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Tuesday 21 June 2022
Chicago Man Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Jarron Price, 29 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Price was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on May 7, 2020, law enforcement stopped a vehicle for driving recklessly and erratically through the streets of Hammond, Indiana. Price, who was a passenger in the vehicle possessed a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Price’s criminal history revealed he had previous felony convictions in Illinois for aggravated battery and armed violence, and as such, was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives/Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula.
This case was 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.
California man sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking, money launderingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Tuesday sentenced a man from California to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering.
Lester A. “Unc” Bull, 58, pleaded guilty in February to a drug conspiracy charge, money laundering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being involved in a conspiracy that brought at least 100 kilograms of marijuana to the St. Louis area.
Judge Clark on Tuesday found Bull’s claims that he was not involved in dealing other drugs “not credible,” and said in court that Bull was responsible for “massive amounts” of drugs, many of which are lethal. Judge Clark found Bull responsible for a total of 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl and 225 kilograms of marijuana.
The investigation began in 2016, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service began looking into a series of money orders that were bought in the St. Louis area to transport drug proceeds back to California. Bull was arrested on Oct. 9, 2020, after investigators watched one of Bull’s co-defendants leave a house in Ferguson with 445 grams of methamphetamine. When investigators tried to approach Bull, he ran away, jumped into a creek and was eventually found hiding in a dog house several blocks away. Investigators found $9,163, a shotgun, an AR-15 rifle, 40 packages containing methamphetamine and five bags of marijuana in the house, as well as items used to prepare and package drugs for sale.
More marijuana, a rifle, a handgun and drug records were seized three days later from the home where Bull stayed in St. Louis.
Four other defendants have also pleaded guilty in the case and two remain to be sentenced. Mario C. Thomas, 60, of St. Louis County, was sentenced to five years in prison in January. Lance L. Madkins, 42, of St. Charles, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison in April of 2021.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jamar Mills, 27, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that on July 7, 2021, at approximately 10:00 p.m., law enforcement officers encountered Mills in Salamanca, NY, and executed a search warrant of his vehicle and residence. Located in a bag Mills wore around his shoulder, officers found and seized a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a digital scale, and a flip phone. After being transported to the police station, officers located a quantity of cocaine, which Mills attempted to swallow.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of under the direction of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 27, 2022, before Judge Skretny.
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Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Girard Jackson, 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of June 19, 2021, law enforcement officers encountered Jackson on the 500 block of West State Street in Olean, NY, at which time they executed a search warrant of Jackson for firearms, narcotics, and U.S. currency. Located in a bag Jackson wore around his waist, officers found and seized a loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Wrapped around Jackson’s ankle, officers found quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of under the direction of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2022, before Judge Vilardo.
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Brookline Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of a United States Postal Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal violent crime laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Matthew Harrison , age 43, of the City’s Brookline neighborhood, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about May 28, 2022, Harrison attempted to murder and assaulted an employee of the United States – an on-duty letter carrier employed by the United States Postal Service - with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
The law provides for a sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Mt. Lebanon Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office conducted the joint investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Brockton Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Role in Violent Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Cape Cod.
Cody Goncalves, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 13 years in prison and four years of supervised release. In September 2021, Goncalves pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana; being a felon in possession of ammunition; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
“Cody Goncalves played a major role in running a drug trafficking operation that, for years, fueled violent crime in the community – plaguing the surrounding neighborhood with murder and gunfire,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Thanks to the collaborative and dogged work between our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, this dangerous drug hub has been shuttered. My office will continue to prioritize protecting our communities and cracking down on drug traffickers and violent offenders. To those who seek to make a living off peddling deadly drugs, let me be clear: you will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of federal law.”
“Cody Goncalves was part of the violent drug crew responsible for moving vast quantities of fentanyl and other deadly drugs throughout southeastern Massachusetts. While they turned a profit, people and their families were tormented by the forces of drug use and addiction,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations New England Field Office. “HSI is committed to dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking operations to stop the flow of drugs into New England. We’re proud to join our partners to announce today’s sentence.”
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals like Mr. Goncalves who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl and heroin,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Goncalves accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic with deadly drugs in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combating the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes this poison.”
In the fall of 2018, law enforcement began investigating a violent Brockton drug crew headed by Djuna Goncalves, Cody Goncalves’s brother. The investigation revealed that the Goncalves brothers worked with others to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations on Addison Avenue in Brockton. The investigation also targeted several Boston-based drug suppliers to the Goncalves brothers. Large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cash and a loaded firearm were seized from Cody Goncalves, who had previously been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and who had distributed drugs while on pre-trial release from a state drug charge.
In all, 17 defendants, including Cody Goncalves, were indicted as part of a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy, of whom 16 have now been sentenced. Djuna Goncalves has pleaded guilty to his roles in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, HSI SAC Millhollin, DEA SAC Boyle and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea E. Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Braintree Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy and Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Braintree man pleaded guilty on June 16, 2022 to trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing ammunition.
Martin Angomas, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 19, 2022.
Angomas was charged in July 2020 along with 24 others as part of “Operation Snowfall” – a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking activities by a drug trafficking organization (DTO) comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The investigation also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.
The investigation identified Angomas as a drug distributor and supplier. During intercepted communications between Angomas and co-defendant Hassan Monroe, a wholesale supplier and distributor within the DTO, Angomas coordinated providing Monroe with cocaine to be given to Kenji Drayton, one of the DTO’s principal suppliers and distributors. Angomas and Monroe were later observed meeting at an agreed-upon location, getting into a vehicle and driving to meet Drayton for the deal. They then left in separate vehicles.
During a search of Angomas’ residence in June 2020, ammunition, cocaine base (crack cocaine), two loaded firearms and over $360,000 were recovered. Angomas’ residence also contained an elaborate hide. At the time of the offense, Angomas had a prior conviction punishable by a more than one year in prison.
Angomas is the 13th defendant to plead guilty in the case. Seven of the defendants have been sentenced. Of the remaining defendants, three are pending trial and one defendant remains at large.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possessing ammunition as a convicted felon provides 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.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran, Chief of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bismarck, ND, Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Minor Female ChildrenRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – Interim United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Dawson Rouse, Age 23 of Bismarck, ND, to 30 years in federal prison for the charges of 15 counts of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Activity and six count of Receipt of Child Pornography. Judge Hovland also sentenced Rouse to 30 years of supervised release. Rouse was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000.00 to one of the child victims.
This case came to the attention of law enforcement after a concerned parent reported to the Bismarck Police Department that her adolescent-age daughter and her friend snuck out of the family residence in the middle of the night and met with an adult male, later identified as Dawson Rouse. An investigation revealed that Rouse had been communicating with hundreds of minor females he met through the social media platform, Snapchat. Rouse, after identifying as someone closer in age to them, coerced and enticed or attempted to coerce and entice 21 minor victims between the ages of twelve and sixteen years to either send Rouse sexually exploitive images and videos or to meet with him for unlawful sexual conduct. In many of the cases, Rouse harassed the minor victims to send him nude photographs or videos of themselves, after which Rouse harassed them to meet for the purpose of sexual activity. Several of the victims sent Rouse self-produced child pornography and six of the victims met with Rouse and engaged in sexual acts with him.
