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30 August 2022
Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Role in 2018 MurderRead the Press Release
TA’RON PHARR, also known as “250,” 22, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 216 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for gang-related activity, including his role in a murder in Bridgeport’s East End in August 2018.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Pharr was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gang, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, sold narcotics, laundered narcotics proceeds, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut and used the cars to commit crimes.
On August 8, 2018, Pharr and other O.N.E. members, including Shakale Brantley, Jaylen Wilson and Jamar Traylor, stole a white Jeep Grand Cherokee in Newburgh, New York, and drove it back to Bridgeport. In the following days, O.N.E. members conspired to use the car to kill East End gang members and their allies who O.N.E. members had learned through social media were at a deli on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport. Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, O.N.E. members drove the stolen Jeep to Union Avenue in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival East End group member, and shot and seriously wounded Smith’s female companion, both of whom were seated in a parked car. After the shooting, Pharr, Brantley and other O.N.E. members transported the Jeep to Indian Wells State Park in Shelton where they burned the vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder.
During the investigation, three individuals told law enforcement that Pharr admitted to them that he participated in the shooting.
Pharr and Wilson were arrested on July 7, 2020. A search of a car they both occupied just prior to their arrests revealed three loaded handguns, one of which had an extended magazine, as well as quantities of crack, heroin and marijuana.
Pharr has been detained since his arrest. On July 6, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity.
Brantley pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of solicitation of witness tampering and, on January 26, 2022, was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment.
Wilson and Traylor have pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Karen L. Peck and Tara E. Levens.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
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.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Arizona woman sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Kayla Baker was sentenced on Aug. 29 in federal court to five years in prison. Baker, 26, of Ganado, Arizona, pleaded guilty on May 19 to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 16, 2018, Baker was driving while intoxicated when she attempted to pass another vehicle. She steered into the path of on an oncoming vehicle, resulting in a crash that killed the other driver and severely injured the leg of a passenger. Tests following the crash showed Baker’s blood alcohol content was .12 and THC was present in her system. Law enforcement also found alcohol in Baker’s vehicle. The crash occurred in New Mexico on the Navajo Nation.
Upon her release from prison, Baker will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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Arizona and California Men Sentenced for $20 Million Investment FraudRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – An Arizona man and a California man were sentenced to 15 years and 5 months and 13 years in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, in connection with a nationwide investment scheme involving fraudulent wireless spectrum and dental franchise investments.
According to court documents, from approximately 2011 through 2017, David Alcorn, 78, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Aghee William Smith II, 70, of Roseville, California, were part of an investment fraud conspiracy that operated out of California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, and Hampton Roads, among other locations across the country. Alcorn, Smith, and their co-conspirators—including Kent Maerki, 78, and his wife Norma Jean Coffin, 60, of Arizona; Daryl Bank, 51, of Florida; insurance salesman Tony Sellers, 62, of Idaho; insurance salesman Tom Barnett, 69, of California; attorney Billy Seabolt, 56, of Williamsburg; Raeann Gibson, 49, of Florida; and Roger Hudspeth, 51, of Suffolk – deceived hundreds of unsuspecting investors, most of whom were at or near retirement age, by convincing them to invest in or send money to companies owned and controlled by Alcorn, Bank, and Maerki. Alcorn and others then misappropriated significant portions of the investment funds to pay for their criminal enterprise and lavish lifestyles, as well as to pay exorbitant commissions to Smith and other salesmen.
Smith began selling these fraudulent investments in 2011 for Alcorn, Maerki, and Bank. The conspirators used material misrepresentations to sell illiquid, highly speculative investments that were then used as vehicles for fraud. Trusting the conspirators’ fraudulent misrepresentations, unsuspecting investors cashed out of 401(k) and other retirement accounts to invest without knowing that Alcorn, Bank, and Maerki were immediately transferring 20%–70% of the funds to other companies they controlled in the form of purported “fees.” As a result of this investment fraud scheme, the victims suffered losses in excess of $20 million.
Bank was convicted after trial of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, selling unregistered securities, securities fraud, and money laundering, and was sentenced in September 2021 to 35 years in prison. Maerki pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced in March 2021 to 16 years in prison. Seabolt was convicted after trial of conspiracy and mail fraud and sentenced in September 2021 to 10 years in prison. Gibson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced in February 2020 to 10 years in prison. Hudspeth pleaded guilty to investment advisor fraud and money laundering and was sentenced in May 2018 to over 12 years in prison. Sellers pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced in January to 5 years in prison. Coffin pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced in April to 5 years in prison. Barnett will be sentenced in September.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Internal Revenue Service; and Tira A. Hayward, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission provided significant assistance with this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa O’Boyle, Elizabeth Yusi, and Andrew Bosse are prosecuting the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-47.
Active Duty Soldier at JBLM Pleads Guilty on Charges He Traveled to Foreign Country for Sex with ChildrenRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A former Staff Sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to charges related to traveling to a foreign country with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with a child, sex trafficking of children, as well as production of child pornography. Moeun Yoeun, 37, of Steilacoom, Washington, faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle on December 5, 2022.
In his plea agreement, Yoeun admitted to, over the course of several years, using adult and child residents of the Philippines to recruit more than a dozen other children to produce pornography. Yoeun further admitted to travelling to the Philippines and engaging in sexual acts with at least 6 children in exchange for nominal amounts of money.
Yoeun pleaded guilty to one count of Sex Trafficking of Children, one count of Production of Child Pornography, and one count of Engaging in Illicit Sexual Activity in a Foreign Place. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to charge additional offenses available based on the evidence and moved to dismiss the remaining counts in the indictment.
Other than the 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence required by law, Judge Settle can impose any sentence op to the maximum penalty of life in prison. Yoeun will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and could face federal supervision for the rest of his life.
The FBI and U.S. Army CID, with the assistance of the Philippine National Police, investigated this case as part of the South Sound Child Exploitation Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Grady J. Leupold and Matthew P. Hampton.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
33 Month Sentence Imposed on San Francisco Design Company Controller Who Embezzled $1.9 MillionRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Kerry Kit Yee Tang was sentenced today to 33 months in federal prison for bank fraud stemming from her embezzlement from a San Francisco-based design company, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The sentence was handed down by United States District Chief Judge Richard Seeborg.
Tang, 45, of San Francisco, was employed as the Controller of a San Francisco interior design company from December 2018 to January 2021. On December 16, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Tang on five counts of bank fraud involving embezzlement from her employer. Tang entered a plea agreement on May 24, 2022, and pleaded guilty to all five counts of bank fraud.
According to the plea agreement, Tang was, as Controller, the only employee in an accounting role at the design company. She was responsible for tasks including monthly reconciliation of cash and credit card accounts, processing payroll, and processing payments to vendors via check, wire transfer, and credit card. Tang was not, however, an authorized signer for the company’s checks. That authority was vested only in the company’s principals.
In the plea agreement, Tang admitted that she commenced her scheme to defraud the company in March 2019 – a few months after becoming its Controller. Tang’s scheme involved drawing checks on the company’s bank accounts and forging the signatures of one or both of the company’s principals on the checks without their authorization. Over the next two years, Tang embezzled more than $1.9 million from the company by issuing unauthorized checks.
In total, Tang admits she wrote 69 unauthorized checks. As described in the plea agreement, the checks ranged from $30,000 to $100,000. Tang made 66 of the checks payable to herself and deposited them into her personal bank accounts. In addition, in November and December 2020, Tang wrote three unauthorized checks from a company bank account that were payable to third party companies and totaled $267,200. Tang admitted in her plea agreement that she was not authorized to issue or sign the checks and that the third party companies did not perform any services for her company.
The government asserted in its sentencing memo that Tang not only violated the trust placed in her by her colleagues but also jeopardized the livelihood of the design company and its employees. The majority of Tang’s embezzlement occurred in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when the country’s populace struggled with financial difficulties and emotional stress. Tang’s crimes, according to the government’s sentencing memo, compounded the financial uncertainty of the company and its employees during an already precarious time.
