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3 August 2022
Vermont Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Enticement and Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Dennis Lavigne, age 47, of Vermont, pled guilty today to attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual acts with him and to transporting child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Lavigne admitted that between November 19-24, 2019, he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with an undercover officer posing as the mother of an 11-year-old child. In these messages, Lavigne expressed a desire to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the child. On November 24, 2019, Lavigne traveled from Vermont to Albany, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the purported 11-year-old child. Lavigne was subsequently arrested and further admitted to transporting child pornography files, which law enforcement officials recovered from Lavigne’s phone. Many of the child pornography files featured the rape and sexual abuse of prepubescent minors, including infants.
Lavigne was a registered sex offender at the time of these crimes; he was previously convicted in Vermont of aggravated sexual assault of a victim under the age of 10.
Lavigne faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino will sentence him on December 6, 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and New York State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel L. Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Attorney's Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Proceeds of Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 73,586 USDT (Tether), cryptocurrency alleged to be proceeds of an online investment fraud scheme. Tether is a unit of cryptocurrency that is equivalent in value to one U.S. dollar.
In January 2022, federal agents began investigating an investment fraud scheme that targeted a Massachusetts victim. The victim had been contacted in October 2021 through LinkedIn. After further communications in Chinese through another application, the victim was lulled into making what she believed was a legitimate cryptocurrency investment. The victim was induced to download an application that appeared to be a legitimate cryptocurrency platform but was fraudulent, and then invested money through that fraudulent site.
After the victim reported the crime, federal agents traced a portion of the funds the victim invested to another cryptocurrency wallet, resulting in the seizure of 73,586 USDT. It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture action.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a corresponding criminal action on the matter.
U.S. Attorney Rollins Announces "End Hate Now" Hotline for Reporting Acts of HateRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Today, United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins announced the rollout of:
1-83-END-H8-NOW
(1-833-634-8669)
The “End Hate Now” hotline is dedicated for reporting hate-based incidents or potential criminal activity. Massachusetts residents and visitors are encouraged to call the hotline to report concerning or troubling incidents of hate, potential hate crimes, or concerns regarding individuals believed to be espousing the hate-filled views or actions we learn of far too often in the wake of mass shootings and/or acts of hate-based violent extremism. Callers are encouraged to leave their contact information but may remain anonymous. At this time, the hotline is available in English, Spanish, Cantonese and French.
Hate crimes are illegal acts committed based on a victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Beliefs are not hate crimes. Distasteful ideologies, advocacy of political or social positions, use of discriminatory rhetoric, or the general philosophic embrace of biased or hate-filled beliefs are not crimes. Under federal law, investigations may not be based solely on an individual’s beliefs or their protected First Amendment activity.
“With the uptick in horrific mass-shootings and unimaginable acts of racially motivated violent extremism we have seen across our country, people are scared. In Massachusetts, we have recently seen multiple incidents of groups espousing deeply offensive and hurtful ideologies displayed on our streets. A recent act of hateful vandalism at the future PRYDE senior housing facility in Hyde Park threatened burning and death against the LGBTQ+ community. Enough is enough. My office is offering our residents and visitors a new outlet for bringing these critical and concerning issues seeped in bigotry and hatred to the attention of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Rollins. “I am asking people – when you see hate, call this number and let us know. If you have serious concerns about a loved one, a friend, or even an acquaintance, call this number and let us know. We have dedicated resources to these important issues and stand ready to act when necessary. This too is a vitally important form of community policing.”
As part of this effort, U.S. Attorney Rollins also formally announced the leadership of her newly created Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in her Criminal Division, which will focus on prosecuting cases involving civil rights violations, including hate crimes, human trafficking, and police use of excessive force. U.S. Attorney Rollins announced the establishment of this dedicated Unit at her Investiture in April 2022. It is now fully staffed and operational. The Unit will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley in the role of Unit Chief. Ms. Riley recently served as the Chief of Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted and supervised cases involving human trafficking and online exploitation of youth and adults. During her more than 10 years as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, Ms. Riley prosecuted over 300 cases and secured successful convictions in over 50 jury trials. In 2015, she was awarded as the Suffolk County Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year. She is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Suffolk University Law School. Ms. Riley will supervise a Unit of three federal prosecutors and exceptional support staff and will work closely with the Office’s existing five-member Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Serafyn.
“Protecting Massachusetts residents from violence and hate is the top priority of my administration,” stated U.S. Attorney Rollins. “In Massachusetts, we have a long history of standing up to hate and intolerance. Today, we continue that honored tradition. By establishing this 1-83-END-H8-NOW hotline and a Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit, my office is fully equipped and dedicated to fighting hate-fueled criminal activity across our Commonwealth.”
Two Norfolk Methamphetamine Distributors ConvictedRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young convicted a Norfolk man and woman yesterday on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, opening a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of firearms in relation to drug trafficking crimes, and being convicted felons in possession of firearms.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Vicente Andres, 61, and Margaret Sutton 51, operated a meth house on Danwood Drive in the City of Norfolk where they stored and sold methamphetamine and marijuana imported from Central California to Virginia, where they also possessed firearms in furtherance their drug trafficking activities. A search warrant executed on April 21, 2021, resulted in the recovery of about 10 pounds of pure methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, 3 firearms, and currency from the illegal sale of narcotics. The government presented evidence that established Andres had used the premises as a base of his methamphetamine operations for several years, and that Sutton joined his meth operation in early 2021.
Andres and Sutton face a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of life in prison on the drug and gun charges when sentenced on December 15. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. The federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Mike Goldsmith, Interim Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young announced his verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Comstock and Matthew J. Heck are prosecuting the case.
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. 2:21-cr-74.
Tangipahoa Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LOUIS BELLS, JR., age 21, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, pled guilty on August 2, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, BELLS was arrested by law enforcement officers on November 11, 2021, after they witnessed him point a nine-millimeter pistol at a victim and then place the gun against the victim’s head. When BELLS was arrested, the gun had a round in the chamber, was off safe and in the firing position, with the firing hammer locked back.
BELLS was previously convicted of felonies for aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of heroin. BELLS faces up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years supervised release, and $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Hammond Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.
Swampscott Man Sentenced for Tax Scheme Targeting Greater Boston Congolese CommunityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Swampscott man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by falsely inflating taxpayer’s federal income tax refunds and diverting a portion of those refunds to accounts he and his co-conspirators controlled.
Boris Shadari, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Shadari was also ordered to pay restitution of $496,082. On March 31, 2022, Shadari pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, three counts of filing a false tax return, three counts of aiding or assisting in filing a false tax return, two counts of theft of government funds, five counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of witness tampering. Co-conspirator Christian Zynga previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in October 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 16, 2022.
“Mr. Shadari not only defrauded the federal government, but also took advantage of people in his own community, many of whom were hardworking immigrants who were not familiar with American tax laws,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Today’s sentence provides justice for members of the Congolese community in Greater Boston that Mr. Shadari targeted and exploited. Contact information, as well as general information on choosing a tax preparer and reporting concerns about tax preparers, is available in several languages on www.irs.gov.”
“In a scheme that was difficult to detect, Boris Shadari took advantage of dozens of hard-working members of his own community, betrayed their trust, and defrauded taxpayers in the process, all the while raking in almost half a million dollars for himself,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Also troubling is Mr. Shadari’s attempt to intimidate one of his victims into lying to investigators. While today’s sentence holds him accountable for his criminal conduct, it also underscores the need for all of us to exercise due diligence when choosing a tax preparer.”
