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9 September 2022
Miami Man Who Used Durable Medical Equipment Company as Front for Health Care Fraud Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal district judge in Miami sentenced 42-year-old Daniel Pintado Cazola to 87 months in prison for his role in using a durable medical equipment company to commit Medicare and Medicaid fraud, and trying to conceal his connection to the crime by listing a straw owner in corporate and bank records.
Earlier this year, Pintado Cazola pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Myers Professional Services was established as a durable medical equipment (DME) company in Ft. Myers, Florida. To conceal Pintado’s role as the true owner who exercised control over the DME company (and the fraud), a nominee or “straw” owner was listed as the owner of Myers Professional Services on its corporate records and bank account. As part of his guilty plea, Pintado admitted that he – and not a straw owner -- purchased lists of Medicare “patients” and then directed a “biller” to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment that was not being prescribed by a doctor, that was not medically necessary, and that was not being supplied to any Medicare beneficiary or Medicaid recipient. During a three-month period -- from November 2021 and February 2022 – and under Pintado’s direction, Myers Professional Services submitted over $2.3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. The DME company was paid over $1.6 million through February 2022, when Pintado was arrested. The proceeds of the fraud were transferred from the Myers Professional Services account to accounts held in the names of shell companies. Then, those proceeds were withdrawn from the shell company accounts by others so that it could not be traced to Pintado.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Omar Pérez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Region announced the sentenced imposed by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom.
“The sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Gonzalez. “This Office will not relent in holding accountable those who steal from government programs that provide health care to the most vulnerable in our society.”
“The magnitude of Mr. Pintado’s criminal behavior, literally, knew no bounds,” said Special Agent in Charge Pérez-Aybar. “His ability to deceptively pilfer the Medicare trust fund meant to protect our most vulnerable population came to an abrupt halt because of the relentless efforts of our agents and prosecutors that continue to bring to justice those that defraud our nation’s health care programs.”
HHS-OIG Miami investigated the case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee C. Jimenez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster handled asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20097.
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Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Five YearsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Jones, Alabama, man was sentenced in federal court today for his possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Daniel Martin Bridge, 39, pled guilty to the charge in March of 2022.
According to court documents, Bridge was the passenger in a vehicle stopped by Mobile County sheriff’s deputies for a traffic violation. During the investigation for the traffic violation, a sheriff’s office drug detecting dog alerted on the vehicle. Deputies searched it and found approximately 45 grams of methamphetamine in the cupholder. Bridge told the deputies that anything they found in the car was his, and the driver had nothing to do with it. He told the deputies the substance was “ice.”
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose sentenced Bridge to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release after his release from custody. As conditions of supervision, Bridge will undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that the defendant pay $100 in special assessments.The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Marion Man Charged with Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Tyler Maus, age 29, of Marion, Iowa, has been charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. The charge is contained in an Indictment unsealed on August 29, 2022, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, in December 2021, Maus possessed four pistols after having been convicted of four felonies.
If convicted, Maus faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years on supervised release following any imprisonment.
Maus appeared for a detention hearing on September 1 and September 8, 2022, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on bond. Maus’s next appearance for trial is set for October 31, 2022.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the Hiawatha Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 22-49.
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Manpower Owner Sentenced for CW-1 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Saipan – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Servillana Soriano, age 61, from the Republic of the Philippines was sentenced in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to 1 month in prison and 7 months home detention for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The Court also ordered 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment, 50 hours of community service, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. Soriano was previously found guilty by jury verdict on July 6, 2021.
From August 2018 to February 2019, Servillana Soriano agreed with co-conspirators to defraud the United States. The government’s evidence showed that Soriano, in exchange for money, filed fraudulent CW-1 petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for three Bangladeshi men. The petitions indicated that they would be full-time employees of Soriano’s manpower company, RES International, LLC, in Saipan. The co-conspirators, however, never worked for Soriano or her company, and the true purpose of filing the petitions was to get them lawful immigration status in order to remain in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to enforcing federal immigration laws in the CNMI,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The CW-1 program is vital to maintaining the CNMI economy. I urge anyone with knowledge of this criminal activity to contact Homeland Security Investigations in Saipan.”
“There are lawful ways for individuals to enter the United States and as Servillana discovered, HSI will thoroughly investigate those who try and circumvent our laws, including those who seek to defraud the U.S. with false claims,” said John F. Tobon, HSI Honolulu. “We continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s offices to protect the integrity of our immigration laws.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Garth Backe, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Local Gun Dealer Convicted of Illegally Trafficking Firearms and Conducting Straw PurchasesRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Nicholas Pilchak (619) 546-9709 or Andrew Haden (619) 546-6961
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 9, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Giovanni “Gio” Tilotta, the proprietor of local firearms dealer Honey Badger Firearms, was convicted yesterday of assisting with unlicensed firearms dealing and conducting straw purchases with former San Diego County Sheriff’s Captain Marco Garmo and others. A federal jury found Tilotta guilty of three felony counts following a six-day trial.
This conviction is believed to be the first federal criminal conviction of a civilian retail gun store owner in the Southern District of California in at least 15 years.
Tilotta was convicted of conspiring with Garmo, San Diego jeweler Leo Hamel, and others to make false statements in the acquisition of firearms. According to evidence presented at trial, Garmo and another Sheriff’s deputy falsely claimed to be the actual purchasers of new handguns, while really intending to transfer the weapons to other individuals who were the true buyers—notably including Hamel. Tilotta was also found guilty of aiding and abetting Garmo’s unlicensed firearms trafficking enterprise, in which Garmo bought and resold dozens of firearms both for profit and to bank favors for Garmo’s anticipated campaign for Sheriff of San Diego County.
Garmo pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license on September 15, 2020, and is currently serving a prison sentence. Hamel pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Garmo’s unlicensed dealing on November 22, 2019, and is presently awaiting sentencing.
Tilotta committed these crimes through his licensed firearms dealer, Honey Badger Firearms in Kearney Mesa, despite an explicit warning he received from the California Department of Justice in December 2015 advising him to avoid allowing straw purchases at his business. Emails admitted at trial indicated that, instead, Tilotta directed Hamel and Garmo to create sham emails to cover up the straw purchases they conducted at Honey Badger.
The jury deadlocked on a fourth felony count, which alleged that Tilotta conducted a firearms transfer in violation of California law, and U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel declared a mistrial on that count.
According to evidence presented at trial, Tilotta’s specific conduct went beyond knowingly accepting false records for straw purchases. He also backdated firearms transfer records for certain customers without requiring them to present themselves at his business to begin a firearms transfer. As part of this process, Tilotta would himself answer questions designed to determine if a firearms recipient was prohibited from receiving a gun—such as whether they were the subject of a restraining order. Records introduced at trial showed that, rather than requiring certain customers to answer these questions, Tilotta answered them himself, including on behalf of local criminal defense attorney Vikas Bajaj, whom he had never met.
As part of the same transaction, Tilotta sold Bajaj a handgun and an AR-15 style rifle inside Garmo’s Sheriff’s Department office using backdated paperwork. Bajaj pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for his role in that transfer on December 9, 2020. At Tilotta’s trial, the parties stipulated that two San Diego Sheriff’s deputies also received AK-47 style rifles from Tilotta the same day. Tilotta acknowledged delivering those rifles to the deputies inside Garmo’s Captain’s office, in a transfer using backdated paperwork.
“Our firearms laws depend on dealers to act as trusted gatekeepers,” said Attorney for the United States Rebecca G. Church. “Instead, this defendant violated the laws and falsified transfer records. This office will not hesitate to enforce the firearms laws against anyone who seeks to subvert them, including licensed dealers who intentionally break the law.”
Tilotta is set to be sentenced by Judge Curiel on December 5, 2022. Sentencings for the remaining defendants are set on October 3, 2022, for former Sheriff’s Lieutenant Fred Magana; October 24, 2022, for Leo Hamel; and November 7, 2022 for Waiel “Will” Anton.
Church thanked prosecution team as well as the dedicated investigators from the ATF and FBI, for their excellent work on this case. Church added that the U.S. Attorney’s Office wishes to extend its sincerest gratitude to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for initiating this investigation, and for their assistance and support throughout its course.
“A vast majority of federal firearm licensees (FFL) operate their businesses in compliance with federal laws,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Monique Villegas. “However, when an FFL intentionally chooses to violate those laws, ATF will investigate, as was the case with Giovanni Tilotta and Honey Badger Firearms. This conviction should serve as a deterrent to any other licensee choosing not to follow federal firearm laws.”
“For over three years, Tilotta misused his privilege as a federally licensed firearms dealer to subvert the system and obtain dozens of firearms for individuals who were unable to buy them legally,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Today's guilty verdict stops many more illegally purchased guns from getting into the wrong hands. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate any corrupt individual who ignores the law for their personal profit to ensure justice is served and our communities are safe.”
U.S. v. Tilotta, et. al, 19-CR-4768-GPC
Defendants
Morad Marco Garmo, 54 years old
Leo Joseph Hamel, 65 years old
Giovanni Vincenzo Tilotta, 41 years old
Fred Magana, 45 years old
Waiel Yousif Anton, 38 years old
Summary of Charges
Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 371, 924(a)(1)(A) – Conspiracy to Make False Statements in the Acquisition of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison, $250,000 fine
Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 922(a)(1)(A) – Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison, $250,000 fine
Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 924(a)(1)(A) – Making a False Statement in the Acquisition of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison, $250,000 fine
Investigating Agencies
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Lexington Man Sentenced to 250 Months for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington man, Titus Mayhorn, 34, was sentenced on Wednesday to 250 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Mayhorn’s plea agreement, on July 11, 2021, law enforcement responded to a call of reckless driving, conducted a traffic stop, and found Mayhorn inside the vehicle with a firearm in the front passenger seat. Mayhorn was found to be impaired and arrested for a DUI. Law enforcement then conducted a search of the car and discovered 985 blue pills stamped with M 30, which were later confirmed to be fentanyl. They also discovered a bag of marijuana, cash, and three firearms.