Following sentencing, Interim United States Attorney Jennifer K. Puhl said "this is an "every parent’s nightmare" type of case, one in which should serve as a warning about the real dangers that exist on many of the social media platforms used by children."
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and Bismarck Police Department.
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Birmingham Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man was sentenced last week for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
United States District Court Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala sentenced Darius Emale Craig Jr., 23, to 65 months in prison. Craig pleaded guilty to the charges in February.
According to the plea agreement, on July 13, 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit made two controlled purchases of drugs from Craig. On July 13, 2021, Craig sold 24.58 grams of methamphetamine for $400 near the Holiday Inn on Airport Road in Birmingham. On August 17, 2021, Craig sold 20.96 grams of methamphetamine for $450 at the Kangaroo gas station near Roebuck Parkway and Hwy 79.
“Methamphetamine is the greatest drug threat in Alabama due to its availability, risk from abuse, and contribution to violence and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Prosecution of traffickers will help to reduce that threat and improve the quality of life in our communities.”
“The FBI is committed to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those individuals or organizations that are distributing dangerous drugs, committing acts of violence, and fueling the addiction that destroys communities and families.” said FBI SAC Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
FBI investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Peoples and Darius Greene prosecuted the case.
Berkeley County man admits to fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brian Keith Rowland, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a fentanyl charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Rowland, 22, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Fentanyl.” Rowland admitted to selling fentanyl in January 2021 in Berkeley County.
Rowland 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. Attorney Timothy D. Helman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Visits Ukraine, Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Help Identify, Apprehend, and Prosecute Individuals Involved in War Crimes and AtrocitiesRead the Press Release
“There is no hiding place for war criminals. The U.S. Justice Department will pursue every avenue of accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.”
In a meeting with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland commended the efforts of the Ukrainian people to defend democracy and uphold the rule of law, and announced additional U.S. actions to help Ukraine identify, apprehend, and prosecute those individuals involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.
“The United States stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued aggression and assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Attorney General Garland. “America – and the world – has seen the many horrific images and read the heart-wrenching accounts of brutality and death that have resulted from Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine.”
Specifically, Attorney General Garland announced the launch of a War Crimes Accountability Team to centralize and strengthen the Justice Department’s ongoing work to hold accountable those who have committed war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. This initiative will bring together the Department’s leading experts in investigations involving human rights abuses and war crimes and other atrocities; and provide wide-ranging technical assistance, including operational assistance and advice regarding criminal prosecutions, evidence collection, forensics, and relevant legal analysis. The team will also play an integral role in the Department’s ongoing investigation of potential war crimes over which the U.S. possesses jurisdiction, such as the killing and wounding of U.S. journalists covering the unprovoked Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“There is no hiding place for war criminals. The U.S. Justice Department will pursue every avenue of accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine,” said Attorney General Garland. “Working alongside our domestic and international partners, the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable every person complicit in the commission of war crimes, torture, and other grave violations during the unprovoked conflict in Ukraine.”
To lead this effort, the Attorney General has tapped Eli Rosenbaum to serve as Counselor for War Crimes Accountability. Rosenbaum is a 36-year veteran of the Justice Department who previously served as Director of the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), which was primarily responsible for identifying, denaturalizing, and deporting Nazi war criminals. In his role as Counselor for War Crimes Accountability, Rosenbaum will coordinate efforts across the Justice Department and the federal government to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. Rosenbaum will be joined in his work by other prosecutors from the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), including Acting Section Chief Hope Olds and prosecutors Christian Levesque, Christina Giffin, and Courtney Urschel.
In addition, the Justice Department will provide additional personnel to expand its work with Ukraine and other partners to counter Russian illicit finance and sanctions evasion. Among other things, the Department will provide Ukraine an expert Justice Department prosecutor to advise on fighting kleptocracy, corruption, and money laundering. In addition, it plans to deploy two expert attorneys from the Office of International Affairs (OIA) – one to a U.S. Embassy in Europe, and another to a U.S. Embassy in the Middle East – in support of the Department’s KleptoCapture Task Force. These senior attorneys will work closely with their counterparts in EU member states and Middle Eastern countries to facilitate mutual legal assistance and extraditions relating to Russian illicit finance and sanctions evasion, including with respect to designated Russian oligarchs who have supported the Russian regime and its efforts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty.
Attorney General Garland announced the KleptoCapture Task Force in March to further leverage the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. Government in response to Russian military aggression. Since then, the task force has facilitated the seizure of superyachts of two sanctioned individuals with close ties to the Russian regime; dismantled Russian criminal networks; and enforced sanctions violations, among other actions.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter to Participate in OECD Competition Committee Meetings in Paris, FranceRead the Press Release
This week, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division is in Paris, France, to participate in meetings of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Competition Committee and its working parties.
Today, Assistant Attorney General Kanter chaired the working party on enforcement and cooperation with sessions devoted to interim measures, expanding cooperation, and revising an OECD Council Recommendation on Bid Rigging and Procurement. Later in the week, Assistant Attorney General Kanter will participate in the Competition Committee roundtable focused on Market Power in the Digital Economy.
The OECD Competition Committee includes 38 member countries and the European Union, as well as non-member participants, experts, and other invitees. The Committee brings together leaders of the world’s major competition authorities for a dialogue on competition policy issues, including best practices and standards, and promotes market-oriented reforms. Other roundtables scheduled for the meeting include:
- Competition and Regulation in the Provision of Local Transportation Services
- Purchasing Power and Buyers Cartels
- Disentangling Consummated Mergers – Experiences and Challenges
- Integrating Consumer Behavior Insights in Competition Enforcement
The United States and other OECD member submissions on these topics are available on the OECD Competition Committee’s website.
On June 20, Assistant Attorney General Kanter met with French Competition Authority Chair Benoit Coeuré in a public forum at the Authority’s headquarters. The two leaders discussed the Antitrust Division’s and French Competition Authority’s mutual interest in promoting competition in a fair, global marketplace, their current priorities, and building stronger transatlantic cooperation on antitrust enforcement. The video of the meeting is available at https://www.autoritedelaconcurrence.fr/en/article/watch-replay-our-echelle-event-us-french-perspectives-competition-policy.
Army veteran admits to sending death threatsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Brazoria County man has pleaded guilty to threatening employees at the Lake Jackson Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Mark Williams Jr. was a U.S. Army veteran receiving treatment at VA facilities. Today, he admitted to making a series of threatening statements via interstate communications.
Beginning in June 2021, Williams began sending threats towards the staff at various VA facilities. These included calls to the Lake Jackson VA Outpatient Clinic, White House VA Hotline and Veterans Crisis Line.