“Today’s sentencing should bring some measure of closure to the members of the Congolese community, whose vulnerability and trust Shadari preyed upon and exploited,” said Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Office. “This sentencing ends a painful chapter for all those impacted by the defendant’s crimes and now holds him accountable for his predatory actions. Sadly, this crime is an all too common one and a stark reminder of the importance of selecting an honest tax preparer.”
“Through disguise and deceit, Mr. Shadari conned members of his community to trust him only to repay their trust with greed,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Today’s sentencing shows how using the U.S. Mail to facilitate any fraud scheme will not be tolerated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”
From 2012 to 2018, Shadari and Zynga held Shadari out as a tax professional, targeting the Congolese community of Greater Boston. Until 2017, they took their customers’ tax information to a tax professional at a tax preparation company and provided the tax professional with false information concerning their customers’ dependents, dependent and childcare expenses and business income and losses in order to inflate the customers’ federal income tax refunds. They then caused the refunds to be split between the customers’ bank accounts and accounts they and their co-conspirators controlled. After 2017, Shadari prepared customers’ returns himself and added false information to the returns to inflate the refunds due. Shadari also failed to report the income he received from this scheme on his own tax returns. After Shadari became aware of the investigation, he told a taxpayer to lie to investigators about the information in the returns he had prepared for her and suggested she would owe thousands of dollars back to the IRS and that her immigration status in the United States could be compromised if she did not do as he instructed.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta, IRS CI SAC Simpson and USPIS INC Larco-Ward made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
St. Louis man sentenced to 10+ years on gun chargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon from St. Louis to more than 10 years in prison on gun charges.
Judge Clark sentenced Terrell Gunn, 43, to eight years and seven months in prison on a 2022 charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two more years for violating his supervised release from a 2016 conviction on another felon in possession charge.
Gunn pleaded guilty to the 2022 charge in March, admitting that a search of his south St. Louis home by the U.S. Probation Office on Dec. 15, 2021 found six handguns, including two that were stolen, a stolen shotgun and an AK-47-style rifle. Gunn also had marijuana and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case
Shreveport Man Sentenced on Federal Charge of Second Degree Murder of U.S. Postal Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Michael Jarred Gentry, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. on a charge of second degree murder. Gentry was sentenced to 480 months (40 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On June 22, 2019, Antonio Williams, a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier, was delivering mail in Shreveport. Shortly after 11:00 a.m., Williams was carrying mail to an apartment on Dudley Drive. Inside that apartment was Gentry, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. As Williams approached the apartment, Gentry fired four shots through the front door, striking Williams twice. Mr. Williams was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly thereafter.
Gentry entered his guilty plea to the charge of second degree murder on March 21, 2022 and the United States and Gentry agreed to the stipulated sentence of 40 years in prison.
“This is a difficult day for the family and friends of Antonio Williams,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This family has suffered the tragic loss of a father and husband who cannot be replaced. Although we know that this sentence will not fill the void that these family members and friends have suffered, we hope that it brings them some comfort knowing that this defendant will serve such a lengthy sentence in federal prison where there is no parole. I would like to thank the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their efforts in assisting with this investigation, as well as the Shreveport Police Department and federal agents with the ATF. It was because of their quick response and thorough investigation that we were able to bring this defendant to justice.”
“The sentencing of Michael Gentry for the murder of postal employee Antonio Williams brings to an end the investigation of a heinous crime,” said Scott Fix, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division of the USPIS. “The safety and well-being of Postal Service employees is a top priority for the Postal Inspection Service, and every act of violence elicits an immediate and firm response. Postal Inspectors worked tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for the victim and his family.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Shreveport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon.
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Rhode Island Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Public FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island woman, formerly of North Easton, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to stealing approximately $74,000 in Veteran Affairs (VA) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) benefits from a veteran she was supposed to be protecting.
Lisa Heino, 55, of Newport, R.I., pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of public funds. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Dec. 2, 2022. Heino was charged on June 1, 2022.
In May 2014, Heino was appointed by the Massachusetts state court to serve as the conservator for the victim who was a veteran and retired federal employee. Later, in October 2014, Heino became the OPM representative payee for the victim as well. As a court appointed conservator and representative payee, Heino had access to the federal VA and OPM monthly benefit payments that were directly deposited into the victim’s bank account. In this capacity, Heino transferred federal VA and OPM benefit payments from the victim’s bank account to her own bank account and used the funds for her own expenses. Specifically, from in or about June 2017 through August 2018, Heino stole or converted approximately $44,191 in VA funds she was not entitled to for her own use. Additionally, from in or about January 2017 through January 2019, Heino stole or converted approximately $29,853 in OPM funds she was not entitled to for her own use.
After Heino was removed as conservator in 2017 and representative payee in 2019, she continued to access the victim’s bank account and federal benefits. When interviewed by authorities, Heino admitted to withdrawing the benefit payments from the victim’s bank account and depositing the funds into her own account for her personal use while serving as conservator and representative payee.
The charges of theft of government funds each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Scott A. Rezendes, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Personnel Management, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Repeat Domestic Abuser and Convicted Felon Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Anthony Hughes, 37, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on January 29, 2020, Hughes was stopped in his vehicle by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers. Officers discovered a firearm inside a passenger’s purse, that Hughes admitted to possessing. Hughes is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including criminal recklessness, stemming from a domestic assault where he bit a victim in the jaw and threatened her with a knife. When the victim’s minor son intervened, Hughes choked the child. Hughes was also previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery for repeatedly punching a victim in the face and choking her. Hughes also has a 2009 domestic battery conviction for assaulting his minor son.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.
The IMPD investigated the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that Hughes be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhishek S. Kambli who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
Additionally, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Readout of Justice Department Officials' Participation in National Night OutRead the Press Release
Yesterday, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta participated in the 39th Annual National Night Out. Established in 1984 from a Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant, the goal of National Night Out is to build relationships with and between communities and law enforcement. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. In most areas of the country, the program occurs annually on the first Tuesday of August.
“Public trust is essential to public safety, and the Justice Department is committed to strengthening the bonds of partnership between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said Attorney General Garland. “Each year, National Night Out provides an important opportunity to build upon these efforts and to celebrate our shared obligations to each other as neighbors and as Americans.”
The Attorney General participated in two National Night Out events in Baltimore, alongside U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron of the District of Maryland. They joined the Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison at a community event organized by the No Boundaries Coalition and later visited a block party in the Western Police District. The Attorney General spoke with community members and local and federal law enforcement partners. Prior to the National Night Out events, the Attorney General met with staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baltimore.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco and U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs attended two National Night Out events in Charleston and North Charleston, South Carolina, with the Charleston Police Department and North Charleston Police Department. The Deputy Attorney General visited Mall Park and Riverfront Park, where she heard from local law enforcement and community members working to strengthen partnerships throughout both neighborhoods. She also had an opportunity to talk with Deputy Chief Chito Walker of the Charleston Police Department and Chief Reggie Burgess of the North Charleston Police Department about their Department’s participation in the Department’s National Public Safety Partnership program which promotes public safety by providing participating communities with specialized law enforcement expertise and resources.
