry Carbajal are prosecuting the case.
Sumpter is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Jan. 20, 2023. Sumpter faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the mail fraud, 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the bank fraud, and a mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence for the aggravated identity theft. 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.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Pills and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Andres Nunez, 25, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to distributing fentanyl to a person under 21 years old and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in February 2021, Nunez delivered counterfeit M30 pills, laced with fentanyl, to a juvenile. A search warrant was later executed at Nunez’s residence. During the search, law enforcement officers found several firearms, including an automatic handgun, as well as 4 pounds of marijuana that Nunez possessed with intent to distribute.
This case is the product of an investigation by FORT, a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
Nunez is set for sentencing on Jan. 31, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Nunez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of six years in prison, up to a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine up to $2 million. 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 Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Four Luzerne County Men Indicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gerinardo Rivera, a/k/a “Gerry, age 52, of Plains, Pennsylvania, Ramon Severino Fernandez, a/k/a “Yuca”, age 40, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, Andrew Pope, age 44, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Kevin Davis, age 27, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between May 2021 and April 2022 in Luzerne County, Rivera, Fernandez, Pope and Davis conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. Rivera, Fernandez and Davis are also charged with possession with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine on April 22, 2022. Rivera and Fernandez are also charged with distributing quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl on various dates between December 2021 and March 2022. The indictment also alleges that between January 2022 and April 2022, Davis maintained a residence on North Meade Street in Wilkes-Barre for purposes of manufacturing, storing and distributing drugs.
“In addition to a substantial quantity of methamphetamine and other drugs, these defendants are charged with trafficking enough fentanyl to supply more than 16,000 doses on the streets of Wilkes-Barre and other communities in our district, and each dose is a potential overdose death waiting to happen,” said United States Attorney Gerald M. Karam. “This indictment is the product of an ongoing partnership between state and federal law enforcement agencies. With this kind of joint approach, we can bring to bear all available resources to combat drug trafficking in our communities. With the opioid epidemic still raging, and Pennsylvanians still dying of drug overdoses at alarming rates, we will not let up in our efforts to stop this wave of illegal drugs from coming into our state.”
“Today’s indictment holds these defendants accountable for their role in trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities and fueling an epidemic that claims the lives of 14 Pennsylvanians every day. I am grateful for the work of our law enforcement partners in getting drug dealers off our streets and helping to keep our communities safe,” stated Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Attorney General.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotic Investigations, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Hardik are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.]
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Fort Pierce Federal Judge Orders Prison Time for South Florida Methamphetamine DealersRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Three men from the St. Lucie County and Polk County area, have been sentenced to federal prison terms for trafficking methamphetamine. The men were prosecuted as part of a long-term investigation that led to the seizure of approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, 26 firearms (including several semi-automatic rifles), and a bulletproof vest.
Lance Ratterree, 44, was sentenced on October 7, by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, to 130 months’ imprisonment after being convicted of distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Kevin Tergliafera, 42, was sentenced on September 16, by Judge Cannon, to 90 months’ imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Edwin Fernando Fernandez, Jr., 53, was sentenced on September 16, by Judge Cannon, to 56 months’ imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Miami; Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami; Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Miami; St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara; and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the sentences.
DEA Miami, FBI Miami, ATF Miami, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter prosecuted the case.
The prosecution was part of Operation Blown Gasket, which is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-14013.
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Former Tyngsborough Police Officer Pleads Guilty to National Firearms Act Violations and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Tyngsborough police officer pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to bank fraud and violations of the National Firearms Act (NFA).
Daniel Whitman, 37, of Salisbury, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy; two counts of bank fraud; two counts of making false statements to a bank; one count of possession of an unregistered firearm; one count of conspiracy to violate provisions of the NFA; one count of making a firearm in violation of the NFA; and one count of transferring a firearm in violation of the NFA. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2023. Whitman was arrested and charged in January 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2021.