As part of his plea, he admitted that during a call on Oct. 25, 2021, he made repeated threats to kill employees at the Lake Jackson VA clinic.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. will impose sentencing Sept. 6. At that time, Williams faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pearson is prosecuting the case.
23-Year-Old Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Austin Martin, 23 has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession
of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.According to the information presented in court, on May 4, 2019, a Memphis Police officer saw a
vehicle doing donuts at the intersection of Knight Arnold and South Mendenhall. The driver then
drove towards the officer’s vehicle and crashed into a fire hydrant. Five males bailed out of the
vehicle, Martin got out of the driver’s door wearing a bright yellow vest and pointed a handgun at
the uniformed Memphis Police Officer. The officer drew his weapon but did not fire because there
was a bystander in the background. Martin fled and was apprehended minutes later with the gun still
in his pocket.On May 2, 2019, Martin robbed and shot two men in Midtown. Later that same day, Memphis
Police Investigators later matched Martin's gun to those two shootings. Both victims survived and
identified Martin as their shooter.Martin also pled guilty in state court to especially aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and
an unrelated aggravated arson. As a result of his prior convictions, Martin is
prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.On June 17, 2022, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Martin to 10 years’
incarceration to be followed by three years’ supervised release.This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The (PSN) initiative
is 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. In 2017, PSN was
reinvigorated 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.Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Monday 20 June 2022
Rochester, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Six Counts of Mortgage-Related Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –A Rochester, Illinois, man, Christopher Schaller, 48, of the 1500 block of Appalachian Trial was sentenced on June 9, 2022, to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for six counts of wire fraud resulting from a mortgage fraud scheme.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Schaller used his extensive knowledge of the mortgage industry and the trust placed in him by his employer, Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation (Diamond), as the manager of its Springfield, Illinois, office, to defraud others and to benefit himself.
Also at the hearing, United States District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found Schaller was in a position of trust, was acting in a supervisory position, and utilized sophisticated means to conduct the wire fraud. Schaller was ordered to pay $61,369.36 in restitution and was prohibited from working in a mortgage-related employment position while on supervised release unless given express permission by the Court. Judge Myerscough ordered that $32,811 in restitution be made payable to the Veterans Administration, with the rest owed to Diamond. Previously, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) had revoked Schaller’s mortgage loan originator license and fined him $128,000. In a related matter, IDFPR and Diamond entered into a consent order where Diamond agreed to pay $1,275,000 to settle all allegations.
Schaller was indicted in September 2019 and plead guilty in August 2020. After initially being placed on bond, Schaller’s bond was revoked, and he has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshal since June 10, 2021.
The statutory penalties for wire fraud are not more than 20 years in prison, not more than five years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
“The significant prison sentence imposed by Judge Myerscough shows that white-collar defendants who harm customers and steal from their employers and entities like the Veterans Administration will pay a stiff penalty for their actions,” said Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Quivey.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation prioritizes investigating sophisticated white collar crime schemes like the one used by Schaller,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “We are committed to dedicating our investigative resources to target fraud in its many forms to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner Jacobs and Sierra Senor-Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
Illinois Jury Convicts Colorado Woman of Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on June 16, 2022, against Monica Renee Wright, 38, of the 1600 block of Auburn Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Sentencing for Wright has been scheduled for October 10, 2022, at the U.S. Courthouse in Davenport, Iowa.
During three days of trial, beginning on June 13, the government presented evidence establishing that beginning in June 2016, Wright conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Illinois. The case began when the Drug Enforcement Administration seized approximately 58 grams of 90+% pure methamphetamine from Wright's coconspirator's residence in Illinois. Agents worked up the chain of distribution to identify the source of the methamphetamine as Wright.
After the guilty verdict, Wright was taken into the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service. At sentencing, she faces statutory penalties of ten years to life imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group (QCMEG); Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department; Scott County Sheriff’s Department; and Colorado Springs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyssa Raya and Jennifer Mathew represented the government at trial.
Erie Felon Sentenced to Four Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Erie, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 50 months in jail on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws in two separate cases, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Charles L. McIntosh, 28.
According to information presented to the court, in April 2019, McIntosh possessed two firearms while being a convicted felon. In addition, on or about April 22, 2021, McIntosh possessed three firearms while being a convicted felon and while on federal pretrial release in the 2019 case. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reductions 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 prevent and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McIntosh.
Saturday 18 June 2022
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Selected as Chair of the Attorney General's Subcommittee on Native American IssuesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United States Attorney Dena J. King has been selected to serve as Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) of U.S. Attorneys.
U.S. Attorney King will also serve on three additional AGAC Subcommittees: Civil Rights, Violent and Organized Crime, and LECC/Victim/Community Issues.
Since 1973, the AGAC has been advising the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and represents the views of federal prosecutors across the country.
The Native American Issues Subcommittee (NAIS) is the longest standing subcommittee on the AGAC. The NAIS consists of U.S. Attorneys from across the United States serving in districts that include Indian Country or one or more federally recognized tribes. The NAIS focuses exclusively on Indian Country matters, and it is tasked with helping to develop, shape, and implement recommendations on public safety and legal issues affecting Tribal communities. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is the largest federally recognized Indian Tribe east of the Mississippi River and it is located within Western North Carolina.
“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Native American Issues, the oldest subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee,” said U.S. Attorney King. “I am looking forward to collaborating with my U.S. Attorney colleagues from across the country to provide vital guidance to the Department on important issues impacting Indian Country and how we can best serve Tribal communities."
Two Additional Defendants Indicted in Case Involving El Hipopótamo RestaurantRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On June 16, 2022, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a four-count, second superseding indictment against six defendants for conspiracy to rob El Hipopótamo restaurant on October 31, 2021, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Four of the defendants had been previously indicted for armed carjacking and kidnapping, which resulted in the death of J.F.P. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
The second superseding indictment charges Basilio Matías-Fajardo, an employee of the El Hipopótamo restaurant, and Edwin Peña-Valdez with conspiring to rob El Hipopótamo restaurant, together with Geofley Jomar-Pérez, Luis Aulet-Maldonado, Luis Cabán-Nieves, and José Jomar Santos-Mercado.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Linet Suárez of the Violent Crime Division is in charge of the prosecution of the case. For the additional count in the second superseding indictment, the defendants face a possible sentence of 20 years in prison. The remaining counts have a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Friday 17 June 2022
Zachary Hood Sentenced to 18 Months' Imprisonment for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On June 16, 2022, the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, sentenced Zachary Hood, 36, currently of Alpharetta, Georgia, to 18 months’ imprisonment for cyberstalking, and Hood was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.
As part of a plea agreement filed with the court, Hood waived indictment by a Federal Grand Jury and pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging him with one count of cyberstalking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A. Following his imprisonment, Hood will be on supervised release for three years.
