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Tuesday 16 August 2022
Tulsa Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Sending Emails Threatening to Kill President BidenRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man was sentenced Monday in federal court for sending threatening emails to KOTV Channel 6 directed at President Joseph Biden and unnamed members of the Congress and their families, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced John Jacobs Ahrens, 59, to 30 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“John Ahrens is the second defendant to appear in the Northern District of Oklahoma in the last week for threatening public officials and their families. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting an individual’s right to free speech, but those protections do not extend to threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Ahrens’ 30 month sentence demonstrates that federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable individuals who make such violent statements.”
On Dec. 22, 2021, Ahrens pleaded guilty to one count of threat against the President of the United States and two counts of interstate communication with a threat to injure.
Charges specifically addressed threatening emails sent to KOTV Channel 6 on May 10, 2021, and June 10, 2021. In the May email, Ahrens threatened to kill family members of those serving in the U.S. Congress. In the June email, Ahrens specifically threatened to kill President Biden.
According to court documents, an executive producer from the station contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center to report multiple threatening emails dated between May and June 2021.
On May 10, 2021, Ahrens sent a message stating, “Please go to my Facebook page and read what I sent to the men of the United States Congress. They have less than 48 hours to hand over my money or their children will start dying all over the country. I’m going to kill their children using the same law as the Government used to force our families on to the Trail of Tears.”
He followed it up the same day with an email stating, “I tried to contact you earlier but the Feds shut me down they got a little uptight because I informed the men of the United States Congress if they didn’t hand my money over in less than 48 hours. I will have their children killed. If that doesn’t get the message across. Then I start on their women…”
In his June 10 email, Ahrens stated, “America is going to get to see a sitting President get his head blown off right in front of them… A kill contract went out on one Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America. I’m the one that put it there and if he doesn’t submit to the law, America is going to watch him die right in front of them.”
In a June 17 message, he wrote “You have until Monday morning 8:00 am sharp to hand a check over to the State of Oklahoma, the Muscogee Nation and my family in accordance with a signed agreement as set forth in the Treaty of 1866.”
Ahrens was arrested at his Tulsa residence on June 18, 2021, by agents of the FBI and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and task force officers with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Also convicted for threatening an elected official was Keith Eisenberger, 39, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. On Aug. 10, Eisenberger pleaded guilty in a separate case to cyberstalking and threatening U.S. Representative Kevin Hern, of Oklahoma’s first congressional district, and his family.
The U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case.
Thirteen Individuals Charged with Narcotics Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Thirteen individuals were charged today with various drug trafficking and firearms offenses arising from an investigation targeting unlawful activities in a northeast neighborhood in the city of Trenton, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jamal Wilson, aka “Vill,” and Theodore Meekins, aka “Meech,” both of Trenton, were among 12 defendants charged in a 16-count criminal complaint unsealed today. Ten of the defendants were arrested this morning as part of a takedown coordinated by federal and local law enforcement authorities. One defendant is currently detained on related charges. One defendant remains at large. A 13th defendant, Alterrick Livingston, 42, of Trenton, was arrested and charged today in a separate one-count complaint following law enforcement’s court-authorized search of his Trenton apartment and the recovery of five privately made firearms (PMFs), two fully drilled frames, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and numerous tools and accessories used for manufacturing and assembling firearms.
Wilson was charged with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including 100 grams or more of heroin, 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and additional quantities of cocaine. Meekins was charged in three counts with distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Livingston was charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The remaining defendants were charged with varying counts of distribution or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine. Those arrested today are scheduled to make their initial court appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court.
According to the two federal criminal complaints:
Beginning in July 2020, law enforcement agencies investigating drug trafficking in the area of Garfield, Cleveland, and Logan avenues in Trenton executed numerous controlled purchases of narcotics from multiple defendants, including Wilson and Meekins. On multiple occasions, law enforcement officers made multiple seizures of unlawfully trafficked narcotics, including, suspected heroin, cocaine base and a firearm from a vehicle driven by Meekins, a previously convicted felon. Communications that law enforcement intercepted revealed that Wilson was a significant drug trafficker of heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine in the area, specifically in the area of the Grand Court Villas apartment building, East State Street and South Olden Avenue; Garfield Avenue Playground; and other locations. In connection with today’s coordinated operation, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Livingston’s Trenton apartment, and recovered multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and numerous tools and accessories used for manufacturing and assembling firearms.
The charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams of heroin and/or 28 grams of cocaine base carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. The remaining narcotics charges carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million. The firearm and ammunition counts with which Meekins and Livingston are charged each carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges filed today are the result of an investigation by the Greater Trenton Safe Streets Task Force. Led by the FBI, the Task Force is comprised of various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and its mission is to combine the resources and intelligence of the participating agencies to enhance the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of individuals involved in gang-related activities, violent crime, and drug distribution in and around the greater Trenton area.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Director Steve Wilson; officers of the Burlington City Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Fine; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Bruce Painter; officers of the Willingboro Township Police Department, under the direction of Acting Public Safety Director Ian Bucs; and detectives with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Super Pitts and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Matthews of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
*denotes at-large
Defendant
Age
Residence
Jamal Wilson, aka “Vill”
46
Trenton
Theodore Meekins, aka “Meech”
40
Trenton
Louis Williams, aka “Bake”
38
Trenton
Clinton Rodriguez, aka “C-Rod”
46
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
Kai Bowman Jr.
45
Trenton
Glenn Moore
29
Levittown, Pennsylvania
*Rashied McKines
48
Trenton
Michael Williams, aka “Ice”
45
Trenton
Derrick Jiles
59
Trenton
Dion Morris
36
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Jerry Farmer
46
Trenton
James Edwards
27
Ewing, New Jersey
Alterrick Livingston
42
Trenton
TSA Labor Union President Sentenced in Fraud Scheme to Misappropriate Union FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The president of a local union representing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for engaging in a fraud scheme to defraud the union by misappropriating $29,050 in union funds.
Marie LeClair, 59, of Lynn, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to three years of probation with six months of home confinement. LeClair was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $29,050. On June 2, 2022, LeClair pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
LeClair was the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2617, which was based in Boston and represented TSA employees. Beginning in or about March 2015, LeClair engaged in a scheme to defraud the union by misappropriating funds belonging to the union for her personal use. Specifically, LeClair transferred funds from union accounts to a travel debit card issued in her own name without the knowledge or authorization of the union and used the misappropriated union funds for personal expenses. On May 22, 2018, LeClair made a wire transfer of $3,000 from a union account to her personal travel debit card.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Jonathan Russo, District Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards; and Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Kaplan of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Stamford Man Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $4 Million in COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Moustapha Diakhate, 46, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fraudulent receiving more than $4 million in COVID-19 relief funds guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Judge Shea also ordered Diakhate to serve three months in home detention when he is released from prison, and to perform 75 hours of community service while on supervised release.
Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region, Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Joleen D. Simpson of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020, the CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive unsecured loans at an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent the proceeds on these expenses within a certain period of time of receipt and used at least a certain percentage of the amount to be forgiven for payroll.
The PPP was overseen by the Small Business Administration, which has authority over all PPP loans. Individual PPP loans, however, were issued by private approved lenders, such as Citibank, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
Diakhate maintained an ownership or management interest in certain small business entities, including Ansonia Developers LLC, Winsbay Inc., Buyers Association Group LLC, Washington Management LLC, Diakhate Capital, Inc., and Poulson & Gold Inc. Beginning in May 2020, Diakhate provided Citibank and M&T Bank with false and fraudulent information during the PPP loan application process in order to obtain PPP loans for each of his six entities totaling more than $4 million. Diakhate then used a portion of the funds for various personal expenses, including to pay off a loan he had been provided to purchase of a 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo, and to purchase both a Mercedes and BMW. He also purchased a $50,000 certificate of deposit with PPP funds, and disbursed funds to various and individuals unrelated to his business entities.
Citibank and M&T Bank successfully recovered more than $2 million after discovering Diakhate’s fraud. Judge Shea ordered Diakhate to pay restitution of $1,702,479.
Diakhate was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 7, 2021. On January 26, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction.
Diakhate, who is released on a $450,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 14.
This matter was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Spokane Man Sentenced to Probation for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Roshon Edward Thomas, age 42, of Spokane, was sentenced to a 5-year term of probation in federal court for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funding for small businesses. Senior United States District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson announced the sentence, the first sentencing in a case brought by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force created by U.S. Attorney Waldref earlier this year.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.
“COVID-19 relief programs were designed to lift up our community during crisis, and due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We created the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because combatting pandemic-related fraud and holding those accountable who abused these programs is critical to protecting our small and local businesses, and the critical jobs and services that they provide for the community.”
In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force to leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, Department of Homeland Security OIG, and others. Cases investigated and prosecuted by the Strike Force have resulted in numerous indictments, criminal prosecutions, and civil penalties, and recoveries of millions of dollars in fraudulently-obtained funds.
