Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Tuesday 14 June 2022
Latin Music Company Executives Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging Violations of U.S. Sanctions Related to Drug TraffickersRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – FBI agents today arrested two music business executives – including the CEO of a Latin music conglomerate – who are charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by conducting business with a Guadalajara-based concert promoter with ties to Mexican drug cartels.
Angel Del Villar, 41, of Huntington Beach, the CEO of Del Records and its subsidiary talent agency Del Entertainment; and Luca Scalisi, 56, of West Hollywood, the chief financial officer of Del Entertainment, were arrested this morning. Both men made their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Del Villar was ordered released on $100,000 bond and Scalisi was ordered released on $35,000 bond. Their arraignments have been scheduled for July 20.
Del Villar and Scalisi are named in a criminal complaint that accuses them of conspiracy to transact in property of specially designated narcotics traffickers in violation of the Kingpin Act.
A third defendant named in the complaint – Jesus Perez Alvear, 37, of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, a music promoter who controls Gallistica Diamante, a.k.a. Ticket Premier – is believed to be in Mexico. Perez, who promoted concerts in Mexico for Del Entertainment until March 2019, and Gallistica Diamante are listed as “Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers” under the Kingpin Act, which prevents people in the United States from conducting business with the two entities.
The complaint alleges that on April 19, 2018, FBI agents approached a well-known musician, referred to in the complaint as Individual A, and explicitly told Individual A about Perez’s designation under the Kingpin Act and how that prohibited him from conducting business with Perez and performing concerts that Perez promoted.
On April 28, 2018, Individual A performed at a music concert which Perez organized. Del Villar’s credit card was used to pay for a private jet that brought the musician from Van Nuys Airport to the performance in Aguascalientes, Mexico, according to the complaint.
On four additional occasions in 2018 and 2019, Individual A performed at concerts in Mexico – specifically in Mexicali, Salamanca, Chiapas and San Jose Iturbide – all of which Perez promoted. Individual A acted at the direction or with the knowledge of Del Villar, Scalisi and Perez.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If they were to be convicted of violating the Kingpin Act, Del Villar and Scalisi would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Perez would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The current whereabouts of Perez are unknown, but he is believed to be residing in Mexico. Anyone with information about Perez is encouraged to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating this matter. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control provided significant assistance in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Benedetto Balding of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case.
This case 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.
Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection to the illegal possession of unemployment benefit debit cards issued by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) and Arizona’s Department of Economic Security (DES) — the agencies administer Nevada’s and Arizona’s unemployment insurance program, respectively.
Vincent Okoye (40) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro scheduled sentencing for September 20, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions Okoye made in court, he conspired with others, including co-defendant Jasmine-Royshell Kanisha Black, to obtain DETR and DES debit cards by submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims using other peoples’ personal identifying information, such as their names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, without their knowledge or consent. In total, DETR and DES approved more than $550,000 in benefits for the fraudulent claims.
On July 15, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Okoye’s residence and found:
- Over $100,000 in U.S. Currency and U.S. Money Orders;
- A forged Canadian passport;
- A postal mailbox master key;
- Over 100 pieces of mail, bearing names and addresses not belonging to Okoye;
- At least 24 pieces of mail from DETR, bearing various names and addresses; and
- At least 100 credit and debit cards not issued in Okoye’s name, including at least 11 debit cards issued by DETR and at least 12 debit cards issued by DES.
At sentencing, Okoye faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent In Charge Karon Ransom for the U.S. Secret Service made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang is prosecuting the case.
###
Kouts Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Kody Yednak, 21 years old, of Kouts, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on his plea of guilty to production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Yednak received a sentence of 180 months imprisonment followed by a term of 2 years supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in January 2021, Yednak persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Later. in March 2021, Yednak persuaded a different minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The investigation revealed the minors were approximately 10 and 11 years old.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang.
###
KBR Defendants Agree to Settle Kickback and False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc., headquartered in Houston, and three other companies have agreed to a settlement of $13.67 million to resolve a lawsuit seeking damages and penalties for alleged violations of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act, and for breach of contract. The four named defendants are: Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc., Kellogg Brown & Root Inc., Kellogg Brown & Root LLC, and Overseas Administration Services Ltd. (collectively KBR). The settlement amount includes a payment of $12 million by KBR, in addition to $1.67 million in contract restitution that KBR previously paid to the United States relating to the subcontracts at issue in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit concerned the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) III contract, under which KBR was required to provide logistics support to U.S. Army forces in Iraq, and subcontracts that KBR awarded to two local companies to perform work on its behalf: Subcontracts 11 and 39 to La Nouvelle Trading & Contracting Co. (La Nouvelle), and Subcontracts 167 and 190 to First Kuwaiti Trading & Contracting Co., aka First Kuwaiti Trading Co. (First Kuwaiti). The United States asserted that certain KBR employees responsible for awarding these subcontracts rigged the bidding process in favor of La Nouvelle and First Kuwaiti, and that, to reward this favorable treatment, principal officers from the foreign subcontractors paid kickbacks to the responsible KBR employees. The United States also alleged that the subcontract prices were inflated, and that after the subcontracts were awarded, KBR employees extended the duration of the subcontracts at the inflated prices. The United States further contends that KBR sought reimbursement of these inflated costs through vouchers submitted to the Army. As alleged in the lawsuit, this conduct violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act, and breached the LOGCAP III contract.
“Those who do business with the government have a responsibility to ensure that they are properly performing and billing under their government contracts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This matter reflects the department’s commitment to hold accountable contractors that knowingly overcharge the government for inflated costs and that fail to take appropriate action to prevent their employees from enriching themselves at the public’s expense.”
“The Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners are steadfastly committed to holding contractors accountable when they abuse the trust of the military for financial gain,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory P. Shilling of the DCIS’s Southwest Field Office. “We will diligently investigate fraud perpetrated against the Department of Defense and the American taxpayer, regardless of the length of time it takes to ensure justice is served.”
“We are pleased with today’s settlement,” said Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Moreland of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID), Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “Kickbacks and overcharges have an inherently corrosive effect and undermine the integrity of the procurement process; it is imperative that when someone contracts with the U.S. Army, they provide only their very best with no exceptions.”
More specifically, the settlement resolves allegations that a KBR employee entered into a kickback arrangement with the managing partner of First Kuwaiti, under which the KBR employee was to receive a kickback for every subcontract that he awarded to First Kuwaiti for the lease of trucks and trailers to transport fuel and refrigerated items into Iraq. The United States contends that, under the improper influence of this illegal arrangement, the KBR employee steered two truck-lease contracts (Subcontracts 167 and 190) to First Kuwaiti at higher prices than necessary to fulfill the Army’s contract requirements, and that KBR later sought to justify the high awards based on criteria that federal law did not permit KBR to consider.
The settlement also resolves additional claims concerning these same subcontracts after they were awarded for the lease of trucks and refrigerated trailers. More specifically, KBR extended Subcontract 167 even though its employees knew that the leased equipment was no longer needed and had been returned to the subcontractor, billed the United States for this overpayment, and created false documents to justify the overpayment. KBR also extended Subcontract 190 for the continued lease of trucks to pull fuel tankers even though, the United States contends, its internal records showed that the vehicles had already been returned to First Kuwaiti, resulting in overcharges.
In addition, the United States contends that a second KBR employee rigged the bidding process for Subcontract 11, a subcontract for cleaning services at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, so that the employee could justify awarding the subcontract to La Nouvelle. The KBR employee did this, the United States claims, with the intent to solicit kickbacks from La Nouvelle’s managing partner, who paid to reward the KBR employee for the favorable treatment he provided. The United States alleges that these kickbacks were included in the prices that KBR charged to the Government.
Finally, the United States contends that a third KBR employee rigged the bidding process for Subcontract 39, a contract for the lease of fuel storage tankers at a military airport in Kuwait, and awarded the subcontract to La Nouvelle at an inflated price, which KBR subsequently extended. As a reward for this favorable treatment, the United States alleges that the managing partner of La Nouvelle later paid the KBR employee a kickback, which was included within the prices that KBR charged to the Government.
In 2021, following more than seven years of litigation, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted partial summary judgment to the United States on several of its False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Act claims. This settlement resolves these allegations and other pending claims and issues, for which trial had been scheduled to commence on May 23. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Conyers v. Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., No. 4:06-cv-04024 (S.D. Tex.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of efforts by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from DCIS and the U.S. Army CID.
The United States’ resolution in this matter follows a prior $51 million judgment in favor of the United States in a litigated proceeding before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, concerning a larger overpayment that KBR made to First Kuwaiti under a separate subcontract in the Iraq Theater. Following a multi-week trial and appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, that judgment became final in 2021.
This matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Ashley N. Bailey, Elspeth A. England, Glenn P. Harris, Russell B. Kinner, Jeffrey A. McSorley, Michael M. Sawers and David W. Tyler.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Jury Convicts Two of Conspiring to Distribute Drugs in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, – Ross Landfried and David Curran were convicted at the conclusion of a six-day jury trial of conspiring to distribute Schedule I and II controlled substances between 2017 and 2019, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today. Landfried was also convicted of conspiring to launder drug trafficking proceeds between 2017 and 2019. The evidence presented at trial established that Landfried, Curran and their co-conspirators were part of a wide-ranging drug conspiracy within the federal prison system. Inmate accounts were used to collect and make payments for the drugs.
