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25 July 2022
Rockledge Man Sentenced to Four Years for Conspiring to Distribute Pharmaceutical Opiates from IndiaRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Michael Achille (57, Rockledge) to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute tapentadol, a pharmaceutical opiate that is a Schedule II controlled substance. Achille had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022.
According to court documents, Achille worked with conspirators to obtain international shipments containing thousands of pills of tapentadol, among other pharmaceutical controlled substances. The pills were sent to Achille from locations in India. Achille directed the packages to a fake name at an address in Cape Canaveral where he could retrieve the shipments. Achille then redistributed the pills in smaller quantities and shipped hundreds of those pills to addresses in Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, and other locations. The investigation revealed multiple shipments received by Achille in December and January 2021 involving more than 11,000 pills.
“Trafficking narcotics destroys the fabric of society and make victims out of communities,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “The outstanding law enforcement partnerships between HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Rockledge Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office ensured this criminal will now face the consequences of his actions.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Rensselaer Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Pandemic-Related FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hector J. Sanchez, age 30, of Rensselaer, New York, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for defrauding pandemic-related unemployment insurance and small business loan programs.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of his prior guilty plea, Sanchez admitted to making false unemployment insurance claims to the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) using the identifying information of other people and personally receiving $131,560 in pandemic-related benefits. He also admitted to obtaining a $12,500 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for a non-existent car wash business. Sanchez agreed to pay restitution to NYSDOL and the PPP lender.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino ordered Sanchez’s federal sentence to be served consecutive to undischarged New York State terms of imprisonment for separate firearms and narcotics offenses. Judge D’Agostino also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after Sanchez is released from prison.
The case was investigated by USPIS, USDOL-OIG, and HSI, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations and the Albany Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Chisholm.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Rapid City Man Charged with Causing a Fire and Careless DrivingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Causing a Fire, Use of a Motor Vehicle off Designated Roadways, and Careless and Reckless Driving.
Dillon Rose, age 22, was indicted on May 19, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollman on July 20, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to six months in custody and/or a $1,500 fine, and $10 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on March 6, 2021, in Custer County, Rose carelessly and recklessly operated a motor vehicle off a designated roadway on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands and caused a fire that burned approximately 2,600 acres.
The charges are merely accusations and Rose is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Rose was released on bond pending trial. A trial date of September 27, 2022, has been set.
Repeat Offender from Cheyenne Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced today that DANIEL PATRICK GUTIERREZ, age 36, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm on July 15, 2022 before Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson. Gutierrez was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment, 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $400 in special assessments.
In December 2020, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation began an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in Natrona County. The investigation revealed that Gutierrez was purchasing pound-quantities of methamphetamine in the Denver area. He would often trade firearms for methamphetamine. Gutierrez, with the help of his co-conspirators, was responsible for the distribution of over seven pounds of methamphetamine in the Cheyenne and Casper areas. On August 13, 2021, Gutierrez was arrested and law enforcement found firearms and ammunition in a search of his Cheyenne home.
“Thanks to the cooperation of multiple local law enforcement agencies in this case, the government removed dangerous firearms and methamphetamine from the streets of Casper and Cheyenne,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vassallo. “Gutierrez was previously convicted of two prior serious felony drug convictions – once in 2003 and again in 2009. Despite these interactions with the criminal justice system, Gutierrez continued to engage in criminal conduct that endangered communities across Wyoming. The long prison sentence Gutierrez has been ordered to serve ensures that a dangerous, repeat offender is removed from our community.”This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Casper Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cheyenne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christyne M. Martens and Margaret M. Vierbuchen.
Case Number: 0:22-cr-00007-ABJ
Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Pandemic-Related Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Melvin Ansong, age 26, of Corona, New York, pled guilty today to mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud in connection with schemes in which he obtained more than $190,000 in unemployment insurance benefits and government-backed loans meant to provide relief from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
In pleading guilty, Ansong admitted that he fraudulently obtained $165,182 in unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) in the names of 13 other people and an additional $18,480 in benefits from the Arizona Department of Economic Security in the name of another individual. Ansong further admitted that he fraudulently obtained an $8,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) by claiming that he owned a pet grooming company when in fact no such company existed.