Associate Attorney General Gupta attended two National Night Out events with the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica D. Aber. In Richmond, VA they joined Richmond Police Chief Gerald M. Smith, and other local law enforcement and community members, including representatives from the DEA. They discussed the Department’s funding for community policing and other community-police trust-building initiatives. The Associate Attorney General and Acting COPS Director Robert Chapman then participated in a Chesterfield County, VA National Night Out event, where they met with Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Chief of the Chesterfield County Police Department, and shared information about the Justice Department’s funding of National Night Out, which dates back to 1982.
Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco’s Trip to South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (Deputy AG) Lisa O. Monaco traveled to South Carolina this week to see firsthand how the Justice Department is working with local communities to protect public safety.
The Deputy AG attended two National Night Out events on Tuesday evening in Charleston and North Charleston, South Carolina. Joined by U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs of the District of South Carolina, the Deputy AG talked with law enforcement officers from the Charleston Police Department (CPD) and the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD), as well as local residents working to strengthen partnerships throughout both communities.
She also spoke with CPD Deputy Chief Chito Walker and NCPD Chief Reggie Burgess about their agencies’ participation in the Justice Department’s National Public Safety Partnership National Public Safety Partnership program, which promotes public safety by providing participating communities with specialized law enforcement expertise and resources. Deputy AG Monaco thanked both departments for their partnership.
On Wednesday, the Deputy AG met in Charleston with members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office from across the District of South Carolina. She received a briefing from U.S. Attorney Ford Boroughs and her leadership team and hosted an “all-hands” meeting with the office’s prosecutors and professional staff to thank them for their work. The Deputy AG also convened a meeting with the heads of federal law enforcement agencies in South Carolina to discuss public safety issues, including violent crime and domestic terrorism.
Finally, the Deputy AG visited Mother Emanuel AME Church to pay her respects to the Emanuel Nine and survivors of the 2015 mass shooting.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty in Washington County Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Steve Miller, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine from April of 2020 and continuing to November 19, 2020, before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that in 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a drug trafficking organization, of which Miller was a member, that operated throughout the greater Washington County area. Beginning in April of 2020 and continuing through October of 2020, the FBI received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Miller was intercepted agreeing to supply his codefendant with distribution quantities of cocaine. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, firearms, ammunition, body armor, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for Nov. 30, 2022. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark V. Gurzo and Jerome A. Moschetta are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Miller.
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.
Orem Man Convicted of Possession of Firearms as a Convicted Felon and Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY- On July 31, 2022, after a four-day trial, a federal jury in the District of Utah found James D. Brunson, 25, of Orem, guilty of possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon and possession of stolen firearms.
At trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Brunson stole a duffle bag containing nine firearms from a residence in Orem. The duffle bag contained two shotguns; three handguns; one revolver; two .22 caliber rifles; an AR-15 rifle; and three boxes containing ammunition for the weapons. After obtaining search warrants, law enforcement officers tracked Brunson to an apartment complex in West Jordan. Prior to his arrest, officers witnessed Brunson remove a stolen 9mm handgun from his waistband and discard it in a nearby grassy area. Officers then arrested Brunson and recovered the discarded stolen handgun and six of the other stolen firearms from a nearby vehicle. Two of the firearms stolen by Brunson have not been located, and officers established that Brunson attempted to sell the firearms for cash to others prior to his arrest.
Brunson was convicted of possessing the 9mm handgun located inside of his waistband and the remaining firearms recovered from the vehicle as a convicted felon. Because the firearms were stolen, Brunson was also convicted of possessing stolen firearms.
Assistant United States Attorneys Angie Clifford and Samuel Pead tried the case against the defendant. Special Agents from the FBI and the Utah County Major Crimes Task force, including law enforcement officers from Orem Police Department and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation.
Sentencing in this matter is currently set for January 31, 2023.
Oneida County Woman Indicted for Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamine, Heroin and Fentanyl, and for Illegally Possessing Defaced FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Alexis Miranda, age 27, of New Hartford, New York, was arraigned last week on charges relating to the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, and for possessing four pistols from which the serial numbers had been removed and obliterated.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to the indictment, Miranda conspired to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl between August 2019 and October 8, 2019, and distributed methamphetamine on September 12, 2019. The indictment also charges Miranda with possessing with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl on August 29, 2020 and possessing four defaced pistols. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Miranda had a detention hearing today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was released on conditions pending a trial before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
Miranda faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, a fine of up to $10 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the ATF, the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 200 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Britt Hudgins, 50 of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hudgins to 200 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment, Hudgins will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On May 18, 2021, Omaha Police Officers responded to a radio call of a vehicle blocking an alley near 48th and Erskine in Omaha. After officers determined that the vehicle was stolen, an inventory search revealed two .40 caliber Glock handguns, 210 grams of actual methamphetamine, and a cell phone. A search of the phone revealed that it belonged to Hudgins as his name and photograph were stored within.
On May 20, 2021, Omaha Police Detectives utilized a confidential informant who purchased 7.2 grams of methamphetamine from Hudgins at an Omaha location.
On August 17, 2021, Omaha Police Officers located and arrested Hudgins on a federal warrant related to an indictment charging the above crimes. In his possession officers located a 9mm handgun.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
New Jersey Pharmacy Admits Illegal Distribution of Prescription Opioids and Kickback Scheme and Agrees to Criminal and Civil PenaltiesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County pharmacy today admitted its role in a conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription opioids and to give kickbacks to healthcare providers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Dunn Meadow LLC (doing business as Dunn Meadow Pharmacy) of Fort Lee, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Julien Neals to an information charging it with conspiring to illegally distribute prescription fentanyl and giving kickbacks to healthcare providers. Dunn Meadow also signed a civil settlement with the United States for violations of the False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act.
According to documents filed in this case, statements made in court, and the terms of the civil settlement:
Dunn Meadow was a licensed retail pharmacy that sent controlled substances and other prescription medications to patients via mail throughout the United States, including highly addictive and dangerous transmucosal immediate release fentanyl (TIRF) medications. Dunn Meadow had contracts with and received payments from pharmaceutical companies that marketed and sold TIRF medications, including INSYS Pharma Inc.
From 2015 through 2019, Dunn Meadow dispensed prescription TIRF medications and other controlled substances knowing that the prescriptions were not written for a legitimate medical purpose. Dunn Meadow knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances, including TIRF medications, for patients exhibiting suspicious and drug-seeking behavior, including patients that repeatedly requested early refills, paid thousands of dollars in cash for their prescriptions, or requested that prescriptions be sent to suspicious or inappropriate locations including hotels, casinos, and elementary schools.
Despite warnings from third parties, including some of its suppliers, Dunn Meadow continued to fill prescriptions for TIRF medications and other opioids written by doctors with suspicious and problematic prescribing habits, sometimes without receiving an original prescription. After two different pharmaceutical suppliers terminated supply agreements with Dunn Meadow, Dunn Meadow submitted applications to other suppliers stating that no supplier had ever suspended, ceased, or restricted controlled substance sales to Dunn Meadow.
Dunn Meadow also admitted that it conspired to offer kickbacks to health care providers and pharmaceutical company sales representatives in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, in the form of lunches, dinners, and happy hours to induce them to send TIRF prescriptions to Dunn Meadow. Dunn Meadow admitted that its violations of the statute caused a loss to federally funded healthcare programs of over $4.5 million.