Landfried, age 40, and Curran, age 39, both formerly of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will be sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on dates to be determined.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jefferson Parish Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TRAVIS CARTER, a/k/a “Tree,” age 42, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 9, 2022 to 24 months imprisonment , 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier, after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on January 7, 2021, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives executed a search of CARTER’s residence in Metairie. During the search, they discovered a digital scale with white powder residue, approximately one gram of suspected crack cocaine, a box of clear plastic bags, and $2,398.00 in U.S. currency. Detectives then transported CARTER to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. Thereafter, correctional officers searched CARTER’s person, which resulted in the discovery of six clear plastic bags containing approximately 165.27 grams of cocaine located in his shoes.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.
Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Offenses Stemming from Theft of Firearms from South Windsor WarehouseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAMEIK CAMARA, 32, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to offenses stemming from the theft of numerous firearms from a South Windsor warehouse last year.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2021, a shipment of 50 Zigana, Model PX-9G2 pistols was stolen from R&L Carriers, a national freight shipping company with a warehouse located at 540 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor. Even though R&L employees were aware of the theft shortly after it occurred in mid-August, they did not notify law enforcement. Officials at R&L carriers reported the theft to law enforcement on September 16, 2021. In October 2021, investigators identified Camara after seeing Facebook Marketplace and Offer Up posts selling high-end speakers and sports trading cards that were similar to items stolen from the R&L warehouse at about the same time of the firearm shipment theft.
Camara was arrested on October 28, 2021. At this time of his arrest, he possessed two firearms, one of which was a Zigana pistol taken during the theft in August 2021.
Camara was previously convicted of felony offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Camara pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearm by a felon, and one count of receipt and possession of items from an interstate shipment. Judge Merriam scheduled sentencing for September 6, 2022, at which time Camara faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the South Windsor Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.
Greensburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Dogs for Animal FightingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Dangelo Dontae Cornish, age 36, of Greensburg, to 14 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing pit bulls for use in a dogfighting venture. The Court further sentenced Cornish to serve two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Cornish admitted that five pit bulls found at his home in Greensburg, Louisiana, were being held and trained for dogfighting. Cornish was found to be discussing dogfighting with members of the Valley Street drug distribution ring operating out of Baton Rouge, when his telephone calls with a member of the ring and others were intercepted during a wiretap. Cornish discussed gambling on dogfights, breeding dogs, and training dogs for dogfighting. In October 2017, federal law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant for Cornish’s residence. At his home agents found five pit bull-type dogs kept in a manner consistent with dogfighting. The dogs were restrained with heavy chains and either weighted dog collars or ankle weights. Agents also found rudimentary outdoor shelters, veterinary supplements manufactured and distributed in interstate commerce, and a treadmill, which was designed to force dogs to exercise. As part of his plea, Cornish admitted he knowingly possessed each of these five dogs for the purpose of animal fighting ventures, and the dogfighting paraphernalia was possessed for the purpose of training and preparing the dogs for participation in animal fighting ventures. The investigation revealed that dogfights were being conducted in Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi.
In all, from the drug ring case and the animal-fighting venture Cornish is the sixth person to be sentenced to date.
This operation is being investigated the FBI Baton Rouge Capitol Area Gang Task Force, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the United States Marshal Service. This matter is being prosecuted by Matthew D. Evans, Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Washington D.C., and Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III.
Greene County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice and Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Thomas “Tommy” Squires, age 37, of Cairo, New York, pled guilty today to attempting to coerce and entice a 14-year-old child to engage in sexual acts with him. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Squires admitted that between July and August, 2020, he sent graphic, sexually explicit text messages to an undercover investigator who was posing as the 14-year-old child. In those messages, Squires repeatedly asked the child for naked photos and sent photos of an erect penis to the child. Squires further asked to meet the child in person at a location in Cairo in order to engage in sexual acts with the child in his car. On August 19, 2020, Squires traveled from his residence in Cairo to the pre-determined location to meet and have sex with the child. Squires was encountered by law enforcement upon his arrival and arrested.
Squires faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for October 12, 2022 in Albany before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Squires will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel L. Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Georgia Man Sentenced in Bank Fraud Scheme that Exploited Homeless IndividualsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Georgia man who solicited, transported, and paid homeless individuals from the Providence area to cash hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit business checks in four New England states was sentenced today to two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jalen Ronald Stanford, 28, of Riverdale, GA, and others, created counterfeit checks generally in the amount of $2,000 or more. The checks were made payable to homeless individuals who agreed to be driven to banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine to cash them. These individuals were often paid approximately $100 per check that they successfully cashed. From October 2018 through February 2021, numerous homeless individuals were arrested at banks throughout the region as they attempted to cash some of the counterfeit checks.
A United States Secret Service investigation determined that approximately $677,687 worth of counterfeit checks were presented to banks throughout the four states, causing actual losses to financial institutions of nearly $481,000.
Stanford pled guilty on March 10, 2022, to conspiracy to commit band fraud. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., 24 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Stanford was ordered to pay restitution to financial institutions totaling $480,943.71.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Providence and Medway, MA, Police Departments for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
###
Gary Man Sentenced to 37 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Jalen Sanders, 19 years old, of Gary, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on his plea of guilty to possessing a machinegun, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Sanders was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, a few days after a shooting incident, in July 2021, law enforcement discovered that Sanders had made a Snapchat video showing him displaying firearms; one appeared to be a machinegun. A subsequent search warrant of Sanders’ home revealed a Glock firearm that had been modified to be a fully automatic weapon with a conversion device known as a “Glock Switch”. The firearm was also equipped with a 50 round drum magazine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.
Gambino Crime Family Associate Convicted by Federal Jury in Murder and Robbery of Brooklyn ManRead the Press Release
Anthony Pandrella, an associate of the Gambino organized crime family, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all three counts in an indictment charging him with the Hobbs Act robbery and murder of 77-year-old Vincent Zito and unlawful use of a firearm. The verdict followed a one and a half-week trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. When sentenced, Pandrella faces up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.
“Today’s verdict has found that the defendant is a cold-blooded killer who shot his elderly friend in his home, execution-style with a bullet in the back of the head, to avoid returning a large sum of money he was holding for the victim,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “In addition to the brutal betrayal, the defendant also robbed luxury watches from the victim’s loan business. I commend the FBI special agents and the NYPD detectives who solved the case and brought Pandrella to justice.”
Mr. Peace also expressed his thanks to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their assistance on the case.
“Today’s conviction underscores that no one – including associates of organized crime – is above the law,” stated Commissioner Sewell. “Because of the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District and our law enforcement partners at the FBI, this defendant’s callous disregard for human life will not go unanswered. I thank and commend everyone who worked on this case and helped us hold this violent criminal accountable for his actions.”
The evidence at trial proved that Zito was running an illegal loansharking business and had been told by Pandrella that he was “hot,” meaning that he was under investigation by law enforcement. Zito had given Pandrella $750,000 from the business to hold for safekeeping, but when he tried to collect the money back from Pandrella, the defendant failed to return it. On the morning of October 26, 2018, Pandrella went to the Sheepshead Bay home of Zito and while there, shot his friend of more than 30 years in the back of the head at close range. Pandrella also stole expensive foreign-made wristwatches that the victim was holding as collateral for a customer’s loan. Pandrella was captured on security camera footage entering and leaving Zito’s residence at the time of the murder and robbery. After leaving the victim’s residence, Pandrella went home and additional security video from his neighborhood showed that the defendant changed his shoes and clothing, and removed the driver’s side floor mat of this vehicle so it could be cleaned. Zito’s body was discovered by his 11-year-old grandson upon returning home from school. The murder weapon was recovered at the scene and Pandrella’s DNA was found on the trigger and grip of the firearm.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime & Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys M. Kristin Mace and Matthew R. Galeotti are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ANTHONY PANDRELLA
Age: 62
Brooklyn New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-122 (MKB)
Four men indicted in federal court for illegal firearms possession, drugsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Four defendants are among those facing federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.
The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally carry guns.
“In our continuing battle against violent crime in the Southern District, an essential element is the removal of guns from the hands of convicted felons,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The message is clear: We and our law enforcement partner will not tolerate these threats to our communities.”
In the past four years, more than 760 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.
Defendants named in federal indictments from the June 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Deon Brown, 30, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon;
- Alonzo Ware Henderson, 37, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Cody Truitt Devore, 23, of Sylvania, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- Harry Telfair, 60, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:
- B’Quan Ferguson, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found a pistol in Ferguson’s car during an October 2020 traffic stop. Ferguson has multiple prior state felony convictions, including violent felonies with firearms.
- Kenya Leon Parker, 33, of Savannah, was sentenced to 115 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Savannah Police officers arrested Parker in February 2021 after finding a pistol in his possession during a traffic stop.
- Tommy Greene, 34, of Savannah, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Eutylone (Bath Salts) and Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The Savannah Police Department Violent Savannah Police officers arrested Bennett in January 2020 when they found him in possession of two pistols during a traffic stop.
- Rasheen Dyshawn Stephens, 30, of Savannah, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers investigating a domestic disturbance on June 7, 2021, found a pistol and an extended magazine in Stephens’ pockets.