As part of his plea agreement, Ansong agreed to pay restitution in the amounts of $165,182 to the State of New York, $18,480 to the State of Arizona, and $8,000 to the SBA.
The mail and wire fraud convictions each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The aggravated identity theft conviction carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. Ansong is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2022 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and the NYSDOL’s Office of Special Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court on July 22, 2022, to violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Ronald Lewis III, 34, formerly of the City’s East Hills neighborhood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (in the form commonly known as “crack”) 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 a telephone utilized by codefendant Victor Simmons, who was convicted in February 2021 of conspiring with Lewis to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Through those intercepted communications, surveillance, and other evidence, the Government would have proven that Lewis distributed cocaine base to Simmons on several occasions between January and April 2020, which Simmons, in turn, redistributed to others. In connection with his plea, Lewis admitted that the quantity of cocaine base attributable to him was at least 28 grams but less than 112 grams.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for December 2022. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court returned Lewis to the custody of the United States Marshals Service. The defendant has been detained since his arrest in May 2020.
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.
Pilot Charged in Cocaine Trafficking Scheme Extradited from ParaguayRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that RONIER SANCHEZ ALONSO, 46, a citizen of Mexico who is charged in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, has been extradited from Paraguay.
On December 14, 2016, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging Sanchez and others with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on board an aircraft registered in the U.S. Sanchez has been detained since he was arrested in Asuncion, Paraguay, on March 25, 2021.
Sanchez is scheduled to be arraigned today at 2:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford.
As alleged in court documents, Sanchez conspired with others to transport approximately 1700 kilograms of cocaine from South America to the U.S. On August 6, 2016, Sanchez and Rupert De Las Casas flew a private jet, which was registered in the U.S., from the Dominican Republic to Venezuela where the cocaine was to be loaded onto the jet. De Las Casas was the pilot and Sanchez was the co-pilot. From Venezuela, the jet was to fly to Honduras where the cocaine would be loaded onto trucks for transport through Mexico into the U.S. A fake flight plan filed with Dominican authorities reported that the plane was traveling to Brazil. The plane crash-landed just short of a landing strip in Venezuela. Sanchez, De Las Casas and another co-conspirator evaded capture by Venezuelan authorities, and the cocaine was diverted back to Colombia.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
De Las Casas, who last resided in Florida, pleaded guilty and is detained while awaiting sentencing.
Another co-conspirator, Arrinson De La Cruz, who had worked at an airport in the Dominican Republic and helped to coordinate the travel of the jet through the airport uninterrupted, was charged separately for his role in this scheme and other drug trafficking activity. De La Cruz, a citizen of the Dominican Republic who had resided in Wolcott, Connecticut, pleaded guilty and, on November 20, 2019, was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, which includes members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments. The DEA Country Office in Paraguay, Interpol and the Paraguayan National Police have assisted the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. State Department for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter, the U.S. Marshals Service for managing the defendant’s safe transport from Paraguay to the U.S., and Paraguayan Attorney General Sandra Quiñonez and her office for their assistance with the extradition.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Six Valley Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Anthony Medina, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi to 40 months in prison. Medina previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Bank Robbery. Medina was also ordered to pay full restitution for losses sustained during the six bank robberies.
Over the course of two months in 2021, Medina committed six bank robberies. He stole money from Phoenix branches of Chase Bank, Desert Financial Credit Union, US Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank. Medina was apprehended after fleeing the scene of the sixth robbery. Medina committed the robberies to obtain money to purchase fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The FBI, assisted by the Phoenix Police Department, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleen Schoch, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00539-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-123_MEDINA# # #
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.
New Britain Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Crack in HartfordRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAMUEL QUILES, 38, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2019, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police initiated an investigation targeting drug dealers and their drug suppliers who were operating principally in Hartford’s South End. The investigation revealed that Quiles, who had a lengthy criminal history, was selling narcotics in the area of Heath and Rowe Streets in Hartford. Between January and March 2020, investigators made controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack from Quiles and a 16-year-old juvenile he employed.