Mayhorn pleaded guilty in May 2022.
Under federal law, Mayhorn must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Mike Murray, Chief of the Versailles Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, ATF, and Versailles Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield
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Leader of Brooklyn-Based Eastern European Organized Crime Syndicate Extradited from Switzerland to Face Racketeering and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
Viktor Zelinger, also known as “Vitya” and “Vityok,” the alleged leader of an Eastern European organized crime syndicate that operated in the Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island neighborhoods of Brooklyn and was linked to high-level Russian mafia members known as “Thieves in Law” or “Thieves,” was extradited today from Switzerland to the United States on a nine-count superseding indictment. Zelinger is charged with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, arson, arson conspiracy, illegal gambling, illegal gambling conspiracy, extortionate collection of credit and two counts of extortionate collection of credit conspiracy. Zelinger, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen with dual Ukrainian citizenship, is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in federal court in Brooklyn before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the extradition.
“As alleged, Zelinger was a ruthless leader of a violent criminal syndicate that wreaked havoc throughout Brooklyn with seeming impunity, including an arson in the middle of the night that endangered civilians and firefighters. Zelinger’s underlings were arrested by our law enforcement partners and prosecuted by this Office, and now he will learn the serious consequences for his crimes,” stated United States Attorney Peace.
Mr. Peace thanked the Swiss government for its assistance with Zelinger’s arrest and extradition, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) for its investigation of the charged arson and heroic efforts in rescuing residents trapped in an apartment building as a result of that blaze.
“When Viktor Zelinger stepped onto American soil, all the alleged crimes he is charged with became a reality after years on the run. As a prominent leader in the ‘Thieves in Law,’ Zelinger held the decision-making power in New York further enabling organized crime around the world. This extradition demonstrates DEA’s global reach and perseverance, as well as our commitment to the rule of law. I applaud the DEA Strike Force and all of our law enforcement partners on their diligence throughout this investigation,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino.
“Today points to just the beginning for Viktor Zelinger as he was returned to the United States to face justice for years of alleged criminal activity. Extortion, narcotics trafficking, assault, and arson—setting fire to an apartment building for vengeance—are just a sample of the charges against Zelinger, the alleged leader of an organized crime mob in Brooklyn. This extradition is true testament to the global reach of IRS Criminal Investigation and our incredible investigative partnerships in the DEA Strikeforce,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso.
As alleged in a superseding indictment, the defendant was the leader of a sophisticated criminal organization that engaged in a wide range of activities traditionally associated with organized crime, including extortion, arson, assault, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loansharking and wire fraud. The organization also reported to and associated with high-ranking members of Eastern European mafia, known as “воры в зако́ не” (pronounced “vory v zakone”), which literally translates to “Thieves in Law” or “Thieves.”
From approximately 2011 to May 2017, members of Zelinger’s syndicate carried out numerous crimes, including arson and extortion, operated high stakes gambling establishments, trafficked in narcotics, assaulted victims, and facilitated loansharking. Zelinger ordered the arson of an apartment building at 2220 Voorhies Avenue in Sheepshead Bay because it housed a rival high-stakes poker game on the ground floor that competed with the defendant’s illegal gambling spot at 2663 Coney Island Avenue. Specifically, Zelinger directed members of the syndicate to break into the Voorhies Avenue building in the early morning hours of May 2, 2016 and set a fire. The second and third floors of the building contained occupied apartments. As a result of the fire, two building residents and five firefighters were injured, with one firefighter suffering career-ending burns, and the building was destroyed.
The defendant’s Coney Island Avenue gambling spot provided poker players with complimentary food and alcohol and “massage girls,” who gave players back and shoulder rubs during the games. Poker players used narcotics, including cocaine and marijuana supplied by members and associates of the syndicate during the games. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were wagered, with individual players sometimes winning or losing tens of thousands of dollars in a single night.
OIA worked with Swiss law enforcement partners to secure Zelinger’s apprehension and extradition, the latter of which was carried out by the United States Marshals Service. Zelinger was apprehended in Switzerland on an extradition request based on charges pending in the Eastern District of New York. The Federal Department of Justice and Police for the Swiss Confederation approved the extradition on August 31, 2022.
If convicted, Zelinger faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment for each of the arson counts; a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the racketeering and extortion counts; and a maximum of five years’ imprisonment for each of the gambling counts.
Ten other defendants previously charged in the government’s case either were convicted at trial of or pleaded guilty to racketeering and related crimes.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Victor Zapana is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
VIKTOR ZELINGER (also known as “Vitya” and “Vityok”)
Age: 43
St. Gallen, SwitzerlandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-553 (S-4) (BMC)
Kingfield Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Production and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Kingfield man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for production and possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Richard Hinkley, 56, of Kingfield to 20 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $16,500 in restitution. Hinkley pleaded guilty on March 11, 2022.
According to court records, between May 2009 and April 2010, Hinkley coerced a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct through online video chat communications. He recorded images of the minor during some of the sessions. The investigation revealed that Hinkley possessed a hard drive that contained images of child pornography including some he had collected using a peer-to-peer network. Some were sexually explicit images of prepubescent children under the age of 12.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: "Child pornography" captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization each time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-843-5678. Your report will be forwarded to a law enforcement agency for investigation and action. If you have an emergency that requires an immediate law enforcement response, call 911 or contact your local police or sheriff’s department.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability and Sex-Based Discrimination by Owner and Operators of Milwaukee Rental PropertyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joins The Justice Department in announcing on, September 9, 2022 it has filed a lawsuit alleging that the owner and managers of a rental property in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, harassed a tenant because of his sex, including his sexual orientation and his disability, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
Today’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, alleges that Dennis Parker, the onsite manager of the property, subjected a gay male tenant with a disability to unwelcome harassment, both verbally and through numerous text messages during his tenancy in 2020 and 2021. The complaint also alleges that Parker struck the tenant in the groin and threatened to evict him in retaliation for reporting the harassment to the police. The lawsuit also names as defendants Leaf Property Investments LLC which owns the property, and Sam Leaf, who manages the property. The complaint alleges that Parker managed the property on behalf of these defendants.
The tenant, who later moved out of the property, filed a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alleging that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act. After an investigation, HUD determined that the defendants had discriminated against the tenant in violation of the Fair Housing Act and it issued a charge of discrimination. After the tenant chose to have the matter decided in federal court, HUD referred the matter to the Justice Department.
“We stand ready to use our civil rights laws to combat all forms of sexual harassment in housing, including harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable landlords and housing providers who engage in unlawful discrimination and harassment of vulnerable tenants.”
“No tenant should have to choose between having a stable residence or enduring sexual harassment from their landlord or property manager,” said U.S Attorney Richard G. Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal, state, local, Tribal and community partners to combat all forms of sexual harassment in housing and to seeking justice for those impacted by this type of egregious conduct.”
“Housing discrimination has no place in our society,” said HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Demetria L. McCain. “HUD is glad to partner with the Department of Justice to root out housing discrimination of all kinds, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and disability.”
The lawsuit seeks an order requiring the defendants to pay monetary damages to the tenant and cease discrimination against any tenant based on sex and disability.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. The goal of the initiative is to address and combat unlawful sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the Justice Department has filed 25 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $9.6 million for victims of such harassment.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, emailing the Justice Department at [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online
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Justice Department Files Discrimination Lawsuit Against Milwaukee Rental PropertyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that the owner and managers of a rental property in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, harassed a tenant because of his sex, including his sexual orientation and his disability, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
Today’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, alleges that Dennis Parker, the onsite manager of the property, subjected a gay male tenant with a disability to unwelcome harassment, both verbally and through numerous text messages during his tenancy in 2020 and 2021. The complaint also alleges that Parker struck the tenant in the groin and threatened to evict him in retaliation for reporting the harassment to the police. The lawsuit also names as defendants Leaf Property Investments LLC which owns the property, and Sam Leaf, who manages the property. The complaint alleges that Parker managed the property on behalf of these defendants.
The tenant, who later moved out of the property, filed a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alleging that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act. After an investigation, HUD determined that the defendants had discriminated against the tenant in violation of the Fair Housing Act and it issued a charge of discrimination. After the tenant chose to have the matter decided in federal court, HUD referred the matter to the Justice Department.
“We stand ready to use our civil rights laws to combat all forms of sexual harassment in housing, including harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable landlords and housing providers who engage in unlawful discrimination and harassment of vulnerable tenants.”
“No tenant should have to choose between having a stable residence or enduring sexual harassment from their landlord or property manager,” said U.S Attorney Richard G. Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal, state, local, Tribal and community partners to combat all forms of sexual harassment in housing and to seeking justice for those impacted by this type of egregious conduct.”
“Housing discrimination has no place in our society,” said HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Demetria L. McCain. “HUD is glad to partner with the Department of Justice to root out housing discrimination of all kinds, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and disability.”
The lawsuit seeks an order requiring the defendants to pay monetary damages to the tenant and cease discrimination against any tenant based on sex and disability.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. The goal of the initiative is to address and combat unlawful sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the Justice Department has filed 25 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $9.6 million for victims of such harassment.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, emailing the Justice Department at [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Jury Convicts Man of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A federal jury in Alexandria, Louisiana has returned a guilty verdict today convicting Bobby Joe Mincey, 30, of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the three-day trial.
In December 2019, Mincey was living with his wife at the time, who was a soldier in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. During this time, Mincey and his wife and her two minor daughters were living in Base Housing at Fort Polk. On December 6, 2019, the two stepdaughters of Mincey, who were ages 6 and 9 at the time, confided to their mother that Mincey had been sexually abusing them. The mother immediately contacted the Fort Polk Military Police and reported the allegations made by her daughters. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) consequently began an investigation into the allegations and interviewed both of the female minor victims about the incidents that had taken place. In May 2021, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Mincey with aggravated sexual abuse.
The trial began Wednesday, September 7, 2022. The minor victims testified at trial that Mincey sexually abused them day after day beginning from the time that they were 5 and 6 years old. They testified that Mincey would force them to perform oral sex on him.