According to court documents and information disclosed during court proceedings, Thomas fraudulently obtained at least $54,900 in COVID-19 relief funding through two EIDL loans he obtained in July and August 2020 for a purported tattoo parlor and a clothing design company. In May 2022, Thomas pled guilty to submitting false and fraudulent claims to the United States, and admitted to using false and fraudulent information to obtain EIDL funding for both companies. As part of the sentence, Thomas will be supervised by the Court during the probation period and, among other conditions, will be required to maintain employment and to make full restitution of the funds that he fraudulently obtained.
“I commend the stellar investigative work on these cases performed by the Strike Force and especially in this case by SBA OIG, TIGTA, FBI, and HSI,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute those who abuse and misuse COVID-19 relief funding, and to strengthen our communities by protecting our small and local businesses.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
South Carolina Man Is Sentenced to 15 Years for Selling Guns and DrugsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Santuron Cureton, 40, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and four years of supervised release for illegal gun possession and drug offenses.
According to filed documents and court proceedings, between April and July 2019, Cureton met on multiple occasions with undercover law enforcement agents in Union County, during which he sold the agents narcotics and illegal firearms. For example, court records show that on June 18, 2019, Cureton met with an undercover law enforcement agent in Monroe, North Carolina. During that meeting, the agent bought from Cureton a rifle and a pistol with an obliterated serial number. On July 16, 2019, Cureton met with an undercover agent in Union County and sold the agent 30 purported Oxycodone pills, crack cocaine, and two loaded firearms, one of which had an obliterated serial number. Over the course of the investigation into Cureton, undercover agents bought from the defendant 10 illegal firearms. Cureton has prior convictions for drug and gun possession and he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
On March 4, 2021, Cureton pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Twelve additional defendants have been sentenced as a result of joint investigations carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the Monroe Police Department, into drug and gun offenders operating in and around Union County. Over the course of the investigations, law enforcement seized methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and 56 firearms.
The 12 defendants were previously sentenced as follows:
Princeton Patterson, 30, of Wadesboro, N.C., was sentenced to 188 months in prison and four years of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Patterson has previously been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, multiple common law robberies, and cruelty to animals. (Docket No. 3:20-cr-221).
Rico Lorodge Brown, 34, of Monroe, N.C., was sentenced to 180 months in prison and four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Brown has been twice convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Brown has also been convicted of common law robbery, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and cruelty to animals. (3:20-cr-223)
Diante Ramon Brown, 23, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was sentenced to 123 months in prison and four years of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. (3:20-cr-222)
Markiel Tyson, 31, of Pageland, South Carolina, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Tyson has previously been convicted in South Carolina for distributing drugs. (3:20-cr-221)
Cameron Jamal McManus, 30, also of Pageland, was ordered to serve 120 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. McManus has previously been convicted in South Carolina for distributing drugs, unlawfully carrying a pistol, and multiple burglaries. (3:20-cr-221)
Alvin Thomas, Jr., 42, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Thomas has previously been convicted of possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, selling cocaine, twice assaulting a female, and twice driving while impaired. (3:20-cr-278)
Chareo Demarcus Johnson, 23, of Lancaster, South Carolina, was sentenced to 105 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Johnson has previously been convicted of firearm and drug offenses in South Carolina. (3:21-cr-66)
Jamorris Demonte Sanders, 23, of Chester, South Carolina, was sentenced to 104 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, dealing firearms without a license, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Sanders has previously been convicted of firearms and drug distribution offenses in South Carolina. (3:20-cr-218)
Timothy Antonio Flanagan, 35, of Lancaster, South Carolina, was sentenced to 84 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and to conspiracy to traffic crack cocaine. Flanagan has previously been convicted in South Carolina of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, distributing drugs, and financial identity fraud. (3:20-cr-218)
Bridget Cherie Chambers, 33, of Monroe, was sentenced to 66 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chambers has previous convictions for possession of stolen goods, drug possession, identity theft, and other fraud offenses. (3:20-cr-279)
Elliot Carmel Fincher, 33, of Marshville, N.C., was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. During the investigation, Fincher sold five firearms on five dates to undercover law enforcement officers. Fincher was previously convicted in Union County for second-degree murder and discharging a weapon into occupied property in Union County. (3:20-cr-217)
Larry Eddie Crowder Jr., 33, of Waxhaw, N.C., was sentenced to 36 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Crowder has previously been convicted of driving while impaired and twice assaulting a female. (3:20-cr-219)
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the ATF, FBI, DEA, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe Police Department for their investigative efforts.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Spaugh and David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Charlotte prosecuted the cases.
Self-Professed Bodybuilder Sentenced to Federal Prison After Stealing Money from the U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A federal district judge in Ft. Pierce has sentenced a military veteran, and self-proclaimed bodybuilder, to one year in federal prison after lying to the VA in order to obtain disability benefits.
Zachary Barton, a veteran of the United States Army, lied about the extent of his mental and physical impairments to receive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits to which he was not entitled. Specifically, Barton manipulated the results of subjective tests of mental health claiming he was in combat, which made him eligible for benefits relating to PTSD and self-reported his inability to lift weights more than 10-20 pounds or walk without the benefit of a cane. The VA found that Barton was 100% disabled based on the manipulated test responses.
Despite his claimed impairments to the VA, surveillance footage, social media posts, and other evidence showed Barton had no such limitations. Barton engaged with and provided workout advice to others and performed strenuous weight-lifting activity, including leg pressing 650 pounds and chest pressing over 300 pounds. He performed activities of daily life such as shopping, driving a car and walking his pet without any difficulty.
In addition to the one-year prison sentence, the court ordered Barton to pay $245, 932.52 in restitution to the VA.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge, VA Office of the Inspector General, Southeast Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon on August 11.
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by AUSA Robin Waugh.
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 21-cr-80106.
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Scott Township Man Pleads Guilty in $3,8 Million Fraud on the Payroll Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A suburban Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Randy Frasinelli, age 66, of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Frasinelli filed at least six fraudulent applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and received more than $3.8 million. Instead of using the money for payroll, rent, utilities, or the other purposes authorized under the PPP, Frasinelli used the money to fund individual investment accounts and purchase luxury items for himself and his family, including vehicles, works of art, precious metals, firearms, and a villa in Mexico.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2022 The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Randy Frasinelli.
Rollin’ 30s Crips Leader Sentenced to 37 YearsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Three Roanoke men, all members of the Rollin’ 30s Crips, a criminal street gang responsible for two murders in the City of Roanoke, were sentenced yesterday in federal court.
Sean Denzel Guerrant, 31, a.k.a. “Harlem Denk,” pled guilty in November 2021 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. These two counts included responsibility for a murder as well as a separate count involving a conspiracy to murder a different victim. Yesterday he was sentenced to 37 years in prison.
Trayvone Raycron Kasey, 21, pled guilty in July 2020 to federal racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death, interference with commerce by robbery, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. Yesterday, Kasey was sentenced to 36 years in prison.
Demonte Rashod Mack, 32, pled guilty in November 2021 to racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to commit murder. Mack was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in federal prison.
Chauncey Dion Levesy, 28, pled guilty in August 2019 to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. He will be sentenced later this year.
“One of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice is the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes. Ensuring the safety of our neighbors is the cornerstone of a thriving and successful community,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The three individuals sentenced today posed real threats to Roanoke’s safety, and this outcome holds them accountable for their crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute violent offenders in federal court and hold them to account for their crimes.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners are working diligently to investigate and arrest violent offenders plaguing the Roanoke area,” Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “Today's sentencing of these Rollin' 30s street gang members is a testament to our partnerships and commitment to addressing violent crime in our communities. We encourage community partnerships in this endeavor and implore citizens to report violent crime to the FBI at 804-261-1044 or via tips.FBI.gov.”
“This was a long, difficult case for this department and our community,” said Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman. “Countless hours were poured into this investigation by members of the Roanoke Police Department. This case touched the lives and careers of many officers and detectives, who will never forget the young man who was murdered. While nothing we do will bring him back, we hope this outcome brings some peace to his family, friends and those who loved him. This outcome would not have happened without the successful partnerships between the Roanoke Police Department and our local, state and federal partners. These men are being held accountable for their actions, and Roanoke is a safer place as a result. This is a message to those in our community who choose to perpetuate gun violence and organized crime in our city: we will find you and do everything we can to hold you accountable for your actions.”
“I am extremely proud of the men and women from all of these law enforcement agencies who put in the time and hard work to bring this complex case to a conclusion,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “These convictions and sentences hopefully send a strong message that neither Roanoke City nor the Roanoke Valley will serve as safe havens for violent gang activity and other lawless acts. This case is just the beginning of several ongoing efforts in the region and we will continue to put pressure on violent offenders and gangs in order to once again make our community a place where families and law-abiding citizens can feel safe. Only through working together can we make a difference.”