Quiles was arrested on March 4, 2020, on a state warrant charging him with firearm and reckless endangerment offenses related to a shooting incident that occurred in January 2019. While detained in state custody, Quiles arranged for his girlfriend, Iris Colon, to continue his narcotics trafficking activities. Colon was arrested on April 15, 2020. At the time of her arrest a search of Quiles’ and Colon’s Dwight Street residence revealed approximately 130 grams of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia.
Quiles has been detained since his state arrest. On February 22, 2022, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams of fentanyl and a detectable amount of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).
Colon pleaded guilty to the same charge on February 24, 2022, and awaits sentencing.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Naturalized U.S. Citizen Guilty of International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A naturalized U.S. citizen who had been living in India was convicted of obstructing the parental rights of his child’s mother by kidnapping the child and failing to return the child to the United States when ordered to do so, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Amitkumar Kanubhai Patel, 38, of Vadodara, India, formerly of Edison, New Jersey, was convicted on July 22, 2022, of one count of international parental kidnapping following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
The child’s mother and Patel were in a relationship and resided together in New Jersey from August 2015 through July 2017. The two never married. In November 2016, Patel and the child’s mother had a child, who was born in Edison Township.
According to the child’s mother, Patel wanted to take the child to India to introduce him to Patel’s parents and obtain DNA testing, which Patel claimed was necessary for the child to claim property that Patel’s family owned in India. Patel also told the child’s mother that in order to obtain an Indian visa for the child, he would need to secure sole custody, which required them to go to court. Patel instructed the mother to tell the court that they had a mutual understanding regarding the custody of their child. Patel instructed the mother to state that she did not have a work permit, and since she was unemployed, she could not care for her child.
On May 1, 2017, Patel took the child’s mother to New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division Family Court, in order to obtain sole custody of the child. According to the mother, the majority of the hearing was conducted in English with no translator. At the time of the hearing, the mother spoke limited English. The mother answered the court’s questions as she had been instructed by Patel. The mother was not represented by an attorney during the hearing.
On May 2, 2017, the New Jersey Superior Court granted Patel sole legal custody of the child premised on the consent of the child’s mother to the arrangement, but specifically reserved for the mother the ability to file for joint legal custody if she so chose in future. Upon receiving the court order, Patel obtained visas to India for himself and the child, and booked air travel, telling the child’s mother that they would only be gone for two weeks to a month. Patel then took the child to India and after several days in India, called the mother and said that he was never bringing the child back to the United States. The child’s mother obtained legal counsel and returned to the New Jersey Superior Court. On Oct. 16, 2018, the New Jersey Superior Court entered an order directing Patel to return the child to the United States immediately.
On Oct. 19, 2018, the mother’s counsel emailed the October 16, 2018, family court order to Patel, who did not return the child to the United States. On Oct. 2, 2020, Patel and the child flew from India to the United Kingdom. Upon arrival, Patel was arrested based on a provisional arrest request submitted by the United States. After a custody hearing in London pursuant to the Hague Convention, the London Court ordered it was in the best interest of the child that the child be returned to his paternal grandparents in India. Patel was subsequently extradited to the United States to stand trial.
The international parental kidnapping offense of which Patel stands convicted carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 22, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline McGuire in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdict. U.S. Attorney Sellinger also thanked members of the Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police for their assistance in the extradition.
The government is represented by Deputy U.S. Attorney Andrew Carey and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney=s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Morgan Hill Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years for Child Sexual Abuse OffensesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Johnny Ray Wolfenbarger was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for the attempted production of child pornography, the attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in child pornography production, and the receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Edward J. Davila.
“All children, wherever they are, must be protected from being preyed upon by a sexual predator,” said United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds. “Johnny Ray Wolfenbarger leveraged the extreme poverty and desperation of foreign families to perpetrate sexual abuse on their young children. His prison sentence reflects these vile acts and the immeasurable harm he caused to these children’s lives.”