- James Kenneth Merritt, 35, of Waynesboro, Ga., was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Burke County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Merritt in December 2020 after Merritt drove away and then ran from an attempted traffic stop, dropping a pistol as he fled.
- Calvin Jerrod Hendrix, 24, of Savannah, was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. He was charged after Savannah Police officers found a pistol in his apartment in July 2020, and learned the gun had been stolen in Clayton County.
- Hunter Cole Reavis, 25, of Savannah, was sentenced to 44 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Reavis was on probation in March 2021 when agents from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision found a pistol during a search of his Savannah hotel room.
- Jervario Melton, 30, of Kingsland, Ga., was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Melton was found in possession of a firearm during an Aug. 28, 2020, traffic stop by Port Wentworth police.
- Fredrick Connell Blount, 38, of Augusta, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Blount was arrested after a traffic stop in August 2020 when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in the vehicle Blount was driving.
- Barry McCormick, 26, of Savannah, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. McCormick was charged after a pistol fell down his pants leg during a November 2020 traffic stop by Savannah Police officers.
- David McCain III, 35, of Hephzibah, Ga., was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was arrested on New Year’s Day 2020 when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating reports of celebratory gunfire found McCain, a convicted felon, in possession of an AR-15 style rifle with a high-capacity magazine.
- Ziquane Sandford, 24, of Hephzibah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License. Sandford faces a statutory sentence of up to five years in prison after admitting he sold firearms on four occasions without the required license.
- Willie Joe Liddell, 38, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service in arresting Liddell on an outstanding warrant when they discovered a pistol in Liddell’s jacket pocket.
- Kevin Shawn McGahee, 47, of Stapleton, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. As part of his plea agreement, McGahee forfeits 21 guns found during a law enforcement search of his residence in April.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the DEA, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Savannah Police Department, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Jeremiah L. Johnson, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Tania D. Groover, with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Recovery Unit.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Former federal probation officer pleads guilty to extorting individuals under her supervisionRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former federal probation officer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today for extortion. During her time as a probation officer, she accepted cash, pills, goods and services from individuals under her supervision.
Helwa H. Qasem, 44, of Bexley, Ohio, pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging her with extortion under color of official right, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, from 2016 through 2018, Qasem accepted Xanax, cash, a sweater, a bag and below-market personal services in exchange for official actions as a probation officer.
In her role as a U.S. Probation Officer, Qasem supervised offenders who had been sentenced to terms of probation by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio or who were serving terms of supervised release after release from prison. It was part of her duties to report individuals who violated their terms of probation or supervised release.
As part of her plea, Qasem admitted she extorted property from at least four individuals under her supervision and, in return, did not report violations committed by those individuals. For example, at least two individuals under supervision and the spouse of a third provided Xanax to Qasem for her personal use.
Qasem also unlawfully received several personal services, including moving services to help her relocate to a new home, and repairs to blinds, a dryer, a dishwasher, a washing machine and a vehicle. A person under Qasem’s supervision arranged for workers to provide these personal services for her.
Finally, Qasem admitted to sharing confidential information she received from a Columbus police officer to an individual under her supervision. Qasem had received a police report from the officer. The report stated that the officer had met with a person who was attempting to become a confidential informant and who had provided information that a person under Qasem’s supervision was a drug trafficker. The report contained a photograph of the potential informant. Qasem showed that photograph to the person under her supervision and told him to stay away from the potential informant.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant and other members of the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Former Memphis Police Officer Indicted for Sexually Assaulting a Female Crime VictimRead the Press Release
A former police officer with the Memphis Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed today in the Western District of Tennessee for sexually assaulting a woman while he was on duty.
According to the indictment, Bridges Randle, 47, who has also used the names Ajamu Abiola Banjoko and Oluwafemi Abiola Banjoko, sexually assaulted the woman after he was dispatched to a vandalism call at the woman’s residence on June 24, 2000.
Randle is charged with committing a civil rights offense that included aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, Randle faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski for the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Memphis Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Andrew Manns of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Former Memphis Police Officer Indicted for Sexually Assaulting a Female Crime VictimRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN - A former police officer with the Memphis Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed today in the Western District of Tennessee for sexually assaulting a woman while he was on duty.
According to the indictment, Bridges Randle, 47, who has also used the names Ajamu Abiola Banjoko and Oluwafemi Abiola Banjoko, sexually assaulted the woman after he was dispatched to a vandalism call at the woman's residence on June 24, 2000.
Randle is charged with committing a civil rights offense that included aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, Randle faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski for the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by the FBI's Memphis Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Andrew Manns of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
###Former EarthWater CFO and Others Plead Guilty to Fraud Charges Related to High-Yield Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
The former Chief Financial Officer of EarthWater Limited (EarthWater), a Dallas-based company, pleaded guilty on June 7 to 22 charges for a multimillion-dollar, high-yield investment fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. In addition, another individual who sold EarthWater securities pleaded guilty today to one charge related to the investment fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Harley E. “Buddy” Barnes III, 63, of Plano, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering charges. Barnes, who was EarthWater’s CFO, conspired to and obtained investor funds through a scheme to defraud. Relatedly, Joe Edward Duchinsky, 67, of Alhambra, California, who sold EarthWater securities, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
According to court documents, beginning in or about 2013 and continuing through or about May 2019, Barnes, as CFO of EarthWater, and Duchinsky, as a salesperson of EarthWater stock, participated in a fraudulent scheme to convince individuals in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to invest in EarthWater under the false pretense that their investment would increase substantially in value in the immediate future. In connection with the scheme, Barnes, Duchinsky, and their co-conspirators made materially false and fraudulent misrepresentations to investors that the majority of investor funds would be used to support EarthWater’s operations. In fact, the funds were used to pay undisclosed, excessive commissions to Duchinsky and others for selling EarthWater stock on Barnes’s behalf. Barnes, Duchinsky, and their co-conspirators knew that the proceeds of EarthWater stock sales were not invested in EarthWater as described to victim investors, but rather paid out to Barnes, Duchinsky, and their co-conspirators and others for their personal benefit. Barnes also engaged in money laundering involving investor funds obtained as part of the scheme.
In addition, according to court documents, Beth Ellen DeGroot, 62, of Plano, Texas, EarthWater’s former President, pleaded guilty in a separate action on May 17 to conspiring with Barnes. After the company’s bank accounts were frozen, DeGroot conspired with Barnes to fraudulently direct EarthWater’s payroll processor to continue to pay Barnes and DeGroot’s paychecks even though the company’s operations had ceased, and it had insufficient funds to cover payroll. DeGroot also submitted a fraudulent mortgage loan application using pay stubs fraudulently obtained from the payroll processor. When DeGroot learned about the government’s ongoing investigation, she attempted to obstruct the investigation by falsifying a document she produced to a federal grand jury and by making a false statement to a federal agent.
Barnes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, 10 counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 28. Duchinsky pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced at a later time. DeGroot pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 14. Barnes faces up to 10 years in prison for the money laundering count and up to 20 years in prison for each of the other counts. Duchinsky and DeGroot each face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Five other defendants have also pleaded guilty in the Northern District of Texas for their roles in the EarthWater high-yield investment fraud scheme, including EarthWater’s CEO, Cengiz Jan Comu, 61, of Dallas, Texas; EarthWater’s Chief Operating Officer, John Mervyn Price, 66, of Dallas, Texas; Donald Andrew Rothman, 74, of Coral Springs, Florida; Richard Laurence Kadish, 61, of Miami, Florida; and Richard Lawrence Green, 71, of Deerfield Beach, Florida. These five defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7.
Three other defendants are awaiting trial on charges set forth in a superseding indictment filed on Nov. 6, 2019, in the Northern District of Texas. The trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 3. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
USPIS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Christopher Fenton and Theodore Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary F. Walters of the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Former Detroit Police Department Officer Sentenced to Prison for Taking BribesRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A former Detroit Police Department officer was sentenced to prison today for taking $3,200 in cash bribes over an almost two-year period, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
During a hearing today before U.S. District Court Judge George Caram Steeh, Alonzo Jones, 55, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release based on his plea of guilty to accepting bribes. Jones, an officer with the Detroit Police Department for over 30 years, corruptly accepted cash bribes on five separate occasions, totaling $3,200, with the intent to be influenced and rewarded in connection with his duties overseeing and running the Detroit Police Vehicle Auction. The last bribe he took was right before he retired from DPD in May 2021.
United States Attorney Ison said, “Every new police officer takes an oath to uphold our laws and act with integrity. This officer broke that oath and his crimes are an affront to the citizens of Detroit and the honest officers of the Detroit Police Department who put their lives on the line to protect those citizens. This sentence shows our office’s commitment to aggressively pursuing police officers who use their trusted positions of authority to enrich themselves.”
“The public expects law enforcement officers to do their work with honesty and integrity. Instead, Mr. Jones exploited his official position, accepting bribes in exchange for favors related to the Detroit Vehicle Auction. Today, he was held accountable for his criminal conduct,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division. “Thank you to Chief James White for his cooperation during this investigation and to the men and women of the Detroit Police Department who serve with honor day in and day out. And thank you to the members of the Detroit Area Corruption Task Force for their continued work on Operation Northern Hook."
Jones was charged as part of the government’s investigation known as “Operation Northern Hook.” Northern Hook is an investigation of corruption within the government and the Police Department of the City of Detroit relating to the towing industry and other matters.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson.