In addition, Dunn Meadow and its parent company, Allegheny Pharma LLC entered a civil settlement with the United States to resolve Dunn Meadow’s civil liability for violations of the False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act. Dunn Meadow’s criminal restitution payment will be applied to the civil resolution. Dunn Meadow has also agreed to pay up to $50 million dollars over the next five years to resolve its civil liability if it generates future revenue.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited diversion investigators of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations-New Jersey Field Office, under the Direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; special agents the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, New Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Patrick J. Hegarty; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Peck and Emma Spiro of the Criminal Division, Susan Pappy of the Civil Division, and Trial Attorney Douglas Rosenthal of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRONE BROWN, 27, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown was arrested on August 9, 2021, after a court-authorized search of his residence on Stevens Street in New Haven revealed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Brown’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm, robbery, burglary and larceny offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Brown has been detained since his arrest. On April 25, 2022, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.
New Britain Man Charged with Fentanyl Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging THOMAS RIVERA, 29, of New Britain, with fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.
The indictment was returned on July 21, 2022, and Rivera was arrested yesterday. Following his arrest he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford who ordered Rivera detained.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on June 3, 2022, Hartford Police stopped a vehicle Rivera was operating and found him in possession of a bag containing approximately 140 grams of fentanyl, approximately 370 sleeves of fentanyl, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and $1,323 in cash. Rivera was arrested on state charges at that time and subsequently posted a $1 million bond.
The indictment alleges that Rivera’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm possession and drug distribution offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Rivera with one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries mandatory consecutive prison term of at least five years; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.
Mobile, Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting K9 and Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Mobile, Alabama man pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of animal crushing, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Richard J. McGuire, 44, pled guilty on August 2, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, on March 29, 2022, Moss Point Police officers responded to an alarm call at Tay’s BBQ/Shell Station located on Highway 63 in Moss Point. They began searching the area and located McGuire behind another business. McGuire fled when officers approached him.
Moss Point Police K9 “Buddy” was released to track McGuire. Buddy pursued McGuire into a wooded area when officers heard two gunshots. Buddy returned having been shot in the chest. Officers later apprehended McGuire who possessed a sawed-off shotgun and body armor, which he is prohibited from possessing as a previously convicted felon. Buddy survived and will return to work soon.
McGuire will be sentenced on November 15, 2022. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm and 7 years for animal crushing. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Missouri man sentenced to 16+ years in prison for tricking boy on Snapchat into sending child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced a Missouri man to 16 years and eight months in prison for using Snapchat to trick a boy into sending him child pornography.
In 2019, Martin Dwayne Isaia Mitchell, of Macon County, set up a fake Snapchat account in which he pretended to be female and then reached out to a 15-year-old boy that he knew. Mitchell, who was 20 at the time, convinced the boy to record a video of him masturbating and send it to Mitchell. Using a different fake female profile, Mitchell contacted the boy again in 2020, and sent him explicit videos to entice the boy to send pictures in return. Once Mitchell received the teen’s explicit pictures, he threatened to send them to others unless the teen paid $500.
Mitchell created a third fake profile and contacted an adult male that he knew in an attempt to obtain more explicit photos, but the male figured out who he was and told Mitchell he was going to report him to police. Mitchell then said he’d pay $1,000 to the man to not report him.
Mitchell pleaded guilty March 25 to one felony count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Mitchell will also be on supervised release for life after his release from prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Macon County Sheriff's Office, the Macon Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Bateman is prosecuting the case.
Mission Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding was sentenced on August 1, 2022, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Talon Bettelyoun, Sr., age 31, was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25.
Bettelyoun was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 8, 2022. He pled guilty on May 12, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on October 22, 2021, in Todd County, wherein Bettelyoun assaulted his domestic partner.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Bettelyoun was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Miami Doctor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Committing $38 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme, Spending Proceeds on Beachfront Condos and Luxury VehiclesRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Armando Valdes, 63, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams to 60 months in federal prison for directing a $38 million health care fraud scheme. Valdes was also ordered to forfeit four real estate properties, including a beachfront condominium unit in Pompano Beach, as well as numerous luxury vehicles, including a Cadillac Escalade and a Tesla Model S, all of which he had purchased using the ill-gotten proceeds of his fraud scheme.
From February 2015 through July 2021, Valdes owned and operated Gasiel Medical Services, Corp., a medical clinic in Miami, Florida. Through Gasiel Medical Services, Valdes submitted approximately $38 million in fraudulent claims to United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield for infusions of the prescription drug Infliximab. Infliximab, known by the brand name Remicade, is an expensive prescription immunosuppressive approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric Crohn’s disease, adult and pediatric ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Infliximab is one of the most expensive prescription drugs on the market—a single dose can have a retail price of nearly $10,000. Despite claiming approximately $38 million in reimbursements for infusions of Infliximab purportedly provided to patients of Gasiel Medical Services, Valdes admitted as part of his guilty plea earlier this year, that he never provided even a single infusion of the drug, nor did patients of the clinic require the medication.
Valdes attempted to conceal his involvement in this fraud scheme by distancing himself on paper from the medical clinic. For example, Valdes employed a 91-year-old physician at Gasiel Medical Services who rarely treated patients and never prescribed Infliximab, but who Valdes listed as the rendering provider for all $38 million of the fraudulently billed Infliximab infusions. Similarly, even though Valdes effectively owned and operated Gasiel Medical Services, he paid another individual to act as its “nominee owner.” This other individual, and not Valdes, was listed as the president and registered agent of the clinic in corporate records and other official documents.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office announced the sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael B. Homer prosecuted this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20590.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Document FraudRead the Press Release
A man who used a false identification document and someone else’s social security number was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison.
Juan Perez-Astello, age 45, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 21, 2022 guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of an identification document.
In a plea agreement, Perez-Astello admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card bearing someone else’s name and Social Security number when he completed employment and tax forms in November 2020 at a business in Lime Springs, Iowa. On the employment application, Perez-Astello falsely claimed to be a United States citizen. However, Perez-Astello had been deported to Mexico in January 1999, November 2002, and August 2014 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government after each removal. Perez-Astello was convicted in the Northern District of Iowa in May 2014 of illegal reentry into the United States after deportation and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Perez-Astello was also convicted in the Iowa District Court for Allamakee County in December 1998 of possession of a fraudulent Permanent Resident card, also known as a “green card,” and a fraudulent Social Security card immediately prior to his first deportation.
Perez-Astello was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Perez-Astello was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Perez-Astello is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2030.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mescalero man charged with assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Julius Mendez was charged by criminal complaint with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault of a spouse, intimate partner or dating partner by strangling. Mendez, 30, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, made an initial appearance in federal court today and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the complaint, on April 22, Mendez allegedly attacked the victim as she slept in her home on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. The victim, who is also an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, awakened to Mendez allegedly kicking her. Mendez allegedly began damaging the victim’s home, then returned to kicking and punching her until she lost consciousness.
As a result of Mendez’s alleged assault, the victim suffered serious injuries to her head, face and neck and had severe bruising over most of her body.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Mendez faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Eliot Neal are prosecuting the case.
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Maryland man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dominick Mickens, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Mickens, 39, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Base, and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Mickens admitted to working with others to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride from August 2020 to June 2021 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Mickens faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Timothy D. Helman are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Man who escaped St. Ann jail sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis man who escaped the St. Ann, Mo. jail last year to 15 years in prison.