“The aggravated sexual abuse of a minor is an incomprehensible act, and these are cases that we will not shy away from prosecuting,” stated USA Brown. “The bravery shown by these minor victims who were willing to stand up to their abuser in court and tell the truth as to what happened to them is nothing short of heroic. These types of crimes will not be tolerated in the Western District of Louisiana. The tireless work by the FBI and U.S. Army, Criminal Investigation Division, for their work in this case is to be commended and we will continue to work to fight for victims such as this.”
Mincey faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for December 9, 2022.
The case was investigated by the FBI and United States Army, Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Luke Walker and LaDonte A. Murphy.
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Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty in Large-Scale Meth Distribution RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
Travis Williams, age 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. Williams was one of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Williams was a methamphetamine distributor who obtained between 350 grams and 500 grams of methamphetamine as part of a large-scale methamphetamine distribution conspiracy and redistributed it to methamphetamine users.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Williams on January 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of forty years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that the defendant remain on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jewelry store owner ordered to prison for cash advance fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Katy man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of committing wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Santiago Mora pleaded guilty March 3.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen imposed a 27-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
Mora was co-owner with his business partner of Alku Modern Jewelers located in Katy.
During sentencing, the judge heard that Mora failed to deliver pre-paid Rolex watches valued at approximately $3.9 million to a customer. In an effort to pay the customer and others, Mora executed a scheme by which he obtained a total $500,000 in merchant cash advances via wire transfer by impersonating and using the good credit of his business partner.
Mora eventually admitted his fraudulent dealings to his business partner and to using his partner’s identity to apply for and receive multiple merchant cash advances.
Mora was taken into custody in Miami, Florida, in June 2021 after he failed to appear in court for further proceedings.
Mora will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tina Ansari and Grace Murphy prosecuted the case.
Jefferson County Felon Convicted Following Four-Day Trial for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Multiple Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jefferson County felon was found guilty in U.S. District Court following a four-day jury trial of three counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, with one count charging 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
According to court documents, Boris Ward, 49, conducted two controlled sales of a half-ounce of methamphetamine in Jefferson County on June 1st and June 13th, 2018. After the two controlled sales, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and other agencies executed a search warrant at Ward’s residence and recovered 10 firearms and over 540 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine. Ward was previously convicted of a 2022 felony drug crime in Jefferson County.
Ward will be sentenced on January 11, 2023. He faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Andrew W. Eichner are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jacksonville Brothers Indicted for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jonathan William Brown (25, Duval) with receipt and possession of child sexual abuse files. His brother, Joshua Thomas Brown (27, Duval), has been charged in a separate indictment with possession of child sexual abuse files, including files depicting young children. If convicted on all counts, Jonathan Brown faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Joshua Brown faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the Browns that the United States intends to forfeit electronic devices used in the commission of the charged offenses. Both brothers have been ordered detained pending trial.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
There are cases 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.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Sept. 7 was:
Bruce William Ferguson, 65, of Fort Peck, on charges of mail fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ferguson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ferguson was released pending further proceeding. The Bureau of Land Management investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-78.
Appearing on Sept. 6 was:
Tyrel Edward Olson, 29, of Miles City, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Olson faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Olson was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-73.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on Sept.6 for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint was:
Evirso Ampude, 47, of Box Elder, on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ampude faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Ampude was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-70.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Three ChildrenRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Epigmenio Vazquez Gatica, 35, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Gatica also admitted to the sexual exploitation of two other children.
In February 2021, a child disclosed that Gatica had been laying on the bathroom floor and filming the child while the child showered. This led to an investigation of Gatica. Law enforcement officers obtained a warrant to search his cellular telephone and were able to access the data. Investigators recovered multiple videos of that child, along with videos of two other children, including videos of the children naked and partially naked while showering or using the bathroom. The three victims include a toddler and a six-year-old, and at times Gatica had care, custody, or supervisory control over each of them. All three children appear to have been unaware they were being recorded. Investigators also recovered sexual exploitation images that Gatica took of one of the children from Gatica’s Google Drive account.
“Predators who are sexually interested in our children abuse our trust and our technology to satisfy their depraved desires,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We are committed to supporting victims and obtaining the electronic evidence necessary to hold these criminals accountable. The sentence imposed today should put offenders on notice that we will work tirelessly to ensure that criminals who exploit are children are sent to prison where they belong.”
“This sentence should send a warning that there are serious consequences that await those who are engaged in any way with child sexual abuse material,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “Protecting our children from predators is a priority of the FBI and we will continue to work diligently to ensure predators feel the full weight of the law.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young also ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison and must pay $9,000 in restitution to each of the three minor victims.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
In fiscal year 2019, when this case was prosecuted, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted the second most cases involving sexual exploitation of a child in the country.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Hollywood Executive and Former White House Staffer Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Defrauding New York Investment Fund of over $30 MillionRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM SADLEIR was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to six years in prison for his participation in two fraudulent schemes relating to investments made by a New York-based investment fund (the “Fund”) in Aviron Pictures, LLC and its affiliated entities (collectively, “Aviron”). Sadleir previously pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one relating to each of the schemes.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “William Sadleir portrayed himself as a successful Hollywood mogul, but behind the scenes he engaged in brazen and calculated schemes to defraud a New York investment fund out of over $30 million using a fake company, fake documents, and even a fake identity. Sadleir went so far as to masquerade as a female advertising executive on maternity leave as part of an effort to cover up his crimes. Today’s sentence holds Sadleir accountable for his crimes, and sends a message that there will be no happy ending for executives who defraud their investors.”
According to the Complaint, Indictment, and other court filings:
The Fund is a publicly traded, closed-end investment fund. Shares in the Fund trade on the New York Stock Exchange. As of in or about December 2019, the Fund had approximately $649.1 million in assets.
WILLIAM SADLEIR was the chairman and chief executive officer of Aviron, and oversaw its operations from in or about 2015 until in or about December 2019. Aviron participated in the distribution of a number of films in the United States, including My All American (2015), Kidnap (2017), The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018), A Private War (2018), Destination Wedding (2018), Serenity (2019), and After (2019).
SADLEIR engaged in two fraudulent schemes relating to an approximately $75 million investment made by the Fund in Aviron.
In one of the schemes (the “Advertising Scheme”), SADLEIR misappropriated millions of dollars that the Fund had invested in Aviron. SADLEIR represented to the Fund that Aviron had invested this money in pre-paid media credits with the advertising placement company MediaCom Worldwide (“MediaCom”), which is a subsidiary of the advertising and media agency GroupM Worldwide. Instead, using the bank account for a sham entity he had created, SADLEIR illicitly transferred over $25 million of those funds out of Aviron. Specifically, SADLEIR created a sham New York-based company called GroupM Media Services, LLC (the “Sham GroupM LLC”) designed to appear to be the legitimate entity, GroupM Worldwide, and a corresponding bank account in the name of that sham entity. SADLEIR then used a significant portion of those illicitly transferred funds for his personal benefit, including to purchase a private residence in Beverly Hills for approximately $14 million. SADLEIR then falsely represented to the Fund that Aviron had purchased an approximately $27 million balance in pre-paid media credits with MediaCom that were available to promote future Aviron films, and pledged a portion of those credits to the Fund as collateral for additional loans. But the claimed credits did not exist. As part of his false representations, SADLEIR also created a fake identity of a purported New York-based female employee of the Sham GroupM LLC named “Amanda Stevens,” who corresponded with a representative of the Fund, assuring the Fund that Aviron had an approximately $27 million balance in pre-paid media credits with the Sham GroupM LLC. But SADLEIR himself posed as Amanda Stevens when engaging in email exchanges with a representative from the Fund, and in that role sought to evade questions about his fraudulent conduct by claiming, among other things, that “Amanda Stevens” (Sadleir) was on maternity leave.
In the other scheme (the “UCC Scheme”), SADLEIR engineered the illicit and fraudulent sale and refinancing of assets worth over $3 million that secured the Fund’s loans to Aviron. The Fund had secured its investment in Aviron by, among other means, obtaining UCC liens in 2017 and 2018 on certain intellectual property and other assets relating to Aviron’s films. In 2019, SADLEIR used the forged signature of one of the Fund’s portfolio managers on releases to remove the Fund’s UCC liens on certain of these secured assets. SADLEIR did so in order to sell or refinance the assets without the Fund’s consent, thus depriving the Fund of its collateral on outstanding loans. Aviron ultimately defaulted on those loans.
Prior to serving as chairman and chief executive officer of Aviron, SADLEIR held senior leadership positions at a variety of businesses, and early in his career served as a special assistant and director of presidential appointments and scheduling to a sitting U.S. president.
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SADLEIR, 68, of Beverly Hills, California, pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud before Judge Engelmayer on January 20, 2022.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Engelmayer sentenced SADLEIR to three years of supervised release, and ordered SADLEIR to pay $31,597,000 in forfeiture and restitution.
Mr. Williams praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Lenow and Elizabeth Hanft are in charge of the prosecution.
High School Rowing Coach Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a High School Student and Possessing Sexually Explicit Material of 17-Year-Old Former StudentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kirkland Shipley, 48, a former teacher and girls’ rowing coach at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, was sentenced today to three years in prison for sexually abusing a high school student and possessing sexually explicit material of a 17-year-old former high school student, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Shipley, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty on June 3, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to first-degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student and possession of a sexual performance by a minor. He was sentenced by the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan. Following his prison term, Shipley will be placed on two years of probation. He also will be required to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender.
According to the government’s evidence, one of the victims was on the girls’ crew team at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, from 2014 to 2018. Shipley was her head coach from her sophomore year to her senior year, as well as her history and geography teacher. During her sophomore year of high school, Shipley began texting the victim about rowing and personal matters. This continued into her senior year, in which Shipley began to text the victim more frequently and about increasingly personal topics. On at least two occasions in May 2018, prior to this victim’s graduation, he picked the victim up in his car and sexually abused her at his residence in Northwest Washington.