Whitman was a police officer with the Tyngsborough Police Department and was the owner and principal manager of Hitman Firearms, LLC, a retail gun shop in Tyngsborough. Whitman and co-conspirator Bin Lu sought to build a large indoor shooting range, which would serve regional and international customers, and offer shooting clinics and other services. Whitman and Lu brought in a Chinese investor, who contributed several million dollars to the project. However, in applying for loans from federally insured financial institutions, Whitman hid the true source of their initial funding from the banks and filed false documents in connection with their loan applications.
In addition, Whitman knowingly made, possessed and transferred firearms that had been modified by the addition of stocks and short barrels, resulting in their classification as short-barreled rifles (SBR) under the NFA. These SBRs were not properly registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by the NFA, nor did Whitman pay the applicable taxes or fulfill other requirements under the NFA.
In June 2021, Lu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 13, 2022.
The bank fraud charges provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The NFA charges provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $10,000. 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; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Boston; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. The Tyngsborough and Westford Police Departments provided special assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugenia M. Carris, Christine J. Wichers and Evan D. Panich of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Former San Bernardino County Planning Commissioner Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bribery Charge for Corrupt Cannabis Permit SchemeRead the Press Release
INFORMATION (Chavez) PLEA AGREEMENT (Chavez) PLEA AGREEMENT (Pacheco)LOS ANGELES – A former San Bernardino County planning commissioner has agreed to plead guilty to a federal criminal charge for funneling bribes through his company to a corrupt Baldwin Park politician in exchange for the politician’s votes and influence over the city’s cannabis permitting process, the Justice Department announced today.
Gabriel Chavez, 65, of Upland, agreed to plead guilty to a one-count criminal information charging him with bribery. Both the information and Chavez’s plea agreement were filed today in United States District Court, and Chavez is expected to enter a guilty plea in the coming weeks.
The politician who solicited the bribes – former Baldwin Park City Councilmember Ricardo Pacheco – pleaded guilty in June 2020 to a federal bribery charge. Federal prosecutors today also unsealed additional portions of Pacheco’s plea agreement in which he admits to bribery schemes involving Chavez and other individuals.
Pacheco was first elected to the Baldwin Park City Council in 1997 and served as mayor pro-tem in 2018. He resigned from the city council in June 2021 and is awaiting sentencing.
Both Chavez and Pacheco have signed plea agreements in which they have agreed to cooperate in the government’s ongoing investigation.
According to Chavez’s plea agreement, in June 2017, Baldwin Park began permitting the cultivation, sale and manufacturing of marijuana within its city limits. Soon afterward, Pacheco decided to solicit bribe payments from businesses seeking marijuana development agreements and related permits in the city. In exchange for the illicit payments, Pacheco agreed to use his position in city government to assist the companies with obtaining marijuana permits.
Chavez agreed to act as an intermediary to funnel those bribes to Pacheco by using his Claremont-based internet marketing company, Market Share Media Agency. In exchange for the bribes, Pacheco agreed to vote and use his influence over the city’s permitting process to secure marijuana permits for two companies, identified in court documents as “Marijuana Company 3” and “Marijuana Company 4.”
Pacheco and Chavez agreed that Pacheco would get 60% of the companies’ bribe money while Chavez would retain the remainder as payment primarily for facilitating the bribes.
Chavez obtained bribe payments to pass to Pacheco from an individual identified in court papers as “Person 14,” another public official, who was helping Marijuana Company 4 obtain its marijuana permit. To conceal the true nature of the payments, the bribes Chavez accepted were disguised as consulting payments from Person 14’s consulting company to Market Share Media Agency.
From August 2017 to March 2018, Chavez received at least $125,000 from Marijuana Company 3 and at least $45,000 on behalf of Marijuana Company 4, none of which he reported to the IRS as personal income or as his company’s revenue. Chavez paid Pacheco between $80,000 and $93,000 in cash, out of at least $170,000 collected from both companies.
On multiple occasions, Chavez used coded language in text messages to tell Pacheco that he had cash bribes to pass to him. For example, in January 2018, Chavez sent Pacheco a text message stating, “I’m planning to bring all the documents…,” by which Chavez meant he planned to bring Pacheco cash bribes.