Walter J. Wilson Jr., 39, was convicted by a federal jury in March of an escape charge and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wilson was one of three federal detainees who kicked out a window in the jail on July 9, 2021 and then climbed out. They were arrested by the U.S. Marshals the next day.
Wilson was in jail awaiting trial after a Jan. 6, 2021 indictment on the gun charge. On Oct. 22, 2020, officers of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department found a handgun during a traffic stop. Wilson has prior convictions for robbery, assault and failure to register as a sex offender, court records show.
Another escapee, Jason William Woolbright, 48, of Jefferson County, was sentenced in June to four years and nine months in prison on gun and escape charges. Drug, gun and escape charges against the third man, Joshua Brown, 32, are still pending.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Scharf prosecuted the case.
Man and Woman Convicted in Connection with False Statement to a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Two individuals were convicted in connection with making a false statement to a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent-in-Charge Jermicha L. Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Field Office.
Stevie Allen Stoudenmier, Jr., 37, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty to the federal felony of unauthorized possession of an identity document with intent to defraud the United States. Kimberly Ann Hinton, 31, also of Hattiesburg, was sentenced for the related offense of misprision of felony in connection with a material misrepresentation to a National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger.
According to court documents, on February 4, 2021, a National Park Service Ranger conducted a traffic stop of Stoudenmier in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Davis Bayou location in Jackson County. Stoudenmier was driving a vehicle registered to Hinton with Hinton as the front seat passenger. When Stoudenmier identified himself to the Law Enforcement Ranger, Stoudenmier gave the Ranger the name, Social Security Number, date of birth and other stolen identity information of a man from Picayune, Mississippi. Hinton then produced the Identification Card of the victim.
Stoudenmier was issued misdemeanor citations in the name of the victim from Picayune. Later, the victim contacted the Government after receiving the summons for the citations and notice to appear in federal court in Gulfport. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Park Service investigated the complaint and Defendant Stoudenmier was identified using official law enforcement “body-cam” video of the traffic stop and “body-cam” video regarding a separate incident with Stoudenmier and Hinton using the same ID card with the Biloxi Police Department.
Hinton, who previously pled guilty, was sentenced to “time served” (effectively five months and one day), as well as to pay a $1,500 fine and to serve one year of supervised release.
Stoudenmier is scheduled to be sentenced on November 15, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the National Park Service, and the Biloxi Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Man Sentenced to Two Years for Possession of Stolen GunsRead the Press Release
A Carrollton man who stole five guns from a storage unit was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Eden Navarrete-Ochoa, 22, was indicted along with coconspirator Daniel Tavira-Alocer, 23, in August 2021. Mr. Navarete-Ochoa pleaded guilty in March 2022 to possession of a stolen firearm and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. (His coconspirator’s case is still pending; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)
On Oct. 10, 2020, Mr. Navarete-Ochoa burglarized a storage building in Coppell, Texas, and stole five firearms: a Maadi AK-47 style rifle, a Colt .45-caliber pistol, a NA Arms .22 magnum revolver, a Winchester shotgun, and a Norinco sporting rifle.
He was arrested shortly after the burglary. At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors introduced into evidence photographs of some the firearms, which law enforcement recovered from the vehicle that he and Tavira-Alcocer had been occupying:
In plea papers, Mr. Navarete-Ochoa admitted to possession of the stolen guns.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Coppell and Carrolton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal is prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced to 97 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jaime Renteria-Lopez, 28 years old, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady on his plea of guilty to distributing a controlled substance and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Renteria-Lopez was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Renteria-Lopez was carrying a firearm on October 28, 2019, which he carried during and in relation to his drug dealing activities. Later, on January 7, 2020, Renteria-Lopez distributed about two ounces of heroin to law enforcement.
This case was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Wayne Police Department in coordination with the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Brent A. Ecenbarger.
This case was being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Lynnwood, Washington, man indicted for hate crime and interstate threats of racially motivated violenceRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 37-year-old Lynnwood, Washington man indicted today by a federal grand jury for a hate crime and four counts of interstate threats, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joey David George will be arraigned on the indictment on August 11, 2022. George remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington.
“By law, the decision to charge a hate crime is appropriately deliberate – with consultation and approval from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division in Washington DC,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, the hate-filled threats to kill, based on race, are fittingly being prosecuted as a hate crime.”
According to records filed in the case, on July 19 and 20, 2022, George allegedly telephoned a grocery store in Buffalo, New York and threatened to shoot Black people in the store. In the second call George allegedly ranted about a “race war.” Law enforcement traced the phone number and identified George as the person who made the call.
In addition to the calls to Buffalo, George is charged in connection with a May 2022, call to a restaurant in San Bruno, California. In that call George allegedly threatened to shoot Black and Hispanic patrons in the restaurant. As the restaurant is a place of public accommodation, it is charged as a hate crime: Interference with a Federally Protected Activity.
Additionally, George is charged with making interstate threats to a business in Maryland, saying he intended to shoot Black people at the store. The fourth count of the indictment charges him with making interstate threats to bomb a restaurant in Connecticut.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Making interstate threats is punishable by up to five years in prison. Interfering with a federally protected activity is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with the assistance of multiple local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Woods and Rebecca Cohen in consultation with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
george_ind_cr22-109rsm.pdfLowell Man Indicted for Possessing Half a Kilogram of Methamphetamine Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston on methamphetamine charges and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Ravouth Chhoy, 33, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
“The highly addictive nature of methamphetamine, combined with the destruction it causes to the health of its users, makes it a lethal threat to the well-being of our communities,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “We believe that Mr. Chhoy possessed and intended to distribute more than half a kilo of this dangerous narcotic. Those who seek to dispense harmful drugs throughout this Commonwealth have no regard to the lives that they are damaging. We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office do. These prosecutions will continue if this behavior persists.”
"As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise, DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of Massachusetts," said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. "This arrest not only holds Mr. Chhoy accountable for these crimes but it also serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts."
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substances containing a detectible amount of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and DEA SAC Boyle made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department provided critical assistance in the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Long Island Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Mailing Threatening Letters to LGBTQ+ Affiliated IndividualsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, United States District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Robert Fehring to 30 months in prison for mailing more than 60 letters to LGBTQ+ affiliated individuals, organizations and businesses, many of which contained threats to kill, shoot, and bomb the recipients. Fehring pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2022.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) announced the sentence.
“There is no room for hate in the Eastern District of New York. Today’s sentence makes clear that threats to kill and commit acts of violence against the LGBTQ+ community will be met with significant punishment,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We will use the full power of our office to bring to justice those who threaten to kill or hurt people because of who they are, and to ensure everyone in our district is able to live authentically, safely and in peace.”
United States Attorney Peace also expressed his gratitude to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
“Robert Fehring made heinous threats against members of the LGBTQ+ community in locations throughout New York, including Suffolk County, for nearly eight years,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Harrison said. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our department’s Hate Crimes Unit detectives and the diligent work of our law enforcement partners, Fehring is being held accountable for his crimes. This sentence reiterates that hate and intolerance have no place in Suffolk County.”