“Child exploitation deprives children of their basic rights to safety and well-being. The physical and emotional trauma the defendant inflicted on child victims may alter their lives for years to come,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. “Children deserve to be free from exploitation. It is of utmost importance to the FBI that children are made safe and that the creators of child pornography are caught and pay for their crimes.”
“CBP protects the public from many threats. The prosecution of child predators is only one aspect of our multi-faceted mission,” said CBP Acting Director of Field Operations Bruce Murley. “We will continue to work closely with our Federal and State law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable in our society.”
Wolfenbarger, 65, of Morgan Hill, was convicted by a federal jury on August 12, 2021, of all child sexual abuse offenses charged against him. According to evidence presented at trial, the FBI initiated an investigation into Wolfenbarger after receiving a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Wolfenbarger received and distributed child pornography using his email account. In 2016, a federal magistrate judge issued a search warrant authorizing the FBI to examine the contents of the email account for child pornography. The FBI executed the warrant on the email account and discovered numerous images and videos of child pornography, chats detailing Wolfenbarger’s solicitation of livestreamed child sex abuse shows, and receipts for money transfers by Wolfenbarger to numerous sex traffickers the Philippines who were selling these shows. The chats demonstrated that Wolfenbarger customized these livestreamed sex shows by directing the children to engage in specific sex acts on camera.
Further trial evidence showed Wolfenbarger traveled to the Philippines throughout 2015 and early 2016. On August 2, 2016, he returned to the United States. Upon his arrival, an FBI Special Agent interviewed Wolfenbarger. Wolfenbarger admitted during the interview that the email account belonged to him. He further admitted that he solicited, paid for, and directed livestreamed child sex abuse shows from numerous women in the Philippines. Wolfenbarger directed the children in the shows to engage in sex acts by themselves, upon each other, and upon adults, and directed the use of bottles, vibrators, and other sex toys during these acts. He also directed adults in the show to engage in sex acts upon the children and to use the sex toys upon them. The children who were in these shows engaging in sex acts, Wolfenbarger admitted, were twelve years old and younger – including as young as four years old.
Wolfenbarger further described that he watched the livestreamed child sex abuse on his desktop and laptop computers at his home in California. Trial evidence showed that he paid for the live webcam sessions via Western Union and by using the tip function of the webcam service. Western Union records documented over $25,000 in money transfers from Wolfenbarger to individuals in the Philippines. On several occasions, Wolfenbarger sent money to the children or their guardians for living expenses and to purchase sex toys and web cams, with the explicit understanding that he would receive sex shows in return.
The government’s trial evidence included Wolfenbarger’s recorded statements, records of his chats, images and videos of child pornography attached to emails that Wolfenbarger received and sent, and Western Union records of money transfers sent by Wolfenbarger to pay for the livestreamed child sex abuse.
In a memo filed for sentencing, the government highlighted Wolfenbarger’s callousness towards the children. Online sexual exploitation of vulnerable children in the Philippines has greatly increased in recent years due to demand from pedophiles in wealthy Western nations, the government described. In this case, the government outlined how the extreme poverty of the young victims and their families provided extensive leverage to Wolfenbarger, who used his payments to induce the young victims and their families to create sex shows for him. Several sex chats feature victims’ requests for money to pay for food, overdue rent, school fees, and other necessities. As an example, in one chat a young victim asked Wolfenbarger for money to attend a school Christmas party with her cousin. Wolfenbarger wired her approximately $30 worth of Philippine Pesos, then added, “dad need a good show later my daughter.”
The federal jury convicted Wolfenbarger of all counts in the superseding indictment. The mandatory minimum and statutory maximum sentences for the crimes are as follows:
- for attempted production of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e): imprisonment for a minimum term of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years; and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and a maximum of life;
- for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in the production of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b): imprisonment for a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life; and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and a maximum of life; and
- for the receipt of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2): imprisonment for a minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years; and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and a maximum of life.