According to the filed plea agreement, in October 2017, Hood created a Facebook account using the name and likeness of a female victim whose identity is being withheld for privacy reasons. Hood then distributed intimate photographs of the victim to the victim’s friends and family. For example, while claiming to be the victim, Hood sent photos featuring the victim’s breasts and buttocks to a friend of the victim’s husband, asking if the friend liked those photos. Hood also contacted the victim’s husband directly, sending the husband nude photographs of the victim and making lewd and sexually suggestive comments about the victim’s appearance. Hood also contacted eight other women, sending each woman intimate photographs of herself, sometimes accompanied by Hood’s own commentary.
This prosecution is the result of a joint effort between the United States Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation offices in the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of Tennessee.
“Cyberstalking is a serious crime that can inflict lasting harm on its victims,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to combat the growing trend of digital harassment. As this sentence demonstrates, those who go online to threaten, intimidate, or harass others face real-world consequences, including federal prison time. Cyberstalking simply has no place in today’s society.”
“This kind of behavior is not a prank, it's disruptive to the victims and their families, and those who think they can hide behind the anonymity of the Internet should think again,” said Joseph E. Carrico, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI Knoxville Office. “The FBI along with our local, state, and federal partners stand steadfast in our resolve to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who commit these horrendous personal acts.”
“The internet can seem like a modern day Wild West, where criminals roam free and are not held accountable for committing crimes,” said Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll for the FBI New York Office. “Setting up a fake Facebook account and sending intimate photos of someone to their friends without their consent is illegal, and now Mr. Hood has to answer for his actions. Many people don’t report these types of crimes because they don’t think anything will be done to the perpetrator. We hope this case proves when people break federal laws they will face federal justice.”
Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Wilson, the District’s Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Crimes Coordinator, represented the United States in court.
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Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pled guilty today.
Marsha C. Dismukes, age 54, from Ford Heights, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base.
In a plea agreement, Dismukes admitted to engaging in a drug-related conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine in Cedar Rapids. In 2020, Dismukes set up a transaction involving heroin and fentanyl. Dismukes later distributed heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Dismukes was taken into custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Dismukes faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $2 million, and a minimum of six years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-CR-00068-CJW.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Williamsport Man Sentenced to 192 Months’ Imprisonment on Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joel Kiessling, age 55, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 192 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann, for child exploitation offenses.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, Kiessling previously entered a guilty plea in November 2018, to attempting to entice a minor to travel for sexual purposes and possession of child pornography. Kiessling was in contact with multiple underage females and was attempting to have them travel to Pennsylvania from out of state to have sex with him.
Based on Kiessling’s prior offenses, Chief Judge Brann found that Kiessling was fully aware of the potential consequences of his actions yet remained undeterred.
The case was investigated by the Williamsport Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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Whitehall man sentenced to more than seven years in prison for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Whitehall man who admitted to downloading child pornography for approximately six years was sentenced on June 16 to seven years and two months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Tyler D. Pinnt, 35, pleaded guilty in February to an information charging him with receipt of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also ordered a total of $6,000 restitution to two victims. Chief Judge Morris ordered Pinnt to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons.
The government alleged in court documents that Pinnt received child pornography from about March 2015 to July 2021. The Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was investigating Pinnt for online crimes against children and on July 13, 2021, served a search warrant on his residence near Whitehall. Agents seized several computers and cellular phones and conducted a forensic examination of the devices. At the time of the search, Pinnt admitted in an interview that he found child pornography online and that agents would locate child pornography on his laptop and desktop computers. Investigators located child pornography images and videos on Pinnt’s two phones and his computers and determined that Pinnt had downloaded the material between March 2015 and July 2021.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Helena Police Department and Seattle (Washington) Police Department Human Trafficking Unit.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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Westmoreland County Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to distributing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors and has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to 5 years’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release.
Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Matthew T. Buchinsky, age 36, of New Alexandria, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court during the guilty plea hearing, from May 1, 2016, through May 11, 2016, Buchinsky distributed videos and sill images which depicted the sexual exploitation of a minors to other individuals using the Kik instant messaging software application. Additionally, on November 10, 2016, pursuant to a search warrant executed on his home, Buchinsky was found to be in possession of more than 8,000 videos and images which depicted the sexual exploitation minors, including those depicting infants and toddlers.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Conti emphasized the dangerous nature of Buchinsky’s conduct and stated that she hoped that he would take advantage of sex offender treatment while incarcerated. Judge Conti further ordered Buchinsky to pay restitution to victims requesting payment of such, in amounts to be determined by the court within 90 days of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Department of Homeland Security/homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Buchinsky.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
West Barnstable Woman Sentenced for Stealing Opioids from Veterinary OfficeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Barnstable woman was sentenced on June 15, 2022 in federal court in Boston in connection with stealing hydrocodone, an opioid and Schedule II controlled substance, from the veterinary office where she worked.
Melissa Paradise, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to time served (approximately one day in prison) and one year of supervised release. On Feb. 10, 2022, Paradise pleaded guilty to six counts of acquiring a controlled substance using a registration number assigned to another person and eight counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge.
In late 2018 and 2019, federal investigators noted that an unusually large amount of hydrocodone had been ordered by the veterinary office. In June 2019, the investigators conducted an audit at the animal hospital during which Paradise was identified as the office manager responsible for record keeping regarding prescriptions.
Upon her arrival at the office on the day of the audit, Paradise admitted to investigators that she used the DEA registration number assigned to a veterinarian in the practice without the veterinarian’s knowledge or consent to order controlled substances which she then stole for her personal use. Paradise also admitted that she forged the signature of a second veterinarian on other prescription documents and diverted those drugs for her own use. The second veterinarian later confirmed that the signature on the documents was forged.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Barnstable Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Warren County Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Role in Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Warren County has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months in jail on his conviction of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Cody Tobias Greeley, 25, of Tidioute, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, from in and around June 2018, to on or about February 28, 2020, Greeley conspired with his co-defendants to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five hundred grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine as they participated in a methamphetamine distribution network that trafficked methamphetamine from Akron, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania into Crawford, Venango and Warren Counties.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop E, Vice Unit, the Titusville Police Department, the Warren County Drug Task Force, the Warren County Sherriff’s Office and the Crawford County Sherriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Greeley.
U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins Selected as Vice-Chair of the Attorney General’s National Advisory Subcommittee on Civil RightsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins for the District of Massachusetts has been selected to serve as Vice-Chair of the Civil Rights Subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC).
“I am honored to have been asked to serve as Vice-Chair of the Civil Rights Subcommittee. It is my sincere hope that we seize this moment in history to facilitate meaningful dialogue and action to combat the uptick in hate-based violence. Civil rights are at the forefront of so many of the issues dividing our nation today. Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Brown, we will provide guidance to the Department of Justice. Our goal is to fulfill the promise of equality for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Rollins.
United States Attorney Nick Brown for the Western District of Washington has been selected to serve as Chair the Civil Rights Subcommittee. The Subcommittee will play an important role in advising the AGAC on civil rights matters of importance to the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices across the country.