The other victim was on the girls’ crew team at Walt Whitman High School from 2009—2013. Shipley was her head coach from her sophomore year to her senior year. He also was this victim’s history teacher during her junior year. During the spring of the victim’s senior year, Shipley began to message her on GChat more frequently, about rowing and personal matters. A month after her graduation, in July 2013, when the victim was 17 years old, Shipley invited her to his residence in Washington, D.C., and had sex with her. He continued having sex with this victim throughout the summer and after she began college in the fall of 2013. During this time, Shipley possessed sexually explicit photos and videos of the victim, while she was a 17-year-old minor. He also sent this victim photos and videos of his penis and of himself masturbating.
Shipley was arrested on Aug. 24, 2021.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the case. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson and Paralegal Specialist ReShawn Johnson.
Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell and Felice Roggen, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Harvey Man Sentenced for Causing 2016 Oil SpillRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced JAMES TASSIN, age 52, of Harvey, was sentenced to 2 years probation on September 8, 2022 for violating the Clean Water Act in connection with an oil spill.
According to court documents, TASSIN was a marsh buggy operator working on the Chenier Ronquille Barrier Island Restoration Project, which was overseen by contractors working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”). TASSIN was a subcontractor working for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC (“Great Lakes”). The project took place where Louisiana’s coastal wetlands meet the Gulf of Mexico, near several oil and gas pipelines, including Bay Marchand-to-Ostrica-to-Alliance (“BOA”) pipelines, which ran underneath and parallel to the dike on northern side of the island.
Months after the project began, the Great Lakes site manager at the project instructed TASSIN to dig an access channel for crew boats that was different from the access channel in the project plans provided by NOAA. This new access channel ran directly over the BOA pipelines, which were clearly marked at the time. TASSIN worked on that new access channel over multiple days.
On September 5, 2016, TASSIN drove his marsh buggy through the newly deepened access channel and struck one of the BOA pipelines, causing it to leak oil that created a sheen in the surrounding water in Bay Long. When TASSIN reported the spill to his supervisors, the site manager instructed TASSIN to use his marsh buggy to obscure the evidence that he had been deepening the unauthorized access channel, and TASSIN did so.
TASSIN was charged with a Clean Water Act violation on January 25, 2021. He pled guilty on March 18, 2021.
Great Lakes was criminally charged in a separate case before the Honorable Greg G. Guidry. According to court documents in that case, Great Lakes pled guilty, based on its supervision of TASSIN. Great Lakes agreed to pay a criminal fine of $1 million, in additional to civil payments to the victim pipeline company of $3,166,667 in a related civil case. TASSIN’s employer also agreed in the same civil case to pay the victim an additional $1,666,667, for a total payment to the victim of over $4.8 million.
Judge Susie Morgan sentenced TASSIN to 2 years probation, a $2,500 fine, and a special assessment fee of $25.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.
Freeport Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Minors He Met OnlineRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Freeport, Ill. resident was sentenced today to 17 years in federal prison for traveling to Iowa to engage in sexual conduct with a minor he met online.
ERICH BRINKMEIER, 27, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of commission by a registered sex offender of a felony offense involving a minor. U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard in Rockford ordered that the prison term be followed by a lifetime of court-supervised release.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Ashley T. Johnson, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Freeport Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus.
Brinkmeier admitted in a plea agreement that in October 2019 he traveled from Illinois to Iowa to engage in sexual conduct with a 14-year-old minor he met online. Brinkmeier was a registered sex offender and was required under Illinois law to comply with the Illinois Sex Offender Registry.
Brinkmeier also admitted to contacting another minor victim online and coercing her to send Brinkmeier sexually explicit images of herself.
Former New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union Manager Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been charged with devising a scheme to embezzle from his employer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
A one-count information filed today in United States District Court charges Phillip Brian Topping, 42, of Birmingham, with embezzlement by a credit union employee.
According to the information, between August 2016 and August 2021, while employed at New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union as a Manager, Topping embezzled approximately $268,000 from an on-site ATM and from a teller cash drawer at New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union. Topping used the unauthorized funds for personal expenses.
The maximum penalty for embezzlement by a credit union employee is 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case and received assistance from the National Credit Union Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan S. Rummage is prosecuting the case.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Member of Springfield Latin Kings Chapter Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the Springfield Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) has been sentenced for drug offenses.
Jonathan Casiano, a/k/a “King Legend,” 36, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel on Sept. 7, 2022 to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 11, 2022, Casiano pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
Casiano was identified as a member of the Latin Kings and a drug trafficker operating out of an apartment in Springfield. In July 2019, Casiano was arrested following a traffic stop in Springfield, during which he was found in possession of a privately made 9mm ghost gun with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, $9,880 in cash, 486 oxytocin pills and 810 plastic bags containing a total of 87 grams of fentanyl and 66 grams of cocaine.
Casiano was released from custody on the drug and firearm case in December 2019 after posting cash bail. Casiano was later indicted federally for the drug and firearm case and remained in warrant status until he was later arrested in February 2020 as part of an investigation into his ongoing drug trafficking. Following his arrest, a search of Casiano’s person and residence recovered over 2,400 individual plastic bags that contained a total of 68 grams of fentanyl, 140 grams of cocaine and other controlled substances. Each of the plastic bags were branded with a logo for retail sale ready for distribution.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. In total, 60 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty. Of the 62 charged defendants in the indictment, two remain in warrant status. All of the remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Casiano is the 54th defendant to be sentenced.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The two remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Louisiana Woman Indicted for Preparing over 110 Fraudulent PPP Loans Totaling over $1.1 Million DollarsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today the indictment of SHARNAE EVERY (“EVERY”), age 27, of Houston, Texas, who was charged with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and two (2) counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.
The case against EVERY began as a result of a referral from the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (“PRAC”) regarding possible fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans (“PPP”). Investigators determined there were at least 110 PPP sole proprietor loan applications in and around the Thibodeaux, Louisiana area and they all had the same invoices and federal tax forms (“Schedule C”) with the same business name and amounts.
According to today’s indictment, EVERY created a fictitious business called “Natural Hair Afro, LLC, Houma, LA 70360” and used this fictitious business name on nearly all of the fraudulent PPP loan applications. EVERY advertised under various aliases on Facebook to recruit individuals to obtain money from the PPP program. EVERY prepared and submitted false and fraudulent PPP sole proprietor loan applications via various online portals including, but not limited, to Blueacorn. EVERY created all of the false and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs. EVERY falsely certified that the applications and the information provided in the supporting documents were true and accurate when she electronically submitted the fraudulent PPP loan applications.
EVERY charged $45.00 to $120.00 from the individuals she recruited to prepare and submit the fraudulent PPP application. EVERY primarily used Cash App to receive the initial payments. EVERY then charged approximately $3,500.00 once the loans were funded. EVERY received these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriend’s Current account.
If convicted, EVERY faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years, followed by a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, a fine up to $250,000.00, or twice the gross gain to the defendant, or twice the gross loss to any victim, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, per count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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. The Veterans Administration, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force.
For more information on the Department of Justice’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 United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Veterans Administration, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the United States Secret Service’s Cyber Fraud Task Force, consisting of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Thibodeaux Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant United States Attorney Edward Rivera, COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator.
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Former Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Drugs in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rauon Gordon, age 28, a former inmate of FCI Allenwood, pled guilty on September 7, 2022, before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann, to possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Gordon admitted that he possessed buprenorphine, a Schedule III narcotic, while he was an inmate at FCI Allenwood, in White Deer, Pennsylvania. The charge stemmed from an incident on September 21, 2021, when correctional officers searched Gordon and found 16 paper strips of Suboxone in his right pants pocket. Laboratory testing confirmed the Suboxone contained buprenorphine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman are prosecuting the case.
Chief Judge Brann ordered the U.S. Probation Office to complete a presentence investigation report for Gordon. Sentencing has not been scheduled.
The maximum penalty for possessing contraband in prison is five years’ imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
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Former Administrative Manager for Covington Public Works Department Indicted for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - The former administrative manager for the City of Covington Public Works Department, Allison Donaldson, 49, of Covington, was indicted by a federal grand jury, on four counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
The indictment alleges that Donaldson was employed as an administrative manager for the Public Works Department, from 2005 until 2022, and had access to credit card information for the department. The indictment further alleges that, starting in February 2020 and continuing until February 2022, Donaldson knowingly defrauded the City of Covington by using employee credit cards, making over $150,000 in purchases for herself and her home. The purchases listed in the indictment include repairs for a Mercedes Benz, Crate & Barrel furniture, and designer counter stools.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General; and Spike Jones, Chief of the Kenton County Police Department, jointly announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the FBI, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigation, and the Kenton County Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow.
Donaldson will appear in Court on September 19, 2022, at 2 p.m. She faces up to 20 years on each count of wire fraud; she faces up to two years, to run consecutively on each count of aggravated identity theft; and she faces judgments for restitution and forfeiture of the property attained through the fraud. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Federal Jury Finds Three Guilty in Pyramid SchemeRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A federal jury convicted an Owensboro man, a North Carolina man, and a Florida woman this week for conspiracies to commit mail fraud and securities fraud. The Owensboro man was also convicted of money laundering and attempted tax evasion for tax years 2013 and 2014.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richard G. Maike, 55, of Owensboro, Kentucky, Doyce G. Barnes, 73, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Faraday Hosseinipour, 54, of Jacksonville, Florida, were convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with the sale of positions in Infinity 2 Global, or I2G, purportedly a multi-level marketing company which the United States proved at trial was operating as a pyramid scheme. Maike, Barnes, and Hosseinipour were also convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in connection with the sale of $5,000 Emperor positions in the company as a form of passive income. Maike was also convicted of money laundering and tax evasion in connection with his use of approximately $3.2 million in I2G funds, some of which were wired to and from an Infinity 2 Global bank account in Hong Kong and used by Maike to purchase 1800 acres of ranch land in Kansas for his personal use. The evidence at trial showed that in approximately 15 months, I2G sold nearly 5,000 of the $5,000 Emperor positions generating, along with other lower-priced positions, over $30 million in revenue, much of which went out in the form of commissions to the promoters at the top of the pyramid structure. Commissions were generated based on recruitment of new members into the company. Over 90% of the people who bought a membership in I2G lost money.