As set forth in the court filings and today’s proceeding, from at least 2013 to 2021, Fehring sent letters threatening violence to individuals associated with the LGBTQ+ community. In those letters, Fehring threatened to, among other things, use firearms and explosives against the recipients. Two such letters threatened that there would be an attack on an LGBTQ+ event in Huntington, New York that would be like the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Another letter threatened that radio-controlled explosives would be planted at a beach club in Long Beach, New York that had hosted a LGBTQ+ event. In another letter sent in June 2018, Fehring threatened the operators of a water ferry service from Sayville to Fire Island, New York that they should “screen everyone coming on board with a metal detector” and that “a thorough search of your boats would be in order.”
Fehring also sent a threatening letter to the owners of the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan and an African American-owned barbershop affiliated with the LGTBQ+ community in Brooklyn. The letter to the Stonewall Inn stated, “we will blow up/burn your establishments down. We will shoot those who frequent your dens of [expletives].” The letter to the barbershop purported to be from “People Who Hate Gays ... and In Particular [n-word] Gays and stated, “your shop is the perfect place for a bombing ... or beating the scum that frequents your den of [expletive] into a bloody pool of steaming flesh.”
On November 18, 2021, the FBI Civil Rights Squad and the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force executed a search warrant at Fehring’s home in Bayport, New York, and recovered copies of letters containing threats, supplies used to mail threatening letters, 20 LGBTQ+ Pride flags that were stolen from flagpoles in Sayville, New York in July 2021, and reconnaissance-style photographs from the Eisenhower Park Pride event. The FBI also recovered electronic devices owned by Fehring that contained internet searches for Fehring’s victims and related LGBTQ+ affiliated events and businesses. Law enforcement officers also recovered from Fehring’s residence two loaded shotguns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two stun guns, and a stamped envelope addressed to an LGBTQ+ affiliated attorney containing the remains of a dead bird.
At Fehring’s sentencing hearing, six victims addressed the Court and described the fear that Fehring’s threats instilled in them.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section, Civil Rights Section, and Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro, Rachel A. Bennek, and Andrew P. Wenzel are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ROBERT FEHRING
Age: 74
Bayport, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-059
Logan County Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County woman pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, admitting to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of over $42,250.00 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, Alexis Ransom, 24, of Logan, applied for three PPP loans beginning on March 27, 2021, and continuing to August 16, 2021, for her purported business, Alexis Renae Ransom, which she claimed did business under the tradenames of Renae’s Fashion Consulting LLC and Momma & Me Boutique. Ransom admitted that she falsely stated that Renae’s Fashion Consulting LLC was established in 2019, and had earned $66,900.00 in gross income in 2019 and 2020, and that Momma & Me Boutique earned $69,000.00 in gross income in 2019. The investigation revealed that Ransom’s purported business and its tradenames had not engaged in substantial business activity before February 15, 2020. Ransom further admitted that she submitted a false Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business in connection with the first loan application she submitted for Renae’s Fashion Consulting LLC.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses, through the PPP. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities.
Ransom obtained two PPP loans of $13,937.50 each for Renae’s Fashion Consulting LLC, and one loan of $14,375.00 for Momma & Me Boutique. Ransom admitted that she later applied to have all three PPP loans forgiven even though she had not spent the loan proceeds on permissible business expenses. The SBA forgave her loans on August 16, 2021.
Ransom is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Ransom also agreed to pay $42,250.00 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the West Virginia State Police and the United States Secret Service for conducting the investigation.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-122.
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Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 1/2 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steve Russell announced that Gregory Dightman, 53, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for four counts of production of child pornography. Dightman was sentenced to 20 1/2 years in prison and10 years of supervised release on each count with the sentences to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. Dightman was additionally ordered to pay $12,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.
On November 19, 2019, the Lincoln Police Department received a child abuse/neglect intake from the Department of Health and Human Services. A mother reported that her daughter had been taking inappropriate photographs with a professional photographer (Gregory Dightman) that included nude images. LPD received search warrants for Dightman’s home and studio area where photos were taken. Dightman consented to talk to law enforcement and admitted that he knew how old the girl was and that he had taken nude photographs of her.
Through the examination of Dightman’s devices and interviews with other young women, it was determined that Dightman had created pornographic images of at least four young ladies who were minors at the time the photos were created/taken. The conduct spanned from 2009 until 2019. The victims were between the ages of 16 and 17 when Dightman took the sexually explicit photographs. The investigation revealed that Dightman would pay the victims for the photo shoots. Between the four young women, approximately 590 child pornographic images were recovered.
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 Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Licensed Real Estate Agent and Her Husband Charged with Conspiracy and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Maria Del Carmen Montes (46, Kissimmee) with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, four counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Montes faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 30 years for each fraud count, and a mandatory penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count. The indictment also charges Montes’ husband Carlos Ferrer (45, Kissimmee) with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and three counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Ferrer faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy count, and up to, 30 years’ imprisonment for each fraud count.
According to the Indictment, Montes and Ferrer conspired to create and executed a mortgage fraud scheme targeting financial institutions. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers she was representing as a licensed realtor were approved for mortgage loans, Montes created fictitious and fraudulent paystubs and IRS Form W-2s in the names of companies for whom her clients had never worked. The bogus income documents falsely indicated that her clients had worked at these companies, including companies formed and controlled by Ferrer, for a certain period of time and earned income that they did not. Montes submitted the fictitious paystubs and W-2s she created to the financial institutions who relied on them when making underwriting decisions. Additionally, Montes used her clients’ personally identifying information on these documents without their knowledge or authorization.
In order to further deceive the mortgage lenders, Montes and Ferrer recruited a co-conspirator working at a company listed on certain false paystubs and W-2s to falsely certify Verifications of Employment (VOEs”) sent by the financial institutions and instructed the co-conspirator to lie to the final institutions when they called to further verify the borrower’s employment. Ferrer and Montes sent the false and fictitious paystubs and W-2s to the co-conspirator so the co-conspirator could put the false information on the VOEs before certifying, signing, and returning them to the financial institutions. Ferrer also falsely certified and emailed VOEs sent by the financial institution in the names of borrowers that he knew did not work for his companies and lied to the banks during verbal VOE checks. Based on Montes’ and Ferrer’s misrepresentations, the financial institutions approved and funded the mortgage loans.
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 Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Kyle Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Abusive Sexual Contact, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography.
Joshua Sharp, age 37, was indicted in July of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on July 29, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, lifetime supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges stem from Sharp sexually abusing two children less than 12 years old between August 2019 and December 2021 in Kyle. Sharp also received and possessed child pornography during this time. The charges are merely accusations and Sharp is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Sharp was detained pending trial. A trial date has been set for October 4, 2022.
Joint Statement by Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Hoff on Third Anniversary of Walmart ShootingRead the Press Release
Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice and Ashley C. Hoff, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, release this statement on the third anniversary of the mass shooting in an El Paso Walmart that resulted in the deaths of 23 individuals and injured numerous others.
“Today, with heavy hearts, we mark the third anniversary of the tragedy that occurred in El Paso. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their lives and those who were injured, as well as their loved ones, the El Paso community, and the countless others who were impacted by this senseless, reprehensible crime. Our commitment to pursue justice for all those affected by this violent act of hate remains unwavering.”