“I am gratified that my colleagues and Attorney General Garland selected me for this important role,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “The Department of Justice came into being to protect civil rights, and I look forward to helping shape our focus. There are a number of important issues for the Department to address, including the rise in hate crimes, ensuring voting rights, and developing strategies to ensure accountability and trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee was established nearly 50 years ago by Attorney General Elliott Richardson. The Committee’s purpose is to give United States Attorneys a voice in Department policies and to advise the Attorney General of the United States.
U.S. Attorney Parker affirms commitment to uphold civil rights of Ohioans in Southern DistrictRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker announced today the creation of a civil rights referral initiative for the Southern District of Ohio.
Members of the public may now report potential civil rights violations directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A referral form is now available at the office’s main website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh.
“My office – in coordination with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice – is charged with enforcing federal civil rights laws throughout the Southern District of Ohio,” U.S. Attorney Parker said. “We are strongly committed to upholding the civil rights of the residents of our District. We welcome any information from the public that brings to our attention possible violations of our Nation’s civil rights laws.”
Potential civil rights violations may involve topics such as access to reproductive health, disability rights, hate crimes, housing discrimination (including sexual harassment by landlords, property managers or other housing providers), voting rights, law enforcement misconduct, and religious liberties.
“Hate and discrimination have never had a place in our society. They have no place today,” added U.S. Attorney Parker. “People should be able to practice their faith and worship, go grocery shopping, vote, find housing, and celebrate their heritage without any worry of instances of hate or discrimination being committed toward them.”
Mr. Parker noted that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is primarily a litigating office and not an investigative agency. Information provided on the civil rights referrals may be forwarded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to the appropriate law enforcement or administrative agency.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa Taiwo (Criminal Division) and Michael Downey (Civil Division) will serve as the points of contact for this initiative. Inquiries can be sent to [email protected].
To view the referral form, visit: /media/1227446/dl?inline.
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U.S. Attorney Nick Brown to lead Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil RightsRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Nick Brown for the Western District of Washington has been selected to lead the Civil Rights Subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the Civil Rights Subcommittee, U.S. Attorney Brown will play a key role in advising the AGAC on civil rights matters of importance to the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.
“I am gratified that my colleagues and Attorney General Garland selected me for this important role,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “The Department of Justice came into being to protect civil rights, and I look forward to helping shape our focus. There are a number of important issues for the Department to address, including the rise in hate crimes, ensuring voting rights, and developing strategies to ensure accountability and trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”
U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins of the District of Massachusetts will serve as Vice-Chair of the Civil Rights Subcommittee.
“I am honored to have been asked to serve as Vice-Chair of the Civil Right Subcommittee. It is my sincere hope that we seize this moment in history to facilitate meaningful dialogue and action to combat the uptick in hate-based violence. Civil rights are at the forefront of so many of the issues dividing our nation today. Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Brown, we will provide guidance to the Department of Justice. Our goal is to fulfill the promise of equality for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee was established nearly 50 years ago by Attorney General Elliott Richardson. The Committee's purpose is to give United States Attorneys a voice in Department policies and to advise the Attorney General of the United States.
Two Predators Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Four Children They met on Social Media PlatformsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Thomas James Israel, 46, of Ft. Wayne, and Max Schafer, 31, of Brownsburg, were each sentenced to federal prison for their role in exploiting four children between October 2019 and August 2020. One of the victims was exploited by both Israel and Schafer during separate incidents. Israel previously pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child sexual abuse material. On November 15, 2021, Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Israel to twenty-five years in federal prison. Late yesterday, Schafer pleaded guilty to receipt of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child sexual abuse material. District Judge James R. Sweeney II sentenced Schafer to over fourteen years (175 months) in federal prison.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and June 2020, Israel met his first minor victim, who was 14, using online applications such as Omegle and Meetme. Using Snapchat and Kik, Israel persuaded this victim to meet with him in person, then forced the victim into sadomasochistic sexual abuse, including forceful oral sex and assault. Israel recorded the sexual abuse on his mobile phone and later sent the video to the victim.
Israel met a second minor victim using Snapchat and persuaded the victim to send him explicit videos and photos of herself. When this victim was between 14 and 16 years old, she sent her minor boyfriend sexually explicit images and videos of herself. Without her consent, the boyfriend disseminated the images and videos over the internet. Israel downloaded those images and videos onto his online storage account and viewed them for a sexual purpose.
Israel met his third minor victim, who was between 14 and 16 years’ old, over Omegle. Knowing that the victim suffered from mental health issues, Israel induced her to produce child sex abuse material, and to sell the images and videos to others online. Israel took a percentage of the fees and paid the victim by sending her gift cards from Victoria’s Secret.
According to court documents, Schafer also met Israel’s first minor victim using Omegle. Knowing that the minor victim was only fourteen years old, Schafer met and engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the victim. Schafer also persuaded the victim to send him the video that Israel produced, depicting Israel’s violent sexual abuse of the child.
Schafer also met his second minor victim, who was 16, using Omegle and Snapchat. Schafer persuaded this girl to send him sexually explicit images and videos of herself for his sexual purpose.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also provided valuable assistance. As part of Israel’s sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that he be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from prison and pay $16,000 in restitution to the victims. As part of Schafer’s sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that he be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 40 years following his release from prison and pay $6,000 in restitution to the victims. Both Israel and Schafer must also register as sex offenders wherever they live, work, or go to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston who prosecuted this case.
In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Two Plead Guilty in Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Worcester residents have pleaded guilty to their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and heroin. The defendants pleaded guilty on the morning of June 13, 2022, upon commencing jury selection for their previously scheduled trial.
Cintia Franco, 34, and Amauris Antonio Rosario Garcia, a/k/a “Animal,” 39, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl; conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin; and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Garcia also pleaded guilty to distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 19, 2022. Franco and Garcia were charged in October 2019 along with co-conspirators John Robles and Jector Torres.
“The defendants engaged in a conspiracy to distribute deadly drugs, many of which disguised as pharmaceutical-grade prescription pills, into the Worcester community and profit off of people’s pain and suffering,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “The opioid epidemic is still raging. Every day, fentanyl takes countless lives and causes irreversible destruction and harm in our communities across the Commonwealth and the country. Drug traffickers will be prosecuted and removed from our communities. This is a priority in my administration.”
In early 2019, Robles was identified by investigators selling purported oxycodone pills, which were later determined to be counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, at Albino’s Market in Worcester. Intercepted communications from Robles’ phone identified that Garcia was the supply source and that Garcia was distributing pills through Robles and Torres. The investigation also revealed that Garcia and Franco were distributing heroin, fentanyl pills and powdered fentanyl directly to users in Worcester.
Robles and Torres previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 27, 2022 and Oct. 17, 2022, respectively.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. All other charges each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Noto and Danial E. Bennett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Two Florida Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Violently Attacking a Black Man While Shouting Racial SlursRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Ocala, Florida, has charged two Florida men with committing a hate crime. The indictment charging Roy Lashley, 55, and Robert Lashley, 52, was unsealed today following the arrest of Robert Lashley.