In addition to the 33-month prison term, United States District Chief Judge Seeborg ordered Tang to serve three years of supervision following her release from federal prison and to pay restitution. Tang will surrender to begin her sentence on October 31, 2022.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Lloyd-Lovett and Kristina Green, with the assistance of Beth Kim. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the San Francisco Police Department.
29 August 2022
‘Drug Runner’ Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket man who admitted to being a “drug runner,” delivering crack cocaine at the direction of a person who took steps to disguise his own involvement in the trafficking conspiracy by having others deliver his drug orders, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Michael Fernandes, 36 pleaded guilty on April 7, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and three counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, admitting that he delivered a total of 104.72 grams of crack cocaine at the direction of, Anthony Medeiros, 31, of Woonsocket.
According to charging documents, during an FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into the sale of crack cocaine in and around Woonsocket in early 2020, agents developed information that Medeiros arranged at least four sales of crack cocaine, utilizing text messaging, phone calls, and Snapchat. On each occasion, in an effort to insulate himself from responsibility for his role in trafficking crack cocaine, Medeiros utilized a “runners” to deliver the drugs that he sold. In at least three instances he used Fernandes to make deliveries; in another instance he allegedly had his girlfriend make a delivery.
Anthony Medeiros pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; and two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He was sentenced on August 1, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release.
Fernandes was sentenced today by District Court Judge McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release - the first six months of supervised release to be served at the Neil J. Houston House, a residential reentry center located in Pawtucket.
Medeiros’s girlfriend, Mariah Raymond, 28, of Woonsocket, is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.
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Winooski Man Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on August 29, 2022, Tyler Branon, 33, of Winooski, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont to serve 45 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Branon to serve a three year term of supervised release and to pay a $100 special assessment.
According to court records and proceedings, in January 2021, Branon was asked to drive a man from Colchester, Vermont, to St. Albans, Vermont, so the man could consummate a drug deal. Specifically, the man was to buy approximately one-quarter ounce of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and was to sell Percocet pills in exchange for a firearm. Branon agreed and drove the man to St. Albans, where the drug transaction took place. Upon their return to Colchester, the man gave Branon crack cocaine as compensation and gave the firearm to Branon to hold.
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 Branon.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Branon. Michael Shklar, Esq., represented Branon.
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
Wethersfield Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FABIO VARGAS-GONZALEZ, 47, of Wethersfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a fentanyl trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force developed information that Vargas-Gonzalez was involved in narcotics trafficking activities in the Hartford area. On March 11, 2020, investigators conducted surveillance of Vargas-Gonzalez as he drove a minivan from Connecticut to New Jersey and then back to Connecticut. In Danbury, investigators stopped Vargas-Gonzalez’s minivan for a motor vehicle violation and, after Vargas-Gonzalez consented to a search, found approximately two kilograms of fentanyl hidden in the minivan’s spare tire compartment.
On April, 29, 2022, Vargas-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Vargas-Gonzalez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic and a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., faces immigration proceedings when he is released from prison.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
West Virginia Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Violating Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Robert McKinney, 37, of Logan, West Virginia, was sentenced today to one year and nine months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failing to update his sex offender registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to statements made in court, McKinney knew he was required to comply with the provisions of SORNA because of his conviction on three counts of third-degree sexual assault in Doddridge County Circuit Court on September 4, 2012. McKinney admitted that he moved from Logan to Belpre, Ohio, in August 2020, without registering his out-of-state move with the West Virginia sex offender registry or registering with Ohio, in violation of the requirements of SORNA. McKinney was discovered living in Ohio on April 7, 2021, and arrested.
McKinney was on parole for his Doddridge County convictions when he moved to Ohio. He will serve the sentence consecutively with a prison sentence imposed following the revocation of that parole. McKinley also has two prior convictions in West Virginia for failing to comply with West Virginia sex offender registration requirements.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service, West Virginia Parole Services, and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-253.
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Veterans Affairs Medical Center Employee Indicted on Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Royalston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield on child pornography charges.
Kevin A. Divoll, 51, was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Divoll was previously arrested and charged on Aug. 4, 2022.
According to the charging documents, investigators identified Divoll, an employee at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Leeds, as the owner and user of a device allegedly distributing or attempting to distribute child pornography over the Medical Center’s public Wi-Fi from May 2022 through July 2022. The indictment further alleges that, following a search of his residence on Aug. 4, 2022, Divoll possessed child pornography that involved a prepubescent minor and a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography involving an image of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael Rollins and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement. Significant assistance was provided by the Leeds VA Medical Center Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Upshur County woman sentenced for drug and counterfeit chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Johnna Dee Courtney, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months of incarceration for methamphetamine and counterfeit charges, U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Courtney, age 41, pleaded guilty in January 2020 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of Counterfeit Obligations.” Courtney admitted to distributing more than fifty grams of “crystal” methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” in May 2019 in Upshur County. She also admitted to having 95 counterfeit $100 bills in her possession.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Lakes Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and the United States Secret Service investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero Names Ebony Wortham, Esq. to New Community Engagement Leadership PositionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Ebony Wortham, Esq., has been named Executive United States Attorney for Community Engagement for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The EUSA is a newly created role which will focus on creating partnerships in communities across the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with an emphasis on education and crime prevention, particularly in those communities struggling with high rates of violent crime, opioid abuse, and the legacy of generations of systemic exclusion from education, healthcare, housing and employment.
“Ebony’s experience and acumen as a former prosecutor, law enforcement partner and community advocate exceeds the demanding vision I had in mind when creating this new position in our Office,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My goal for the community outreach efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under Ebony’s leadership, is that we become a consistent, trusted presence in the communities we serve – which will ultimately lead to lasting, meaningful impact on our District and its people.”
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected to serve as Executive U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement,” said Ms. Wortham. “Throughout my life and career, I have sought opportunities to work collaboratively with community stakeholders and system partners to promote public safety and to improve the life chances of individuals, youth and families. In this new role, I look forward to continuing to learn from – and partner with – organizations, leaders, and citizens across our region, as we work collectively on solutions to strengthen and transform our neighborhoods.
“Historically, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has been a critical partner in helping to galvanize the broader community around a larger strategic vision for public safety and well-being,” continued Ms. Wortham. “This position will provide me with the opportunity to work with my incredible colleagues within the U.S. Attorney’s Office to build on that extraordinary legacy as we implement U.S. Attorney Romero’s bold and dynamic strategic vision for community engagement.”
Ms. Wortham most recently served as a Senior Managing Consultant with the Center for Justice and Safety Finance within PFM’s Management and Budget Consulting Practice, where she worked with state and local government clients around the country to create operational and procedural efficiencies in their work. Prior to joining PFM, she was a 15-year veteran of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she served as its Director of Juvenile Justice Policy and Prevention in addition to her work prosecuting cases. Ms. Wortham has deep roots in the community as a lifelong Philadelphian and remains engaged in numerous organizations and across a variety of programs and fields, focused on improving relationships between youth and law enforcement; reducing and preventing gun violence; providing social services, mentoring, job training, college preparatory and life skills; and advocating for trauma-informed practices.
Ms. Wortham is a graduate of Central High School of Philadelphia (256). She received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Temple University; a law degree from Widener University School of Law; a master’s degree in Organizational Development and Leadership from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government of the University of Pennsylvania.
Titusville Man on Federal Supervision Indicted on Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Carmel Linot (32, Titusville) with bank fraud, mail fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of false representation of a Social Security number (SSN). If convicted, Linot faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 4 years in federal prison on the two aggravated identity theft counts, up to 30 years’ imprisonment for the bank fraud, up to 20 years for the mail fraud, and up to 10 years in federal prison on the two counts of false representation of a SSN.
According to the indictment and public records, Linot fraudulently obtained the SSN of another individual. Using this SSN, a counterfeit State of Georgia driver license, and false employment documents, Linot opened a bank account under a false identity and obtained a credit card from Community First Credit Union. Linot is currently on federal supervised release in the Middle District of Florida for aggravated identity theft. He had previously been prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jacksonville Division.
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.