Guerrant, Kasey, Levesy, and Mack were members of the Rollin’ 30s Crips, which also called itself the “Dirt Gang.” The Rollin’ 30s Crips are a national criminal street gang operating in cities throughout the United States. The Roanoke set of the Rollin’ 30s operated primarily in northwest Roanoke, centered in and around the Lansdowne neighborhood.
Guerrant has admitted that he, Kasey, Mack, Levesy, and others conspired to conduct a pattern of racketeering activity, including multiple threats and acts of violence. Specifically, Guerrant ordered Nickalas Lee, a seventeen-year-old, to kill D.F. to atone for his violations and perceived disloyalty to the gang.
In the early morning hours of June 15, 2017, Kasey drove Nickalas Lee to pick up D.F., while Levesy and Mack followed them to a nearby Roanoke apartment complex. After arriving at the apartment complex, everyone except Levesy exited their vehicles while D.F. ran away and hid, leaving Mack, Kasey and Nickalas Lee together in one of the parking areas. D.F. was able to escape because Nickalas Lee warned him that he was in danger. After D.F. escaped, Nickalas Lee refused to hand over his firearm to Kasey until Mack pointed his own firearm at Nickalas Lee and told him to give it up. After handing over his firearm to Kasey, Nickalas Lee ran away in an attempt to escape, but both Kasey and Mack chased him and ultimately shot Nickalas Lee twice in the back and killed him.
After the shooting, Mack, Kasey, and Levesy returned to the gang’s “trap house” and met up with Guerrant and other Rollin’ 30s gang members, at which time everything that occurred was reported to Guerrant.
Eight months later, on February 9, 2018, Kasey arranged to meet with Markel Girty. When Girty arrived, Kasey leaned into the car, shot him once in the chest, and then stole his belongings. Girty was able to drive away from the scene, but later died from the gunshot wound.
The City of Roanoke Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force investigated this case along with other law enforcement assets from the Virginia State Police, the Roanoke County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller, Coleman Adams, and Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the 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.
Rochester Man Arrested on Gun and Drug Charges After Fleeing PoliceRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joshua Massey, 32, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, possession of firearm by convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a fine of $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on July 30, 2022, Rochester Police Officers responded to an Oneida Street residence in Rochester, for a report of menacing with a firearm. Victim 1 told officers that Massey parked a vehicle, exited the vehicle, drew a black handgun, and pointed it at Victim 1 and second victim as he approached them, and threatened to shoot them. Victim 1 and Victim 2 ran into a residence, while Massey got into the vehicle and drove away. While officers were speaking with Victim 1, Massey drove by, and Victim 1 immediately shouted “that's him.” Officers returned to their patrol vehicle to initiate a vehicle stop, activated their lights and sirens, and tried to catch up with Massey’s vehicle. However, before they could stop him, Massey crashed his vehicle at the corner of Perkins Avenue and Norran Drive, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Massey was taken into custody a short time later. A loaded 9mm pistol and approximately 39 bags of suspected cocaine were recovered from the car.
Massey made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing on August 18, 2022.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John Devito.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Rochester Man Arrested on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian G. Cruz, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 2, 2022, Rochester Police Officers on patrol observed Cruz standing on the sidewalk and displaying what appeared to be a firearm to another male. After stopping their vehicle and approaching Cruz, the officers observed what appeared to be the outline of firearm in Cruz’s left front shorts pocket. Cruz said he was going to grab his ID and attempted to reach into the pocket. The officers yelled for Cruz not to reach for the gun, at which point the officers grabbed his arms in an attempt to stop him from pulling out the firearm. Cruz continued to reach for the firearm and fought with officers as they were trying to secure him. As Cruz was being secured, he yelled to the officers that they could take the gun out of his shorts pocket. The officers removed a loaded .380 caliber handgun. Officers continued to pat down Cruz and also recovered quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, and suspected fentanyl and heroin.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John Devito.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Rapid City Man Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Tyler Bullman, age 25, was indicted on July 21, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on August 12, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge stems from Bullman, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, knowingly being in possession of a semi-automatic pistol in Rapid City in April 2022. The charge is merely an accusation and Bullman is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Bullman was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Morris, 37, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition, before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McGrath, who is handling the case, stated that on May 27, 2021, two groups of men appeared to exchange words and began pushing and shoving one another at a corner store on North Street in Rochester. Morris and an unidentified individual produced firearms and exchanged gunfire outside of the store before fleeing the area. Rochester Police Officers responded and secured a cartridge case that had been ejected from Morris’s pistol, as well as video footage from both inside and outside of the store. Morris was identified as one of the shooters in the video. He was later taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal Service. Morris has three prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing ammunition.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge John B. Devito, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, and the U.S. Marshals Task Force, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 7, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Larimer.
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Presque Isle Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking in Aroostook CountyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Presque Isle man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Conner Clark, 25, to four years in prison and five years of supervised release. Clark pleaded guilty in November 2021.
According to court records, between January 2017 and August 2018, Clark and other members of the conspiracy distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in northern Maine. Clark coordinated multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine from Arizona to conspirators who distributed it in Aroostook County. Clark also sent thousands of dollars in cash to the out-of-state supply source.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Corrected 08/16/22 with correct sentence (48 months) and age of defendant at time of sentencing (25)
Pierre Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on August 15, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Taylor Klein a/k/a Taylor Huemoeller, age 32, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Klein was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Klein was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. She pled guilty on April 11, 2022. The conviction stems from Klein conspiring with others, including her husband, John Klein, to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine in and around central South Dakota. It was reasonably foreseeable to Klein that over 500 grams of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
Klein’s spouse, John Klein, who was also involved in the conspiracy was previously sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, FBI, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Klein was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pakistani Doctor Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization., announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Muhammad Masood, 30, a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan, was formerly employed as a Research Coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B Visa. Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood made several statements to others, including pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (“ISIS”) and its leader, and expressing his desire to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS. Masood also expressed his desire to conduct “lone wolf” terrorist attacks in the United States. On Feb. 21, 2020, Masood purchased a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois to Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria. On March 16, 2020, Masood’s travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Masood then planned to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who he believed would assist him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to ISIS territory.
On March 19, 2020, Masood traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival at MSP, Masood checked in for his flight and was subsequently arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter, and Dmitriy Slavin and Stephanie Sweeten of the National Security Division.
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Extorting A Child into Creating Sexually Explicit MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Andre Maurice Lewis (37, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor. Lewis faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, in January 2021, Lewis initiated a Snapchat conversation with the 12-year-old daughter of an acquaintance. Lewis did not reveal his true identity to the child and claimed to be 20 years old. Even though the child told Lewis how old she was, Lewis expressed an interest in meeting with her for sex. The child rebuffed Lewis’s sexual advances, telling him that he was making her uncomfortable and that she was “just a little girl.” Lewis continued to press the child and threatened to tell the child’s parent about their Snapchat conversation unless the child did as Lewis said. Lewis provided evidence that he knew the child’s parent, to underscore his ability to carry out his threats. Later in the evening, out of fear, the child livestreamed a sexually explicit video of herself at Lewis’s behest.
This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Darrell Hunter, 50, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hunter to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Hunter will serve a five-year term of supervised release.
On March 11, 2021, March 24, 2021, and April 6, 2021, a confidential informant purchased a total of 36 grams of methamphetamine from Hunter at his residence in Omaha. On April 13, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Hunter’s residence and located a total of 88 grams of methamphetamine along with three firearms, ammunition, and a scale.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Metro Drug Task Force.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Scott Edward Snook, 47, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, admitted to possessing a Hi-Point, Model C, 9mm semi-automatic pistol in Charleston on August 3, 2020. Snook further admitted to possessing a .22-caliber rifle that had been modified to be less than 26 inches in length on that date.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Snook knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver heroin in Kanawha County Circuit Court on November 14, 2017.
Snook is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell 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. 2:21-cr-10.
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Nine Members and Associates of Genovese and Bonanno Organized Crime Families Charged with Racketeering and Illegal Gambling OffensesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, two indictments were unsealed charging nine defendants with racketeering, illegal gambling, money laundering conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and related offenses. As alleged, charged with racketeering are: Anthony Pipitone, a captain and soldier in the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra; Vito Pipitone, Bonanno soldier; Agostino Gabriele, Bonanno associate; Carmelo Polito, acting captain in the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra; Joseph Macario, Genovese soldier; and Genovese associates Salvatore Rubino and Joseph Rutigliano.
Eight defendants were arrested this morning. Seven are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. Vito Pipitone was arrested in Wellington, Florida and will make his initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Miami. Joseph Rutigliano remains at large.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Anne T. Donnelly, District Attorney, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, announced the charges.