The Detroit Area Corruption Task Force member agencies include the FBI, State of Michigan Attorney General's Office, Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol-Office of Professional Responsibility, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Former Chairman and Managing Partner of Energy Company Pleads Guilty to $15 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
A California man who previously served as an executive at an energy company pleaded guilty today to defrauding investors of more than $15 million as part of a Ponzi scheme involving limited partnerships created to provide services to oil and gas companies in North Dakota.
According to court documents, Joey Stanton Dodson, 58, formerly of Indio, engaged in a scheme between November 2012 and May 2015 to defraud investors while serving as the executive chairman and managing partner of Citadel Energy Partners. In his role, Dodson had certain responsibilities for three limited partnerships, Fort Berthold Water Partners L.P., Citadel Watford City Disposal Partners L.P., and H20 Partners L.P., which included raising funds for the limited partnerships, controlling their bank accounts, and disseminating their financial information to investors. As part of the scheme, Dodson made materially false and misleading representations and omissions to prospective and existing investors regarding his receipt of compensation, the intended use of investor funds, and the status of a potential acquisition of the limited partnerships by a private-equity firm, among other things.
After inducing investors to deposit their funds, Dodson pooled the funds from the limited partnerships and conducted multiple transfers between Citadel-related accounts that helped him divert investor funds for his own benefit and conceal his actions. In total, Dodson fraudulently raised over $15.6 million from 51 investors and misappropriated $1.3 million in investor funds, which he used to repay investors in an unrelated investment he operated under an entity known as Duke Equity and to pay other personal expenses. After Dodson’s misappropriation was discovered, the limited partnerships were placed into bankruptcy and the investors suffered a total loss of their investments.
Dodson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California; and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s San Francisco Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Jason M. Covert of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Griswold of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case. The Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance.
Former Chairman and Managing Partner of Energy Company Pleads Guilty to $15 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Joey Stanton Dodson, who previously served as an executive at Citadel Energy Partners, pleaded guilty today to defrauding investors of more than $15 million. Dodson admitted the fraud was part of a Ponzi scheme involving limited partnerships created to provide services to oil and gas companies in North Dakota. The plea was accepted by the Hon. Beth Labson Freeman, U.S. District Judge.
According to court documents, Dodson, 58, formerly of Indio, engaged in a scheme between November 2012 and May 2015 to defraud investors while serving as the executive chairman and managing partner of Citadel Energy Partners. In his role, Dodson had certain responsibilities for three limited partnerships, Fort Berthold Water Partners L.P., Citadel Watford City Disposal Partners L.P., and H20 Partners L.P., which included raising funds for the limited partnerships, controlling their bank accounts, and disseminating their financial information to investors. As part of the scheme, Dodson made materially false and misleading representations and omissions to prospective and existing investors regarding his receipt of compensation, the intended use of investor funds, and the status of a potential acquisition of the limited partnerships by a private-equity firm, among other things.
After inducing investors to deposit their funds, Dodson pooled the funds from the limited partnerships and conducted multiple transfers between Citadel-related accounts that helped him divert investor funds for his own benefit and conceal his actions. In total, Dodson fraudulently raised over $15.6 million from 51 investors and misappropriated $1.3 million in investor funds, which he used to repay investors in an unrelated investment he operated under an entity known as Duke Equity and to pay other personal expenses. After Dodson’s misappropriation was discovered, the limited partnerships were placed into bankruptcy and the investors suffered a total loss of their investments.
Dodson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Judge Freeman scheduled Dodson’s sentencing for October 25, 2022; he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Any sentence will be imposed only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s San Francisco Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Griswold of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney Jason M. Covert of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance.
Florida Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Criminal ContemptRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to criminal contempt for continuing to prepare and file tax returns with the IRS in violation of a federal court order barring him from doing so.
According to court documents, Guy Telfort, of Fort Lauderdale, previously owned and operated Tax Houses and Accounting Services, a Lauderdale Lakes tax preparation business. From approximately January 2015 through April 2019, Telfort and other employees of Tax Houses and Accounting Services prepared and filed tax returns for clients. To generate inflated IRS refunds for clients, some of these tax returns reported false items, including fictitious business income and losses and mileage deductions. On April 24, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered an injunction against Telfort in a civil proceeding, permanently barring Telfort from preparing federal tax returns for others.
Despite this court-ordered injunction, in 2020 and 2021, Telfort continued to prepare and file tax returns out of an Oakland Park pawn shop. He charged clients as much as $1,000 for each return filed with the IRS. Some of the tax returns reported false medical and dental expenses and charitable contributions, as well as fictitious businesses. To disguise his role in preparing these returns, Telfort used Preparer Tax Identification Numbers belonging to other tax preparers. Over the two-year period, Telfort helped prepare nearly 1,200 tax returns for clients in willful violation of the permanent injunction.
Telfort is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 16 and potentially faces a period of incarceration, term of supervised release, and monetary fine. A district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
Trial Attorneys Ashley Stein and Casey Smith of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Excavation Company Employee Convicted of Paying Kickbacks to Suburban Chicago Highway CommissionerRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted an excavation company employee of paying kickbacks to a suburban Chicago highway commissioner in exchange for approving hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent invoices for purported road work.
MARIO GIANNINI worked at Bulldog Earth Movers Inc., an excavation company in Bloomingdale, Ill. From 2012 to 2020, Giannini paid more than $280,000 in kickbacks to ROBERT CZERNEK, Commissioner of the Bloomingdale Township Road District, in exchange for Czernek using his official position to approve payment of stone delivery, dump leveling, and storm sewer invoices submitted to the township by Bulldog. Czernek would leave handwritten notes for Giannini in predetermined places around the Bloomingdale Township Highway Department office and grounds identifying the information that Bulldog needed to include in the fraudulent invoices. Czernek later approved the invoices knowing that much of the work and services were never performed. The fraud scheme resulted in Bloomingdale Township issuing more than $800,000 in checks to Bulldog.
The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Monday convicted Giannini, 60, of Bloomingdale, on all 14 wire fraud counts against him. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly set sentencing for Sept. 7, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
The conviction was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago, and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Saurish Appleby-Bhattacharjee and Ashley A. Chung.
Czernek, of Bloomingdale, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of wire fraud and admitted accepting the kickbacks and approving the fraudulent invoices. Czernek agreed to forfeit several items that were criminally derived from the fraud scheme, including a 2014 Lexus RX350, a 1966 Buick Wildcat, and a 1981 Corvette. Czernek’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
The court acquitted a third defendant, DEBRA FAZIO, of Bloomingdale, during trial.
Erie Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
David Lyons, 29, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from January 2019 to March 2020, Lyons received computer and cell phone images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
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 (CEOS), 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.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Lyons on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lyons.
Eastern Idaho Nurse Practitioner Pays the Price for Unlawfully Prescribing NarcoticsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Kenneth Lowther, a nurse practitioner in eastern Idaho, consented to judgment against him after admitting that he unlawfully prescribed narcotics on more than 15 occasions. The judgment, entered by the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, found Lowther civilly liable for violating the Controlled Substances Act and required that he pay a $30,000 fine.
According to the government’s Complaint, Lowther wrote prescriptions for hydrocodone in the name of one patient, but thereafter gave the prescriptions to a third-party for filling and use. The government alleged, and the Court and Lowther ultimately agreed, that the unlawful prescriptions lacked a legitimate medical purpose and were written outside the usual course of professional practice in violation of federal and state law.
“While there is a place for opioid pain medication in a legitimate medical practice, that place is not the unlawful diversion of such medication for illegal and unauthorized use,” said U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez Jr., who announced the judgment. “This office will continue to hold prescribers accountable under the Controlled Substances Act when they write prescriptions that lack a legitimate medical purpose, and this case once again demonstrates our commitment to attacking the opioid epidemic on all fronts.”
“The allegations in this matter describe an outrageous diversion of opioid pills without medical purpose and with the high potential to cause harm to individuals and communities,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to root out this kind of abuse at every turn.”
This matter was investigated jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, with additional assistance provided by the Idaho Board of Pharmacy and the Idaho State Attorney General’s Office.
For additional case information and publicly available court documents, see United States v. Kenneth Lowther, 22-CV-00069 (REP) (U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho).
###
East Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 7 Years for Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 84 months in prison for violating federal firearms laws and his conditions of supervised release, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David Cercone imposed the sentence on Terrence Pasley, age 34.
According to information presented to the court, on January 16, 2021, Mr. Pasley illegally possessed a firearm as a convicted felon, and violated the conditions of his release by possessing that firearm. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Ann Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for conducting the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
This case was brought as 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.
Dubach Man Receives 10+ Year Sentence for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Brandon Khesahn Cooper, 50, of Dubach, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty. Cooper was sentenced to a total of 138 months (11 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of firearms by a convicted felon and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to evidence presented in court, deputies with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Cooper’s residence on October 19, 2021. Inside his bedroom, deputies found 12 grams of methamphetamine and a Charter Arms .38 revolver located next to Cooper’s wallet. Deputies also found packaging material consistent with distribution of illegal substances and a .410 gauge CBC shotgun in the bedroom.