This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Stockton Woman Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking ChildrenRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dawniel Santangelo, 44, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 17 years and seven months in prison for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a child, three counts of sex trafficking a child, and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, between September 2018 and May 2019, Santangelo recruited 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old girls to engage in prostitution throughout Northern California and Southern Oregon. Santangelo enticed the girls to perform sex acts for strangers by providing alcohol, drugs, and creating a party atmosphere in motels in Stockton and Salinas. She then posted online prostitution ads depicting the victims and brought the victims to truck stops and motels to have sex with men for money, which she and co-defendant Lucious James Roy, 34, of Stockton, took from the victims. After the victims began engaging in commercial sex acts, Santangelo urged them to continue, reassuring them when they felt insecure.
In early May 2019, Santangelo and Roy recruited a 15-year-old runaway from the Modesto area to engage in prostitution. They drove the victim from Merced to Medford, Oregon, Santangelo’s former hometown, where Santangelo advertised on the internet and harbored the victim in a motel room that she rented. After a few days in Oregon, the victim called her family for help, and police officers subsequently found the victim in Santangelo’s motel room along with Santangelo and Roy.
“Santangelo’s conduct in this case was egregious. She played an essential part in the conspiracy recruiting the girls with false promises of freedom and fun. Once she reeled them in, she quickly put them to work, exploiting three children over hundreds of miles for over nine months,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and should deter others from engaging in such conduct. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly target and prosecute sexual predators who victimize vulnerable children.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office, the Medford (Oregon) Police Department, and the Jackson County (Oregon) District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond prosecuted the case.
On April 12, 2021, Roy was sentenced by Judge Mueller to 17 years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a child.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Six Counts Related to Possession and Use of Counterfeit Credit Cards and Counterfeit Device Making EquipmentRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –A Springfield, Illinois, man, Calvin Christian, III, 31, of the 1700 block of South College Street was sentenced on August 25, 2022, to 24 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for six counts of either possessing or using counterfeit access devices or related offenses.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that beginning in late 2014 Christian obtained card-encoding hardware that connected to his computer allowing him to re-code information from credit cards, gift cards, or other cards with magnetic stripes. He then used cryptocurrency to purchase stolen credit card information on the internet and used the information with the encoding hardware to make “new” credit cards that were linked credit card or bank accounts of other individuals. He and others then used the fraudulent cards to purchase goods or gift cards. Christian was held accountable for $44,634.34 in total loss, stemming from conduct which lasted from 2015 to 2017.
Also at the hearing, United States District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found Christian was an organizer or leader and that the offense involved at least six financial institutions and 14 individual victims. She also noted the length of his criminal actions and his persistence in continuing his enterprise, even after he had been caught multiple times.
“Sophisticated fraud accomplished using stolen identifying information, cryptocurrency, and the dark-web is an unfortunate new reality in our society, but this case shows that the United States Secret Service and other law enforcement working with federal prosecutors will work tirelessly to bring technologically savvy criminals to justice,” said Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Jacobs.
“This type of fraudulent activity can be devastating to everyday citizens and their families, and we appreciate our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold criminals accountable for their actions,” said USSS Resident Agent in Charge Stephen Webster. “The U.S. Secret Service remains committed to investigating and arresting those that engage in crimes that undermine the integrity of the U.S. financial and payment systems.”
Christian was indicted in June of 2017 and pleaded guilty in May of 2019. His sentencing hearing was continued numerous times because of COVID-19.
The maximum statutory penalties for the access device fraud related offenses ranged from ten to fifteen years in prison, not more than three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The United States Secret Service, Springfield Resident Office, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
South Carolina Man Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of Anabolic Steroids and Unapproved Steroid-like DrugsRead the Press Release
The owner of a South Carolina supplement company was sentenced to one day and one year of imprisonment for manufacturing and shipping unapproved drugs and anabolic steroids, the Department of Justice announced.
John F. Cochcroft, 37, of Lexington, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on May 25, to one count of introduction of a new drug into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead and one count of manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing anabolic steroids. As part of the plea agreement, Cochcroft agreed to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $200,000 related to proceeds from his sales of illicit products. U.S. District Judge James P. Jones of the Western District of Virginia imposed the sentence.
In pleading guilty, Cochcroft admitted that he operated businesses that marketed products as “dietary supplements” to the body-building and fitness communities to increase muscle mass. He admitted that some of these products contained osterine, a type of synthetic steroid known as a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM). The FDA has warned against the use of SARMs, including stating in a 2017 warning letter to another firm that SARMs have been linked to life-threatening reactions like liver toxicity, and that they have the potential to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Workout supplements containing anabolic steroids and unapproved steroid-like drugs can be dangerous,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to work closely with the FDA to prosecute those who seek profit at the expense of public safety.”
“Cochcroft and his company placed public health at risk by unlawfully distributing unapproved drugs that have been linked to life-threatening conditions,” U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Marketing and distributing unapproved drugs is not only dangerous, but a federal crime.”
According to court filings, Cochcroft took steps to mislead and defraud the government and consumers in the sale of these products, including using multiple addresses with fictitious business names, working with Chinese suppliers to mislabel drug products as foodstuff items, and knowingly failing to seek approval for the products. During its investigation, the government seized various products containing anabolic steroids from Cochcroft’s business. Anabolic steroids are Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act , Schedule III(e) and have been linked to life-threatening reactions and side effects.
The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer o for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Speare Hodges of the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case.
Sherman Oaks Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in the Deaths of Two PeopleRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for distributing the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that resulted in the overdose deaths of two people in July 2018.
Trent Michael Tomasovich, 31, of Sherman Oaks, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter.
Tomasovich pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to court documents, on July 13, 2018, Tomasovich sold fentanyl to a 24-year-old woman who took the drug at a Woodland Hills apartment and died during the early morning hours the following day. The victim was visiting a friend, who found the woman unresponsive and then summoned paramedics.
Several hours later, the boyfriend of the woman who lived in the Woodland Hills apartment found the narcotics that the deceased woman had purchased. Ignoring his girlfriend’s request to dispose of the drugs, the 38-year-old man consumed the fentanyl and suffered a fatal overdose.
In his plea agreement, Tomasovich admitted that but for the use of the fentanyl that he distributed, the two victims would have lived.
“In this case, [Tomasovich’s] conduct led to two peoples’ deaths and caused permanent, irreparable damage to the loved ones they left behind,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
The investigation into Tomasovich was conducted by the HIDTA Fusion Task Force, which is part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force and operates under the direction of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Los Angeles Police Department (Van Nuys Homicide), the Glendale Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys A. Carley Palmer of the General Crimes Section and Elia Herrera of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to More than Three Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling $1.175M from Johnson CityRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – A San Antonio man was sentenced last Friday to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,175,866.91 in restitution for embezzling that amount from the City of Johnson City, Texas.
According to court documents, while employed by the city, Anthony Michael Holland, 37, embezzled at least $1,175,866.91 from city accounts starting in 2015 and continuing until around September 2020. He concealed the embezzlement by falsifying city financial records and other documents. Holland used the money for his personal benefit, including purchasing a residence in San Antonio.
On December 15, 2021, Holland pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a state or local government that receives federal program funds.
“Anthony Holland repeatedly betrayed the trust of the people of Johnson City by stealing from them over the course of six years while holding the positions of City Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “We are proud to have prosecuted this case in federal court and our office will continue to hold those that corrupt our local governments and harm our communities accountable for their actions.”
“The FBI is committed to ensuring those who choose to abuse their positions of trust will be held accountable,” said FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. “In this effort, one of our most important partners is the public, and we encourage honest citizens to continue to report corrupt activity to the FBI.”
The FBI, with invaluable assistance from the Johnson City Police Department, investigated the case. The United States Attorney’s Office also appreciates the cooperation of the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan M. Buie, Robert Almonte and Mark Tindall prosecuted the case.
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Roane County Man Sentenced to Life Plus 120 Months for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 24, 2022, the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, sentenced Kent Lowery Booher, 67, of Harriman, Tennessee, to serve life plus 120 months in federal prison on child exploitation charges.