“Today’s arrests of members from two La Cosa Nostra crime families demonstrate that the Mafia continues to pollute our communities with illegal gambling, extortion, and violence while using our financial system in service to their criminal schemes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendants tried to hide their criminal activity by operating from behind the cover of a coffee bar, a soccer club, and a shoe repair shop, but our Office and our law enforcement partners exposed their illegal operations. Even more disturbing is the shameful conduct of a detective who betrayed his oath of office and the honest men and women of the Nassau County Police Department when he allegedly aligned himself with criminals.”
Mr. Peace thanked the New York City Police Department, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General for their assistance in the investigation.
“Current members of the five families demonstrate every day they are not averse to working together to further their illicit schemes, using the same tired methods to squeeze money from their victims. Enlisting alleged assistance from a member of law enforcement also proves they are willing to do all they can to hide their illegal behavior. Our active investigations show the mafia refuses to learn from history, and accept that at some point they will face justice for their crimes,” stated Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“This case is further proof that organized crime is alive and well in our communities,” stated District Attorney Donnelly. “These violent criminal organizations operated secret underground gambling parlors in local commercial establishments, generating substantial amounts of money in back rooms while families unknowingly shopped and ate mere feet away. These Mafia figures were assisted by a sworn member of law enforcement, who helped these gambling dens to thrive by offering police raids on competing clubs. The Mafia has brought untold violence and extortion into our neighborhoods for decades, even threatening the life of an individual as part of this case. This indictment sends a strong message that we are committed to rooting out corruption and organized crime. We thank the EDNY, the FBI and the Nassau County Police Department DA Squad for their partnership in helping to keep our communities safe.”
As detailed in the indictments and court filings, members of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime families operated several illegal gambling operations in the Eastern District of New York. Beginning in at least May 2012, the Genovese and Bonanno families jointly operated a lucrative illegal gambling operation in Lynbrook, New York called the Gran Caffe. The profits earned through this and other gambling locations generated substantial revenue, which was then laundered through cash transfers to the defendants and through “kicking up” to the crime families’ leaders. Rutigliano and Rubino collected the proceeds for the Genovese crime family and distributed them up to higher- ranking members, including Polito and Macario. At times, Gabriele collected the proceeds for the Bonanno crime family and distributed them up to higher-ranking members of that family, including Anthony Pipitone and Vito Pipitone.
In addition to the Gran Caffe, the Genovese crime family—through Polito, Macario, Rutigliano, Rubino and others—operated illegal gambling parlors at establishments called Sal’s Shoe Repair and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club. The Bonanno crime family—through Anthony Pipitone, Vito Pipitone, Gabriele and others—operated illegal gambling parlors at establishments called the Soccer Club, La Nazionale Soccer Club and Glendale Sports Club.
Carmelo Polito, an alleged acting captain in the Genovese crime family, is also charged with operating an illegal online gambling scheme in which bets were placed on sporting events through a website called “PGWLines.” In connection with his operation of PGWLines, Polito is charged with attempting to extort an individual who lost several thousand dollars in bets he placed through the website. For example, in an October 2019 call concerning a delinquent debtor whose “face” Polito had previously threatened to “break,” Polito instructed another individual to relay a new message to the debtor: “Tell him I’m going to put him under the f------g bridge.”
As also detailed in the indictments and other court filings, Hector Rosario, a detective with the Nassau County Police Department, accepted money from the Bonanno crime family in exchange for offering to arrange police raids of competing gambling locations. Rosario is charged with obstructing a grand jury investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and lying to the FBI.
The illegal gambling locations include:
- La Nazionale Soccer Club, 80-13 Myrtle Avenue, Queens
- Glendale Sports Club, 74-03 Myrtle Avenue, Queens
- Gran Caffe, 31 Hempstead Avenue, Lynbrook
- Soccer Club, 129 Rockaway Avenue, Valley Stream
- Sal’s Shoe Repair, 41 Merrick Avenue, Merrick
- Centro Calcio Italiano Club, 1007 Little East Neck Road, West Babylon
The charges in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Drew Rolle, Anna Karamigios and Special Assistant United States Attorney Abigail Margulies are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
JOSEPH MACARIO (also known as “Joe Fish”)
Age: 68
West Islip, New YorkCARMELO POLITO (also known as “Carmine Polito”)
Age: 63
Whitestone, New YorkSALVATORE RUBINO (also known as “Sal the Shoemaker”)
Age: 58
Bethpage, New YorkJOSEPH RUTIGLIANO (also known as “Joe Box”)
Age: 63
Commack, New YorkMARK FEUER
Age: 59
Oceanside, New YorkAGOSTINO GABRIELE
Age: 35
Glendale, New YorkANTHONY PIPITONE (also known as “Little Anthony”)
Age: 49
Deer Park, New YorkVITO PIPITONE
Age: 40
Wellington, FloridaHECTOR ROSARIO
Age: 49
Mineola, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 22-CR-355 (ENV); 22-CR-356 (ENV)
New Jersey Man Charged with Murder-for-Hire Scheme Targeting Minor GirlRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was indicted for his role in a murder-for-hire scheme to kill a minor girl, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Armando Conceicao, 57, is charged in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder for hire and causing another to travel interstate or using interstate facilities with intent that a murder for hire be committed.
According to the indictment:
In May 2021, Conceicao communicated with another individual for the purposes of killing or locating another person to kill the victim. Conceicao met with this individual around that time and provided victim’s address in Texas, a photograph of the victim, and a quantity of cash so that individual could conduct reconnaissance at the victim’s residence. The individual drove from New Jersey to Texas and photographed the victim’s residence, a car belonging to the victim’s father, and surrounding area. Conceicao instructed individual to proceed with the scheme to murder the victim.
The murder-for-hire charge is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olta Bejleri of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New Jersey Correctional Officer Admits Accepting BribeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A correctional officer at the Salem County Correctional Facility today admitted accepting a bribe in exchange for agreeing to smuggle a telephone into the jail for a prisoner, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Marcus Kidd, 36, of Elmer, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of attempted extortion under color of official right.
According to documents filed in this and other cases and statements made in court:
In May 2022, Kidd agreed with a federal pretrial detainee housed at the Salem County Correctional Facility to smuggle a phone into the jail and provide the phone to the detainee in exchange for a $5,000 bribe. Kidd met with an associate of the detainee at a parking lot in Elmer, New Jersey, and accepted $5,000 in cash and a cell phone.
The count of attempted extortion under color of official right to which Kidd pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 20, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with FBI, Philadelphia Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire, and Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Nebraska Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Valentine, Nebraska, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Abusive Sexual Contact, and Coercion and Enticement.
Christopher Franklin Beauvais, age 37, was indicted on July 11, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 11, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for Aggravated Sexual Abuse is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges Beauvais engaged in a pattern of criminal sexual conduct between 2006 and 2021, including causing another to engage in a sexual act with him by using force on November 16, 2020, in Todd County, South Dakota.
These charges are merely accusations and Beauvais is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem is prosecuting the case.
Beauvais was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which is scheduled for October 18, 2022.`
Myrtle Beach Family Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax-Related Coronavirus Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA —Two members of a Myrtle Beach family were sentenced to federal prison, and a third to probation, for their roles in a scheme to defraud the Government out of more than $500,000 by submitting false tax returns, and by stealing economic impact payments sent to others as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Specifically, Donna Karakatsani, 48, was sentenced to two years in prison while her son, Ivo Krasimirov Ivanov, 29, was sentenced to a year and a half in prison. Todor Milkov Stoenchev, 54, Karakatsani’s husband and Ivanov’s stepfather, was sentenced to five years of probation given his more limited role in the scheme.
“During a time when many families were struggling to make mortgage payments, this family was buying houses with money they stole from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “This fraud scheme was complex, lasted over several years, and took place primarily during a pandemic when these funds were sorely needed. These Defendants deserve their sentences, and I want to thank our federal partners who followed every lead, including interviewing dozens of foreign nationals and poring through mountains of tax returns and foreign-language correspondence. Their quick and thorough investigation also allowed the Government to recover a substantial portion of the stolen funds.”
“The sentences handed down today highlight the seriousness of the Defendants’ conduct,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte Field Office of Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation. “We will remain vigilant in identifying and investigating those who seek to defraud the American taxpayers by fraudulently using identities to file false claims for refunds.”
“Our nation went through one of the most challenging virus outbreaks in recent memory and one of our Government’s responses was establishing the CARES Act to lessen the economic impact on its citizens,” said Michael Speckhardt, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations, U.S. Department of State. “Unfortunately, the Defendants saw this as an opportunity to enrich themselves through a fraud scheme for which they were caught. Today’s sentencing underscores the Department of State’s commitment to prosecuting those who undermine the integrity of our programs.”