The trial started in Owensboro, Kentucky on July 12, 2022, and concluded with the jury’s verdict on September 7, 2022, after four hours of deliberation. Maike was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Maike, Barnes, and Hosseinipour are scheduled for sentencing in Owensboro before a United States District Judge of the Western District of Kentucky on December 12, 2022. Maike faces a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison. Barnes and Hosseiniour each face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. The United States District Judge will determine the defendants sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
One co-defendant, Richard Anzalone, previously entered a plea of guilty to the conspiracy to commit securities fraud and testified at trial. He will be sentenced at a later date. Two other co-defendants, Dennis Dvorin and Jason Syn, were severed for trial to be held at a later date. No trial date has been set for Dvorin and Syn.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Madison Sewell and Marisa Ford prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Cristy Crocket.
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Federal Jury Convicts Pontotoc County Resident of Abusive Sexual Contact and Sexual Abuse of A Minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Nathan Dale Smith, age 32, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. The jury trial began on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, and concluded on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Nathan Dale Smith sexually abused a female child under the age of 16 over the course of two years. Once the abuse was disclosed, the Defendant sent an incriminating text message to the victim’s mother apologizing for his actions.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the Defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Ada Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Smith was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Quincy Residents for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned indictments on August 9, 2022, against the following individuals:
Audrey Ohenmus 25, of Quincy, Illinois, is charged with both transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, Murquise D. Wooden, and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, Murquise D. Wooden on July 17, 2022. The penalty for transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person is up to 15 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. Ohenmus was ordered to be released on bond with conditions by United States Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught on August 25, 2022.
Murquise D. Wooden, also of Quincy, is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a felon, on July 17, 2022. The penalty, in light of previous criminal convictions alleged by the government, is a minimum of 15 years and up to a life term of imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. United States Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught ordered the defendant to be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on September 7, 2022.
The charges were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Illinois State Police, and the Quincy Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger is representing the government in the case prosecutions.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- September 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September 2022 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Raul Angel Alvarado-Ramos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Alvarado-Ramos, 28, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been deported on May 29, 2020, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-295
Lori Ann Bailey. Bank Fraud (Counts 1-5, 11); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 6-10); Possession of Stolen Mail (Count 12); Theft or Receipt of Stolen Mail (Counts 13-15). On May 1, 2022, Bailey, 42, of Sand Springs, allegedly broke into mailboxes at an apartment complex and stole mail, including a victim’s Arvest Bank debit card. She then used the debit card to make purchases totaling $750 at various stores, including Burlington, Reasor’s, IHOP, Walmart and AutoZone, thus committing bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On May 13, 2022, she further attempted to pass a forged and fraudulent check from an American Heritage bank account. She also allegedly possessed stolen mail on Aug. 6, 2021, including a package, checks, and Harley Davidson tags. On Nov. 3, 2021, she further stole three packages left for collection. On Dec. 14, 2021, she stole a package from a mail receptacle and authorized depository for mail matter. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2021, Bailey stole another package which had been left for collection. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-296
Curtis Edward Barnes Jr. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country. Barnes Jr., 42, of Haskell, is charged with entering the victim’s home through an unlocked door on July 27, 2022, violating a protective order. The following day, Barnes allegedly returned and forced his way through the back door of the victim’s home then hit and strangled the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-315
Douglas Colby Barnes. Violence Against Mass Transportation Systems on Land (Count 1); Kidnapping in Indian Country (Count 2); Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country (Count 3); Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor) (Counts 4-6). On Aug. 13, 2022, Barnes allegedly rushed a Tulsa City bus driver while the bus was in motion and assaulted the driver and three other passengers who intervened. The driver was able to stop the bus, but the assault on the driver continued. At one point, the bus began moving again slowly until it crashed into a telephone pole. During the assault, Barnes allegedly struck the driver with force 14 times along with other strikes and slaps to the head, causing serious bodily injury. Barnes was finally subdued by a man who saw the bus hit the telephone pole. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-297
Mikaili Diwani Cohn. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Cohn, 25, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material from May 26, 2022, to July 12, 2022. He also allegedly failed to register as a sex offender staring on March 29, 2022, through the date of the indictment. Cohn was previously convicted in the Northern District of Oklahoma for possession of child pornography on Nov. 3, 2017. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Victor A.S. Régal and George Jiang are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-298
Gonzalo Coronado-Aguilar. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Coronado-Aguilar, 40, a Guatemalan National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed at or near Miami, Florida, on April 18, 2011. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-299
Manuel Flores- Topete. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Flores-Topete, 48, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 8, 2013, at or near El Paso, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-300
Juan Antonio Garcia-Rivera. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Rivera, 30, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 30, 2019, at or near Paso Del Norte, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-301
Juan Carlos Hernandez-Nava. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez-Nava, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Nov. 28, 2017, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-302
Brandon Jordan Lancaste. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On Aug. 13, 2022, Lancaste, 20, of Tulsa, allegedly shot victim Keith Brown, killing him. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-316
Henry Mauricio Lopez-Villanueva. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez-Villanueva, 35, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 8, 2013, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-303
Mauricio Lorenzo-Juarez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lorenzo-Juarez, 35, a Guatemalan national, was charged with unlawfully reentering the United States on July 31, 2009, at or near Harlingen, Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-304
Darrell Lamont Love. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. From June 1, 2022, to Aug. 18, 2022, Darrell Lamont Love allegedly failed to register as a sex offender. The U.S. Marshals Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-305
Milgen Perez-Chun. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez-Chun, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentered the United States after having been removed on Feb. 17, 2019, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-306
Damien Rodrigues-Munis. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodrigues-Munis, 49, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Dec. 10, 2011, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-307
Jose Rodriguez-Soto. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez-Soto, 29, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on June 5, 2013, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-308
Miguel Segura-Jasso. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Segura-Jasso, 37, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Feb. 5, 2010, at or near Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-309
Jose Rosendo Valadez-Chavez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Valadez-Chavez, 30, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 1, 2019, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-310
Tory Ceonta Williams. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 1, 3); Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 2, 4); Receipt of Stolen Property in Indian Country (Misdemeanor) (Count 5). On Aug. 15, 2022, Williams, 18, of Tulsa, allegedly shot two male victims with intent to do bodily harm. He is also alleged to have knowingly received stolen federal law enforcement equipment. The FBI equipment included two sets of body armor, ballistics plates, four AR-15 magazines and a Glock 19 magazine. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan H. Heatherman is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-312
Zachary Ray Young; Kiarah Danea Shaw. Robbery in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On Aug. 1, 2022, Young, 22, and Shaw, 20, both of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon and stole the victim’s wallet. The victim suffered serious bodily injury during the assault. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-311
East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Fulton Lee Gully, 61, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, after previously pleading guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. As part of his guilty plea, Gully acknowledged that between
July 28, 2020, and October 27, 2020, while knowing he was a convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a shotgun at a residence in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Gully had likewise been convicted in 2003 in this district of being a felon in possession of a firearm and, in that case, received a sentence of 1 year and 1 day to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. In 2005, Gully’s supervised release was revoked after he was found to have possessed cocaine and marijuana. He was sent back to prison for 6 months to be followed by 6 months of home confinement. In 2006, Gully’s supervised release was again revoked and he was returned to prison for 13 months after he violated the terms of his home confinement.“Felons possessing firearms, regardless of the circumstances, are serious offenses,” said United
States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This defendant has repeatedly shown his inability to follow the law or comply with restrictions placed on him by the courts. Our communities are less safe when individuals like this possess guns.”Upon release from his 48-month term of imprisonment, Gully will serve 3 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.
Dover Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
CONCORD –Tyler Townsend, 28, of Dover pled guilty in federal court on Friday to one count of sex trafficking of a minor, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Townsend posted online advertisements offering a minor female for commercial sex on a now-defunct website in 2017. The online account used to post the advertisements was linked to Townsend through email and phone records. Townsend often dealt directly with the individuals who responded to the advertisements, negotiating terms and discussing prices. He also frequently accompanied the minor female and collected the money that was paid by the individuals in exchange for sex with the minor female.
Townsend is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2022.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Dover Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasey Weiland and Anna Dronzek.
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District Man Sentenced to 31 Years in Prison for Murder of a Senior Citizen in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Tyrone Williams, 52, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 31 years in prison for first-degree felony murder of a senior citizen and other charges in a mid-day attempted robbery that took place in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Williams was found guilty by a jury on June 8, 2022, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The jury also found him guilty of attempted robbery of a senior citizen. He was sentenced by the Honorable Marisa J. Demeo to 30 years in prison on the murder charge and an additional year for committing the offense while on supervised release. A two-year sentence for the attempted robbery runs concurrently with the other time. Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release. At the time of the murder, he was on supervised release for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, at 11:45 a.m. on March 29, 2020, Bobby Poole Jr. 81, was walking home after going on his daily mile-long walk to a convenience store. On his way home, in the 900 block of Eastern Avenue NE, Mr. Poole was knocked down by Williams and a second unknown assailant. The two went through his pockets. Mr. Poole hit his head on a metal fence during the robbery, suffering brain injuries. He died on May 6, 2020, from complications of blunt force trauma to the head
Surveillance video from the convenience store shows Williams had been casing Mr. Poole and the convenience store and following him afterwards. The attack is not shown on video, but a civilian witness, who had just run into Williams at the store, saw Williams and the second assailant fleeing the area where Mr. Poole was found. Williams was located at the convenience store afterwards and is identified through surveillance video.