Booher, a disbarred criminal defense attorney and prior sex offender, was found guilty of child exploitation crimes by a federal jury in April 2021 in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422(b), 2260A, 1591(a)(1), (b)(2), and 2251. Booher will also be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court at a later date.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Booher used a telephone, as well as Facebook and other electronic messaging platforms to communicate with an undercover officer that he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Over a five-day period, Booher engaged in sexually explicit communications with an officer that he believed to be minor. Booher arranged to meet the minor in person, at which time Booher was arrested by agents of the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Harriman Police Department. Additionally, at trial the jury convicted Booher of charges pertaining to the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl from 2012 to 2013.
“The lengthy sentence given by the Judge displays the gravity of crimes committed against children and the punishments those who commit them will face,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
The lead agency in this investigation was the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The Knoxville Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Lenoir City Police Department, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Harriman Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Department of Corrections, and U.S. Secret Service, assisted with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kolman and Frank M. Dale, Jr. represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to the Sexual Exploitation of Two Minor Girls to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - Dennis James Harrison, age 40, of Rocky Ridge, Maryland, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography, related to the sexual exploitation of two minors who were between the ages of 10 and 12 at the time of the abuse. The guilty plea was entered on Friday, August 26, 2022.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith III.
According to his guilty plea, between 2018 and 2021, Harrison sexually exploited two minor girls beginning when the one victim was twelve years old and when another victim was 10 to 11 years old, to produce child pornography. Specifically, from at least September 2020 through August 2021, Harrison engaged in sexual activity with Jane Doe 1, a 12-year-old girl who resided in Pennsylvania. Harrison picked-up Jane Doe 1 from her residence and drove her to various location in Maryland, including Harrison’s residence, where he engaged in illegal sexual activity with Jane Doe 1. Harrison produced images and videos of his sexual abuse of Jane Doe 1 and enticed Jane Doe 1 to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Harrison also used a hidden camera and a mobile phone in 2018 to produce a series of images depicting Jane Doe 2, a 10-to-11-year-old girl, nude and partially nude in a bedroom and bathroom in Pennsylvania and in a bathroom in Maryland. The images were taken without the knowledge of Jane Doe 2.
On August 12, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Harrison’s residence and recovered a cellphone used by Harrison to film his sexual abuse of Jane Doe 1, as well as several digital devices. A forensic examination of all the devices located files depicting the sexual abuse of children on each one, including depictions of infants and toddlers. In total, over 14,000 files of child pornography were found on Harrison’s devices. On August 12, 2009, Harrison was convicted of possession of child pornography related to the sexual abuse of a minor and was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest in the federal case.
As stated in his plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Harrison must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”).
Harrison faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years in prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for January 23, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
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 Attorney’s 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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Ponca Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steve Russell announced that Timothy S. Daly, 49, of Ponca, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Judge John M. Gerrard for interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Daly was sentenced to 7 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 23, 2021, Daly contacted a phone number appearing on an online advertisement which offered sexual services. An undercover law enforcement officer responded posing as a 15-year-old female. Through text conversation Daly planned a meeting with the 15-year-old-girl to engage in sexual activities not knowing the girl was an undercover officer. On August 26, 2021, Daly traveled to the arranged meeting place. Shortly thereafter, he was arrested by law enforcement. His vehicle was searched and the cash, fast food which had been negotiated as payment for the proposed sex acts were located in his vehicle as well as condoms.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Heroin Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Martise Smith, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin from June of 2019 through December of 2019, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV. Smith is one of seven defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2019 the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a heroin trafficking organization operating throughout the greater Pittsburgh area of which Smith was a member. Beginning in July of 2019 and continuing through August of 2019, the FBI initiated a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Smith was intercepted communicating with his codefendants and agreeing to supply them with distribution quantities of heroin. Through extensive physical and electronic surveillance, Smith was observed meeting with his codefendants to sell them the heroin.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of 40 years of imprisonment, 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 offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Smith remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the North Versailles Police Department, the Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department, the Munhall Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Smith.
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.
Philadelphia Man Guilty of Violating Federal Drug and Gun LawsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, PA, was found guilty after a four-day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
John T. Terry, 47, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and cocaine, between March 30, 2018, and April 4, 2018.
Further, Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson found Terry guilty of possessing a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol at the time of his arrest. On June 2, 1998, Terry was convicted in United States District Court for the Eastern District of PA, of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing firearms.
Terry is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2023.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $31,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed on each of the defendants would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendants.
The Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police SHIELD Unit, and the Somerset Turnpike Barracks, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Terry.
Pharmacy & Bank Robberies Net Nashville Man Lengthy Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Nashville man convicted of robbing a pharmacy and a bank in 2020, will spend 13 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
David Powell, aka Dawud Powell, 31, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr.
Powell was initially arrested on a criminal complaint on August 25, 2020, and charged with the August 19th robbery of the Walgreens Pharmacy on Nolensville Pike, in which he brandished a handgun and demanded that the pharmacist give him all of the Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Lortab. The pharmacist complied and the robber placed the bottles of drugs in a white bag and fled the store.
The investigation by responding officers and detectives from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department led them to the area of West Valley Drive where they observed an individual exiting a vehicle and carrying a white bag. The individual ignored the officers’ commands to stop, and he fled, jumping a nearby fence. Subsequent investigation by FBI agents identified Powell as the suspect.
At the time of Powell’s arrest, he was in possession of four handguns, additional magazines and marijuana. Two additional firearms were found in the vehicle he was occupying. At the time of his arrest, Powell was on federal supervised release out of the Northern District of Illinois, where he was previously convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Powell was also found to be responsible for the January 3, 2020, robbery of the Fifth-Third Bank on Old Hickory Boulevard, based on a DNA analysis of a pair of discarded pants that were found in the woods while searching for the suspect immediately following the robbery.
In May, Powell pleaded guilty to armed pharmacy robbery; brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm; and bank robbery.
U.S. Attorney Wildasin commended the FBI and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy, for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case which removes another dangerous offender from the community for an extended period of time.
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Pennsylvania man admits to bank robberyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William J. Birdsall, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Jacqueline Havens, of Boones Mill, Virginia, have admitted to their involvement in a bank robbery, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Birdsall, 50, pleading guilty today to one count of “Bank Robbery.” Birdsall admitted to robbing the Bank of Romney in Hampshire County on September 22, 2021, taking $13,420 in cash.
Havens, 55, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Disposal of Proceeds Stolen from Bank.” Havens admitted to receiving the proceeds from Birdsall’s bank robbery with the intent of hiding it.
Birdsall is facing up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Havens is facing up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Meth from California to DistributeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Rockton, 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.
Ryan Schoening, age 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. Schoening 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 Schoening received over ten pounds of methamphetamine from suppliers located in California between July of 2020 and August of 2021, which he distributed to local customers. Schoening also received over ten pounds of methamphetamine that was transported by vehicle from Houston, Texas by an alternate supplier between November of 2020 and April of 2021, which he also distributed to local customers.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Schoening on January 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that the defendant remain detained 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.
Office on Violence Against Women Awards $30.59 Million to Improve Services for Underserved Populations and Provide Culturally Specific ServicesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced today nearly $31 million in upcoming grant awards to improve outreach, services and support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking from underserved communities and culturally specific populations. Specifically, OVW’s Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services and Sexual Assault Services - Culturally Specific Programs will award a combined total of $18,315,762 through 59 grants to promote community-based programs that offer culturally and linguistically specific services. Under the Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations Program, OVW will award $4,499,858 to 10 grantees to provide victim services and deploy outreach strategies tailored to the needs of survivors from underserved populations. OVW’s Disabilities Grant Program will award $4,119,788 for 10 projects to build community-wide capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services for survivors with disabilities and Deaf individuals. In addition, under the Abuse in Later Life Program, OVW will award $3,650,833 to six grantees to create multidisciplinary partnerships for a comprehensive approach to address elder abuse. OVW Acting Director Allison Randall announced the funding at the 2022 National Conference on Domestic Violence.
“By advancing equity for all, we can promote public safety and increase public trust,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Today’s announcement furthers OVW’s work to implement the Department of Justice’s Equity Action Plan. By increasing grant awards to culturally specific, community-based organizations OVW is helping to reduce violence and advance civil rights.”