Evidence presented to the Court showed that beginning sometime in 2020, the IRS, along with Department of State OIG, began an investigation into the family regarding false claims for tax refunds and stolen refunds. Specifically, Karakatsani and Ivanov held themselves out as tax preparers and targeted foreign individuals, usually Bulgarians, who had spent time in the United States. They would recruit the foreign nationals through the internet and at various locations around Myrtle Beach. They also submitted numerous tax returns in the names of these foreign individuals, and would often cause those foreign individuals to receive refunds, primarily education credits. However, as foreign workers they were not entitled to these education credits.
To help keep the scheme from being detected, the Defendants enlisted other individuals to open U.S. bank accounts into which these refunds were deposited, and paid these individuals $100 for each account they opened. Ultimately, Defendants caused 68 bank accounts to be opened across 16 different banks in the names of 14 different individuals. Defendants altered their scheme when, as part of the CARES Act, the Government sent economic impact payments to qualifying individuals to their bank accounts on file. Given the false returns they had already filed, hundreds of economic impact payments were deposited into the bank accounts under Defendants’ control. Defendants retained the economic impact payments for themselves although they were aware that neither they, nor the foreign individuals to whom the payments were directed, were entitled to these funds. Defendants used the money for personal expenses and to buy real estate. Ultimately, Defendants defrauded the Government out of $530,292.60.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Karakatsani to 24 months in federal prison, and Ivanov to 18 months in federal prison, both to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. She sentenced Stoenchev to five years’ probation. Additionally, the Government recovered approximately $380,000 of stolen funds primarily through sales of the ill-gotten property, and the Defendants were ordered to pay an additional $150,893.58 in restitution.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across Government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related 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. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The case was investigated by the IRS and Department of State OIG, with assistance from the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, the Myrtle Beach Police Department, and the Horry County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Shoemake, who also serves as the Office’s Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator, prosecuted the case.
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Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Importer Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced David Torres-Velez (48, Davenport) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Torres-Velez had pleaded guilty on April 20, 2022.
According to court documents, Torres-Velez was involved in multiple kilogram-level cocaine transactions over the course of 2020 and 2021. On February 4, 2020, law enforcement stopped an individual in his vehicle leaving a retail store in Tampa who was found to be carrying two kilograms of cocaine. Minutes later, law enforcement stopped Torres-Velez as he left the same store. When Torres-Velez’s car was stopped and searched, Torres-Velez was found to be carrying $2,480 in a black satchel and another $53,400 in cash in a hidden compartment in his car.
In a separate investigation, DEA identified Torres-Velez as a source of cocaine that was being sent through the U.S. Mail. On August 17, 2020, Torres-Velez arranged to have a package sent from Puerto Rico to an address in Orlando where he attempted to recover that shipment. Law enforcement identified, seized, and searched the package and found it to contain two kilograms of cocaine. On January 20, 2021, the DEA learned that Torres-Velez was carrying another kilogram of cocaine. Those drugs were seized during a traffic stop.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Moss Point Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man was sentenced to 211 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Labaron Mitchell, 38, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to information presented to the Court, between July 22, 2021, and January 7, 2022, law enforcement officers purchased over 280 grams of methamphetamine and 2.7 grams of crack cocaine from Mitchell and one of his coconspirators.
Mitchell pled guilty on May 17, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. His coconspirator has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for His Role in a Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Chai Vang, 40, St. Paul, Minnesota was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 ½ years in federal prison for his role in a heroin and fentanyl conspiracy. Vang pleaded guilty on January 13, 2022 to conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
Vang was the source of supply for David Stone III, who was distributing heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in northwestern Wisconsin in 2019 and 2020. Vang worked with Stone and other members of the conspiracy to coordinate the transportation of drugs into Wisconsin for approximately five months. Vang’s relevant conduct included approximately 270 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of fentanyl/heroin.
In addition to the defendant’s serious conduct in this case, Judge Conley remarked that the defendant’s criminal history involved violent offenses that terrorized his victims. Judge Conley further noted that Vang’s pretrial release was revoked twice, demonstrating a lack of commitment to leading a law-abiding life.
Vang is the last defendant of the conspiracy facing federal charges to be sentenced. The leader of the conspiracy, David Stone III, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on February 16, 2020. Marcie Leoso was sentenced to 5 years in prison; Aaron Guski was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison; and Mala Persaud was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
The charges against Vang and his codefendants were the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Ashland Police Department, Washburn Police Department, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Red Cliff Police Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.
Mexican felon guilty of third illegal reentryRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal judge has imposed a guilty verdict against a 57-year-old Mexican man of illegally re-entering the United States after previously being removed, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo immediately handed down a guilty verdict against Antonio Montes-Ortiz following a bench trial. Montes-Ortiz is a citizen of Mexico who was found illegally present within the United States. He was previously convicted twice of the same crime.
On Feb. 15, law enforcement found Montes-Ortiz walking in the brush near a creek that leads to the Rio Grande River on Highway 83 near Zapata. At that time, he admitted he was a citizen from Mexico and entered the country by wading across the river.
During trial, the judge heard that Montes-Ortiz had been ordered deported on Dec. 20, 1996. He has since been convicted twice for re-entry by deported alien. A fingerprint expert also testified that Montes-Ortiz’s fingerprints matched those on the deportation documents.
An official from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provided testimony that Montes-Ortiz did not seek permission to reapply for admission into the United States.
Montes-Ortiz is set for sentencing on Nov. 15. At that time, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard A. Cantu and Leslie Cortez are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Rey Daniel Facio-Garcia (27, Mexico) today pleaded guilty to two indictments— one charging him with possession of a firearm affecting commerce by an illegal alien and another charging him with illegal re-entry into the United States after a previous deportation. Facio-Garcia faces a combined penalty of up to 12 years in federal prison on the offenses. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to court documents, on September 4, 2021, officers from the Leesburg Police Department responded to a residence for a weapons complaint, where they encountered Facio-Garcia sitting in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle surrounded by empty beer cans. Facio-Garcia fled from the officers but was quickly apprehended. The officers located Facio-Garcia’s .45 caliber handgun in the vehicle under the driver’s seat and a .45 caliber shell casing inside the kitchen of the residence. Other persons inside the residence reported that Facio-Garcia had brandished the firearm and fired a shot in the kitchen. Records checks revealed that Facio-Garcia was a Mexican citizen who previously has been deported from the United States in 2014 and 2015. He never had received permission to lawfully return to the United States.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Leesburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
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.
Mercer, PA Man Indicted for Threatening FBIRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Mercer, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of interstate threats and influencing or retaliating against a federal officer by threat, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The fourteen-count Indictment named Adam Bies, 46, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Bies made threats to murder, injure, and assault agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the days following the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida on August 8, 2022, pursuant to a federal search warrant.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Matteson, Illinois Man Sentenced to 77 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Javell Thompson, 34 years old, of Matteson, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Thompson was sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on October 24, 2020, law enforcement in Gary, Indiana stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation which Thompson was driving. During a search of the vehicle, a pistol with an extended magazine was recovered. Thompson admitted to possessing the firearm. His criminal history revealed that he has two prior felony convictions, an aggravated fleeing conviction from 2013 and a burglary conviction from 2015, as such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Gang Response Investigative Team and the Gary Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth.
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.
Local home health care business owner sent to prison for $10M Medicare fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Houston woman has been sent to federal prison following her conviction of committing and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Naomi Moore pleaded guilty April 7.
Today, U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge imposed the statutory maximum of 60 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Eskridge noted a variance would not appropriate given the amount of money involved in the scheme.
Moore was the owner of Friend’s Place and Metro Health Services, both home health care service businesses located in Houston.
From May 2006 to June 2019, Moore billed Medicare by fraudulently using names of beneficiaries that were not patients of Metro or Friend’s Place. They did not need home health services, were not treated by a physician and had never been patients.
Moore created false documents and billed Medicare for approximately $10.7 million in purported home health services. The federal health insurance paid nearly $6.8 million on those claims.
Moore was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicare Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Ansari prosecuted the case.
Local Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison After Being in Possession of a Firearm During an Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Reginald Pigram, 39, has been sentenced to 102 months in federal prison for illegally
possessing a firearm during an attempted robbery. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney,
announced the sentence today.According to information presented in court, on September 15, 2020, officers with the Memphis
Police Department responded to an attempted robbery at a gas station on Old Austin Peay Highway.
The victim reported that while he was unloading his delivery truck, a male approached him, lifted
his shirt to brandish a firearm, and demanded that the victim hand over his wallet. The victim
pulled out a knife and refused, and the suspect walked away to a hotel next door. The victim
briefly followed the suspect, who then pointed the firearm at the victim.Responding officers went to the hotel and the management identified the suspect as a guest and led
officers to a specific room where he was staying. When officers knocked on the door to the room and
announced their presence, they heard someone manipulating the toilet lid. Several minutes after
officers repeatedly knocked on the door, Pigram answered the door. He matched the suspect
description and was detained.Officers secured the hotel room, obtained a warrant, and recovered two handguns and multiple
magazines (including one high capacity) from the tank of the toilet. One of the handguns was a
Ruger .45 and the other was a Springfield .45.On October 26, 2021, Pigram pled guilty to being a felon in possession of two firearms.