Per Chavez’s agreement with Pacheco, the cash payments were in exchange for Pacheo’s votes on the two companies’ marijuana permits and Pacheco’s help securing the necessary votes from other members of the Baldwin Park City Council.
Pacheco performed his end of the bargain, voting in favor of Marijuana Company 3 and Marijuana Company 4’s cannabis permits, first in December 2017 and later in May 2018.
Chavez further admitted in his plea agreement that Market Share Media Agency won a no-bid, $14,500 contract from the City of Huntington Park signed by Person 14. The no-bid contract represented, in part, further compensation for Chavez in his efforts facilitating the bribe to Pacheco to secure the marijuana permit for Marijuana Company 4 in Baldwin Park. To further secure this permit, Person 14 gave Chavez a $5,000 check made payable to the church associated with the school where Pacheco’s child attended.
Chavez was appointed to the San Bernardino County Planning Commission in June 2018 but resigned in November 2018 after the FBI executed a search warrant at his home.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter.
Any member of the public who has information related to this or any other public corruption matter in Los Angeles County is encouraged to send information to the FBI’s tip line at tips.fbi.gov or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk and Lindsey Greer Dotson of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Former Morris Resident Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEVIN CURLEY, 41, formerly of Morris, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, “Tor,” which is an acronym for “The Onion Router,” is a worldwide network of internet-connected computers that is designed to conceal the true IP addresses of the computers on the network and the identities of the network’s users. In 2020, HSI began investigating Curley for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos via a hidden service website that operated on the Tor network. On August 5, 2020, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Curley’s former residence in Morris and seized Curley’s desktop computer. Analysis of the seized computer revealed more than one hundred images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Curley was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on October 8, 2020. On May 25, 2022, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography.
Curley, who is released on a $150,000 bond and residing in Naugatuck, is required to report to prison on November 30.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Former Louisville, Kentucky, Corrections Officer Convicted of Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky, found Darrell Taylor, 32, a former officer with the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC), guilty of having used unlawful force against a pretrial detainee.
Evidence presented at trial included a video showing the defendant’s assault of the detainee. On the video, the defendant can be seen grabbing the detainee and throwing him to the ground, and then punching the detainee repeatedly in the face and head until he appears to lose consciousness. The officer then lifts the detainee’s limp body and slams him face-first into the ground. At trial, the director of LMDC testified that the force depicted on the video was inconsistent with training provided to every LMDC officer.
The detainee, identified in charging documents only as B.R., did not testify. However, evidence at trial revealed that he suffered serious injury, including a broken and displaced jaw.
“Every person in our nation’s jails and prisons has the right to be free from excessive force by corrections officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“ With its verdict, the jury makes clear that corrections officers will be held accountable for beating and abusing the people in their custody.”
“I commend the FBI for its investigation of this matter and the prosecutors for their outstanding presentation of the case at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the unlawful use of force by those charged with providing a safe environment for offenders in their custody.”
“Taylor violated the trust placed in him as a Corrections Officer when he violently attacked B.H. Criminal behavior such as this must be punished,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen for the FBI Louisville Field Office. “It is a fundamental part of the FBI's mission to protect the civil rights of all people, including those who are incarcerated, and we will continue to work with our partners to seek justice.”
The defendant will be sentenced on Jan. 25, 2023. The charge on which he was convicted carries a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett and Special Agent in Charge Cohen made the announcement.
The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Former Louisville, Kentucky, Corrections Officer Convicted of Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky, found Darrell Taylor, 32, a former officer with the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC), guilty of having used unlawful force against a pretrial detainee.
Evidence presented at trial included a video showing the defendant’s assault of the detainee. On the video, the defendant can be seen grabbing the detainee and throwing him to the ground, and then punching the detainee repeatedly in the face and head until he appears to lose consciousness. The officer then lifts the detainee’s limp body and slams him face-first into the ground. At trial, the director of LMDC testified that the force depicted on the video was inconsistent with training provided to every LMDC officer.
The detainee, identified in charging documents only as B.R., did not testify. However, evidence at trial revealed that he suffered serious injury, including a broken and displaced jaw.