Law enforcement agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) interviewed Cooper after being read his Miranda rights. In the interview, Cooper claimed the methamphetamine and firearms, and admitted to agents that he was selling drugs and had purchased the revolver even though he was a convicted felon. Cooper had previously been convicted of a felony and knew that he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined that the revolver and shotgun were both manufactured outside of the state of Louisiana and had traveled in interstate commerce.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is 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. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
# # #
Deputy U.S. Marshal Charged with Unlawfully Obtaining Cell Phone Location InformationRead the Press Release
A Deputy U.S. Marshal has been charged by indictment with unlawfully obtaining cell phone location information by misusing a law enforcement service, and later making false statements about his use of that service.
Adrian Pena, 48, of Del Rio, Texas, made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday in the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Pena allegedly unlawfully used a law enforcement service operated by Securus Technologies Inc. (Securus) for personal reasons, including to obtain cell phone location information relating to multiple individuals with whom the defendant had personal relationships and their spouses. Pena obtained this information by uploading false and fraudulent documents to the Securus system and by certifying that those documents were official documents giving permission to obtain the relevant individuals’ cell phone location information. After this activity became known to law enforcement, Pena lied to law enforcement officials about his use of the Securus service for personal reasons, including to locate individuals with whom he was or had been in a personal relationship. Pena also drafted an affidavit in the name of one of these individuals and persuaded that individual to sign the affidavit, which falsely stated that the individual had given Pena unlimited access to all of that individual’s personal cell phone information at all times.
Pena is charged with 11 counts of obtaining confidential phone records, two counts of false statements, and one count of falsification of a record. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of obtaining confidential phone records, up to five years in prison for each count of false statements, and up to 20 years in prison for falsification of a record. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Cloey C. Pierce of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Dallas Field Office made the announcement.
DOJ-OIG is investigating the case.
Deputy Chief Robert Heberle and Trial Attorney Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Antwoine Johnson, 29, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty June 14, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City, to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence at the plea hearing showed that on January 23, 2022, the Sioux City Police Department stopped Johnson for a traffic violation. Law enforcement detected the smell of marijuana emanating from the car. During a subsequent search of the car, Officers found a 9mm firearm in the void between the driver’s seat and console. Officers also found approximately 120 grams of marijuana in four separate baggies in the center console. Johnson was a convicted felon, previously convicted of felony burglary third degree in 2016, and was an unlawful user of marijuana, both of which prohibited him from legally possessing any firearm.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Johnson remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Johnson faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Sioux City Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4019.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Clinton Man Indicted for Illegally Excavating Native American SiteRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Clinton, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally excavating a prehistoric Native American site near Tightwad, Mo., causing more than $300,000 in damage.
Johnny Lee Brown, 70, was charged in an 11-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on April 26, 2022. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Brown’s arrest and initial court appearance.
According to the indictment, Brown participated in a conspiracy from June 20, 2016, to September 2021 to unlawfully excavate archeological resources from federal lands at Harry S. Truman Lake in Henry County, Mo. The site, which is located on a peninsula in Harry Truman Lake, is a large prehistoric Native American site that dates to the Late Archaic Period (3,000-5,000 years ago).
The federal indictment also refers to two known co-conspirators who are not identified as well as unknown co-conspirators. The indictment alleges that Brown and his co-conspirators either drove down a closed access road or walked to the site. They allegedly used tools ranging from small handheld trowels to full-size shovels, rakes, and hoes to dig, excavate, or otherwise damage large areas.
Damage to the site, says the indictment, has been estimated by a professional archeologist to be in excess of $300,000. According to the Osage Nation, the excavation damage to this archaeological site caused by this conspiracy greatly impacts the cultural history of the Osage Nation and affiliated tribes.
In addition to the conspiracy, Brown is charged with five felony counts of excavating, damaging, and otherwise altering and defacing archeological resources. Brown is also charged with five felony counts of injury or depredation to government property. The indictment cites 10 specific occasions on which Brown and his co-conspirators excavated the site.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Barnes and Cari Walsh. It was investigated by the National Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Chatham County man admits producing, possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Chatham County man has pled guilty to child exploitation charges, cancelling his trial that had been set for this week in Brunswick.
Rodney Bryant, 37, of Savannah, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The production charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to 30, along with five years to life of supervised release, substantial financial penalties and restitution, and registration upon release as a sex offender.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Pedophiles who produce child pornography and share it on the Internet doom exploited children to a lifetime of victimization,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to the diligence and determination of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, Rodney Bryant will be held accountable for these heinous crimes.”
As described in court documents and testimony, agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Savannah Police Department searched Bryant’s residence in 2020 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided cybertips regarding images of child sexual abuse to the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Investigators later seized dozens of electronic devices from Bryant’s home, and found thousands of images of child sexual abuse and child erotica on those devices. The investigation determined Bryant produced many of those images in Georgia and at his previous residence in Fort Drum, N.Y.
Bryant had been scheduled for a jury trial, but it was cancelled by his guilty plea to key charges in the case. Sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood will be held after completion of a pre-sentencing investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
“Bryant is a predator who not only abused children, but he also recorded these horrible acts for others to see. Thankfully, he will no longer be able to continue his deplorable acts of abuse and we all can breathe a little easier,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its partners will continue to find, arrest and prosecute those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable population.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Cavour Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Cavour, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
David Robert Farrell, age 40, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Farrell was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 4, 2021. He pled guilty on March 14, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between April 22 and April 27, 2021, when Farrell knowingly used his cell phone to persuade and entice a 15-year-old female to meet with him at a hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the purpose of having sexual activity. Farrell had been texting with a person he knew to be a 15-year-old female. Unknown to him, and before the criminal conduct occurred, an undercover law enforcement officer assumed the identity of the 15-year-old female online. Some of his communications were sexual in nature and he expressed his intent to meet with the 15-year-old at a hotel in Sioux Falls for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Farrell was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
California Man and Nevada Woman Indicted for Interstate Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
A federal judge in the Southern District of Mississippi unsealed an indictment in which the United States charged a California man and a Nevada woman with one count each of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
According to the indictment, between April 2020 and June 2020, Michael Deon Fulcher, 52, and Jonzie Hamilton, 33, used force, fraud and coercion to cause an adult woman to engage in commercial sex acts in multiple states.
The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is asking anyone with information about Michael Deon Fulcher and Jonzie Hamilton to contact the FBI Jackson Field Office at (601) 948-5000. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha L. Fomby for the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Brooklyn High School Teacher Convicted of Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, following a week-long trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, returned a guilty verdict against Jonathan Deutsch on four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and 6 counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. Until his arrest, Deutsch was a teacher at Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences. When sentenced by United States District Judge Frederic Block, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdicts.
“Jonathan Deutsch connected with young children over the Internet and exploited them for his own sexual gratification. His conduct is criminal and deplorable,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is committed to vigorously prosecuting individuals who sexually exploit children and to ensuring that they are brought to justice. Today’s conviction should serve as yet another reminder as to the importance of educating our children about the risks of communicating with strangers online.”
“As the evidence presented at trial proved, Deutsch groomed children as young as 10-years-old and enticed them into sending explicit photos of themselves in pursuit of his sexual gratification. Parents and guardians are the best line of defense against Deutsch and predators like him. Have a conversation with your children; talk with them about being safe online, and tell them to ask for help the moment they are asked to do something that doesn't feel right,” stated Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“The trust between teachers and young students is vitally important, and violation of that trust by criminal predators is truly reprehensible,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “This defendant’s appalling actions are a reminder to all parents to closely monitor their child’s online activity, and today’s conviction further proves that the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners will never abate our efforts to keep young people safe. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, the New York Field Office of the FBI, and every investigator who worked on this important case.”
As proven at trial, beginning in 2016, Deutsch joined Facebook groups through which he identified users who appeared from their profiles to be minors. Deutsch, using two separate Facebook accounts, messaged children in an effort to develop relationships with them. Using one of these accounts, he posed as a 33-year-old teacher from New York, and using the other, he posted as a 15 year old boy. When chatting with children, he showered them with compliments and pretended to be their boyfriend. Deutsch enticed the children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and then to send him videos and photos of that conduct. He also sent minors sexual photos that he represented to be of himself. Ultimately, Deutsch requested and received sexually explicit images or videos from at least four children, ranging in age from 10 to 16 years old.
The evidence at trial included testimony from law enforcement witnesses who examined Deutsch’s computer and three of the children who the defendant exploited, as well as evidence of his internet browser history, and Facebook records, including his messenger communications with victims and potential victims, as well his account information.
This prosecution is 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Rachel A. Bennek are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
Jonathan Deutsch
Age: 38
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-502 (FB)
Beaver County Man Pleads to Violating Federal Drug and Gun LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former Beaver County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Michael Turner, 49, formerly of Wampum, PA, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 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 Turner communicating regarding the purchase of kilogram quantities of cocaine. In connection with his guilty plea, Turner admitted that he acquired kilogram quantities of cocaine, which he redistributed to others, including to co-conspirators Brandon Quinn and Jeremiah Irving, both of whom have also pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine. Turner further admitted to unlawfully possessing a .223 caliber rifle and ammunition, which agents seized from Turner’s Beaver County residence during a search of the same as part of the investigation on June 18, 2020. Turner, a felon, was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm and ammunition. Agents additionally recovered cocaine and approximately $17,000 in U.S. currency from Turner’s residence.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for October 27, 2022. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court remanded Turner to the custody of the United States Marshals.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 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. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Bad check scheme sends Great Falls man to prisonRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who admitted to defrauding others in a bad check scheme was sentenced today to one year in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for convictions in two separate cases, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Mickey James Buchholz, 35, pleaded guilty in February to wire fraud, and today, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud as charged in a subsequent case.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris followed a plea agreement in which the parties recommended the two cases be joined and a global sentence of 12 months in prison be imposed. Chief Judge Morris ordered restitution totaling $747.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2019 and 2020, Buchholz became involved with his co-defendant, Rachel Abbott, in a fraudulent check scheme. Abbott used fake identification cards, stolen checks and check printing software and materials to create new checks with valid account numbers. Another individual would make fake identification cards for Abbott and Buchholz that contained real identities with their pictures. Buchholz then altered the payee line on valid checks to reflect himself and forged the checks for payment. Abbott was sentenced in March to 26 months in prison for conviction in the case.