On August 11, 2022, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Pigram to 102
months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is
no parole in the federal system.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.Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Liberian National Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for His Role in an Online Romance Scam Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced Michael Moore, 40, a Liberian national, to 10 years in prison for his role in an online romance scheme that targeted older adults, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Conrad also ordered Moore to pay more than $1.7 million as restitution to the victims of the fraud.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Barry Chastain, Port Director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Area in Charlotte join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, including evidence presented at Moore’s October 2021 trial, beginning in January 2016, Moore and others engaged in a fraudulent scheme to defraud unsuspecting victims, many of whom were in or near retirement, by perpetrating an online romance scam. According to court records, Moore and his co-conspirators generally targeted victims through Facebook, senior dating websites, and other social media platforms, convincing victims through online communications that they were romantically interested in the victims. The fraudsters, who often claimed they were located overseas for work, would start requesting gift cards or small amounts of money, often falsely telling the victims they needed the money to pay for airfare or other travel expenses to visit the victims. Generally, the fraudsters would then up the ante and request more money to supposedly pay for additional fictitious fees or costs in order for the visits to take place or for packages to clear customs. Evidence at trial showed that Moore and his co-conspirators would continue to take the victims’ money until there was no more money left.
Trial evidence showed that Moore served as the scheme’s “money man” or “bagman.” As part of the scheme, Moore purchased one-way tickets and flew around the country to meet with and pick up money from unsuspecting victims located in multiple cities. Moore was caught trying to fly out of Charlotte with $75,000 in cash, which he had collected from a victim. During the trial, the government presented evidence of pictures and videos that depicted Moore with piles of cash, bragging about the money he had taken from victims. In total, Moore and his co-conspirators stole over $1.5 million from at least 30 victims through this romance scheme.
In addition, evidence at trial further established that Moore lied to CBP officers and HSI agents when he was questioned at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after he was caught attempting to carry $75,000 in cash through airport security. Instead of telling law enforcement the truth – that he had received the cash from a romance scam victim – Moore told law enforcement that he had received the money from a Liberian government official to buy used cars. Later, Moore made similar false statements and representations on a federal form in an attempt to have the $75,000 returned to him.
A federal jury convicted Moore of wire fraud and two counts of making a false statement to an agency of the United States. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In determining today’s sentence, the Court highlighted the heinous nature of the crimes and Moore’s callous cruelty toward his victims, which caused the victims tremendous financial and emotional hardships.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked CBP and HSI for handling the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Vento and Daniel Ryan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by investigating and prosecuting financial scams that target seniors; educating older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud; and promoting greater coordination with law enforcement partners. For more information please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/elder-justice-initiative
Examples of financial scams targeting seniors are:
- Lottery Phone Scams – Callers convince seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Grandparent Scams – Fraudsters convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to make rent, repair a car, or even money for bail.
- Romance scams – Victims believe they are in an online relationship and their love interest needs money to visit them in the U.S. or some other purpose.
- Federal Agent Imposter Scams – Scammers pose as federal agents, including IRS agents, claiming the victim owes a debt for a crime committed, or for unpaid taxes.
- Sham business opportunities – Fraudsters convince victims to invest in sham business opportunities or investments.
To avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a “lucrative” business deal.
- If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
If you have been contacted by a scammer or believe you have fallen victim to a scam, please contact the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-Fraud-11 (1-833-372-8311). The National Elder Fraud hotline was created for the public to report fraud against individuals who are age 60 or older. For more information about the hotline, please visit https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.
Levant Man Pleads Guilty to $300k EIDL and PPP Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Levant man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to wire fraud and money laundering charges stemming from his fraudulent receipt of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) funds, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records, Craig C. Franck, 40, formerly owned CCF Acoustics LLC and CCF Acoustical Systems. Neither company was in business, generated income, or had employees in 2020 or 2021. In the summer of 2020, Franck received $177,400 in EIDL funds after submitting two fraudulent loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the applications, he made false representations regarding the companies, misrepresented that the funds would be used to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic, and claimed that he was not subject to criminal charges. Franck, who had been arrested on felony fraud charges in Florida in July 2020, illegally used the EIDL funds to retain a criminal defense attorney and post bail in that criminal case. He also used the funds to purchase a pickup truck and pay for other personal expenses.
In March 2021, Franck received a $145,060 PPP loan after submitting a fraudulent loan application to a private lender, providing false IRS documents and checking account statements in support of the application. He spent the PPP funds on a second pickup truck, online retail purchases, living expenses, and other prohibited uses.
Franck faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
“My office and our federal law enforcement partners will continue the important work of bringing to justice those who defrauded the economic relief programs made available under the CARES Act,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “These funds were meant to keep small businesses running during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will hold accountable those who sought to take advantage of a national emergency simply to line their own pockets.”
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Leader of Brighton Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The leader of a Boston-area drug trafficking organization (DTO) has pleaded guilty to his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Matthew Drayton, 45, of Boston, pleaded guilty on Aug. 10, 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 14, 2022.
Drayton was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall, which resulted in the charging of two different drug trafficking conspiracies during the overall period of November 2018 through June 2020.
According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated a DTO for which Drayton was both a leader and a drug distributor. The DTO was comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the DTO assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs – most of which was cocaine or cocaine base, which the DTO supplied to customers, wholesalers and distributors. As a result, the DTO caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life for other residents. As the investigation continued, law enforcement ultimately identified another DTO operating within the Boston area and targeted its large-scale drug suppliers and their associates.
Court documents allege that Drayton was the leader of the Fidelis-Way related DTO whose members were responsible for the packaging, selling, storing and distribution of drugs to, or collection of proceeds from, drug customers, drug runners or other drug distributors and suppliers. It is estimated that Drayton distributed between 280 and 840 grams of cocaine base during the course of his participation in the Fidelis Way DTO. Drayton also participated in a number of controlled buys involving cocaine base during the investigation. Additionally, Drayton used violence or threats of violence to maintain control within the DTO, including at times directing such force against the DTO’s drug runners.
Drayton is the sixth defendant to plead guilty in the Fidelis-Way related drug conspiracy. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lawtey Man Sentenced to over 17 Years for Producing Files of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Dawson Ladale Crews (24, Lawtey) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce sexually explicit depictions. The court also ordered Crews to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Crews had pleaded guilty on March 8, 2022, and has been detained since his arrest on June 7, 2021.
According to court documents, in July 2020, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received information that a purported “16-year-old” male offered a 12-year-old minor victim (MV1) money in exchange for naked pictures and sexual acts. CCSO responded and interviewed MV1 and the reporting party. CCSO learned that MV1 met the male, later determined to be Crews, on a social media application. Crews falsely told MV1 that he was 16 years old and requested nude pictures of MV1, which MV1 sent. Crews later requested additional photographs and threatened to post the pictures MV1 had already sent if MV1 did not comply and send more. Crews offered MV1 $40 to digitally penetrate her vagina and $100 for oral sex.
CCSO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) interviewed Crews at the Bradford County Jail, where he was detained on a separate charge of unlawful use of a communication device and transmission of harmful material to a minor. During the interview, Crews acknowledged having communicated with MV1 and said he is “more into underage girls than [girls his] own age.” He admitted being sexually attracted to 14–16-year-old girls and acknowledged that he offered MV1 money for nude images of herself. Crews admitted telling MV1 he was 15-16 years old and said he does so to keep underage girls talking.
Agents searched Crews’s phones, which revealed sexually explicit images of MV1 along with sexually explicit videos and images of a 16-year-old minor victim (MV2), who Crews had solicited over the same social media app. Crews used alias names to communicate with MV2 and other underage girls to threaten them and coerce them to send him sexually explicit photos.
“With the popularity of today’s social media applications, savvy and dangerous online predators are often able to entice impressionable children into a false sense of security,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “This sentence is an unwavering example of how HSI and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office are committed to stop these deviant child molesters and hold them accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Las Vegas Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
Brent Matthew Wilson (35) pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Wilson, on January 22, 2021, he possessed with the intent to distribute heroin — a Schedule I controlled substance. Approximately 62.6 gross grams of heroin was recovered along with cash, small baggies for individual packaging, and a scale. In addition to the drugs, Wilson possessed a Glock 17 handgun. Wilson has a prior felony conviction in Clark County. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
The maximum statutory penalties are 20 years in prison for the possession with intent to distribute charges, 10 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm charge, a term of supervised release, and a fine.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci is prosecuting the case.
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Lake St. Louis woman accused of defrauding her disabled uncleRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from Lake St. Louis was arrested Tuesday on an indictment accusing her of stealing more than $66,000 from her disabled uncle.