Williams was arrested on March 29, 2020. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gauri Gopal, Chimnomnso Kalu, and Daniel Lenerz, Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera, Lead Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris, Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, and Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling and Litigation Technology Specialist Paul Howell.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Ganjei and Ariel Dean, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to 11½ Years in Prison for Killing Man on Busy Street in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jerome Alexander, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a prison term of 11 ½ years for killing a man in December 2019 in a busy commercial shopping area in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Alexander pleaded guilty in June 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of voluntary manslaughter while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence of 9½ to 14 years. The Honorable Maribeth Raffinan accepted the plea and sentenced Alexander accordingly. Following his prison term, Alexander will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Dec. 19, 2019, shortly before 4 p.m., Alexander, armed with an illegal firearm, approached Richard Washington on a pedestrian-filled sidewalk in front of a variety store in the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue NE. Mr. Washington had shopped inside the store and was walking back to his car in a parking lot. Alexander attempted to force Mr. Washington to give him his property. As Alexander walked towards him, Mr. Washington tried to walk away, but Alexander continued to follow him.
Mr. Washington kept trying to create separation between himself and Alexander and told Alexander that he didn’t have anything. Alexander, however, continued to stalk Mr. Washington, who eventually swung his arm at Alexander, but his arm did not connect and thus, did not strike Alexander. Others on the street began to run away from the two as Alexander, with his right hand still in his right coat pocket, continued towards Mr. Washington. As Mr. Washington walked away from Alexander in front of the windows of the store, Alexander took out his firearm and shot Mr. Washington in the torso. Alexander then sprinted towards Benning Road NE, and fled. Shoppers and pedestrians ran in fear at the sound of the shooting, running across the busy intersection on Minnesota Avenue, and away from the perceived danger. Some stayed to call for help. Mr. Washington, 28, died from his injuries later that day.
Alexander was arrested on Dec. 31, 2019. He has been detained ever since.
Mr. Washington, at 6’8” in height, was known as Big Rich to his Morehouse College Football teammates, where in 2012 and 2013 he donned the number 74. To his family and friends, he was a gentle giant and beloved family member.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Coronado and Melissa Jackson, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Fatal Stabbing of Woman in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Carl Jones, 45, of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend earlier this year in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jones pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of voluntary manslaughter and carrying a dangerous weapon. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of seven to nine years in prison. The Honorable Milton C. Lee, Jr. scheduled sentencing for Dec. 9, 2022.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 27, 2022, at approximately 12:38 a.m., Jones went to the apartment of his girlfriend, Ladonia Boggs, in the 1500 block of Benning Road NE. Jones, who did not reside at the apartment, got into an altercation with Ms. Boggs over the death of their nearly two-month-old baby, which took place in May of 2021. During the altercation, he fatally stabbed Ms. Boggs with a knife. He then dragged her body to the front door of her apartment unit. Jones temporarily left the apartment at approximately 1:55 a.m. to throw a trash bag from the apartment into a nearby dumpster. Then, at approximately 2:52 a.m., he used Ms. Boggs’s cellphone to call 911, reporting that a male with a knife chased a woman into her house. Jones then left the apartment building before police officers arrived.
Ms. Boggs, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jones was arrested on April 27, 2022. He has been detained ever since.
At the time of her death, Ms. Boggs was awaiting court proceedings following her indictment on a charge of tampering with physical evidence in the baby’s death. She was accused of disposing of the baby’s body in a dumpster. Ms. Boggs had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Department of Justice Awards $400,000 to the Yakama Nation to Enhance Its Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, today announced a $400,000 Department of Justice grant to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. The grant provides support and resources to the Tribes for maintaining a sex offender registry and ensuring sex offenders’ registration is current at all times.
The grant, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (the “SMART” Office), in the Office of Justice Programs, was awarded on September 6, 2022. Funding was awarded pursuant to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, 34 U.S.C. § 20901, et seq. In accordance with this Act, funding is made available to assist jurisdictions with developing and enhancing programs to meet two goals: (1) ensuring that all states and federally-recognized Indian Tribes maintain an active sex offender registry; and (2) requiring registered sex offenders to maintain a current registration in each jurisdiction where the individual lives, works, or goes to school.
In announcing the $400,000 award, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “The United States Justice Department is committed to devoting resources to support keeping communities safe and strong.” She continued, “Sex offender registration and community notification are essential to improving the safety of our communities. The $400,000 award will help ensure that the Yakama Nation and individual members of the community are able to track and monitor convicted sex offenders. This information is vital to ensure that parents, teachers and conscientious members of the community have the tools they need to keep our children and families safe in their schools, neighborhoods and homes.”
The SMART Office administers the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), which sets forth a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. Among other things, SORNA requires that sex offender registries include the following information: duration of registration, in-person verification of sex offender registration information, participation in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov), and interjurisdictional notification of relocating offenders. More specific information about the implementation of SORNA is available at https://smart.ojp.gov/sorna. Information specific to implementation of SORNA in Indian Country is available at https://smart.ojp.gov/IC-SORNA-guide. Additional information about grants and funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs is available at https://www.ojp.gov/.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Accepting More Than $500,000 in Bribes in Connection with a Multi-Million Dollar New York City Public Works ContractRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, George Djurasevic pled guilty to bribery, in violation of the Travel Act, admitting that he accepted more than half-a-million dollars in bribe payments in his role as a manager of a company (the “Company”) contracted by the New York City Water Board (NYCWB) to provide sewer and water pipe repair services to New York City homeowners. Djurasevic also pled guilty to tax evasion. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. When sentenced, Djurasevic faces a total of 10 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Michael J. Driscoll, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation; and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (IRS), announced the guilty plea.
“Motivated by greed, Djurasevic flushed away his integrity, accepting bribes and leaving New Yorkers to pay the bill, including when home repairs were not even completed,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “That the process of overseeing city contracts on warranties for costly repairs was corrupted is a betrayal to New York homeowners.”
“As he admitted with today’s plea, Mr. Djurasevic abused his position for personal gain and passed the tab on to New York City taxpayers. Those responsible for helping their fellow citizens obtain basic utility services have a duty to do so in an honest manner, not one motivated by greedy self-interest. The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to bringing those who take bribes at the expense of the public to justice,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, "As today’s guilty plea establishes, instead of providing responsible oversight of City repair projects, the defendant used his status as a City contractor to line his own pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribe payments. DOI and its federal partners will continue to thwart those who corrupt City processes and victimize New Yorkers."
“Djurasevic lined his pockets with ill-gotten gains and left the people of New York City to pay the tab. He then underpaid his taxes by more than a hundred thousand dollars, revenue used to fund programs for Americans who need it. It is clear that Djurasevic had little regard for the collateral damage of his schemes, and with this guilty plea he is one step closer to justice,” said Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge for IRS:CI in New York.
According to court documents and facts presented at the guilty plea proceeding, the Company was awarded a multi-million-dollar contract by the NYCWB to sell warranties to New York City homeowners covering repairs to sewer and water pipes. Djurasevic was responsible for overseeing the Company’s sewer and water line repair work carried out by the Company’s plumbing sub-contractors in Staten Island, Queens and Brooklyn.
Djurasevic accepted approximately $500,000 in bribes over five years from a sub-contractor in exchange for, among other things, allowing the sub-contractor to overbill for work performed or to not perform certain repairs to the homeowners’ sewer and water pipes, as well as for his review of the sub-contractor’s determination as to whether repairs were covered by the Company’s warranty. Djurasevic also failed to report his true income to the Internal Revenue Service, which resulted in his failure to pay more than $114,000 in taxes. When sentenced, Djurasevic faces a total of 10 years in prison.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Philip Pilmar, Robert Polemeni and Dana Rehnquist are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
GEORGE DJURASEVIC
Age: 54
Armonk, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-551 (LDH)
Colchester Man Indicted for Federal Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2022, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Dominique Troupe (also known as “Wop” and “Juice”), 35, of Colchester with one count of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base.
According to court filings, Troupe was arrested Wednesday evening as he got off the ferry in Grand Isle, after travelling to New York to obtain crack cocaine for distribution in Vermont. He was arrested with more than 200 grams (including packaging) of cocaine base in the trunk of his vehicle.
At the time of his arrest, Troupe was subject to conditions imposed last month by Chittenden Superior Court Criminal Division in connection with a pending prosecution in that court for Aggravated Assault and Burglary. The state-court-imposed conditions required Troupe to stay at his Colchester residence, subject to certain exceptions.
The United States has moved for Troupe to be detained during the pendency of his prosecution. He will be arraigned on the indictment and the Court is expected to take up the question of pre-trial detention at a hearing scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.
The indictment is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Troupe faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison. Any sentence imposed, would be informed by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Troupe is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michael Drescher.
Career Offender in Elyria Sentenced to More Than 21.5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - Terry L. Jackson Sr., 50, of Elyria, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, September 8, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to more than 21.5 years in prison after Jackson was convicted in a trial by jury of distributing cocaine base (crack) and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base (crack) and methamphetamine.
“This sentence is another example of the successful cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement authorities in combating the scourge of opioids in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Repeat drug traffickers earn their way to federal court to answer for the poisoning of our communities.”
“Drug trafficking cases remain one of the highest priorities of the FBI,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “This sentence underscores an unwavering commitment to combatting drug trafficking. The FBI, together with our federal, state, and local partners, remain steadfast in disrupting the flow of deadly drugs that pose the greatest threat to the well-being of every person in the United States.”
"The Elyria Police Department would like to thank our federal partners, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office, for collaborating with us on the investigation of Terry L. Jackson," said City of Elyria Chief of Police William Pelko. "Mr. Jackson is a career criminal who we have dealt with many times throughout the years for numerous violent criminal and drug activity. The citizens of Elyria will no longer have to tolerate Jackson's criminal behavior. The Elyria Police Department will continue to work with our federal partners to investigate and prosecute these violent offenders."
According to court documents, in February of 2019, law enforcement officers with the Elyria Police Department began an investigation into Jackson, after receiving information that Jackson was distributing drugs out of an Elyria-area motel room. As a result, investigators conducted a controlled buy from Jackson and purchased a quantity of cocaine base (crack) from him. Shortly after, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for the hotel room where Jackson was staying.