“It is imperative that we think about barriers that stand between survivors and their access to justice, safety, and healing – including barriers in our own services and systems – and commit ourselves to breaking down those barriers,” said Acting Director Randall. “At OVW, we are making that commitment by enhancing funding for organizations that are operated by and for communities of color and historically marginalized and underserved populations. In this year’s grant solicitations, we prioritized funding for culturally specific, community-based organizations, Tribal organizations, and population-specific organizations. This is critical, because advocates report that survivors are more likely to seek services from organizations they can trust are familiar with their culture, their language and their background.”
OVW’s Culturally Specific Services Program funds the development of innovative culturally and linguistically specific approaches that offer survivors services they might not be able to find at mainstream organizations. The Disabilities Program funds education, training, services, and capacity building to ensure people with disabilities can safely and fully access resources in their communities for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Through training and services, the Abuse in Later Life Program addresses elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, against victims who are 50 years of age or older.
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced to 32 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced D’Andra Miller (22, Ocala) to 32 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Miller had pleaded guilty on May 24, 2022.
According to court records, Miller was found with a firearm on two different occasions. DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Miller’s DNA on both of the firearms.
Miller has one prior felony conviction for burglary of a conveyance. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Benjamin Townsel (23, Ocala) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Townsel had pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022.
According to court documents, on three different occasions, Townsel was found with a firearm after officers from the Ocala Police Department conducted traffic stops on vehicles in which Townsel was a passenger. DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Townsel’s DNA on each of the firearms. The traffic stops occurred on August 7, 2020, December 3, 2020, and February 15, 2021, the latter two occurring after Townsel had been released on bond from jail on state charges. The firearm found during the first incident also had an obliterated serial number, in violation of federal law.
Townsel has four prior state felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
New York State Parole Absconder Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Tevaughn Johnson (29, Jacksonville) to eight years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Johnson had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022.
According to court records, in January 2019, Johnson was convicted of attempted robbery in New York. He was released from prison and placed on parole in February 2021. In approximately September 2021 Johnson left New York without the permission of his parole office. A warrant was subsequently issued for Johnson’s arrest for violating the terms of his supervision. Deputy United States Marshals located Johnson in Florida. When they attempted to arrest Johnson, he fled on foot and one of the deputy marshals suffered a significant hand injury during a struggle with Johnson. A firearm was located in the vehicle Johnson had been driving, and DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Johnson’s DNA on the firearm.
Johnson has two prior state felony convictions for robbery and attempted robbery. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie K. Boyer and Michael P. Felicetta.
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.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining and Selling Three Tom Brady Super Bowl RingsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A New Jersey man was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for posing as a former player for the New England Patriots, which allowed him to purchase family versions of the team’s 2016 Super Bowl championship ring – supposedly as gifts to relatives of quarterback Tom Brady – one of which was sold at auction for more than $337,000.
Scott V. Spina Jr., 25, of Roseland, New Jersey, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter, who also ordered Spina to pay $63,000 in restitution to the former Patriots player who sold him his Super Bowl ring and other memorabilia.
On February 1, Spina pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The scheme began in 2017, when Spina purchased a Super Bowl LI ring awarded to a Patriots player who subsequently left the team. Spina, who bilked the former player by paying for the ring with at least one bad check, sold the ring soon after for $63,000 to a well-known broker of championship rings.
When Spina obtained the player ring, he also received the information that allowed the former player to purchase Super Bowl rings for family and friends that are slightly smaller than the player rings.
“Spina then called the Ring Company, fraudulently identified himself as [the former player], and started ordering three family and friend Super Bowl LI rings with the name ‘Brady’ engraved on each one, which he falsely represented were gifts for the baby of quarterback Tom Brady,” according to court documents. “The rings were at no time authorized by Tom Brady. Defendant Spina intended to obtain the three rings by fraud and to sell them at a substantial profit.”
Spina entered into an agreement with the Orange County man who purchased the player’s Super Bowl ring to sell him the three family rings that Spina now claimed Brady had given to his nephews. After agreeing to buy the three rings for $81,500 – nearly three times what Spina paid for the rings – the buyer started to believe that Brady did not have nephews, and he tried to withdraw from the deal.
The same day that the buyer tried to back out, and the same day that Spina received the rings in November 2017, Spina immediately sold them to an auction house for $100,000. During an auction in February 2018, one of the family rings was sold for $337,219.
Spina admitted in his plea agreement that he defrauded the Orange County ring broker when he falsely claimed that the rings “were ordered for Tom Brady directly from [the Ring Company] for select family members.” Spina also admitted that he defrauded this victim in relation to three wire transfers for the deposit on the family rings. Spina further admitted he committed identity theft when he posed as the former Patriot to purchase the rings.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik M. Silber of the Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Naples Felon Pleads Guilty to $2.6 Million COVID Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Joseph Tisone (35, Naples) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, bank fraud, illegal monetary transaction, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Tisone faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud and bank fraud count, up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the illegal monetary transaction count, and up to 10 years in federal prison on the possession of ammunition charge.
According to the plea agreement, between March 2020 and April 2021, Tisone, a convicted felon, submitted false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Main Street Lending Program (MSLP), and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to the Small Business Administration, as well as PPP and MSLP approved lenders. The loan applications contained numerous false representations, including the criminal history, average monthly payroll, number of employees, and gross revenues of the applicant, Tisone.
In support of the fraudulent EIDL, PPP, and MSLP applications, Tisone submitted false and fictitious payroll and tax documents, as well as a fake commercial lease. Further, Tisone fraudulently used the means of identification of individuals who purported to work for Tisone’s companies, including their names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers (SSN) to submit false and fraudulent payroll and payroll tax documents. Tisone also fraudulently used the means of identification of an individual, including the individual’s name, date of birth, driver license information, and SSN to submit a false and fraudulent EIDL application.
Tisone’s false and fraudulent representations caused the SBA, PPP, and MSLP lenders to approve and fund one MSLP, four EIDL, and five PPP loans, resulting in the deposit of approximately $2,617,447.17 into bank accounts controlled by Tisone. Tisone then unlawfully used the funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment, including the purchase of residences in Naples, Florida, stocks and investment securities, a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, a 4.02 carat engagement ring, and ammunition.
Additionally, on March 20, 2022, while executing a search warrant at Tisone’s residence, FBI and SIGPR agents discovered rounds of assorted ammunition in Tisone’s master bedroom and garage. Specifically, more than 800 rounds of assorted .223/5.56 caliber ammunition and 9mm ammunition was found in his home. Tisone, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing ammunition.
As part of his guilty plea, Tisone agrees to forfeit his interest in a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, two real properties located in Naples, a 4.02 carat solitaire engagement ring, approximately $65,645.69 seized from two bank accounts, and approximately $2,617,447.17, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and uses at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
The MSLP was designed to provide support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was intended to help companies, that were in sound financial condition prior to the onset of the pandemic, maintain their operations and payroll until conditions normalized.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), the IRS – Criminal Investigation, with the assistance from the Federal Reserve Board – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling and Suzanne Nebesky.
Monessen Felon Charged with Multiple Drug and Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Monessen, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charges of violating federal narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The eight-count Indictment, returned on Aug. 23, 2022, and unsealed today, named Rashawn Ford, age 27, as the sole defendant.
According to Indictment, on or about March 13, 2021, Ford possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of heroin and fentanyl. On March 14, 2021, Ford possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of heroin and fentanyl. Also on March 13, 2021, and March 14, 2021, as well as Aug. 4, 2022, Ford possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On Aug. 4, 2022, Ford possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican National Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Marijuana PossessionRead the Press Release
ALPINE – A Mexican national was sentenced last week to 108 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents, on January 28, 2022, a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a traffic stop on a black BMW SUV driven by Efren Derma-Dominguez, 26. After a consensual search of the SUV was conducted, approximately 445.5 pounds of marijuana and 154 grams of methamphetamine were found.
On March 31, 2022, Derma pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Greg Millard; and United States Border Patrol, Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin made the announcement.