In addition to the 210 month prison term, Judge Davila sentenced Wolfenbarger to a 15 year term of supervision upon release from federal prison. The defendant was in custody at the hearing and begins serving his prison term immediately.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant United States Attorneys Marissa Harris and Maia Perez prosecuted the case, with the assistance of paralegal Mimi Lam and legal assistants Susan Kreider and Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Customs and Border Protection.
Mexican national admits to smuggling bundles of cocaine in car batteryRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 25-year-old woman has admitted to possession with intent to distribute more than four kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
On May 14, Marisol Sanchez-Sanchez attempted to drive a sport utility vehicle into the primary inspection lane of a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located near Sarita. There, authorities searched her vehicle and discovered four bundles of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle’s battery compartment.
The drugs weighed 4.4 kilograms and have an estimated street value of more than $100,000.
U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton will impose sentencing Oct. 19. At that time, Sanchez-Sanchez faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
BP and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin today sentenced Alexander Juarez-Sanchez, a/k/a Jose Manuel Flores, age 37, a citizen of Mexico most recently residing in Indianapolis, Indiana, to 210 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl and heroin, and for illegally re-entering the United States after removal. Juarez-Sanchez was convicted of those charges on May 31, 2022.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Field Office Director Lyle Boelens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Washington Division.
According to the evidence presented at his five-day trial, on August 5, 2020, Juarez-Sanchez and a co-conspirator were arrested near Hagerstown, Maryland, by officers of the Maryland State Police (MSP) following a traffic stop for following another vehicle too closely on I-81. The driver, who was driving a vehicle with expired Indiana license plates registered to another car, was not able to provide any identification, could not identify the passenger (Juarez-Sanchez), and fumbled through questions about where they were going. A K-9 unit was subsequently called, and after the dog alerted for drugs, a search of the vehicle yielded approximately $47,000 in cash, just under two kilograms of fentanyl and one kilogram of heroin, and other indicators of drug smuggling.
Juarez-Sanchez and the driver initially provided false names, however, their fingerprints and photographs matched those taken when they had previously been in United States Border Patrol or ICE custody. Evidence taken from the two men’s cell phones showed that, before their arrest, they had traveled directly from Burbank, California, where Juarez-Sanchez had obtained seven kilograms of drugs, four kilograms of which he had sold to a buyer in Kentucky for $44,000 the day before his arrest in Maryland. Phone evidence also revealed that the men had conducted a similar trip to California in early July 2020 and transported an unknown quantity of drugs for sale to a buyer in a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The driver entered a guilty plea in the case and is due to be sentenced in October 2022.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Maryland State Police, ICE ERO, and DEA for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy L. Schwartz, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Martinsburg man guilty of firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Descott Thomas Fedee, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Fedee, 32, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Fedee, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a .380 caliber pistol in May 2021 in Berkeley County.
Fedee faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Martinsburg man guilty of fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jayce Allen Holben, III, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a fentanyl charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Holben, 21, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Fentanyl.” Holben admitted to selling fentanyl in January 2021 in Berkeley County.
Holben faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Magalia Resident Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for $77,000 FEMA Fraud in Connection with the Paradise Camp FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Deborah Laughlin, 66, of Magalia, today to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $77,249 in restitution for making false statements in an application for FEMA benefits in connection with the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, FEMA provided disaster benefits to certain qualified individuals whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed in the Camp Fire. On Nov. 15, 2018, Laughlin falsely claimed a mobile home at 7209 Skyway in Paradise as her primary residence at the time of the Camp Fire. In fact, at the time of the Camp Fire, other individuals were renting and residing in the mobile home located at this address. Based on her false statement, she received $7,886 to replace essential items damaged by the disaster and $1,788 for two months of rental assistance. In addition, Laughlin received temporary housing from FEMA in a manufactured home from approximately June 2019 until April 2021. The money and housing Laughlin received caused an actual loss to the United States of at least $77,249.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger prosecuted the case.
Members of the public who suspect fraud involving disaster relief efforts, including California wildfires or COVID-19 relief efforts, or who believe they have been a victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. Alternatively, information can be submitted via email to [email protected].
Local Paving Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a local paving company pleaded guilty today to tax evasion in connection with a seven-year scheme to underreport income on his tax returns.