During the execution of the warrant, investigators encountered Jackson alone in the room and seized quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base (crack) and methamphetamine from him. Jackson was arrested at that time.
Jackson was classified as a career offender during the sentencing hearing due to multiple prior felony convictions, including drug trafficking and felonious assault. A career offender is an individual that commits either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense after two prior felony convictions for either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.
This investigation was conducted by the Elyria Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Robert J. Kolansky.
This case was investigated as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.)., a joint law enforcement initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.
Bucks County Man Charged with Causing More Than $1.5 Million in Damage to Decommissioned Power Plants Across Philadelphia Region by Stealing Copper Wire to Sell for ScrapRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Michael Garrison, 43, of Croydon, PA, was charged by Information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to destroy an energy facility, eight counts of wire fraud, two counts of destruction of an energy facility, and one count of filing a false tax return.
The Information alleges that starting in 2018 and continuing until August 2021, Garrison broke into shuttered coal-fired power plants that had been decommissioned, including Titus Station in Berks County, Cromby Station in Chester County, Southward Generating Station in Philadelphia, and the Gould Street Generating Station in Baltimore, Maryland, in order to steal copper wire and other metal, which he then sold to scrap yards in Philadelphia. The Information further alleges that between January 2020 and August 2021, Garrison sold stolen scrap on approximately 175 separate occasions to a Philadelphia scrap yard, for which he was paid more than $117,000. But the payment the defendant received paled in comparison to the damage he caused to the power plants. For example, the Information alleges that in the summer of 2021 alone, Garrison caused more than $1.5 million worth of damage to Titus Station in order to expose and pull the copper wire and other metal that he stole from that facility. As set forth in the Information, Garrison is also charged with filing a false 2020 U.S. Income Tax Return that failed to declare the more than $62,000 he was paid that year from the Philadelphia scrap yard.
“Stealing or vandalizing energy facilities – operational or not – is a federal offense which will be vigorously prosecuted by our Office,” said U.S. Attorney Romero.
“Brazenly breaking into and damaging a power facility — for any reason — is unacceptable,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “It’s imperative to hold perpetrators accountable for their destruction and, in doing so, we seek to also deter others from committing such a serious federal crime.”
“No matter the source, all income is taxable,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. “Mr. Garrison is alleged to have earned a living by stealing. Income derived from theft is taxable and IRS-CI remain committed to investigating these types of crimes. “
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael S. Lowe and Judy Smith.
An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Brockton Man Sentenced for Role in Dark Web Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a highly sophisticated drug trafficking operation that manufactured and distributed a multitude of controlled substances using the Dark Web.
Allante Pires, 25, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Pires was also ordered to forfeit a 2013 Mercedes E sedan. The government recommended a sentence of 70 months in prison. On June 2, 2022, Pires pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, Ketamine and Alprazolam (Xanax).
Pires was indicted in June 2019 along with co-conspirators Binh Thanh Le and Steven McCall. Le, who was the ringleader of the drug-trafficking operation, created and operated a vendor site called “EastSideHigh” in markets on the Dark Network, more commonly known as the Dark Web. The Dark Web is any portion of the internet that can only be accessed with specific software, configurations or authorization that anonymize internet traffic. Le used these Dark Web markets to advertise various drugs for sale, including cocaine, MDMA, Ketamine and Xanax. Le ordered and received wholesale quantities of the drugs he and the others were distributing in the mail, principally from foreign sources in Canada and Europe. Le, Pires and McCall then processed and manufactured those controlled substances at an office space Le rented in Stoughton. After receiving the orders and payment via Bitcoin, the men mailed the drugs to customers throughout the United States.
Over 19 kilograms of MDMA, almost seven kilograms of Ketamine, nearly one kilogram of cocaine and more than 10,000 counterfeit Xanax pills were seized by authorities during the investigation. Investigators also recovered a computer with the “EastSideHigh” vendor page open, numerous packages containing MDMA and Ketamine, various shipping and packaging materials and a pill press from the office space in Stoughton.
On March 10, 2022, Le was sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release. Le was also ordered to forfeit more than 59 Bitcoin (representing a forfeiture in excess of $1.1 million), $114,680 in cash, $42,390 representing the proceeds from the sale of a 2018 BMW M3, along with other items including a pill press and currency counter. McCall pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy on June 28, 2022 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 28, 2022.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Special assistance with the investigation was provided by the Homeland Security Investigations in Colorado; Postal Inspectors from around the country; and the Stoughton, Norwood and Brockton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
British Citizens Sentenced in Death of Scuba DiverRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – After more than 10 years on the run from authorities, Christopher Jones and Alison Gracey were sentenced in Miami federal court today for their role in the involuntary manslaughter death of a scuba diver in 2011.
The Honorable James Lawrence King, Senior United States District Court Judge, sentenced Jones to 51 months of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release. Alison Gracey was sentenced to the time she already has served in custody – 18.5 months and a one-year term of supervised release. Both will be deported from the United States at the conclusion of their prison terms.
Jones, 58, and Gracey, 55, owned the Key Largo Scuba Shack, LLC, a business that operated charter scuba diving trips in the Florida Keys from approximately June 2010 to December 2011. They operated a 24.8-foot vessel named the M/V Get Wet as part of the business. On December 18, 2011, the M/V Get Wet conducted a scuba trip with two crew members and six passengers. During their first dive stop, sea conditions went from calm to choppy and the boat operator noticed that the bilge pump had failed. As the divers reboarded the boat after the dive, the vessel began taking on water and rolling heavily. The Get Wet ultimately capsized, and quickly sank about 30 feet to the ocean floor. During its descent, a 300-pound bench that was not properly secured to the vessel’s deck detached. Made of buoyant material, the bench sprang toward the ocean’s surface as the vessel itself sank. The two large and heavy objects collided, pinning one of the passenger’s legs against the vessel’s windshield. The passenger was trapped and drowned.
Coast Guard experts later inspected the Get Wet and found serious deficiencies. None of Get Wet’s bilge compartments including the engine spaces below the ship’s deck were watertight. The aftmost bilge space was covered by a deck plate with holes for 30 bolts, 22 of which were missing and the remaining eight were loose. The wood at the bottom of the 300-pound bench was rotten, and the screws intended to secure it to the deck were too small. Beneath the deck, holes that allowed water to flow between the various bilge compartments compromised all the bulkheads. A bilge pump had been disassembled and re-assembled incorrectly, causing it to fail.
The Coast Guard’s criminal investigation following the death of the diver revealed that Jones and Gracey knew before the tragedy that the vessel needed repairs. Jones and Gracey continued operating the M/V Get Wet despite the following, all of which occurred prior to December 18, 2011:
- Following inspections, the United States Coast Guard had notified Jones and Gracey that the vessel needed repairs, including securing the center engine bench cover to the deck and making repairs below the deck to insure the water-tight integrity of bulkheads.
- The dive operation’s employees repeatedly informed Jones that the Get Wet flooded dangerously. The deck plates were barely attached, and the engine bench cover would rock back and forth.
- The Get Wet broke down repeatedly and equipment on the boat failed, including the pumps intended to de-water the vessel.
- On one voyage with Gracey aboard as dive master, the Get Wet almost sank.
- In the two months before the boat sank, a marine salvor towed the Get Wet to shore on three separate occasions.
Shortly after the diver’s death, Jones and Gracey fled the United States and spent over 10 years moving from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, fighting extradition each time law enforcement found them. They were finally arrested in 2021 in Spain, where Spanish authorities took them into custody based on an Interpol Red Notice. In January 2022, Jones and Gracey were extradited to the United States to face federal charges in Southern District of Florida.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Juan Antonio Gonzalez and Zinnia James, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), announced the results of the sentencing hearing today.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs, provided invaluable assistance, pursuing the extradition of the defendants from multiple countries. The U.S. Marshal’s Service also assisted by transporting the defendants from Spain to Florida.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Raich worked on the investigation and initially prosecuted this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald is now handling.
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 12-cr-10013.
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Bonner Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a child and taking nude pictures and videos of the child. According to court documents, Joshua Courtney, 35, of Bonner Springs pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and four counts of possession of child pornography.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cybertips from Google, Snapchat, and Dropbox about child sexual abuse material photos and videos within accounts identified as belonging to Joshua Courtney. Agents found dozens of pornographic images in Courtney’s Google photos, including some of which were later identified to be of a 10-year-old child. Courtney admitted to investigators he took nude photos of the child, filmed himself while engaged in sexual acts with the child, and sent these materials to others. He also admitted receiving child pornography of other children on his cell phone.
“The Secret Service is proud of the effective partnerships it maintains with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the United States Attorney’s Office, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in seeing justice served in this case,” said Kansas City Field Office Special Agent in Charge Brandon Bridgeforth. “We can think of no greater outcome than protecting our children from predators such as Joshua Courtney.”
Courtney faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of child exploitation and up to 20 years in prison for each count of possession of child pornography. His sentencing is scheduled for December 1. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra is prosecuting the case.
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Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
21 Indicted in Lawrence and Southbridge Area Cocaine and Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Twenty-one individuals have been indicted in federal court in Boston in connection with their alleged roles in drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) that distributed cocaine and fentanyl throughout the North Shore and Central Massachusetts.
The following defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute various weights of fentanyl and cocaine and for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine:
- Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez, 30, of Southbridge;
- Isaac Gonzalez, 31, of Southbridge;
- Ismael Maysonet, 40, of Southbridge;
- Nataly Vazquez Pizarro, 40, of Southbridge;
- Jonathan Rivera Otero, 27, of Puerto Rico;
- Jassiel Ortiz Cardona, 28, of Puerto Rico;
- Josue Maisonet, 26, of Southbridge;
- Kimberly Heck, 38, of Southbridge;
- Edgardo Ramirez, 44, of Southbridge;
- Jacob Fuentes, 47, of Southbridge;
- Richard Watts, 27, of Southbridge;
- Juan Lara Tejada a/k/a “Mayimbe,” 31, of Lawrence;
- William Torres, 42, of Lawrence;
- Julio Rivera Morales, 49, of Philadelphia;
- Hector Luis Torres Rosario, 40, of Lawrence;
- Leduis Esteves Cabrera, 26, of Lawrence;
- Deborah Torres, 34, of Lawrence;
- Clinton Ortiz, 38, of Southbridge;
- Reinaldo Rosado, 39, of Southbridge;
- Roberto Lopez, 34, of Southbridge; and
- Henry Rodriguez-Ruiz, 47, of Southbridge.