The DEA and U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott V. Greenbaum prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 8 Months’ Imprisonment for Illegal Reentry of A Previously Deported PersonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Martin Perez-Amaro, age 33, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 8 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Perez-Amaro, who had been deported on two prior occasions, most recently in 2018, unlawfully reentered the country sometime thereafter and was located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in May of 2022. Perez-Amaro did not obtain the required authorization prior to reentering the country. He had pleaded guilty to the offense immediately before sentencing.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
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Meraux Woman Charged with Aiding in Filing False TaxesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CYNTHIA BOWLEY, age 67, of Meraux, was indicted on August 26, 2022 with one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
The indictment alleges that in June 2017, BOWLEY assisted in preparing a false tax return for a taxpayer in which BOWLEY included false business losses and false charitable deductions. The resulting refund was more than $18,000.00 in excess of the amount of the legitimate taxpayer refund.
If convicted, BOWLEY faces a maximum sentence of three years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is being handled by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.
Man Sentenced for Neglecting Child with Special NeedsRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man was sentenced in federal court Monday for repeatedly neglecting to adequately care for a child with mental and physical special needs, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced 37-year-old Victor Manuel Castro Huerta to 14 months in prison, after ordering Castro Huerta to receive credit for the 70-months he has served for his state conviction for the crime. The federal sentence will run concurrently with the state of Oklahoma’s 35-year sentence.
The adjustment and federal sentence was pursuant to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the agreement between the parties. The sentence took into consideration the plea agreement in which the United States and the defendant agreed to an 84-month sentence.
In his plea agreement, Castro Huerta admitted that from 2012 to Nov. 29, 2015, he did not provide adequate nurturance, food, hygiene, sanitation, education, supervision and specialty care, and medical and dental care for a child with cerebral palsy. Specifically, Castro Huerta stated that he did not appropriately care for the victim, his step-daughter, nor transport her to required medical appointments.
Castro Huerta was charged with child neglect in federal court on Nov. 2, 2020, in anticipation that his state conviction would be vacated. The state conviction was later vacated by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals in April 2021.
On June 29, 2022, in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals’ ruling.
The defendant remains in federal custody.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin F. Harrington and Vani Singhal prosecuted the case.
Live Oak Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to Stealing Verizon Wireless Cash DepositsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Mikah Nathaniel Strickland (27, Live Oak) has pleaded guilty to stealing cash deposits from the mail. Strickland faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, from October 25, 2021, to March 2, 2022, Strickland worked as a city carrier for the Live Oak Post Office. He was assigned to the delivery route that picked up outgoing mail from the Verizon Wireless store located in Live Oak. During this time, the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General had received a complaint that Verizon Wireless cash vault deposits, which were picked up from the Live Oak store and scanned, were missing. After investigating the complaint, agents discovered that Strickland was stealing the deposits, and that he had taken 19 Verizon Wireless deposits totaling more than $23,000. During an interview with agents, Strickland admitted to stealing all 19 of the Verizon Wireless deposits from the store in Live Oak.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.
Leader of Nationwide Wire Fraud Scheme that Exploited App-Based Rideshare and Food Delivery Companies Sentenced to Almost Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 29, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Gustavo De Avila Moreira Farinha, the lead defendant in a nationwide wire fraud and identity theft scheme, was sentenced in federal court today to 34 months in prison.
De Avila is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in connection with the scheme, which targeted app-based rideshare and food delivery companies and their customers.
In May 2021, five Brazilian nationals, including De Avila, were charged by criminal complaint and later by indictment with engaging in a nationwide conspiracy to establish fraudulent driver accounts with multiple internet and app-based rideshare and food delivery companies, including by using identities stolen from the very customers of those companies. De Avila’s co-defendant and long-term girlfriend, Tatiane Pereira Arantes, was sentenced earlier this month to more than 2½ years in prison, while De Avila’s other co-defendants—Natalia Magalhaes Rocha, Leonardo Trulsen De Oliveira, and Thassya Rebeca Da Silva Alves—were previously sentenced to 2 years and 4½ months, 2 years and 3 months, and 2 years, respectively.
As set forth in his plea agreement and publicly filed sentencing documents, De Avila admitted that between 2018 and May 2021, he and his co-conspirators, all of whom were Brazilian nationals living in the United States illegally, operated a scheme to defraud major app-based rideshare and food delivery companies. In Spring 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, the conspirators shifted away from the rideshare companies, which saw a dramatic decrease in traffic, to food, grocery and other delivery companies, which saw a corresponding and precipitous increase in demand. De Avila and his co-conspirators exploited the surge in demand by creating driver accounts with stolen identities, collecting referral bonuses from the fraudulent accounts, and by using, renting, and selling the accounts to others on these platforms, including people who were not otherwise qualified to drive for the platforms.
De Avila and his co-conspirators also admitted that once they received payment from the rideshare and delivery companies, they laundered the money both to promote the conspiracy and to conceal the fact that the source of the funds was an elaborate fraudulent scheme. While the fraudulent scheme targeted popular app-based rideshare and food delivery services, De Avila and his co-conspirators also stole and used the identities of close to 100 victims to create fraudulent driver accounts on the various platforms over the three-year conspiracy.
Before imposing a 34-month sentence, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel stated that De Avila and his co-conspirators “harvested identities,” which left victims with a “lingering unknown” as to whether their identities were “in the ether” or in the hands of other criminals.
“Today’s sentencing is the final step to achieving justice on behalf of dozens of victims whose identities were stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “All five defendants will spend at least two years in prison for sending their victims on a miserable journey to reclaim their good names. We are determined to pursue cases against identity thieves because these crimes have such a devastating impact on the everyday lives of victims.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and agents from Homeland Security Investigations for their excellent work on this case.
“It’s great to see justice brought in this case” said Chad A. Plantz, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego. “Technology-enabled crimes and identity theft cost U.S. consumers billions of dollars every year. HSI will continue to pursue financial fraud and identity theft investigations to hold criminals accountable.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21CR1538-GPC
Gustavo De Avila Moreira Farinha Age: 30 Brazil
Tatiane Pereira Arantes Age: 38 Brazil
Natalia Magalhaes Rocha Age: 30 Brazil
Leonardo Trulsen De Oliveira Age: 30 Brazil
Thassya Da Silva Alves Age: 30 Brazil
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 - Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., 1349
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, $250,000 fineCount 2 – Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), (b)(i), and 1956(h)Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instruments
Counts 3-17- Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., 1028AMaximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum of two years in prison, to run consecutively to the specified felony.
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 38 Years in Federal Prison, Eight Conspirators Also Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Jonathan Jermain Thomas (33, Ocala) to 38 years and 4 months years in federal prison. A federal jury had convicted Thomas on April 28, 2022, of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, and more than 1 kilogram of heroin. The jury also found Thomas guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing with the intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
According to court documents and evidence produced at trial, Thomas supplied large amounts of drugs to a “trap house” in Summerfield, Florida. Once the drugs were delivered to the house, Thomas’s conspirators worked together to prepare, mix, and distribute the various substances to users and smaller-scale suppliers who made daily purchases from the residence. The conspiracy included Thomas as the lead supplier, enforcers who carried firearms to protect the drug assets, and others who helped package and distribute the substances from the house.
On September 9, 2020, Thomas was stopped by law enforcement on I-75 in Gainesville. After smelling the odor of marijuana, a search of the vehicle yielded nearly a kilogram of fentanyl hidden within the vehicle’s side paneling. The fentanyl had been packaged for distribution, and Thomas was heading to Detroit, Michigan to meet with a buyer. His passenger, who was charged in the indictment, pleaded guilty prior to trial.
In addition to Thomas, eight conspirators previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in this case:
Name
(Age, Residence)
Date of Plea
Date of Sentencing
Sentence Imposed
Samuel Glover
(32, Summerfield)
4/19/22
8/26/22
35 years
Roddrick Anthony
(29, Ocala)
11/10/21
7/20/22
15 years
Jelyssa Washington
(30, Summerfield)
11/22/21
5/20/22
15 years
Crystal Lovejoy
(43, Ocala)
11/10/21
5/20/22
10 years, 10 months
Brent McCray
(30, Wildwood)
9/21/20
5/25/22
10 years
Aaron Bostick
(41, Ocala)
4/20/21
7/20/22
5 years, 3 months
Elaina Buchanan
(31, Ocala)
10/25/21
5/20/22
3 years, 5 months
Danny Lee Campbell
(33, Belleview)
3/25/22
6/24/22
2 years, 3 months
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Tyrie K. Boyer.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Federal Prison for Killing Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Jacob KeltnerRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal judge in Rockford today sentenced an Illinois man to 55 years in federal prison for the killing of Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Jacob Keltner.