Robert Brainard, 52, of Weymouth, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Oct. 17, 2022. Brainard was charged on July 15, 2022.
Brainard, the former owner of Got Pavement Needs, Inc., underreported income on his personal tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2021, resulting in an income tax loss of more than $593,993. In addition, to hide his control of the business, Brainard transferred ownership of his company in a straw sale, while maintaining control over the company’s operations and income.
The charge of tax evasion provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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 and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Little Eagle Man Indicted for Burglary, Assault, and Arson ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for First Degree Burglary, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Domestic Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Arson.
Dustin Jade Red Fox, age 30, was indicted on July 11, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 21, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $500 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on June 21, 2022, in Little Eagle, Red Fox burglarized a home and assaulted one of its occupants. Red Fox then attempted to burn down the home by starting a fire.
The charges are merely accusations and Red Fox is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Red Fox was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Justice Department, EPA and State of Colorado Settlement with DCP Operating Company LP Resolves Clean Air Act Violations at Natural Gas Plants in ColoradoRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of Colorado today announced a settlement with DCP Operating Company LP and five other subsidiaries of DCP Midstream LP that will strengthen leak detection and repair practices at eight natural gas processing plants in Weld County, Colorado, located within the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area.
The settlement was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado along with a complaint that alleges DCP violated leak detection and repair requirements in federal and state clean air laws, resulting in excess emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other pollutants to the atmosphere. As part of the settlement, DCP will take corrective actions and pay a $3.25 million civil penalty for the alleged violations.
“Leaks from equipment like valves, pumps, and connectors are a significant source of harmful air pollutants,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Enforcement actions like this are critical to improving air quality, particularly in places facing air quality challenges like Weld County.”
“EPA continues to deliver cleaner air through the rigorous enforcement of the Clean Air Act,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This settlement will reduce emissions of over 288 tons of volatile organic compounds and 1,300 tons of methane from production areas near northern Colorado communities, a majority of which are disproportionately impacted by pollution.”
“The Air Pollution Control Division’s Leak Detection and Repair Program is among the most innovative programs in the nation. Because of our inspectors and enforcement action team, we are able to hold DCP accountable to reducing their emissions from potential leaks,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE). “The resources obtained from the settlement will help contribute to our Community Impact Fund, a program which supports community-led environmental justice projects.”
“The Colorado Attorney General’s Office is proud to support the Air Pollution Control Division in this important work to protect and improve Colorado’s air quality, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “This settlement serves as a model for addressing complex issues through collaboration between our state agencies and federal counterparts like EPA and the Department of Justice.”
Under the settlement, DCP has agreed to strengthen its leak detection and repair practices at the Greeley, Kersey/Mewbourne, Platteville, Roggen, Spindle, O’Connor and Lucerne natural gas processing plants, as well as the to-be-constructed Bighorn natural gas processing plant. These commitments include installing equipment that leaks less pollution to the atmosphere, reviewing compliance with leak detection and repair requirements, and repairing leaking equipment faster. DCP will also improve staff training for leak detection and repair at its facilities. Additionally, DCP has agreed to use optical gas imaging technology to improve the visual detection of leaks and address them quickly.
DCP will also install additional pollution reduction measures at the Kersey/Mewbourne natural gas processing plant that are intended to mitigate the harm caused by its past emissions. Specifically, DCP will install a dry seal recompression system on two turbines at the Kersey/Mewbourne plant. This project will cost an estimated $1.15 million and is expected to reduce VOC emissions by 26 tons per year and methane emissions by 375 tons per year.
The Denver Metro/North Front Range nonattainment area, which includes Weld County, does not meet national air quality standards for ground-level ozone pollution. Equipment leaks at DCP’s plants emit VOCs, which lead to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone contributes to serious public health concerns, including respiratory illness, aggravation of existing heart disease and temporary breathing difficulty for people with asthma. Young children and the elderly are especially sensitive to these impacts. Leaks from equipment at DCP’s plants also emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Working with CDPHE, EPA’s enforcement program is increasing efforts in Colorado to ensure compliance and protect the health of vulnerable populations. Several of the natural gas processing plants covered under this settlement are located in disproportionately impacted communities.