After pleading guilty in the first case, the government alleged that Buchholz continued to commit wire fraud. Between January and April, Buchholz cashed or attempted to cash four additional stolen or forged checks in an account he opened in June 2021. One of the checks was written by a Jane Doe to Meals on Wheels to pay for meals for Doe’s elderly mother. Buchholz affected dozens of victims, impersonated numerous real individuals and passed hundreds of dollars in forged checks for his own personal gain. The victims suffered financial loss and face a lifetime of monitoring whether someone is using their personal information, bank accounts and all other identifying data.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Great Falls Police Department.
XXX
Armed Career Criminal sentenced to 15 years for St. Louis gun crimeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis man with a long and violent criminal history to 15 years in prison for a gun crime.
On Dec. 2, 2020, Steven D. Huffman was caught by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers in the 7200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in St. Louis with a Taurus 9mm pistol in his backpack. A tipster said Huffman was always armed, despite being a convicted felon, and was causing issues in the neighborhood. He was also on parole from a prior criminal conviction. Huffman initially ran from police before resisting arrest and threatening to kill at least two officers. Huffman threatened to shoot one officer in the face and then murder his family, he admitted in his plea agreement.
Huffman, 54, pleaded guilty in March to a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Fleissig determined on Tuesday that due to his extensive criminal history involving a series of violent incidents, Huffman qualified as an “armed career criminal,” which meant he faced a 15-year mandatory prison term.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Alleged Health Care Fraudster Ordered Detained Pending Trial After Being Arrested on a Jet Ski Headed Toward CubaRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal judge in Miami ordered that a Hialeah resident who allegedly submitted more than $4 million in fraudulent health care claims to Medicare be detained pending trial, after the defendant was arrested on board a jet ski headed south from Key West toward Cuba.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, from February through April, 54-year-old Ernesto Cruz Graveran owned Xiko Enterprises, Inc., a Florida corporation which purported to provide durable medical equipment (“DME”) to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. The complaint alleges that Xiko, in only a two-month period in 2022, submitted approximately $4.2 million in fraudulent health care claims to Medicare for DME that Xiko never provided, and that Medicare beneficiaries never requested. As a result, Medicare paid Xiko over $2.1 million. For example, according to the claims that Xiko submitted to Medicare, one physician purportedly prescribed DME from Xiko for approximately 145 Medicare beneficiaries, and Xiko billed Medicare over $1 million for DME referred by this one physician. But, according to the complaint, none of those 145 beneficiaries were in fact patients of that physician, and that physician never prescribed any of the billed-for DME.
The government alleged in court that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers located Graveran aboard a broken-down jet ski in the waters south of Key West, headed in the direction of Cuba, roughly 90 miles away. Graveran was aboard the jet ski along with one other individual, who was known to law enforcement to be an alien smuggler. The jet ski was outfitted with a special fuel cell to allow for long trips, and within the compartments of the jet ski, law enforcement discovered a trove of food and water bottles.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alicia Otazo-Reyes agreed with the government that Graveran should not be released on bond, and the Court ordered that Graveran remained detained at the Federal Detention Center in Miami until his trial.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Omar Perez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Region; and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, announced the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael B. Homer is prosecuting this case.
A complaint is a charging instrument containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty 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 22-mj-02982.
###
Monday 13 June 2022
Vermont Residents Detained on Federal Drug Charges Arising from Middlebury IncidentRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Vermont residents Steven T. Browne, 37, of Shoreham, and Kayla Ramos, 22, of Rutland, have been detained in federal custody after their arraignment on a charge of possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute. According to the indictment returned by the grand jury, Browne and Ramos possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin on or about October 25, 2021. Browne and Ramos were arrested on June 8, 2022, pursuant to warrants issued in conjunction with the indictment. They were arraigned on June 9, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on that charge, and they were held pending detention hearings. Browne and Ramos each appeared before Magistrate Judge Doyle for separate detention hearings today, and the Court ordered both defendants detained pending trial.
According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint earlier in the case, police officers encountered Browne and Ramos at a hotel in Middlebury, Vermont on October 25, 2021. Officers removed Browne and Ramos from the room while they applied for a warrant to search the room. While the officers applied for a warrant, Browne and Ramos made multiple attempts to reenter the room, including by trying to break through an outside window. A subsequent search of the room led to the seizure of more than 3 ounces of cocaine and more than 1,800 individual baggies containing fentanyl or a mixture of fentanyl and heroin.
The charge in the indictment brought against Browne and Ramos is an accusation only, and they are each presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in further proceedings. If convicted of the crime of possessing with the intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and (b)(1)(C), both defendants would face a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Middlebury Police Department (MPD) and the collaboration of investigators between MPD; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Addison County.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Lasher. Steven Browne is represented by Robert Katims, Esq. Kayla Ramos is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq.
United States Resolves Voting Rights Lawsuit Against IBEW Local 98 Alleging Interference and Intimidation in 2020 Union ElectionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has resolved its civil suit on behalf of the U.S. Secretary of Labor against Local 98, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“Local 98”) for violating the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (“LMRDA”). In the settlement announced today, Local 98 has agreed to conduct its next nominations and election of officers under the Secretary of Labor’s supervision.
“Elections belong to the people, and union members have a federally-protected right to free and fair union elections,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Today’s agreement will protect the civil rights of all Local 98 members and ensure every member in good standing can freely exercise their rights to seek elected office and nominate and vote for candidates of their choosing without intimidation or fear of reprisal from those in positions of power.”
In its January 2021 complaint (Secretary of Labor v. Local 98, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Civ. No. 21-96 EDPA), the United States alleged that Local 98, through its incumbent officers and their supporting members, intimidated and threatened other members who sought to challenge incumbent union leadership in the union’s June 2020 elections, causing these members to withdraw from nominations. As a result, incumbent union leadership ran unopposed and all officers – including the president and five executive board members – were declared reelected without opposition. The United States alleged that Local 98’s interference, threats, and retaliation against the intended challengers violated its members’ rights under the LMRDA to nominate, be nominated, and vote for or otherwise support the candidates of their choice without improper interference or threat of reprisal.
In the civil lawsuit, the United States alleged that Local 98 convinced three of its members to withdraw from nominations in its June 2020 officer election through a pressure campaign orchestrated by its entrenched leadership, including then-Business Manager John Dougherty and President Brian Burrows. The alleged campaign included a promise by Dougherty to a member intending to run for office that Dougherty would associate the member with offensive comments on a website “if he ran with [an opposition] ticket” and threats such as “If you ain’t with me, you’re against me!” and “It’ll be a long three years if you lose.” It included an unannounced and knowingly unwelcome visit by business agent Robert Bark to a member’s home two nights before nominations, which “put the fear of God” into the member’s wife and family. It also included an in-person nomination requirement imposed by incumbent president Burrows that both required challengers to walk a “gauntlet” of Dougherty supporters to be nominated for office and violated the union’s constitution. Finally, it included enlisting a member’s elder relative and former Local 98 business agent to deliver a message that supporting a challenging candidate for office would disgrace the family’s generations-old reputation in the union.
The United States further alleged that Local 98, which at the time was controlled by a slate of officers that had not changed in years, had a pattern of interfering with the efforts of rank-and-file members to run for local union office since at least 2014. Dougherty resigned as Business Manager of Local 98, a position he had held since 1993, in November 2021, the day after he was convicted on federal conspiracy and corruption charges.
Under the agreement announced today, Local 98 will conduct its next regular election for the offices of president and five executive board members under the Secretary’s supervision.
“Today’s agreement will help ensure every Local 98 member will have his or her voice heard in a free and fair officer election. If you interfere with anyone’s rights to vote, or to seek office, the United States will hold you accountable,” Williams said.
“The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) is committed to protecting the rights of union members by ensuring that every member can participate fully in a fair union officer election,” said OLMS Northeastern Regional Director Megan Underwood. “We will work to ensure that the rights of IBEW Local 98 members are protected during the upcoming officer election.”
The claims resolved by the settlement announced today are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
The civil investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), and is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren DeBruicker.
U.S. Attorney Announces $1.5 Million Settlement with Tzumi Innovations, LLC for Selling Unregistered Antimicrobial Household Products During the Covid-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States has filed and simultaneously settled a counterclaim against TZUMI INNOVATIONS, LLC (“TZUMI”) for illegally distributing and selling millions of products claiming to have antimicrobial properties in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. TZUMI sold these products without submitting them to EPA for registration, a mandatory process that allows EPA to assess the safety and effectiveness of the products. TZUMI specifically targeted lower-income customers for sale of one of its products, “Wipe Out! Wipes.”