The indictment alleges that on or about Nov. 17, 2021, the defendants, aiding and abetting one another, willfully caused bodily injury to the victim, a Black man, because of his actual and perceived race. According to the indictment, the defendants repeatedly called the victim racial slurs and repeatedly struck the victim with closed fists and an axe handle.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Florida Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Attacking a Black Man While Shouting Racial SlursRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL - A federal grand jury in Ocala, Florida has charged two Florida men with committing a hate crime. The indictment charging Roy Lashley, 55, and Robert Lashley, 52 was unsealed today following the arrest of Robert Lashley.
The indictment alleges that on or about Nov. 17, 2021, the defendants, aiding and abetting one another, willfully caused bodily injury to the victim, a Black man, because of his actual and perceived race. According to the indictment, the defendants repeatedly called the victim racial slurs and repeatedly struck the victim with closed fists and an axe handle.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Additional South Florida Residents Charged in Elaborate Prescription Medication Diversion SchemeRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Federal prosecutors in Miami have charged two additional men, 51-year-old Lazaro Hernandez and 37-year-old Eladio Vega, for their alleged roles in a widespread fraud scheme involving the distribution of adulterated and misbranded cancer, HIV, psychiatric, and other expensive prescription medications to unsuspecting patients. The third superseding indictment unsealed today brings the number of defendants charged in this case (19-cr-20674) to 15.
According to the indictment and other documents filed in the case, Hernandez and Vega were part of a prescription medication diversion fraud scheme that worked as follows: The operation involved a division of labor, in which street-level dealers supplied medicines to participants who inspected, cleaned, and packaged the drugs for shipment to others with established pharmaceutical wholesale companies. The wholesale company owners prepared fraudulent documentation, falsely representing that legitimate drug manufacturers had provided the medications to them. In fact, the suppliers had acquired the drugs through health care fraud, theft or burglary, or buying the medications from patients who obtained prescriptions but chose to sell them rather than take their medicines. With the false documentation, the company owners then sold the newly misbranded medications to retail pharmacies. In turn, the retail pharmacies sold the medications to patients who knew nothing about the real source of the drugs, which had been stored and transported with no regard to temperature, light, humidity, or other maintenance controls.
In order to conceal the nature of their criminal enterprise and the identities of those profiting from it, conspirators routed money obtained from sales of the mislabeled and adulterated drugs through the bank accounts of multiple shell companies, according to the court documents.
According to the indictment, Hernandez and Vega acquired and supplied to their co-conspirators the medications that were later misbranded and sold to unknowing patients. The indictment charges Hernandez and Vega with conspiracy to distribute misbranded and adulterated drugs, conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of mail fraud. It also charges Hernandez with two counts of money laundering.
To date, eight of the 15 defendants charged in this case have entered guilty pleas.
Hernandez is also charged in a separate case in the Southern District of Florida involving prescription medication diversion: U.S. v. Hernandez, Case No. 22-cr-60129. Hernandez made his initial court appearance in both cases today in federal magistrate court in Miami.
U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of FBI Miami; and Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Tamen is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 19-cr-20674.
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Tigard Man Faces Federal Charges for Threatening Mass Shooting at Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an indictment charging a Tigard, Oregon man with threatening a mass shooting at a local elementary school.
Brandon Richard Riess, 26, has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2022, Riess submitted to a federal agency multiple electronic messages threatening a mass shooting at a Portland area elementary school. On May 16, 2022, law enforcement arrested Riess at his apartment in Tigard. Prior to his arrest, Riess admitted to sending the threatening messages and owning a pistol that was taken away several years earlier by his parents.
Riess made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a three-day jury trial scheduled to begin on August 16. 2022.
If convicted, Riess faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Riess also faces six counts of disorderly conduct in Washington County Circuit Court.
Administrators and parents of the affected elementary school have been notified of Riess’s arrest. No known active threat exists.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sherwood Police Department, and Washington County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information about real or perceived threats of violence should call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. For immediate threats to life and safety, please call 9-1-1.
Third Defendant Sentenced in Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Moises Amezcua-Cardenas, 21, Schofield, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a money laundering conspiracy. Amezcua-Cardenas pleaded guilty to the offense on February 24, 2022. Because the defendant had already served that much time in custody, the sentence was considered served.
In November and December 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with local law enforcement, investigated a series of thefts by fraud involving individuals who used false pretenses to convince employees of businesses to collect and deliver the businesses’ cash-on-hand to individuals who were supposedly legitimate money couriers. Businesses large and small were targeted in the scheme and the loss to date is approximately $300,000.
Moises Amezcua-Cardenas was one of the individuals that picked up money from employee victims under the false pretenses that he was a legitimate money courier acting on behalf of the victim businesses. He also conducted wire transactions to redirect fraud proceeds back to perpetrators in Mexico. He and his co-defendant, Mario Amezcua-Cardenas, also transported $242,980 in fraud proceeds to another co-defendant Sinval De Oliveira in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 2, 2020.
Co-defendant Mario Amezcua-Cardenas, who is Moises Amezcua-Cardenas’s brother, was sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison on May 18, 2022. Co-defendant Sinval De Oliveira was sentenced to 5 years on June 8, 2022. All defendants were ordered to pay restitution.
The charges against the defendants were the result of investigations conducted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Merrill Police Department, Wausau Police Department, Everest Metropolitan Police Department, West Allis Police Department, Stevens Point Police Department, and Marathon County Sheriff’s Dept. with special assistance from the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin prosecuted this case.
Tax Return Preparer Charged with Tax Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a 22-count indictment charging KEYANTE PAUL, 33, of, Florida, with tax fraud offenses.
The indictment was returned on June 15, 2022. Paul was arrested yesterday in Florida. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Irick in Orlando and was released on bond. Her arraignment in the District of Connecticut is scheduled for June 30.
As alleged in the indictment, Paul, through her business Keys Tax Services, operated as a tax return preparer, and she traveled to Connecticut for part of the year to prepare returns for Connecticut clients. For the 2015 through 2018 tax years, Paul prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients that included false income “adjustments” that reduced taxpayers’ reported adjusted gross income, false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses that clients did not operate, and, in at least one instance, false charitable contributions.
The indictment charges Paul with 22 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Laraia and Lauren C. Clark.
Tampa Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Malachi Deloch (23, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Deloch faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 7, 2022, Deloch, a convicted felon, possessed multiple firearms, including a Springfield XD 9mm with extended magazine. Deloch was seen openly carrying the firearm in a residential area of Tampa, he later fled from officers with the Tampa Police Department who had arrived on the scene.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.
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.