“Every person in our nation’s jails and prisons has the right to be free from excessive force by corrections officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“ With its verdict, the jury makes clear that corrections officers will be held accountable for beating and abusing the people in their custody.”
“I commend the FBI for its investigation of this matter and the prosecutors for their outstanding presentation of the case at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the unlawful use of force by those charged with providing a safe environment for offenders in their custody.”
“Taylor violated the trust placed in him as a Corrections Officer when he violently attacked B.H. Criminal behavior such as this must be punished,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen for the FBI Louisville Field Office. “It is a fundamental part of the FBI's mission to protect the civil rights of all people, including those who are incarcerated, and we will continue to work with our partners to seek justice.”
The defendant will be sentenced on Jan. 25, 2023. The charge on which he was convicted carries a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett and Special Agent in Charge Cohen made the announcement.
The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
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Former FBI Special Agent and D.C. Real Estate Developer Found Guilty of BriberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –A former FBI agent and a real estate developer were found guilty by a jury today of federal bribery and conspiracy charges.
The former agent, David Paitsel, 41, and Brian Bailey, 52, a real estate developer formerly based in Washington, D.C., were found guilty following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Bailey, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was found guilty of two counts of bribery and two counts of conspiracy. First, he was found guilty of giving thousands of dollars in bribes to a program specialist with the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in exchange for confidential, un-redacted Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) offer of sale notices.
TOPA provides tenants living in the District of Columbia with the right to purchase their residence should the owner decide to sell the property. Under TOPA, tenants can re-assign their right to purchase to a third party. TOPA requires the owner (seller) to provide the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development with offer of sale notices before the proposed real estate transaction. The offer of sale notices include, among other things, information not released to the public, such as the names of tenants residing at the property.
As a second part of the scheme, Paitsel and Bailey were both found guilty of one count of bribery and one count of conspiracy. Specifically, Bailey paid Paitsel bribes to look up the contact information of the tenants holding TOPA rights, which he did using a database he had access to as an FBI Agent.
The District of Columbia government employee, Dawne Dorsey, 40, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to a federal bribery charge for related conduct with Bailey.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General.
The trial of the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and John Borchert, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Lisa Abbe and Quiana Dunn-Gordon of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Foreign medical student found guilty in home health fraud schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A federal jury in Houston has convicted a 65-year-old Houston resident for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before convicting Abudul Audu Azia Ozigi following a three-day trial
At trial, co-conspirator Margaret Arise testified that she owned numerous home health agencies in the Houston Area. She admitted she hired Ozigi to act in the role of a physician to see patients in their homes.
Ozigi did not have a license to practice medicine in the United States and was also not under the supervision of a physician when he treated patients.
Arise further testified Ozigi visited patients and qualified them for home health, when in fact, they did not need services. In addition, recruiters were paid to provide patient information to bill them for home health services regardless of whether they needed care.
Arise, 63, Missouri City, was previously convicted and is currently pending sentencing.
At trial, Ozigi attempted to convince the jury he had no knowledge of fraud and did not have the intent to defraud Medicare. He testified that he was merely seeing patients for Arise, despite not having any medical license in the United States and without being supervised by a physician.
The jury did not believe defense claims and found Ozigi guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over trial and will set sentenced at a later date. At that time, Ozigi faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
Previously released on bond, Ozigi was taken into custody following the conviction today where he will remain pending that hearing.
The Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Southwest UPIC Qlarant and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tina Ansari and Grace Murphy prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Judith Cardona.
Florida Man Charged with Wire Fraud Scheme to Defraud Former Employer in New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former New Jersey resident was charged with engaging in a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate more than approximately $430,000 belonging to his former New Jersey employer, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Abdelrahman Ahmed-Elkilani, 27, of Miami, Florida, is charged by complaint with two counts of wire fraud. He surrendered to the FBI in Newark yesterday and is scheduled to appear this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January 2017 through July 2019, Ahmed-Elkilani misappropriated more than $430,000 in funds belonging to his former employer by taking advantage of his role as a marketing manager for the company and his access to other employees’ operator codes, as well as the company’s membership accounts to create and execute multiple false transactions. These transactions enabled Ahmed-Elkilani to misappropriate funds for his own personal use and benefit.