A federal grand jury in St. Louis on August 10 indicted Jessica Medrano, 41, on one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of access device fraud and 12 counts of wire fraud.
Medrano pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday to the charges.
The indictment says that between January 21 and May 16 of 2022, Medrano used a debit card account number issued to her uncle to make $12,668 worth of transactions at Walmart. During that same period, she electronically transferred more than $54,000 from her uncle’s bank account to her Cash App account, the indictment says.
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The access device fraud charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, and the identity theft charge has a mandatory two-year term consecutive to any other charge. All carry a potential fine of up to $250,000.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Kissimmee Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sexually Exploiting A ChildRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Rafael Antonio Bracero-Navas (50, Kissimmee) to 40 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child. The court also ordered Bracero-Navas to forfeit the cellphone that he had used to commit the offense. A jury had found Bracero-Navas guilty of seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child on March 4, 2022.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Bracero-Navas used a cellphone to take explicit photos of the minor’s pubic area. He did so covertly from outside a bathroom door, taking pictures through the crack under the door, as the minor was stepping out of the shower. Although Bracero-Navas had deleted the full-sized images from his phone, thumbnail images remained and were later discovered by law enforcement.
In addition to surreptitiously taking those pictures, Bracero-Navas had on multiple occasions engaged in other sexually abusive behaviors toward the minor, including repeatedly forcibly kissing the minor against her will and touching the minor’s genitals without the minor’s consent.
“As heartbreaking as it is to work these kinds of investigations, it’s rewarding to see the lengthy prison sentences handed down to these sexual predators,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “The FBI is committed to the work of exposing these abusers and ensuring they are brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily C. L. Chang and Amanda S. Daniels.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Alaska JurisdictionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor the Aug. 16, 2022, federal primary election in certain jurisdictions in the State of Alaska to ensure compliance with the minority language accessibility requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the disability accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. On election day, the Civil Rights Division will be monitoring in the following jurisdictions: Municipality of Anchorage, City and Borough of Juneau, Bethel Census Area, Dillingham Census Area and Kusilvak Census Area. During early/absentee voting, the Division has also monitored in the following jurisdictions: Municipality of Anchorage, City and Borough of Juneau, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.
The Division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with the federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the Division also deploys monitors from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
Individuals can file complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws by a complaint form on the department’s website https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931.
Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website, at https://www.ada.gov/.
Visit https://www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting rights laws. Visit https://www.ada.gov/ for more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Following a three-and-a-half-day jury trial in federal court, Travis Lester, 42, has
been found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr.,
United States Attorney, announced the guilty verdict today.According to information presented in court, on May 19, 2021, at approximately 1:00pm, the United
States Marshals Service and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team received
information from a confidential source that two wanted fugitives were staying in a room at the
Villa Inn Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.The fugitives were identified as Travis Lester, 42, and his girlfriend who had outstanding arrest
warrants. Detectives spoke with the hotel staff and learned which room they were staying in. The
marshals knocked on the door, and both Lester and his girlfriend answered. They were immediately
placed under arrest. From the doorway, officers observed a digital scale on the nightstand. While
searching Lester's person, deputies recovered 20 rocks of crack cocaine and Lester admitted he had
more drugs inside the room.Shelby County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit responded to the scene, secured a search warrant for
the room where a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, with a red extended magazine was recovered from
a plastic bag containing Lester's clothing. The gun was loaded with 16 live rounds of ammunition in
the magazine and 1 live round in the chamber.Lester’s prior felony convictions include felon in possession of ammunition in 2016, felon in
possession of a firearm in 2013 and reckless homicide in 2008. As a result of his prior felony
convictions, Lester is prohibited by federal law from possessing ammunition and
firearms.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 Project Safe Neighborhood, the Memphis Police Department, the
United States Marshal Service, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
(TBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).Sentencing is set for November 18, 2022, before United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays where
he faces up to ten years in federal prison followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no
parole in the federal system.Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Selling FentanylRead 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 Denver Komenda, 47, Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on October 22, 2021, investigators went to a residence on Locust Street in Jamestown to arrest a fugitive possibly located at the residence. When they arrived, investigators encountered Komenda, who gave permission for a search of the residence. Investigators were unsuccessful in locating the fugitive but discovered and seized a bag of fentanyl that was observed in Komenda’s bedroom.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence- driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for CarjackingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 92 months in prison for carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2019, Xavier Keshun Caldwell 23, of Jackson, used a firearm to forcefully take a car from a victim near Northside Drive and Bailey Avenue in Jackson.
Caldwell entered a plea of guilty to carjacking on April 28, 2022. As stated in court, Caldwell admitted to using a firearm to forcefully take the victim’s car.
U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate sentenced Caldwell to a prison term of 92 months to run consecutively to a 7 year sentence received in Madison County Circuit Court on February 19, 2020, for auto burglary. Judge Wingate also fined Caldwell $1500, and sentenced him to a term of 36 months supervised release following release from prison.
The case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne.
Indictment Unsealed Charging Former Member of Congress with Multiple Fraud Schemes and Campaign Contribution FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A 28-count indictment was unsealed today, charging Terrance John “TJ” Cox, 59, of Fresno, with 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Cox perpetrated multiple fraud schemes targeting companies he was affiliated with and their clients and vendors. Cox created unauthorized off-the-books bank accounts and diverted client and company money into those accounts through false representations, pretenses and promises. From 2013 to 2018, across two different fraud schemes, Cox illicitly obtained over $1.7 million in diverted client payments and company loans and investments he solicited and then stole.
In addition, Cox received mortgage loan funds from a lender for a property purchase by submitting multiple false representations to the lender, including fabricated bank statements and false statements that Cox intended to live in the property as his primary residence. In fact, he intended to and did buy the property to rent it to someone else.
Cox also fraudulently obtained a $1.5 million construction loan to develop the recreation area in Fresno known as Granite Park. Cox and his business partner’s nonprofit could not qualify for the construction loan without a financially viable party guaranteeing the loan. Cox falsely represented that one of his affiliated companies would guarantee the loan, and submitted a fabricated board resolution which falsely stated that at a meeting on a given date all company owners agreed to guarantee the Granite Park loan. No meeting took place, and the other owners did not agree to back the loan. The loan later went into default causing a loss of more than $1.28 million.
According to the indictment, when Cox was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, he perpetrated a scheme to fund and reimburse family members and associates for donations to his campaign. Cox arranged for over $25,000 in illegal straw or conduit donations to his campaign in 2017.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS‑Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Jeffrey A. Spivak are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Cox faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and money laundering. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for wire fraud affecting a financial institution and financial institution fraud. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for campaign contribution fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hitman for Violent Narcotics Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for His Role in Three MurdersRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that OSCAR VALDEZ-GARCIA, a/k/a “Pony,” an assassin for La Organización de Narcotraficantes Unidos (“La ONU”), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman to 40 years in prison. VALDEZ-GARCIA previously pled guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy, participating in a narcotics conspiracy, and participating in conspiracies to murder three people in aid of racketeering.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Oscar Valdez-Garcia murdered three people on behalf of a brutal drug cartel. His killings were depraved and despicable. In one instance, Valdez-Garcia and another gunman shot their victim, a double-amputee who was sitting in his wheelchair, 24 times in front of the victim’s daughter. Today Oscar Valdez-Garcia was rightly sentenced to 40 years in prison for his horrific crimes.”
According to the Indictment, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings:
VALDEZ-GARCIA was a member and enforcer of La ONU, a criminal enterprise involved in the distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine, including cocaine that was sent from Puerto Rico to New York. Cocaine supplied by La ONU was distributed in New York City, including out of a daycare center in the Bronx, New York. Members and associates of La ONU also engaged in acts of violence, including murder, to protect and expand the enterprise’s criminal operations and in connection with rivalries with other criminal organizations.
As an assassin for La ONU, VALDEZ-GARCIA participated in the murder of at least three people in 2006. Those murders involved heinous and brazen acts of violence. Specifically:
On June 23, 2006, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, VALDEZ-GARCIA shot and killed Ken Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Jean Adorno-Caballero on the orders of a senior member of La ONU because of the victims’ involvement in a drug robbery. On the day of the murders, VALDEZ-GARCIA asked the victims if they could give him a ride and he climbed into the backseat of their car. VALDEZ-GARCIA then asked to pull the car over and shot the victims four times each. VALDEZ-GARCIA then fled the scene and put the gun in a nearby trash can. The victims tried to flee to safety after being shot in the car, but soon collapsed and were left on the road and sidewalk to die.
On December 28, 2006, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, VALDEZ-GARCIA and another gunman shot and killed Israel Crespo-Cotto on the orders of a senior member of La ONU, because Crespo-Cotto and his wife were suspected of cooperating with federal authorities. Crespo-Cotto, a double amputee who lost both his legs to diabetes, was killed in front of his daughter while sitting in his wheelchair on his balcony. He was shot 24 times.