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Indianapolis Felon Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms, Including a Stolen HandgunRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Tremain Prevot, 39, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on June 4, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a person with a firearm in the area of 25th Street and Post Road on the far east side of Indianapolis. Officers arrived on the scene and saw Prevot carrying an AR15-style rifle and a black handgun, both loaded with extended magazines. The handgun was stolen. Prevot has four prior felony convictions, including a conviction for carrying a handgun without a license. Prevot admitted to the responding officers that he knew he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Columbus Field Division (ATF), and Chief Randal Taylor of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) made the announcement.
ATF and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that Prevot be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for one year following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Houma Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JARRETT SCURTO, age 35, a resident of Houma, Louisiana, pled guilty on August 3, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on April 28, 2021, SCURTO, a known methamphetamine distributor in Terrebonne Parish, was stopped by law enforcement while traveling on Louisiana Highway 182. A subsequent search of SCURTO’s vehicle revealed that he had 58 grams of pure methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in his trunk.
SCURTO faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Terrebonne Parish Sherriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.
Herkimer County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update his RegistrationRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Eric L. Henderson, age 38, formerly of Ilion, New York, pled guilty today to failing to update his registration as a sex offender after he fled New York State parole supervision and moved to South Carolina, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty.
Henderson must register as a sex offender because he was convicted of rape-third degree in 2020, in Herkimer County. In pleading guilty today, Henderson admitted that following his release from state prison in May 2021, he cut off contact with his state parole officer and fled to Kingstree, South Carolina, without updating his sex offender registration in New York or registering as a sex offender in South Carolina. Henderson was arrested on October 27, 2021, in South Carolina, by the United States Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Henderson faces up to 10 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, when he is sentenced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Hartley Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Joe Ripka, 34, from Hartley, Iowa, pled guilty on August 1, 2022, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Ripka was previously convicted of Failure to Affix Drug Stamp, in the Iowa District Court for Emmet County, on October 23, 2017. This conviction prohibits a person from possessing a firearm.
Evidence at the plea hearing showed that on December 22, 2021, law enforcement observed the vehicle Ripka was driving without any license plates. During the stop, Ripka displayed signs of impairment. A K9 was deployed on the exterior of the car and indicated the presence of controlled substances from within, at which time Ripka stated there was a firearm in the car and acknowledged he was a felon. Law enforcement uncovered a .380 handgun in the driver’s door. Later, upon inspection of the officer’s vehicle near where Ripka had been seated on December 22, 2021, the arresting officer located a pack of cigarettes wedged between the seats which contained 1 gram of methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ripka remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Ripka faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4041. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Harrisonburg Bank Robber Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Harrisonburg, Virginia man, who used a BB gun to rob First Citizen Bank in Harrisonburg on January 4, 2022, pled guilty yesterday to federal armed bank robbery charges.
Charles Joseph Hood, 62, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg to one count of armed bank robbery. Hood faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to court documents, on January 4, 2022 Hood walked into First Citizen Bank on University Boulevard in Harrisonburg wearing a dark mask, sunglasses, a dark hat, a wig, and brown work boots. He approached a manager of the bank and inquired about opening an account. Hood provided the manager with a red makeshift bag and a gray glove. He then instructed the manager to put on the glove and to put cash in the bag. At this time, Hood brandished what appeared to be a firearm but was later found to be a Daisy Powerline 426 .177 caliber BB gun.
Hood then directed the manager from his office to the area behind the teller station, all while carrying the BB gun. There were two tellers behind the counter. Hood told the manager to retrieve large bills only, no dye packs, and not to trigger the bank’s alarm system. The manager and two tellers separately collected cash and placed it in the bag provided by hood. In all, $15,908 was placed inside the red bag. During the encounter, one of the tellers pressed the bank’s silent alarm system alerting law enforcement.
Hood retrieved the bag and exited the bank, walked around the corner, got onto a bicycle, and rode away. Approximately a half-mile away, Hood discarded the bike, wig, and his outer jacket, walked into a restaurant, entered the bathroom, and lifted an oil painting on the wall. He placed the BB gun behind the painting where it was out of view and undetectable. He then walked to the nearby Walmart Supercenter where he discarded his work boots and put on a pair of gray shoes he purchased.
Outside, Hood attempted to call a taxi.
Meanwhile, the Harrisonburg Police Department had responded to the silent alarm and were in the area searching for individuals who matched Hood’s description. An officer, seeing Hood outside the Walmart, approached him. Hood began to walk away from the officer, telling the officer his wife was in labor before eventually running away from the officer.
When officers detained Hood they found a red bag stuffed into his pants that contained $15,606 in cash and a gray glove that matched the one left with the bank manager.
Hood is scheduled to be sentenced on November 8, 2022 and faces up to 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Harrisonburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Welsh and Jordan E. McKay are prosecuting the case.
Gunfire reports lead to hefty prison sentenceRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sent to prison following his convictions of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
A federal jury deliberated for approximately two hours following a three-day trial before returning a guilty verdict April 6 on both counts against Jonathan Rodriguez, Corpus Christi.
Today, U.S. District Judge David Morales sentenced him to a total of 300 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed the long-term drug conspiracy Rodriguez operated.
At trial, the jury heard that Rodriguez was a co-conspirator in a multi-person crack cocaine trafficking scheme. From 2016 to 2019, Rodriguez managed a Corpus Christi residence from where drugs were distributed.
In May 2019, law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire between rival drug dealers at the property. A search of the residence revealed various amounts of crack cocaine and meth.
The jury also heard that Rodriguez had maintained a commercial storage unit in Corpus Christi. A search of the unit revealed $1.26 million in U.S. currency, more than 600 grams of cocaine, 52 rifles, shotguns and pistols.
At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury Rodriguez was merely a narcotics user, not a distributor and the evidence was insufficient. However, they saw video evidence of Rodriguez distributing narcotics within the house and surveillance footage at the commercial storage unit.
The jury did not believe defense claims and found him guilty as charged.
Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis E. Robinson and John Marck prosecuted the case.
Guatemalan Woman Who Used a Fraudulent Social Security Card Sentenced to Jail Time and Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
A woman who had been deported, illegally returned to the United States, and then used someone else’s social security number to obtain employment was sentenced today to almost four months in federal prison.
Maria Julia Diaz-Ventura, age 34, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Falls, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 26, 2022 guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of an identification document and one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
In a plea agreement, Diaz-Ventura admitted she had previously been deported from the United States and that she illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Diaz-Ventura was deported in December 2017. Diaz-Ventura also admitted she used a fraudulent Social Security card bearing someone else’s name and Social Security number when she completed employment and tax forms in May 2018 at a business in Waterloo, Iowa. She also completed employment and tax forms businesses using the fraudulent Social Security card in New Hampton in February 2021, in Lime Springs in April 2021, and in Cedar Falls in August 2021. On each employment application, Diaz-Ventura falsely claimed to be a citizen of the United States. On April 13, 2022, Diaz-Ventura was found and arrested by immigration agents at the business in Cedar Falls where Diaz-Ventura was employed.
Diaz-Ventura was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Diaz-Ventura was sentenced to 113 days’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Diaz-Ventura is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2016.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Greenleaf Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Firearms Violation and Assaulting A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Greenleaf man was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and 3 years supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm and assaulting a federal officer.