Ahmed-Elkilani misappropriated $417,075in special order merchandise deposits held in the company’s deposit account and caused approximately $275,000 of those funds to be transferred to his personal credit or debit cards. He also misappropriated $13,674 in additional company funds through other fraudulent methods.
Each charge of wire fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Kozar of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced-October 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October 2022 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Jacqueline Nicole Carter. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Carter, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. She is further charged with intentionally possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Finally, Carter, aided and abetted by another person, knowingly possessed with the intent to distribute marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-339)
Jeremy Mikal Glazier. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1-3); Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute (Count 4); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 5); Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion (Counts 6,7); Attempted Obstruction of Sex Trafficking Enforcement (Count 8) (superseding). Glazier, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 29, 2020, a Taurus 9 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on Jan. 16, 2021, and a Smith and Wesson 9 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on July 26, 2022. He is also charged with possessing with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Glazier is also charged with using violence to force a female victim to engage in sex trafficking from June 30, 2020, to July 26, 2022, and with using violence to force a second female victim to engage in sex trafficking from Sept. 1, 2020, through July 26, 2022. Finally, Glazier is charged with obstructing and attempting to obstruct the investigation into his alleged sex trafficking crimes. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-266)
Michael Lee Iverson. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. From Nov. 9, 2021, to Sept. 21, 2022, Iverson, 67, of Tulsa, failed to register as a sex offender. The U.S. Marshals Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko A. Boulieris and Victor A.S. Régal are prosecuting the case. (22-CR-340)
Billy Scott McDonald. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. McDonald, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with sexually abusing a minor under the age of 12 from Aug. 29, 2022, through Sept. 13, 2022. He is further charged with forcing the young child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Finally, he is charged with possessing child pornography. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria G. Luster and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case. (22-CR-341)
Fernando Paredes-Olivares. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Paredes-Olivares, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been deported on Jan. 12, 2012, at or near New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-345)
William Mark Parnell. Kidnapping of a Minor in Indian Country; Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Child Abuse in Indian Country; Corruptly Tampering with Evidence; Theft in Indian Country (Misdemeanor); Simple Assault (Misdemeanor). In June 2021, Parnell, 20, of Jenks, allegedly attempted to kidnap a minor when he forced her into a back room at the convenience store where he was working. The victim was able to break away and run out of the store. In May 2022, he is further alleged to have followed a different girl home, endangering the child, and to have broken into the home with intent to burglarize the home or commit a felony therein. The child fled to a neighbor’s house just prior to Parnell’s entry. While inside, Parnell stole a firearm and items belonging to the child. The indictment alleges Parnell discarded the stolen firearm into a pond to conceal it from law enforcement. Finally, on May 18, 2021, Parnell assaulted a nurse at a hospital where he was receiving treatment. A second nurse recognized him from news reports about the burglaries and contacted authorities. Parnell was arrested at that time. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, Glenpool Police Department, and the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-178)
Raul Plata-Cibrian. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Plata-Cibrian, 24, of, Tulsa is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is further charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing the drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-346)
Ramon Ponce-Sandoval. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ponce-Sandoval, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on May 11, 2019, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-347)
Andrew Don Rector. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. From May 3, 2022, to May 4, 2022, Rector, 32, of Keifer, is alleged to have kidnapped, strangled and sexually assaulted the victim. In this superseding indictment, Rector is also charged with sexually abusing a minor between 12 and 16 years of age from Aug. 15 to Aug. 16, 2020. The FBI and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Cymetra M. Williams are prosecuting the case. (22-CR-331)
Kenneth Ray Stanley. Assault of a Spouse by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Child Neglect in Indian Country. On Sept. 13, 2022, Stanley, 37, of Tulsa, allegedly strangled his spouse in front of a child. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-349)
Robert B. White Jr. Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. White Jr., 53, of Broken Arrow, is charged with attempting to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Finally, White is charge with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. (22-CR-342)
El Departamento de Justicia resuelve reclamaciones bajo de ley de Vivienda Justa contra un complejo de apartamentos en FloridaRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció que Concord Court at Creative Village Partners LTD., Concord Management LTD., entidades asociadas y un administrador de propiedades han acordado pagar $265,000 con el fin de resolver alegaciones que han discriminado contra familias con niños, en violación de la ley de Vivienda Justa, al imponer restricciones ilegales sobre menores de edad en un complejo de apartamentos en Orlando, Florida. El complejo, Amelia Court en Creative Village, es una urbanización para el Programa de Crédito Tributario para Viviendas para Personas de Bajos Ingresos que tiene más de 250 viviendas asequibles y a los tipos del mercado.