The consent decree is available for public viewing in the attached. The United States will publish a notice of the Consent Decree’s lodging with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado in the Federal Register, and will accept public comment for 30 days after the notice is published. The Federal Register notice will also include instructions for submitting public comment.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit and Proposed Consent Decrees to End Long-Running Conspiracy to Suppress Worker Pay at Poultry Processing Plants and Address Deceptive Abuses Against Poultry GrowersRead the Press Release
Decree Provisions Would Stop the Exchange of Compensation Information, Ban President of Data Consulting Firm from Industry, Subject Settling Poultry Processors to 10-Year Antitrust Compliance Monitor; Decree Would also Prohibit Deceptive Conduct Towards Chicken Growers that Lowers Their Compensation
The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against a data consulting firm and its president, as well as three poultry processors, to end a long-running conspiracy to exchange information about wages and benefits for poultry processing plant workers and collaborate with their competitors on compensation decisions in violation of the Sherman Act.
The lawsuit also alleges that two of the poultry processors violated the Packers and Stockyards Act by engaging in deceptive practices associated with the “tournament system,” which pits chicken growers against each other to determine their compensation. At the same time, the department filed proposed consent decrees with Defendants Webber, Meng, Sahl and Company (WMS) and its President, G. Jonathan Meng, as well as Cargill Inc., Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, Sanderson Farms Inc. and Wayne Farms LLC.
“Through a brazen scheme to exchange wage and benefit information, these poultry processors stifled competition and harmed a generation of plant workers who face demanding and sometimes dangerous conditions to earn a living,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s action puts companies and individuals on notice: the Antitrust Division will use all of its available legal authorities to address anticompetitive conduct that harms consumers, workers, farmers and other American producers.”
“I’m so pleased to see the close partnership between the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Justice Department has led to enforcement that is good for farmers,” said Andy Green, USDA’s Senior Advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets. “This resolution yields significant reforms to the poultry tournament system, including ending one of its most troubling aspects around deceptive base prices, and enhancing transparency in contracting, earnings and inputs that will protect and benefit growers — as USDA has proposed in our Packers & Stockyard Act rulemaking.”
If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree with data consulting firm WMS would ban WMS from providing surveys or any other services that facilitate the sharing of competitively sensitive information in any industry. Jonathan Meng, WMS’s President, is also subject to the terms of the consent decree in his individual capacity.
The proposed consent decree with defendant poultry processors Cargill, Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms would prohibit them from sharing competitively sensitive information about poultry processing plant workers’ compensation. It would also:
- Impose on the poultry processors a court-appointed compliance monitor who, for the next decade, will ensure their compliance with the terms of the proposed decree;
- Grant the court-appointed monitor broad authority to ensure their compliance with all federal antitrust laws as they relate to their poultry processing facilities, workers at their poultry processing plants, chicken growers, integrated poultry feed, hatcheries, transportation of poultry and poultry products, and the sale of poultry and submit regular reports on the processors’ antitrust compliance;
- Permit the Antitrust Division to inspect the processors’ facilities and interview their employees to ensure compliance with the consent decree; and
- Require the companies to commit to pay $84.8 million, collectively, in restitution for poultry processing plant workers who were harmed by the information exchange conspiracy.
These terms would expire 10 years after the consent decree is approved by the court.