A jury earlier this year convicted FLOYD E. BROWN, 43, of Springfield, Ill., of second-degree murder of a federal officer, attempting to kill additional federal officers, assault of federal officers, and multiple firearm offenses. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly imposed the sentence after a hearing in federal court.
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. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomington Police Department, Loves Park Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Talia Bucci, Scott Paccagnini, and Ronald DeWald.
“Through the violent actions of Floyd Brown, the Keltner family lost a devoted son, husband and father, and the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois lost a dedicated public servant,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Special Deputy Keltner made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation. His bravery and dedication will not be forgotten. We remain committed to prosecuting violence against federal law enforcement officers to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Special Deputy Keltner put his life on the line every day to protect and serve his community,” said FBI Acting SAC Johnson. “Tragically, on March 7, 2019, he paid a terrible price for his dedication. We will never stop working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to remove violent offenders from our streets and safeguard those who care for our communities.”
Special Deputy Keltner was fatally wounded on March 7, 2019, when members of the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and other law enforcement officers attempted to execute a warrant for Brown’s arrest at a Rockford hotel. Special Deputy Keltner served as a McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy and was a sworn member of the task force. Brown was wanted on a residential burglary charge.
When the officers attempted to gain access to Brown’s third-floor hotel room, he fired ten shots through the door and nearby walls, narrowly missing a Deputy U.S. Marshal and two Special Deputy U.S. Marshals. Brown then jumped out of a window and fired a shot that fatally struck Special Deputy Keltner, who was covering the exterior of the hotel.
Brown was arrested several hours later near Lincoln, Ill., after a high-speed pursuit.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Roy Bills, 57, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 24, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bills’ residence and found multiple firearms in the basement: a Diamondback 5.56mm AR-15 rifle; a Savage AXIS XP .308-caliber Winchester bolt-action rifle; a Derya Arms, model VR-80, 12-gauge shotgun; a GSG .22-caliber pistol; and a Beretta 96 .40-caliber pistol. Officers also located ammunition with the firearms. Bills admitted to possessing the firearms and ammunition.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bills knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute marijuana in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November, 7, 2016.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-60.
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Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GABRIEL CORDERO, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 135 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began an investigation of an organization that was trafficking large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Cordero and other members of the organization were receiving bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl from out-of-state suppliers. They then stored, processed and packaged the heroin/fentanyl in multiple locations, including apartments located at 280 Collins Street in Hartford where some members of the organization also resided, and then distributed the drug in the Hartford area, and also the Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts area. A significant amount of drug trafficking activity occurred at the Neighborhood Supermarket, located at 316 Farmington Avenue in Hartford.
Cordero resided in an apartment at 280 Collins Street, and investigators made multiple controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Cordero and other members of the drug trafficking organization in and around 280 Collins Street and Neighborhood Supermarket.
The investigation also revealed that Cordero and his associates possessed and used firearms in connection with their drug trafficking activity.
During the investigation, law enforcement executed 12 search warrants in Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, much of which was packaged for resale in hundreds of thousands of bags. Investigators also seized numerous vials of Xylazine, which is a horse tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a heroin/fentanyl additive. Seven firearms, gun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, and a bullet proof vest were also seized.
Fourteen individuals have been charged with various narcotics, firearms and immigration offenses as a result of this investigation.
Cordero has been detained since his arrest on June 29, 2017. On March 24, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Hacienda Heights Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing $1.3 Million from Amazon Through Refund ScamRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A third-party seller on Amazon.com was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for gaming the online retailer’s payment system in a scheme that defrauded the company out of more than $1.3 million.
Ting Hong Yeung, 40, of Hacienda Heights, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who also ordered him to pay $1,302,954 in restitution.
Yeung pleaded guilty on June 6 to one count of wire fraud.
Amazon allows third-party sellers to use its online retail platform to advertise items, make sales and communicate with customers. Ordinarily, when an Amazon customer purchases an item listed by a third-party seller, Amazon credits the third-party seller’s internal Amazon account for the amount of that purchase. About every two weeks, Amazon disburses into the seller’s bank account the proceeds of those sales for which the seller has provided proof that the items purchased have been shipped – namely, the shipment tracking numbers.
Yeung operated as an Amazon third-party vendor using business names including “Speedy Checkout,” “Special SaleS” and “California Red Trading Inc.” After enough time passed to allow his businesses to appear to be reputable vendors, Yeung would list expensive merchandise, such as furniture and home décor, at cut-rate prices to drive a spike in sales.
However, instead of shipping purchased items to the customers, Yeung provided Amazon with bogus tracking numbers. When customers complained about not receiving their purchases, Yeung delayed customer refund requests long enough to ensure that Amazon would disburse funds into his businesses’ bank accounts. As a result, Yeung collected payment for items that were never shipped and relied on Amazon to issue refunds to his disgruntled customers under its “A-to-z Guarantee.”
In some instances, instead of sending customers the products they ordered, Yeung shipped them cheap crystal ornaments, which served the dual purpose of generating tracking numbers that induced Amazon to disburse customer funds and forestalling customer complaints and demands for refunds. Yeung also used Amazon’s Buyer-Seller Messaging Service to convince customers that their orders were on their way when, in fact, they were not.
On occasion, Yeung provided goods to his customers that he obtained through his own fraudulent purchases from Amazon, which he made using credit cards in the names of other people and fictitious identities. After the goods were delivered to his customers, Yeung requested refunds for the goods from Amazon. Yeung often falsely claimed that he was entitled to a refund because the product was “Different from what was ordered,” and then returned lower-value items rather than the merchandise he had originally ordered. As a result, Yeung received both the refund and the proceeds of the original sale to his own customer.
“[Yeung] perpetrated his fraud over the course of roughly seven years, collecting more than $1.3 million,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “He forced his victim into an elaborate game of Whac-A-Mole: when Amazon uncovered and shut down a fraud scheme involving one of defendant’s companies, he simply began it anew with another.”
Yeung has admitted causing Amazon to suffer approximately $1,302,954 in losses. He has agreed to pay restitution, some of which will be paid with gold and silver bars that investigators seized during a search of his residence in February 2022.
The FBI investigated this matter and received cooperation from Amazon.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Guatemalan National Living in Maryland and Salvadoran National Living in Virginia Charged with Unlawful Transportation of Individual in VermontRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Nector Armando Garcia Perez, 26, of Waldorf, Maryland, and Deisy Del Cid Reyes, 27, of Falls Church, Virginia, were arrested yesterday and will appear tomorrow in federal court on a charge alleging that, on or about August 26, 2022, they unlawfully transported an individual they knew to have entered the United States illegally. Garcia Perez is a national of Guatemala, and Del Cid Reyes is a national of El Salvador.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that a criminal complaint is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. As currently charged, each defendant would face up to 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. Any sentence in the case will be advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest credited the agents of the United States Border Patrol for their quick response and investigation of Garcia Perez and Del Cid Reyes, and their continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of foreign nationals by human-smuggling organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt represents the United States in this case. Garcia Perez is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office. Del Cid Reyes is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq.
Georgia Man Sentenced to over 7½ Years in Prison for Synthetic Identities Scheme That Defrauded Banks Out of Nearly $2 MillionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Georgia man was sentenced today to 94 months in federal prison for participating in a nationwide fraud ring that used stolen Social Security numbers – including those belonging to children – to create synthetic identities used to open lines of credit, create shell companies, and steal nearly $2 million from financial institutions.
Corey Cato, 41, of Atlanta, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $1,908,481 in restitution. Cato pleaded guilty on May 9 to one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
No later than 2017, Cato joined conspiracies to defraud banks and illegally possess credit cards. Cato and his co-conspirators created “synthetic identities” by combining false personal information such as fake names and dates of birth with the information of real people, such as their Social Security numbers. Cato and others then used the synthetic identities and fake ID documents to open bank and credit card accounts at financial institutions. Cato and his co-conspirators used the unlawfully obtained credit cards to fund their lifestyles.