Syracuse Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ameer McCullars, age 27, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 46-months in prison following his conviction for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
McCullars admitted that from July to September 2019, he conspired with others to distribute what the Court determined to be approximately 216 grams of powder cocaine and 28 grams of crack cocaine in Onondaga County. Senior United States District Judge Frederick Scullin also sentenced McCullars to a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment, and ordered him to pay a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $12,800.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-Syracuse Resident Office, which includes Task Force Officers from the City of Auburn Police Department, the City of Syracuse Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Other agencies that assisted in this investigation included the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
St. Petersburg Armed Career Criminal Found Guilty of Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Aunyis Cherry (27, St. Petersburg), an Armed Career Criminal, guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as convicted felon. Cherry faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Cherry had been indicted on May 27, 2021.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Cherry drove a vehicle with a counterfeit license plate in the area of 14th Street South in St. Petersburg. A uniformed detective from the St. Petersburg Police Department arrived to conduct a stop. Cherry fled from the car but was apprehended. The vehicle’s owner couldn’t be determined, and an inventory search revealed a fully loaded FN Herstal pistol. The jury heard testimony that Cherry’s DNA was located in three places on the firearm, including the handle and trigger. As a previously convicted felon, Cherry is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Gordon and Craig Gestring. The trial was conducted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Beckman and Jim Preston.
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.
St. Louis woman admits $291,000 pandemic loan fraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis on Friday admitted fraudulently obtaining a $291,000 loan meant to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Porshia L. Thomas, 31, pleaded guilty to a felony bank fraud charge and admitted that between April and September of 2020, she executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain a Paycheck Protection Program loan.
Thomas registered a company called Couture Trading Inc. in Montana on April 7, 2020. On July 15, 2020, she applied for a PPP loan by making a series of false claims. She claimed the company had a Beverly Hills address, had been in operation for five months, had 15 employees, had an average monthly payroll of $120,000 and that the loan would be used on expenses permitted under the program, including payroll and mortgage, lease and utility payments.
The company had few, if any, employees or payroll expenses.
Thomas also submitted Internal Revenue Service forms listing false information about employees and wages, bogus Wells Fargo bank statements and a fake letter from a Wells Fargo branch manager verifying that Couture Trading had an account.
On Sept. 8, 2020, Couture Trading received $291,600.
Thomas used some of the loan for a 2018 Audi S5 Sportback Quattro, paid someone whose name was listed in company documentation $75,000, and used more for living expenses and for purchases at Neiman Marcus, Ulta Beauty, Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret.
Thomas is scheduled to sentenced on September 21. She will be ordered to repay any of the money that has not been recovered.
“Law abiding citizens are frustrated with those who lie and cheat to get access to money not intended for them,” said Charles Miller, assistant special agent in charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis field office. "Anyone engaging in this type of financial fraud should be put on notice. They will not go undetected and will be held accountable.”
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
To report suspected pandemic fraud, go to the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud or call the Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721.
Springfield Man Charged as a Drug User in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Paul Lachapelle Jr., 26, of Springfield, Vermont, appeared today in federal court on charges that on May 30, 2022, he possessed a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Lachapelle pleaded not guilty at his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle and was detained pending further proceedings in the case.
According to court records, on May 30, 2022, Springfield Police responded to a residence to address a possible burglary in progress by an individual with a handgun holstered to his hip. Springfield Police encountered Lachapelle outside the residence and learned information indicating that Lachapelle threw a handgun into a tall grassy area nearby. Springfield Police searched that area and recovered a .22 caliber revolver with a holster. According to the complaint affidavit, Lachapelle has been an unlawful user of and addicted to controlled substances dating back to September 2021 and continuing into May of 2022.
The charge in the complaint is an accusation only, and Lachapelle is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted of the charged offense, Lachapelle could face up to ten years in prison along with a period of federal supervised release that could include requirements for substance abuse treatment. Any sentence would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and consideration of Lachapelle’s personal history and characteristics.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Vermont State Police, the Springfield Police Department, the Chester Police Department and the Ludlow Police Department. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Perella and Zachary Stendig. Lachapelle is represented by Michael Straub of Straub Law Offices.
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. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn for more information.
South Carolina Woman Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison for Stealing over $780,000 in Medicare and Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Hanahan, South Carolina, woman was sentenced to 28 months in prison for defrauding the government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Social Security and Medicare benefits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Martha Aguilar, 60, formerly of Middletown, New Jersey, and Allentown, Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to Count Three of a superseding indictment charging her with Social Security Fraud. Chief Judge Wolfson imposed the sentence by videoconference on June 15, 2022.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From November 2004 to September 2016, Aguilar collected $136,879 in Social Security benefits and $644,605 in Medicare benefits that she was not entitled to receive. Aguilar indicated on forms to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she was completely disabled and unable to work, but continued working as a paralegal. Aguilar also fraudulently applied for and received temporary disability from the state of New Jersey totaling $13,622, and unemployment benefits from the state of New Jersey totaling $103,738, which she concealed from the SSA. In all, Aguilar fraudulently failed to report to SSA $488,870 in benefits and income.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wolfson sentenced Aguilar to two years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $781,484.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott; the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Region, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent in Charge Debbi Mayer; and N.J. Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Division of Fraud Prevention & Risk Management-Special Investigations Unit, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Meriah Russell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Sex Offender Sentenced in South Florida to over 29 Years for Attempting to Sexually Entice MinorRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A federal district judge in Fort Pierce, Florida this week sentenced a 47-year-old Orlando man to 355 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to sexually entice a minor and committing an offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender.
In August 2021, Joseph Furey Lusk engaged in sexually explicit chats with someone in Martin County, Florida he believed was 15 years old. During weeks of sexually explicit chats, Lusk encouraged her to send him nude images and videos of herself and friends engaged in sexual activity. In addition, Lusk sent several photographs of his erect penis through text messages. Lusk’s attempt to entice occurred less than one month after his release from state custody on a 2018 Florida state conviction for traveling to meet a minor – a conviction that required him to register as a sex offender.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office announced the sentence that U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed.
HSI Miami (Fort Pierce office) investigated the case, with assistance from Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Bergstrom is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions 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.
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-14036.
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Rutland Man Imprisoned Following Guilty Plea to String of Convenience Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Joey Miles Sherwood, 31, of Rutland, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to 38 months’ imprisonment following his guilty plea to a charge that he robbed the Cumberland Farms convenience store in Wallingford, Vermont last August. As part of his plea agreement, Sherwood admitted to committing three additional convenience store robberies last August: the robbery of the Maplefields convenience store in Pittsford, the robbery of the Union Street Grocery in Brandon, and the attempted robbery of the Maplefields convenience store in Shoreham. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered that Sherwood serve 3 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term and pay restitution in the amount of $746. Sherwood has been detained since he first appeared in federal court last September.
According to court records, Sherwood’s prosecution and conviction stemmed from an investigation into several convenience store robberies occurring in Rutland and Addison Counties during the months of July and August 2021. Additionally, according to court records, during each of the robberies to which Sherwood admitted, Sherwood entered the store, retrieved a beverage from a cooler, and approached the cashier. As the cashier rang up the sale, Sherwood demanded money and brandished a knife in the direction of the cashier. On August 30, 2021, Sherwood was arrested in Rutland. On September 2, 2021, a federal grand jury in Burlington returned an indictment charging Sherwood with the robbery of the Wallingford Cumberland Farms. In February of this year, Sherwood pleaded guilty to the Wallingford robbery and admitted to committing the Pittsford, Brandon, and Shoreham robberies.