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In addition to the prison term, Judge Furman sentenced VALDEZ-GARCIA, 40, of Puerto Rico, to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Police Department for their support in this ongoing investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie E. Bagliebter, Peter J. Davis, Jordan L. Estes, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Lara Pomerantz, Justin V. Rodriguez, and Andrew Thomas are in charge of the prosecution.
Head of Telemarketing Operation Pleads Guilty to $19 Million Credit-Card-Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN SHORT, the former head of Florida-based E.M. Systems & Services, LLC and affiliated companies (collectively, “E.M. Systems”), pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, in connection with his participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain credit-card-processing services for his deceptive Florida-based telemarketing operation, through a California-based company called CardReady LLC (“CardReady”). SHORT pled guilty today by videolink, before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska. His sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2022.
According to the Superseding Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:
SHORT and his co-conspirators fraudulently secured access to credit-card-processing services for SHORT’s underlying telemarketing scheme. From about 2012 through 2015, SHORT and E.M. Systems generated over $19 million from thousands of customers who received cold calls promising to reduce their overall debt burdens in exchange for fees of up to $1,495. The telemarketing operation resulted in hundreds of complaints by customers of fraud and deceptive tactics, and requests for millions of dollars in refunds and chargebacks. Credit-card-processing companies prohibit the processing of credit-card charges for purported “debt consolidation” and “interest rate reduction” services. SHORT and his co-conspirators fraudulently subverted those prohibitions using CardReady, which functioned as a sales agent engaged in the business of securing credit-card payment-processing services. To execute this fraud, SHORT and others created dozens of sham merchant accounts and false merchant applications, concealing the true nature of SHORT’s telemarketing operation, and defrauding an associated credit-card-processing company and a federally insured bank into processing more than $19 million in payments for the scheme.
SHORT controlled E.M. Systems. Beginning in 2012, SHORT sought to use E.M. Systems to carry out a telemarketing scheme targeting people with outstanding debt, and to offer them purported financial services. In order to charge for such purported services via credit cards, SHORT sought access to the credit-card-processing market through CardReady, a Los-Angeles based company acting as a sales agent in the credit-card-processing industry. As part of its business as a sales agent, CardReady found merchants who wanted credit-card-processing services, such as SHORT, and submitted merchant applications on behalf of those merchants to a Manhattan-based Independent Sales Organization (the “New York ISO”). The New York ISO then evaluated the merchant applications, and referred acceptable merchant accounts up the chain to a payment processor (“Payment Processor-1”) and a bank (“Bank-1”). Bank-1 and Payment Processor-1, in turn, processed payments to merchants for purchases by customers who had used credit cards. Under E.M. Systems’ deal with CardReady, CardReady kept approximately one-third of the credit card sale transactions of SHORT and E.M. Systems, in exchange for providing them access to the credit card processing network.
From approximately 2012 through 2015, SHORT and E.M. Systems carried out a telemarketing scheme in which they used telemarketers to cold-call consumers, targeting consumers with outstanding credit card debt. The cold-callers offered the customers services, including debt consolidation and interest-rate reduction on their debts, which were prohibited by the applicable guidelines from Bank-1 and associated processing entities (the “Guidelines”), and which — as SHORT knew — would produce chargebacks from dissatisfied customers far in excess of the number and rate of chargebacks permitted under the Guidelines.
In securing credit-card-processing for E.M. Systems to process the fees paid by its customers, SHORT and CardReady concealed that E.M. Systems was the true underlying merchant. Instead, SHORT and his co-conspirators, over a period of more than twenty months, created approximately 26 sham merchant companies, each headed by a “signer” (the “Sham Merchants” and the “Sham Merchant Accounts”). The 26 signers for the 26 Sham Merchants typically had no business of their own, and knew little or nothing about E.M. Systems’ business. In return for signing paperwork, the signers were paid a nominal fee by CardReady. These false merchant applications also concealed the Sham Merchant’s true association with E.M. Systems.
By steering E.M. System’s payment processing through these Sham Merchant Accounts, SHORT and CardReady accomplished a number of fraudulent purposes. First, the use of these Sham Merchant Accounts made it possible for E.M. Systems to conceal its identity from Payment Processor-1 and Bank-1 and to maintain payment card processing. This was particularly relevant as Payment Processor-1 repeatedly required CardReady to close individual Sham Merchant Accounts because of excessive chargebacks and reports of sales of prohibited services. SHORT and CardReady then quickly replaced the closed Sham Merchant Accounts with new Sham Merchant Accounts, precluding Payment Processor-1 from shutting down its processing of Telemarketer-1 and other high-risk merchants. Second, the fraudulent processing scheme enabled E.M. Systems to spread out its charges, refunds, and chargebacks across multiple Sham Merchant Accounts. SHORT and CardReady thus enabled E.M. Systems to evade chargeback monitoring programs operated by Bank-1, Payment Processor-1, and the New York ISO.
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SHORT, 45, of Tampa, Florida, pled guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Also charged in the superseding Indictment is Brandon Becker, 51, of Los Angeles, California, whose trial is scheduled to begin on November 14, 2022 before Judge Preska. Becker is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the extraordinary work of the FBI and thanked the Federal Trade Commission for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Raymond Lewis and Vladislav Vainberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Gallup man sentenced to five years in prison for child sex abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Armando Segovia, 32, of Gallup, New Mexico, was sentenced on Aug. 12 to five years and three months in prison for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country. Segovia pleaded guilty on April 6.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, between July 1, 2016, and Nov. 1, 2016, Segovia, who is non-Indian, engaged in sexual contact with the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. The victim, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, was less than 12 years old at the time of the abuse. Segovia committed the abuse on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County, New Mexico.
Upon his release from prison, Segovia will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Gallup Police Department investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Van Deventer prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Four Union County Men Charged with Armed Robbery of Gas StationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Four Union County men were arraigned today for their roles in the armed robbery of a gas station in Union County, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Wiggins Cadet, 24, and Khalil Brown, 23, both of Roselle, New Jersey; and Zyquan McCray, 23, and Tyrone Crutchfield-Davis, 27, both of Linden, New Jersey, are each charged in a five-count superseding indictment returned Aug. 2, 2022, with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery. Cadet, McCray, and Crutchfield-Davis are also charged with one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of conspiracy to brandish a firearm during a crime of violence. Cadet is charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The four defendants were arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and all entered pleas of not guilty.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 15, 2019, a gas station in Cranford, New Jersey, was robbed by two masked individuals, later identified as Cadet and McCray. Cadet brandished a firearm as he and McCray stole cash from two gas station attendants. After fleeing the gas station, Cadet and McCray got into a getaway car driven by Brown. The investigation revealed that Crutchfield-Davis, one of the gas station attendants, was involved in the robbery scheme.
The Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and conspiracy to brandish a firearm during a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other prison term. The possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, the Cranford Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Ryan Greco, and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camila A. Garces of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Member of Congress Charged with Multiple Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A 28-count indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of California charging a former member of Congress with multiple fraud schemes and campaign contribution fraud.
Terrance John “TJ” Cox, 59, of Fresno, is charged with 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud.
According to allegations in the indictment, Cox perpetrated multiple fraud schemes targeting companies he was affiliated with and their clients and vendors. Cox created unauthorized off-the-books bank accounts and diverted client and company money into those accounts through false representations, pretenses and promises. From 2013 to 2018, across two different fraud schemes, Cox illicitly obtained over $1.7 million in diverted client payments and company loans and investments he solicited and then stole.
In addition, Cox allegedly received mortgage loan funds from a lender for a property purchase by submitting multiple false representations to the lender, including fabricated bank statements and false statements that Cox intended to live in the property as his primary residence. However, the indictment alleges Cox intended to and did buy the property to rent it to someone else.
According to allegations in the indictment, Cox also fraudulently obtained a $1.5 million construction loan to develop the recreation area in Fresno known as Granite Park. Cox and his business partner’s nonprofit could not qualify for the construction loan without a financially viable party guaranteeing the loan. Cox falsely represented that one of his affiliated companies would guarantee the loan, and submitted a fabricated board resolution which falsely stated that at a meeting on a given date all company owners agreed to guarantee the Granite Park loan. No meeting took place, and the other owners did not agree to back the loan. The loan later went into default causing a loss of more than $1.28 million.
According to allegations in the indictment, when Cox was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, he perpetrated a scheme to fund and reimburse family members and associates for donations to his campaign. Cox arranged for over $25,000 in illegal straw or conduit donations to his campaign in 2017.
If convicted, C ox faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and money laundering. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for wire fraud affecting a financial institution and financial institution fraud. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for campaign contribution fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert of the Eastern District of California made the announcement.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Jeffrey A. Spivak are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.