The proposed stipulation and order of settlement (“settlement”) agreed to by TZUMI includes payment of a $1.5 million civil penalty, the largest FIFRA civil penalty ever obtained in a judicial settlement and one of the largest FIFRA penalties obtained by EPA in any context.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “At the height of the pandemic, Tzumi misled consumers and retailers and exposed the public to pesticide products that had not been found by EPA to be safe and effective. It compounded matters by targeting low-income customers, who face disproportionate environmental burdens. Today’s settlement ensures that Tzumi pays the price for its misconduct. We will continue to pursue justice in environmental enforcement matters.”
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia stated: “Consumers must be provided accurate information about pesticide products and merchandise such as those items involved in this case, which must be properly labeled and registered with EPA to protect public health. This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to hold companies accountable that violate critical environmental laws and includes a provision where Tzumi Innovations, LLC will develop an extensive campaign to inform the public and retailers about the appropriate uses for the products in question.”
The counterclaim filed in Manhattan federal court today alleges that in 2020, TZUMI began to sell three product lines—Wipe Out! Wipes, Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Wipes, and Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Decontaminant Spray—in an effort to respond to the public’s increased demand for disinfectant products during the COVID-19 public health crisis. TZUMI expressly stated that it intended Wipe Out! Wipes to be sold to “lower income level customers.”
None of these supposedly antimicrobial products were registered with EPA under FIFRA. FIFRA prohibits the distribution or sale of pesticides—including products claiming to have antimicrobial properties intended to be used to disinfect surfaces—that are not registered under FIFRA, absent exceptions to registration not applicable here. Registration is a critical step in ensuring the efficacy and safety of antimicrobial pesticides: Among other things, during registration, EPA reviews the application information and performs a rigorous, comprehensive scientific assessment of the product, including the product’s active and inert ingredients and the proposed uses of the product, to ensure that the product is effective and has no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment when used for its intended purpose and according to labeled directions.
TZUMI failed to register the Wipe Out! products with EPA, even though its labeling made antimicrobial pesticidal claims suggesting that these products were intended to be used to disinfect surfaces and TZUMI had knowledge that the products would be used as a pesticide, as that term is defined in FIFRA. Consistent with TZUMI’s claims, retailers then sold these products on their websites or in their physical stores in the same sections in which they included properly registered antimicrobial disinfectants, like Clorox and Lysol products. Reviews on retailers’ websites demonstrate that consumers in fact were misled into believing that Wipe Out! Wipes in particular could be used as an antimicrobial pesticide to disinfect surfaces.
TZUMI’s actions put the public—including the low-income consumers that TZUMI targeted—at risk of using products that failed to work as claimed or that were unsafe. Low-income communities in general bear a disproportionate burden of environmental exposures and public health risks, and selling unregistered pesticides to these communities raises particular concerns of environmental justice.
* * *
In the settlement lodged with the federal court today, TZUMI admits, acknowledges, and accepts responsibility for the following, among other things:
- In 2020, Tzumi introduced new product lines to the domestic household market in an effort to respond to the public’s increased demand for disinfectant products during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The new products Tzumi distributed or sold included Wipe Out! Wipes, Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Wipes, and Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Decontaminant Spray.
- Wipe Out! Wipes, Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Wipes, and Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Decontaminant Spray have never been registered as pesticides with EPA under Section 3 of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. § 136a.
- From at least August through December 2020, Tzumi distributed 4,895,184 units of Wipe Out! Wipes to Home Depot bearing a label stating on the front in part “Wipe Out Antibacterial Wipes” and “KILLS GERMS FAST*” and on the back in part “To decrease bacteria on the skin that could cause disease”; “Cleans and sanitizes”; “KILLS 99.9% OF GERMS*”; “*Escherichia Coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph), Candida Albicans”; and “Use it Anytime, Anywhere.”
- From October through November 2020, Tzumi sold 472,281 units of Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Wipes bearing a label that displayed the words “active ingredient” and “purpose: antibacterial” and graphics of household appliances, bathroom fixtures, and surfaces.
- From February 2021 through April 2021, Tzumi sold 62,796 units of Wipe Out! Multi-Surface Decontaminant Spray that stated on its label “Controls Algae Harmful Bacteria” (sic) and “… spray directly on the surface and let stand … ten minutes for antimicrobial response.”
The settlement requires TZUMI to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty and to issue corrective statements advising consumers and retailers of the unregistered status and limited appropriate use of the Wipe Out! products. It also requires TZUMI not to distribute or sell such unregistered pesticide products in the future.
The settlement remains subject to a period of public comment and Court approval. Notice of the proposed settlement will be published in the Federal Register and the public will have the opportunity to submit comments on the proposed settlement for a period of at least 30 days before it is submitted for the Court’s approval.
U.S. Attorney Williams thanked EPA Region 2’s attorneys and program staff for their critical work on this case.
This case is being handled by the Environmental Protection Unit of the Office’s Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Rovner is in charge of the case.
U.s. Attorney Encourages the Public to Observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2022Read the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith encourages the public to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2022, and help combat elder fraud and abuse.
"If you suspect that an elderly person is being abused or defrauded, I strongly encourage you to call the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") National Elder Fraud Hotline," United States Attorney Smith said. "Unfortunately, too many of our older Virgin Islanders are becoming victims of the many forms of abuse, neglect, and financial fraud and scams that target the elderly."
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. It provides communities an opportunity to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. Elder abuse is any act that causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend. The abuse may be physical, financial, psychological, or sexual and can include exploitation, mistreatment, and neglect.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting and coordinating enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder fraud and abuse, including working with our local law enforcement and community partners, United States Attorney Smith said. DOJ’s hotline, which is managed by the Office of Victims of Crime, is staffed by caring professionals who treat all callers with dignity and respect. Callers will be assigned a case manager, who will remain their point of contact, and will assist with reporting the crime and connecting victims with other resources as needed.
If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. You may also report suspected elder fraud by calling the local FBI office at (340) 777-3363.
Two Time Federal Felon Sentenced to 37 Months’ Imprisonment for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on June 13, 2022, Kyle Tetreault, 31, formerly of Middlebury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III to 37 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Tetreault also agreed to forfeit the firearms recovered from his residence. Tetreault had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms, which carried a maximum sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
According to court records, on May 14, 2021, Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assisted the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in executing a search warrant at Kyle Tetreault’s residence in Middlebury. The search warrant related to an investigation into a number of state crimes committed by Tetreault, including, failure to report big game, illegal taking of big game, and petit larceny. During the search, investigators found ten firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The firearms and ammunition were found throughout the house, some in plain view and others under household goods, such as the master bedroom mattress. Tetreault has multiple prior felony convictions and a 2015 federal felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This instant conviction is Tetreault’s second conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.After Tetreault’s sentencing, Sergeant Robert Currier of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department stated: “This case is an example of the Vermont Warden Service’s dedication to the protection of Vermont and its natural resources, which includes its strong working relationship with federal partners in law enforcement.”
This matter was investigated by the ATF and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the ATF and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in the investigation and prosecution of Tetreault.
This case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy L. Fuller. Tetreault was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Mary Nerino.
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. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn for more information.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Possessing Device to Convert Glock into Automatic FirearmRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Anthony Michael Brumfield, 24, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Brumfield previously pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of a Machine Gun.
On February 12, 2020, Brumfield posted a video on his social media account showing him in possession of two conversion devices, which are designed to convert Glock pistols into automatic firearms. These conversion devices are defined as machine guns under federal law. On the same date, Brumfield sold one of the conversion devices to another individual.
“Conversion devices like the ones possessed by the defendant are inherently dangerous,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “And let’s be clear: these aren’t used for hunting, or for personal protection. These devices are drivers of violence in communities across America.”
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.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00889-TUC-SHR (EJM)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-092_Brumfield# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Offenses Related to Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A man from San Bernardino, California, and two Las Vegas residents were sentenced to prison last week in three separate human trafficking related investigations.
Tyler Sampson (26), a San Bernadino, California resident, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Andrew P. Gordon to six and half years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. On March 15, 2022, Sampson pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on July 19, 2021, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers were patrolling a portion of Tropicana Avenue that was known for prostitution. Sampson’s car was illegally parked in the area. A woman spoke with the officers and told them Sampson was a “pimp.” Officers approached Sampson’s car to investigate and ultimately located a pistol sticking out from underneath the driver’s seat. Officers recovered a loaded .40 caliber Glock 22 pistol. Because Sampson has prior felony convictions in Los Angeles County, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Officers also searched Sampson’s cell phone and found videos of child pornography depicting a suspected human trafficking victim.
In a separate case, John Glen Burnett (59), a Las Vegas resident, was sentenced by Judge Gordon to nine years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty on January 11, 2022, to coercion and enticement.
According to court documents, on September 17, 2021, Burnett responded to an online prostitution advertisement and exchanged messages with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old prostitute. He agreed to pay $100 to the girl in exchange for her to engage in sex acts with him. A couple of hours later, Burnett drove to the agreed upon location where he was arrested by law enforcement.