“These defendants allegedly engaged in a large-scale criminal enterprise that sought to poison communities in Massachusetts and elsewhere with deadly narcotics. Today’s indictments should send a clear message that drug trafficking organizations operating in our Commonwealth will be rooted out, prosecuted and dismantled,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Those who exploit the vulnerable and pump lethal drugs into our neighborhoods for a profit are not welcome here. My office will stop at nothing to hold those involved accountable. Thanks to the exceptional coordinated work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, North Shore and Central Massachusetts communities and beyond can rest knowing these alleged criminals have been removed from their neighborhoods. Our efforts will not stop.”
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities here in Massachusetts,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division. “Let these arrests and seizures serve as an example and be a warning to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl and cocaine, that DEA will aggressively and actively pursue and hold you accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners here in Massachusetts and our solid relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail while also protecting our employees and the American public,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Today’s arrests reflect these values and should send a strong message to anyone who would attempt to use the U.S. Mail for illicit gain. This investigation highlights how the U.S. Postal Inspection and our law enforcement partners work together to disrupt Drug Trafficking Organizations that endanger our communities.”
According to the charging documents, investigators identified Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez as the leaders of a Southbridge-based DTO comprised of Vazquez, Maysonet, Maisonet, Fuentes, Ortiz, and Heck, among others, that distributed cocaine and fentanyl to retail customers and to other drug dealers. It is alleged that the DTO regularly used the United States mail to conduct drug trafficking activities. Specifically, the DTO allegedly obtained large quantities of cocaine through packages mailed from Puerto Rico to addresses used by the DTO and mailed packages containing fentanyl to recipients in Florida and elsewhere. Intercepted communications allegedly identified William Torres, Hector Luis Torres Rosario, and Cabrera, among others as Lawrence-based fentanyl distributors who worked to directly supply Gonzalez’s DTO and other distributors with fentanyl. Approximately nine kilograms of cocaine from packages sent through the mail and 800 grams of fentanyl were seized from various DTO members over the course of the investigation.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams of cocaine and 40 grams of fentanyl provides a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, DEA SAC Boyle and USPIS INC Larco-Ward made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Southbridge Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Department, and Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
8 September 2022
Worcester Investment Adviser Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester-based investment adviser pleaded guilty today in connection with a long-running scheme to steal more than $2.8 million from six clients.
James Kenneth Couture, 42, of Sutton, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of investment adviser fraud and one count of witness tampering. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2022.
Couture was a registered investment adviser, with an office in Worcester. In that capacity, he invested his clients’ funds in securities and various insurance products, including annuities, and set up and assisted clients with profit-sharing plans and other retirement products. From approximately 2009 to 2020, Couture misappropriated approximately $2.8 million from his clients by transferring funds out of his clients’ accounts, investing it in fictitious mutual funds and then selling other clients’ holdings to pay investment returns. In June 2016, Couture liquidated one client’s variable annuities to fund withdrawals by another client. Similarly, in December 2019 and January 2020, Couture paid a client he had previously defrauded by selling other clients’ mutual funds. As part of this scheme, Couture forged clients’ signatures on documents, or caused clients to sign documents by falsely representing that the proceeds of transactions would be used for the clients’ benefit. Couture also stole from clients using their own profit-sharing plans and conducting transactions in their names to disguise his fraudulent transactions.
Couture was initially charged in connection with this scheme in June 2021. After those initial charges were filed, Couture engaged in witness tampering by creating fake documents purported to be for his clients’ accounts and providing false information to at least one victim in the case for approximately six months. Couture was subsequently charged with witness tampering in connection with his efforts to deceive this victim on Jan. 14, 2022.
The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charges of aggravated identity theft each provide for a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. The charge of investment adviser fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of witness tampering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael Rollins, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Waterbury Man Charged with Drug Distribution and Gun Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Waterbury Chief of Police Fernando C. Spagnolo today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging CHRISTOPHER POLLER, 28, of Waterbury, was drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
The indictment was returned on August 9. On September 6, Poller appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Poller has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on May 3.
The indictment alleges that, on May 3, 2022, Poller possessed quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine that he intended to distribute, and two loaded handguns.
The indictment further alleges that Poller’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics distribution, larceny, assault, escape, and weapons possession offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Poller with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Wasilla Drug Dealer Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Wasilla, Alaska, man was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release for possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sedric Williams, 43, led the Alaska State Troopers on a high-speed chase through Wasilla at 2:25 a.m. on September 14, 2018, in a reckless attempt to avoid getting caught with heroin in his vehicle. Weaving in and out of oncoming traffic at more than 110 mph, Williams lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a pole. He then climbed out of the vehicle’s window and ran down an ATV trail, ignoring orders from the Trooper to stop. After being tasered, Williams threw away a plastic baggie containing 122 grams of heroin into the nearby bushes.
Evidence at trial established that Williams intended to sell the heroin as part of an ongoing drug dealing business. Information contained on three cell phones found in Williams's wrecked car indicated that he had many clients who frequently texted him for a wide variety of drugs. The 122 grams of heroin Williams had in his possession when arrested had a street value of up to $61,000 and represented more than 1,000 individual doses.
Williams has a long history of drug and firearm-related convictions. In 2010, Williams was convicted in a previous federal jury trial of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. Within just a few months of his release from federal prison in 2018, he resumed selling drugs.
“Illegal narcotics are a cancer in our society and the removal of Williams from the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage streets will help make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker, District of Alaska. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to ensure drug dealers face stiff consequences for their illegal activities and that justice is served.”
“The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold anyone that deals illicit drugs accountable for their actions,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Overdose claimed the lives of hundreds of Alaskans in 2021, and law enforcement will continue to do our part to disrupt the tidal wave of illegal narcotics flowing into Alaska.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison O’Leary and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
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Washington Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Washington man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for coercion and enticement of a minor.
Jabarie Phillips, a/k/a Jabarie Lindsey, 44, of Seattle, Wash., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On May 11, 2022, Phillips pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.
“A mere eight days after being released from prison for a manslaughter conviction, Mr. Phillips sexually exploited a 14-year-old girl – a child nearly 27 years his junior – both online and in person for his own perverse sexual gratification. Although today’s sentence cannot erase the enormous, immeasurable trauma this manipulative predator caused upon the victim and her family, I hope it provides some solace in knowing this dangerous individual will be removed from our communities for over a decade,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “As the chief federal law enforcement officer of our Commonwealth, it is my job to ensure the safety of our communities, especially that of our most vulnerable populations. My office will continue to work relentlessly to protect children from predators who seek to exploit them and rob them of their innocence.”
“Today’s sentence keeps Jabarie Phillips exactly where he belongs, behind bars, being held to account for his repulsive actions, and unable to victimize anyone else,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “What this convicted killer and child predator did is sickening, and the extensive trauma he inflicted upon the victim and her family will impact them forever. It is our sincere hope that this sentence will provide for her a measure of justice and help her heal.”
On April 23, 2019, approximately one week after being released from prison for a conviction of manslaughter, Phillips reached out to a 14-year-old middle-school girl from Massachusetts via Facebook and the two began communicating online using Facebook and their cellphones. Phillips, knowing the victim’s age, repeatedly asked her to take sexually explicit videos and photos of herself for him to view. During their communications, which continued over the course of approximately nine days, the victim told Phillips that she had issues with her family, to which Phillips responded, “If you run away let me know we can take this show on the road I need a partner in crime.” After communicating with and sexually exploiting the victim online, Phillips flew from Washington to Boston. On April 29, 2019, the girl met Phillips at Logan Airport, and then they traveled together to South Station to catch a bus to Seattle, Wash. While on the bus, Phillips engaged in sexual activity with the victim.
On May 3, 2019, authorities intercepted the bus in Minneapolis, Minn. where they arrested Phillips and recovered the girl. Phillips was arrested on two warrants – one out of Washington for violating probation following his release from prison for a 2008 conviction for manslaughter and one out of Massachusetts for kidnapping.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn made the announcement today. Various police departments in Southeastern Massachusetts also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Vermont Man Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on September 7, 2022, Stephen Salyer, 42, formerly of Underhill, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont to serve 40 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of being in possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered Salyer to serve a three-year term of supervised release and to pay a $100 special assessment.
According to court records and proceedings, on September 21, 2021, the Winooski, Vermont Police Department received a report that a man was in possession of a firearm on a public street. Officers responded and encountered Salyer. Upon discovering that Salyer was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant, officers took him into custody. At that time, they discovered that Salyer was in possession of a 9mm High Point Luger C9 handgun. In 2019, Salyer had been convicted of Assault and Robbery with a Weapon and Eluding Law Enforcement Officer – Negligent Operation.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Winooski, Vermont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in the investigation and prosecution of Salyer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Salyer. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara M. Puls represented Salyer.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
Venezuelan Sentenced to 48 Months in Drug Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Daniel Jesus Salazar-Gonzalez, 43, one of eleven Venezuelan nationals apprehended at sea off the coast of St. Croix, was sentenced today to 46 months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release by District Judge Wilma Lewis on the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on September 25, 2019, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley intercepted the "La Gran Tormenta", a suspicious 55-foot vessel displaying Venezuelan nationality, approximately 38 nautical miles south of St. Croix. The occupants of the vessel failed to respond to the Coast Guard’s efforts to engage in questioning, and thereafter changed course and began jettisoning packages. Coast Guard crew members later detained 11 individuals onboard the vessel and retrieved two bales from the ocean which contained packages of brick-shaped objects that tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride and weighed approximately 49 kilograms.
The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz. 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.