As part of the scheme, Cato maintained a commercial mail receiving agency space called “Pak Mail” in Georgia where he and his co-conspirators received correspondence related to the synthetic identities, including bank account and credit card statements, while insulating their personal addresses from detection.
Using a stolen social security number and fake California driver’s license, Cato rented an apartment in Atlanta under the name “Jason Brown,” where, in February 2019, he possessed credit cards and financial information in the names of synthetic identities like “Adam M. Lopez” and “Carlos Rivera.”
The total losses to the banks totaled approximately $1.9 million.
“[Cato] and his co-conspirators built their wealth off the backs of the people whose identities they stole, many of them children,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Both the effects on these victims’ credit histories and their sense of violation are impossible to quantify, but they provide further reminder of the seriousness of [Cato’s] crime and the callousness of his conduct.”
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case, which is one of a series of cases that has resulted in criminal convictions for 12 defendants, including Turhan Lemont Armstrong, 52, of Northridge, who was convicted at trial in 2019 of 51 counts of fraud, money laundering, identity theft and other federal offenses.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section and Allison L. Westfahl Kong, Chief of Trials, Integrity, and Professionalism, prosecuted this case.
Fugitive Sentenced to 57 Months for High-Speed Chase and Assaulting Federal Officer with VehicleRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– A Staunton, Virginia man, who attempted to run over law enforcement officers serving arrest warrants, was sentenced last week to 57 months in federal prison.
Richard Lee Knight, 39, pled guilty in June 2022 to one count of assault on a federal officer.
According to court documents, the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) discovered that Knight, who was wanted on several fugitive warrants out of various jurisdictions in Virginia, was staying at a motel in the Charlottesville area.
Local law enforcement, in conjunction with CARFTF, located Knight in a Walmart parking lot on the morning of November 29, 2021 near his Mercedes Benz vehicle. When a law enforcement officer moved in to arrest him by issuing an order to “show me your hands, don’t move,” Knight refused the order and entered his car instead. Knight drove his Mercedes in reverse, striking both a CARFTF officer and a police vehicle, then drove forward, ramming into a second police vehicle.
After fleeing the scene, Knight led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase through Albemarle County, Virginia before being apprehended after crashing his vehicle on Interstate 64.
As a result of Knight’s actions, a CARFTF officer suffered cuts, bruises, back injuries, and a concussion.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and United States Marshal Thomas L. Foster of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Albemarle County Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald M. Huber and Jordan E. McKay prosecuted the case.
Fort Hall Man Sentenced to 38 months Imprisonment for AssaultRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – A Fort Hall man was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2022, Evaristo Antonio Aguilar, 28, and the victim went to his residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Once inside the house, Aguilar, who had been using heroin, barricaded the door so the victim could not leave the residence. Aguilar then hit the victim on the leg and in the face with a dog leash. Aguilar slammed the victim’s face into a mirror and hit and kicked the victim over the next few hours, with the victim drifting in and out of consciousness. Late in the evening Aguilar dragged the victim down the hallway toward the bedroom and told her it was time to go to bed. At around 10:00 pm Aguilar fell asleep, and the victim managed to leave the house and call police from a cell phone in her car. Responding officers stated that the victim’s face was swollen, with black and bruised eyes and blood on the victim’s mouth and nose. The victim was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a collapsed lung, broken ribs, broken bones in her face and hand and extensive bruising over her body. The victim has since recovered.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Aguilar to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department which led to the charges.
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Former postal worker sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography and possessing stolen mailRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - Stacy Keith Wisener, a repeat sex offender, has been sentenced to three decades in federal prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl and producing child pornography depicting the abuse. Wisener also received a concurrent term of imprisonment for possessing mail he had stolen from the U.S. Postal Service processing facility where he worked.
“After his release from Georgia’s sex offender registry, Wisener resumed his predatory activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His horrific targeting of this child is unbelievable. The extraordinary courage of Wisener’s young victim, and outstanding cooperation between investigators and prosecutors on the federal, state, and local levels, brought this repeat child predator to justice.”
“Wisener’s decision to continue to exploit children, even after working to get off the sex offender registry, now puts him in prison for decades,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is difficult to measure the pain and suffering this victim has endured. This case serves as an example of the FBI and our partners’ commitment to bring to justice despicable predators that prey on vulnerable children for their own gratification.”
“This defendant wasted a second chance after being removed from the sex offender registry by reoffending, this time with far more egregious crimes. The GBI is committed to working with our partners to protect our young ones who are most vulnerable,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director John Melvin.
“Given the horrid nature of Wisener’s conduct, we are especially grateful for the hard work and dedication of the investigative and legal teams,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Pierce, USPS Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office. “This sentence, likely leading to life behind bars, is a critical step in protecting those most vulnerable to predators like Wisener. The USPS Office of Inspector General will continue to work hand-in-hand with our local, state and federal partners to hold accountable any Postal Service employee who chooses to violate the law.”
“We are thankful for the strong relationships that we have with our state and federal partners. In complex cases like these, those partnerships help secure convictions which will ensure that no other child will ever be terrorized by this man. I would like to sincerely thank all of the individuals who played a role in securing this conviction for these appalling crimes,” said Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: for approximately four years, Wisener sexually molested a minor girl and routinely photographed and videotaped himself assaulting her. The abuse began in 2017, just a few months after a Paulding County Superior Court judge granted Wisener’s application to be removed from Georgia’s sex offender registry. Wisener had been added to the registry in 2003, when he pleaded guilty to molesting a different child under the age of 16. For that crime, Wisener was sentenced to probation in lieu of any jail time.
In October 2021, the victim, who Wisener had started molesting in 2017 when she was 11 years old, reported the abuse to her parents and local law enforcement. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office immediately obtained a warrant to search Wisener’s home, where many of the assaults occurred. Deputies found and seized multiple data storage devices, including hard drives, flash drives, SD cards, micro-SD cards, and compact discs. A camera, a video camera, and a computer were also seized. Many of the seized devices contained child pornography, including but not limited to photographs and videos of Wisener molesting the victim.
During the search, deputies also located thousands of pieces of unopened mail, including packages, that bore the names and addresses of people other than Wisener. Wisener stole these items from the Postal Service processing and distribution facility on Crown Road in Atlanta.
Stacy Keith Wisener, 60, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen to 30 years in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. Additionally, Wisener was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $175,000, a $5,200 special assessment, and to forfeit his house as property he had used to produce child pornography. Finally, Wisener was required to re-register as a sex offender.
Wisener was convicted of the federal child exploitation and stolen mail possession charges on April 29, 2022, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The Paulding County District Attorney’s Office and United States Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne M. Marek and Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia B. Smith is representing the government in the related civil forfeiture action against Wisener’s house.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Statesboro City Councilman Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A former Statesboro, Georgia city councilman was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for evading taxes on income from bars he co-owned.
According to court documents and statements made in court, William Britt, now of Bluffton, South Carolina, evaded taxes on income from various bars he co-owned near college campuses in Georgia. As part of the scheme, each establishment was nominally owned by a single individual. In reality, a group of business partners, including Britt, owned the bars in varying ownership percentages. Britt and the other true owners skimmed cash from the establishments and disbursed it amongst themselves in accordance with their ownership percentages without reporting that income to the IRS.
To complete the fraud scheme, Britt personally ensured that some of the nominal owners of the bars filed false tax returns. Britt also provided false information to an accountant who prepared tax returns related to some of these businesses. Specifically, Britt misrepresented the businesses’ true ownership, underreported the bars’ income, and omitted cash distributions to the owners. This conduct enabled Britt and the other true owners of the bars to file tax returns with the IRS that omitted their full income tax liabilities. As part of his guilty plea, Britt admitted to willfully underreporting his income on his 2014 individual tax return.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief Judge J. Randal Hall of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia ordered Britt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $352,404.54 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David H. Estes for the Southern District of Georgia made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Tax Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, prosecuted the case.