In another case, Tamarion Williams (22), a Las Vegas resident, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan to 30-months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty on March 11, 2022, to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in November 2020, Williams used social media to post photographs of himself holding a gun. William’s probation officer saw the posts and notified the police who obtained a search warrant. Officers recovered the same .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol shown in the posts and arrested Williams. In 2019, Williams was convicted of Pandering and Battery with Substantial Bodily Harm in Clark County. As a result of these felony convictions, Williams is not allowed to possess a firearm.
These cases were jointly investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The cases were 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 Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Report child sexual exploitation to NCMEC by calling the hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
###
Stoughton Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to firearm offenses.
Michael Robert Moura, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and one count of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for Oct. 11, 2022. Moura was arrested and charged in April 2021.
Over the course of several months in 2020 and again in February 2021, Moura sought to purchase a firearm. On the morning of April 28, 2021, Moura purchased a Glock handgun, an assault rifle, pistol and rifle magazines and over 100 rounds of ammunition in a parking lot in Brockton. Shortly thereafter, Moura was arrested and the illegally obtained handgun, rifle, ammunition and magazines were seized.
Moura is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to an April 2020 conviction in Worcester County punishable by more than one year in prison.
Both charges provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided the Brockton and Stoughton Police Departments. The investigation was led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Tolkoff and Timothy Kistner of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Spencer, Iowa Man, Who Twice Illegally Possessed Firearms, Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed two separate guns, on two separate occasions, was sentenced, June 3, 2022, to more than 8 years in federal prison.
Demetrius Wright, 41, from Spencer, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 19, 2021, guilty plea to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case revealed Wright, on two occasions in 2021, illegally possessed two different guns, a Glock .22 Caliber semi-automatic handgun and a Smith and Wesson, M&P 15-22, .22 LR Caliber semi-automatic handgun.
This after Wright had been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in January 2017, and while he was subject to two different protection orders, issued in Iowa and Florida. Each of these prohibitions prohibited Wright from lawfully possessing firearms.
On April 23, 2021, in Spencer, Iowa Wright possessed the Smith and Wesson, M&P 15-22, .22 LR caliber pistol after it was “straw purchased” for him by another person. Wright then used it in an attempt to threaten another person by making a threatening video with the firearm.
On or about August 1, 2021, in Sioux City, Iowa Wright possessed the Glock .22 Caliber semi-automatic handgun after another person used it to commit a shooting in an apparent effort to conceal it from law enforcement investigating the shooting.
Wright was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wright was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve 36 months of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Spencer, Iowa Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, the Clay and Woodbury County Attorneys’ Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety: Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4071. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
South Texas mayor arrestedRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – The Mayor of Penitas has been charged with bribery and fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Authorities took Rodrigo Lopez, 38, into custody today as he re-entered the United States at a Port of Entry in Hidalgo County.He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano tomorrow at 11 a.m.
The two-count indictment, returned June 1 and unsealed today, charges Lopez with embezzling or fraudulently obtaining property of the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD). From March through August of 2018, LJISD allegedly made purchases totaling approximately $70,010 from Lopez’s company Xizaka LLC.
Lopez offered or gave a bribe to an LJISD employee in connection with these purchases, according to the allegations.
If convicted, Lopez faces up to 10 years on each count.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; Texas Department of Insurance; McAllen Police Department and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez is prosecuting the case.An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Self-Professed Charleston Gang Member Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Travis Stefenon Dequan Lawrence, 29, of Charleston, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that Lawrence was a felon and self-professed member of a dangerous street gang. When he was arrested, he was in possession of a stolen pistol with a magazine holding 17 rounds of hollow point ammunition. His record shows that he has been involved in criminal activity since he was 14 years old.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Lawrence to 84 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell prosecuted the case in federal court in coordination with Assistant Solicitor Stephanie Linder of the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
###
Sanostee man charged with second degree murderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Tyrone Atcitty Nez was charged by criminal complaint with second degree murder in Indian Country. Nez, 33, of Sanostee, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, made an initial appearance in federal court today and will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for June 15.
According to the complaint, on June 8, Nez allegedly fatally assaulted a man, identified as John Doe, in the home where Nez resides near Sanostee on the Navajo Nation. Nez allegedly punched John Doe in the face, rendering John Doe unconscious. Nez then allegedly stomped the victim in the face several times.
Neighbors called 911. Emergency Medical Services were unable to revive John Doe, and Navajo Police arrested Nez.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Nez faces up to life in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Readout of Latest Justice Department Leadership Meeting on Joint Task Force Alpha’s Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking EffortsRead the Press Release
Last week, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division convened a meeting in San Diego to highlight the progress of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTF Alpha) in recognition of the one-year anniversary since its formation.
AAG Polite brought senior leadership from the Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) together with members of the task force to discuss how to ensure that JTF Alpha is empowered to continue its significant progress moving forward. Participants included U.S. Attorneys Randy S. Grossman for the Southern District of California, who helped host the meeting, Jennifer Lowery for the Southern District of Texas, Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas; Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Savel for the District of Arizona; Assistant Director Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and interagency members of JTF Alpha.
Since its creation, JTF Alpha has successfully increased coordination and collaboration between the Justice Department and DHS, and with foreign law enforcement partners, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras; targeted those organizations who have the most impact on the United States, and coordinated significant smuggling indictments and extradition efforts in U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country. JTF Alpha has been comprised of detailees from southwest border U.S. Attorney’s Offices, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California, and dedicated support for the program is also provided by numerous components of the Criminal Division that are part of JTF Alpha – led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), the Office of International Affairs (OIA), and the Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). JTF Alpha is made possible by substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners.
Leading up to the meeting, AAG Polite led senior leaders from the Justice Department and DHS components in a visit to the southwest border in San Diego. AAG Polite and other senior leaders met with law enforcement officials at the border and received briefings on current operations. The tour provided an important perspective on challenges presented by transnational criminal organizations involved in human smuggling and other crimes who impact border security efforts by land, sea, and air.
“I am proud of the success of Joint Task Force Alpha,” said AAG Polite. “We are better at dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and elsewhere because we are a stronger, unified law enforcement team. I believe our collective efforts to combat these crimes will continue to generate immediate results, while building towards greater, enduring positive impacts.”
At the outset of the meeting, AAG Polite expressed his appreciation for the broad and continued support of JTF Alpha and highlighted that, in its first year, this joint law enforcement effort has resulted in substantial disruption through specific and general deterrence – collaborating on numerous high priority investigations and cases of significant organizations and their key leaders and facilitators, resulting in dozens of arrests, indictments, and convictions both in the United States and with foreign law enforcement partners, along with obtaining substantial jail sentences and asset forfeiture. AAG Polite praised the partnership between a myriad of law enforcement agencies in attendance, including ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP, U.S. Coast Guard, the FBI, and the DEA in concert with JTF Alpha prosecutors, to tackle this important mission.
The U.S. Attorneys, Chief Assistants, and their designated JTF Alpha prosecutors spoke about smuggling trends and challenges in their respective districts and ways to better employ JTF Alpha resources. ICE Assistant Director Cagen and CBP Acting Commissioner Miller spoke about the need to continue coordinating law enforcement counter-network strategies and prioritizing support for JTF Alpha.
Participants discussed ways to further advance JTF Alpha’s mission to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras; and to identify ways to strengthen efforts to disrupt and dismantle those human smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse or exploit those being smuggled, pose national security risks, or have links to transnational organized crime.
JTF Alpha leadership provided an assessment of the initiative’s progress thus far and its plans to continue and enhance its work; and prosecutors and agents presented case studies and discussed various investigations and successful cases including: A Bangladeshi national sentenced to 46 months in prison for his role in a scheme to smuggle undocumented individuals from Mexico into the United States, the takedown of a prolific transnational human smuggling organization operating in Nogales, Sonora, along the U.S.-Mexico border, the over 38-year prison sentence of a Cuban national who was using his border ranch as a criminal corridor to further his drug trafficking and human smuggling activities, and the sentencing of two human smugglers responsible for attempting to smuggle 14 Mexican citizens by sea to the shores of La Jolla, California, resulting in the tragic drowning death of a 43-year-old passenger, the guilty pleas and sentencings in Arizona of individuals involved in human smuggling organizations responsible for smuggling, transporting, and harboring over 100 undocumented nationals from Guatemala and Mexico, and the indictment of eight defendants on charges of human smuggling and drug smuggling for their involvement in an international scheme to smuggle 24 undocumented individuals and cocaine from Honduras into Louisiana via boat. Additionally, JTF Alpha leadership identified enhancements made to increase the efficiencies of the Task Force model at the local and national level and discussed ways to better foster interagency collaboration to target criminal organizations involved in smuggling and related crimes in and through the region.
The meeting ended with a commitment of continued support for JTF Alpha’s work and that of the assigned prosecutors devoted to the task force from each district. ICE Assistant Director Cagen and CBP Acting Commissioner Miller committed to ensuring that law enforcement strategies prioritize JTF Alpha support, enhance information sharing, and focus on investigative collaboration. AAG Polite confirmed that the Criminal Division, including numerous components that participate in the initiative, remains steadfast in its support and prioritization of JTF Alpha and assured everyone that the department is focused on its continued success. AAG Polite also thanked the meeting attendees for their valuable and faithful service, and for the professionalism and inestimable dedication of the prosecutors, agents, analysts, and all other personnel supporting JTF Alpha.