Bajo la orden de consentimiento, que todavía deberá ser aprobada por el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito Centro de Florida, los demandados pagarán $260,000 a inquilinos que fueron perjudicados por sus prácticas y una sanción civil al Gobierno para reivindicar el interés público. Por otra parte, el acuerdo requiere que los demandados implementen políticas antidiscriminatorias y que capaciten a sus empleados responsables de la administración o el alquiler en las más de 80 propiedades residenciales de alquiler que son de su propiedad o que gestionan en Florida.
“Las familias con niños no deben ser sometidas a discriminación a la hora de acceder a o vivir en una vivienda asequible”, afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “El Departamento de Justicia seguirá luchando por los derechos de familias a la vivienda justa por todo el país”.
“Las prácticas discriminatorias que deniegan a las familias un acceso igualitario y justo a la vivienda y a todos sus servicios disponibles son imperdonables”, declaró Roger Handberg, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Centro de Florida. “La Fiscalía Federal seguirá colaborando con sus socios para garantizar que las leyes de vivienda justa de este país se hagan cumplir por todo nuestro distrito”.
“No se les debería denegar a las familias con niños el pleno uso y disfrute de su hogar como resultado de la discriminación”, confirmó Demetria L. McCain, la Secretaria Auxiliar Adjunta Principal de la Oficina de Vivienda Justa y la Igualdad de Oportunidades del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés). “HUD aprecia la colaboración del Departamento de Justicia y felicita a la agencia por haber salvaguardado los derechos de vivienda de todas las familias”.
Amelia Court en Creative Village incluye dos torres de apartamentos, Concord Court y Amelia Court. Los demandados administran ambas torres y son dueños de las viviendas residenciales de Concord Court. La demanda del Gobierno, que también se presentó hoy, alega que los demandados se negaron a repartir dispositivos de acceso al edificio a menores de edad, prohibieron la presencia de niños en zonas comunes y las comodidades a no ser que sean supervisados por adultos y mintieron a familias con niños sobre la disponibilidad de viviendas en Concord Court.
El caso salió a la luz después de que diez familias que vivían en el complejo presentaron quejas ante el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los EE. UU., el cual determinó que los demandados habían vulnerado la ley de Vivienda Justa. El caso fue remitido al Departamento de Justicia, que realizó su propia investigación y entabló este pleito.
Aquellos individuos que creen haber sido discriminados en Amelia Court en Creative Village por tener niños, o si conocen a alguien que lo ha sido, deben enviar un correo electrónico al Departamento de Justicia a [email protected] o dejar un mensaje en 1-833-591-0291 (marque 1 para inglés o 2 para español, y después marque 1 para discriminación en la vivienda y 4 para llegar al buzón de voz para este caso).
La División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia hace cumplir la ley federal de Vivienda Justa, la cual prohíbe la discriminación en la vivienda por motivos de situación familiar, raza, color de piel, origen nacional, religión, género o discapacidad. Para más información acerca de la División de Derechos Civiles y las leyes que hace cumplir, vaya a http://www.justice.gov/crt. Las personas pueden reportar incidentes de discriminación en la vivienda llamando a la línea informativa del Departamento de Justicia para discriminación en la vivienda al 1-833-591-0291, enviando un correo electrónico al Departamento de Justicia a [email protected] o completando un informe en línea. También se puede reportar tal discriminación llamando al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano al 1-800-669-9777 o rellenando un formulario de demanda ante el HUD en línea.