According to court records, Erik Konrad Ehrlin, 33, of Greenleaf, Idaho was investigated for vandalism on U.S. Government Property in the Mann Creak Area starting in March of 2021 by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The vandalism included markings of “SAI,” which refers to the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho. The vandalism also included threats to federal employees. The USFS identified Erik Ehrlin as a possible suspect. It was reported that Ehrlin was potentially carrying a firearm. Ehrlin was previously convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree in Oregon and cannot lawfully possess firearms.
On April 30, 2021, a USFS Special Agent and a Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy contacted Ehrlin at a campsite in the Mann Creek Area. The deputy observed Ehrlin with a firearm in his possession. During the encounter, Ehrlin entered his truck, attempted to flee, and struck the USFS agent with a part of the truck. He was taken into custody shortly after. In Ehrlin’s campsite, law enforcement located a semi-automatic rifle. In Ehrlin’s truck, law enforcement located body armor, eight loaded high-capacity magazines, a 9mm handgun with four additional loaded magazines, handcuffs, a red and blue siren, and a “POLICE” patch. On Ehrlin’s person, law enforcement located a Boise Police badge. Ehrlin is not a police officer. Ehlrin also possessed ammunition with that contained writing on it, stating “DIE McLean,” “FUCK FEDS,” and “FUK BLM.”
A search of Ehrlin’s cell phone revealed text messages where Ehrlin described ways to commit mass violence against those with differing political views than him. Specifically, he described wearing body armor while using an assault rifle to shoot hundreds of protesters. These text messages occurred in the context of discussing Black Lives Matter protests in October of 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained a search warrant for Ehrlin’s residence in Greenleaf. At Ehrlin’s residence, agents located a journal with references to SAI and the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho. The journal also contained a “Sovereign Citizen’s Oath.” Agents also located two additional firearms, a .22 caliber rifle and a .22 caliber revolver.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Forest Service, and Washington County Sheriff's Office, which led to charges.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Two Dane County Residents Charged With False Statements During Purchase of Firearms
Taylor A. Kratochwill-Loomis, 21, DeForest, Wisconsin, is charged with 2 counts of making false statements on Firearms Transaction Record forms required by federal law during the purchase of a firearm, when attempting to purchase a 9mm pistol from two federally licensed firearms dealers in November 2021. The indictment alleges that she indicated she was the actual buyer of the firearms on the forms, but in fact she was attempting to purchase the firearms for Deontrae C. McIntosh. Making such false statements during the purchase of a firearm is commonly known as a “straw purchase.”
McIntosh, 18, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with 2 counts of causing Kratochwill-Loomis to falsely state on the Firearms Transaction Record forms that she was the actual buyer of the firearms.
If convicted, Kratochwill-Loomis and McIntosh face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Sun Prairie Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea is handling the prosecution.
Man Charged with Escape
William L. Paul, 41, is charged with escape. The indictment alleges that on April 29, 2022, Paul failed to report to the Rock Valley Community Programs Center in Janesville, Wisconsin, as designated by virtue of a conviction for a felony offense in the Northern District of Illinois. Paul was arrested in Orlando, Florida yesterday.
If convicted, Paul faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Orlando, Florida Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma is handling the prosecution.
General Contractor and Real Estate Developer Arraigned in Connection with Worker Death on Construction Site in PoughkeepsieRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jonathan Mellone, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Region of the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Labor (“DOL-OIG”) announced today that ONEKEY, LLC, a New Jersey construction company, and its principal, FINBAR O’NEILL, were charged by Information with willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations, resulting in the death of a construction worker (“Victim-1”) in Poughkeepsie, New York, on or about August 3, 2017. The Information charges that ONEKEY and O’NEILL built and placed construction loads on a concrete wall without consulting with a qualified person to determine whether the wall could withstand the weight. The Information also charges that ONEKEY and O’NEILL failed to warn workers about the dangers of the wall. The wall collapsed, killing Victim-1. ONEKEY and O’NEILL were arraigned on the charges this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, OneKey, a construction company, and its principal, Finbar O’Neill, endangered the safety of their workers by disregarding regulations and taking shortcuts to sidestep their safety obligations. This conduct led to the death of a worker on a construction site. Today’s charges should serve as a reminder to small business that failure to comply with safety regulations can lead to unnecessary and preventable tragedy.”
DOL-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone said: “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of criminal misconduct related to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to hold accountable those who jeopardize workers’ safety.”
As alleged in the Information[1]:
In 2017, ONEKEY and O’NEILL implemented a soil compaction plan at a construction site at 1 Dutchess Avenue in Poughkeepsie. The soil compaction plan involved piling large quantities of dirt, called “surcharges,” on top of the sites of three future buildings. An engineering firm designed a plan for the use of the surcharges. ONEKEY and O’NEILL did not follow this plan. Instead, they built a wall to hold back one of the surcharges, so workers could get started on the buildings next to it. ONEKEY and O’NEILL did not consult with any qualified person to see if the wall could withstand the weight to be placed on it by the surcharge.
While people were working next to the wall, ONEKEY kept using construction machinery to add dirt to the surcharge pressing up against the wall. The people working near the wall were not warned about the dangers it created. ONEKEY and O’NEILL heard from people working at the site that the wall was not safe. They did not fix the wall.
On August 3, 2017, workers complained that construction machines were driving on top of the surcharge, adding dirt to it. Later that day, the wall collapsed. As it fell, Victim-1 ran away from the wall, but he could not get away in time and was killed.
* * *
ONEKEY, LLC, a New Jersey corporation, is charged with one count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death. The foregoing count carries a maximum fine of $500,000.
FINBAR O’NEILL, 57, of Paramus, New Jersey, is charged with one of count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death. The foregoing count carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of OSHA and DOL-OIG.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Kochevar is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Information, and the description of the Information set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A suburban Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Horan imposed the sentence on Maurice Miller, age 35, formerly of Churchill, PA.
According to information presented to the court, Miller participated in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Miller also possessed with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and possessed firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. The possession of firearms and/or ammunition as a convicted felon is prohibited under federal law. Miller was prosecuted following an investigation into a drug trafficking organization referred to as Hustlas Don’t Sleep that involved the distribution of a variety of types of illegal narcotics.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Monroeville Police Department, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Miller.
Former School Principal Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Embezzling $175,000 Meant for Student Activities and ServicesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former school principal was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for stealing at least $175,000 from an association that raises funds from parent contributions and fundraisers to provide school-related services and activities to students. She used the money for personal purposes, including to qualify for a home mortgage loan.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Matthew R. Stohler, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Bridget Coates, 49, of Falls Church, Va., was the principal of St. Thomas More Catholic School in Southeast Washington at the time her criminal activity began, in 2012, until she resigned in 2018. She pleaded guilty on April 4, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of wire fraud. She was sentenced by the Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich. Following her prison term, Coates must complete three years of supervised release. She also must pay $175,000 in restitution to the Archdiocese of Washington and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to court documents, from June 2012 through December 2017, Coates devised a scheme to steal from the school’s Home School Association, an organization affiliated with the school that supported student services and activities. As the school principal, Coates had access to the Home School Association’s checks and could use her discretion to pay expenditures for only school-related purposes. Coates, however, betrayed the trust and authority placed in her and engaged in a pattern of purchasing personal goods and services with the funds. Over the time period, she wrote approximately 66 unauthorized checks and deposited at least $175,000 into her personal bank account. Among other things, she used the funds to purchase designer fashion from luxury brands and to help her qualify for a home-mortgage loan.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Stohler, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Nestler and Marco Crocetti, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.