United States Attorney Nikolas Kerest commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont State Police, and the coordination and assistance provided by the Brandon Police Department, the Middlebury Police Department, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department. U.S. Attorney Kerest stated, “This case exemplifies the type of important investigative and collaborative work that Vermont’s federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies do every day. Their collaborative efforts allow our office to prosecute individuals such as Joey Sherwood, whose actions sow unacceptable levels of fear and disorder in Vermont communities.”
Sherwood is represented by Assistant Federal Defender Sara Puls. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ang.
Rocky Mount Robber Sentenced to 92 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Jesse Lamont Jenkins was sentenced this week in federal court to 92 months’ imprisonment for his role in an armed robbery of an ABC store located on Westwood Drive in Rocky Mount, NC.
Jenkins pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery on December 14, 2021.
“Hardworking people should never be threatened at gunpoint for simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Easley. “We are committed to keeping Rocky Mount a safe place to work and raise a family – and we will keep partnering with local law enforcement to take violent career criminals off the streets of Eastern North Carolina.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on August 10, 2019, Jenkins, 30 years old, and Eric Montrell Mobley, entered the ABC store located on Westwood Drive in Rocky Mount. The robbers brandished a firearm demanding money and threatened to “smoke” the employees if they did not comply with their requests. Jenkins and Mobley took $3, 316.72 and fled the store. Jenkins and Mobley were later arrested. Mobley is scheduled for sentencing in July.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rocky Mount Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane J. Jackson prosecuted the case.
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.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00290-FL-2.
Registered Nurse Pleads Guilty in Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card FraudRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A registered nurse from the Veteran’s Hospital in Detroit, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges related to Covid-19 Vaccination Record Cards fraud, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) – Chicago Region.
Pleading guilty was Bethann Kierczak, 37, of Southgate. The plea took place before United States District Judge David M. Lawson. Kierczak pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.
According to court records, Kierczak admitted to stealing or embezzling authentic Covid-19 Vaccination Record Cards from the VA hospital—along with vaccine lot numbers necessary to make the cards appear legitimate—and then reselling those cards and information to individuals within the metro Detroit community. Kierczak’s theft of Covid-19 Vaccination Record Cards began at least as early as May 2021 and continued through September 2021. Kierczak sold the cards for $150-$200 each and communicated with buyers primarily via Facebook Messenger.
“The defendant abused her position of trust as a medical provider to line her own pockets and sell fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “My office is committed to protecting the citizens of Michigan from individuals who used the global pandemic as an opportunity to commit fraud as evidenced by this case and many other prosecutions we have brought against those that have used this national crisis as an opportunity to commit crimes.”
“Stealing and selling fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards threatens the safety of VA medical center patients and employees as well as the general public,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office.
“For personal enrichment, this nurse committed fraud using COVID-19 vaccination record cards, which undermined public health measures during the pandemic and violated the all-important trust the public extends to healthcare professionals,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agency will continue to investigate those who recklessly and intentionally disregard efforts to protect the health of those in our country.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Particka. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), VA Police Detroit and the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF) partners, a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and U.S. Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
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.
Pittsburgh Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine and Shooting an ATF Special Response Team Member Executing an Arrest Warrant at His ResidenceRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, and to having assaulted a federal agent with a dangerous weapon, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Dion Williams, 46, formerly of Marion Street, Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that beginning in 2019, agents with the FBI and other agencies investigated drug trafficking activity in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood, and elsewhere. As part of that investigation, agents conducted court-authorized interceptions of telephonic communications over two telephones used by a codefendant between February 2020 through May 2020. During this period, agents intercepted Williams communicating regarding the purchase and redistribution of cocaine. In connection with his guilty plea, Williams admitted that the amount of cocaine that was attributable to him, through his conduct and through the foreseeable conduct of co-conspirators, was between 500 grams and 2 kilograms.
The court was also informed that on June 18, 2020, an ATF Special Response Team (“SRT”) arrived at Williams’ residence to execute search warrants on the building and to arrest Williams on the indictment charging Williams with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. After the SRT operators loudly and repeatedly announced themselves, including through the PA system of an ATF SRT vehicle, one of the ATF agents on the SRT team rammed open a door to the structure. The door swung back shut, and the agent had to try breach it again. After the agent breached the door the second time, Williams, who was inside the building, shot the SRT operator one time through the shoulder. Fortunately, the operator was quickly taken to a hospital and was not permanently injured. After Williams shot the agent, he apparently disassembled the firearm and hid different components of it in the residence; the disassembled firearm was later found underneath the basement steps of the residence, while the magazine and ammunition were recovered hidden in a false ceiling on the second floor. Williams did not immediately surrender but rather, was taken into custody, without further incident, several minutes after the shooting.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for October 27, 2022, at 1:30 PM. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years up to life in prison, a fine of $8,500,000, or both.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Williams remain detained in the custody of the United States Marshals.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome Moschetta and Doug Maloney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The narcotics investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which led the multi-agency investigation that included the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (Bureau of Narcotics Investigations), the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. That 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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation that led to the prosecution of Williams for his involvement in the
shooting of the ATF agent.Pittsburgh Felon Indicted on Illegal Ammunition Possession ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment, returned on June 17, 2022, and unsealed today, named Melvin Bowles, 27, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about March 27, 2022, Bowles knowingly possessed ammunition as a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne M. Saadi is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a Minor on Backpage.comRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Rodney Kent a/k/a “Hott Rodd”, a/k/a “Hott,” 50, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted at trial of sex trafficking, arising from his forcible coercion of a minor to engage in prostitution.
In September 2018, Kent was charged by Indictment for sex trafficking of a minor via force, fraud and coercion stemming from his actions to traffic the victim. The defendant and the victim first met on a digital social networking application in June 2016. Kent then met the victim, who was a teenager, and transported the victim to a house where he manipulated the victim into posing for photographs. The defendant then advertised the minor victim for sex on Backpage.com over the course of several weeks; during this time he also verbally and physically abused the victim, including using cigarettes to burn the victim. The victim was eventually able to escape from the defendant’s house and alert law enforcement. In April 2018, the Justice Department seized Backpage, which was the Internet’s leading forum for prostitution ads, including ads depicting the prostitution of children.
“The crime that this defendant committed is one of the most devastating to victims that our Office prosecutes,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Kent forced a young person, a minor child, to sell their body for his own greed and financial gain. We will continue to work collectively to investigate these destructive crimes against the most vulnerable victims.”
“While this defendant will face years in prison for his vile actions, his victim will carry the effects of those actions for the rest of their life,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire. “The FBI works tirelessly to find and capture the monsters who prey on our children. To those who participate in this brand of evil as a means to make a living – we are looking for you, we will find you, and you will find yourself paying the price inside the walls of penitentiary.”
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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tinicum Township Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra M. Lastowski and Vineet Gauri.