Additionally, the proposed consent decree with Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms would resolve alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act, which prohibits, among other things, deceptive practices in poultry markets. As alleged in the complaint, poultry processors use a “tournament system” to adjust a chicken grower’s “base payment” based on how well the grower performs relative to other growers. The poultry processors, however, control nearly all the key inputs, including the chicks delivered to the growers and their poultry feed, that often determine a grower’s success. In allocating this financial risk to their chicken growers, Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms failed to provide information that would have allowed their growers to evaluate and manage their financial risk. The proposed consent decree would:
- Prevent Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms from penalizing chicken growers by reducing their base payments as a result of relative performance, while still allowing for incentive, bonus and other types of payments to growers;
- Require expanded information disclosures in grower contracts, consistent with proposed transparency rules set out by the USDA; and
- Prohibit retaliation against growers who raise antitrust concerns with the court-appointed compliance monitor or the government.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed consent decrees, along with the competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed consent decrees during a 60-day comment period to Lee F. Berger, Chief, Civil Conduct Task Force, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8600, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Today’s lawsuit is part of a broader investigation into anticompetitive labor market abuses in the poultry processing industry. Anyone with information about poultry industry collusion, competitors sharing non-public compensation information, anticompetitive conduct violations against workers or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected]. The division will forward complaints about the settling processor defendants to the court-appointed antitrust monitor where appropriate. Information about anticompetitive practices in livestock and poultry markets can also be submitted to the USDA and Justice Department Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership at www.farmerfairness.gov.
The claims resolved by the resolutions announced today are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Jury finds driver guilty of smuggling seven in tractor cabRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal jury in Laredo has convicted a 39-year-old man from Petal, Mississippi, for smuggling seven undocumented aliens in the sleeper cab of his tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before convicting Daniel McLaurin following a one-day trial.
On April 22, McLaurin drove his tractor-trailer into a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on IH-35 north of Laredo. At inspection, law enforcement asked McLaurin if there were any passengers in his vehicle. At that time, he stated that he had one passenger and that they were both U.S. citizens.
Shortly thereafter, authorities asked McLaurin if he would consent to drive his tractor-trailer through an X-ray scanner, and he agreed. It revealed images in the sleeper cab that appeared to be human bodies. They conducted a search and discovered seven undocumented individuals inside of the tractor cab.
Later, they were determined to be unlawfully present in the country.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, McLaurin faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000.00 maximum fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard A. Cantu and Brandon Bowling prosecuted the case.
Jessamine County Man Sentenced to 93 Months for Distribution of Marijuana and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Demetrius Burt Catching, 32, was sentenced to 93 months in federal prison on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, after pleading guilty to the distribution of marijuana and money laundering.
According to Catching’s plea agreement, he admitted to distributing marijuana in the Lexington area, and then taking the proceeds from the marijuana sales and placing large sports bets and wagers at various Indiana casinos. According to the plea, Catching was banned from one of the casinos, on January 9, 2021, so he recruited others to go in his place to make his wagers and bets. Cash from the wagers was deposited in bank accounts in Catching’s name. Catching was also ordered to forfeit approximately $215,000 in proceeds from his drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, and ordered to serve an additional, consecutive term of 55 months, for supervised release violations on previous convictions.
Catching pleaded guilty to the new charges in March 2021.
Under federal law, Catching must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigations; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Todd Justice, Nicholasville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS – Criminal Investigations, DEA, U.S. Probation Office, the Indiana Gaming Commission, and the Nicholasville Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Andrea Mattingly Williams.
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Jefferson County man facing 50-year prison term sentenced to 10 years for gun crimesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Today, U.S. District Judge John A. Ross sentenced a man from Jefferson County, Missouri who is already serving a 50-year prison term for the sexual exploitation of a minor to 10 years on gun charges. The 10-year sentence will be consecutive to the present 50-year prison term for a total of 60 years confinement.
On April 11, 2018, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies received a tip that Earl G. Rice Jr., who had active arrest warrants and a pending sex charge in St. Clair County, was preparing to flee to avoid arrest. Rice had a .45-caliber pistol in his pocket. After his arrest, deputies found more than 70 other rifles and shotguns, as well as two silencers.
Rice was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in 2018 on one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one felony count of possession of firearms without a serial number. A jury convicted Rice, 63, of those charges in March.
Rice was indicted in 2019 in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois on charges of child enticement, travel with the intent to engage in sex with a minor and producing sexually explicit images of that minor.
On Valentine’s Day in 2018, Rice drove from his home in Dittmer to the victim’s home in Belleville, then took her to a motel where he engaged in sex acts with her and produced sexually explicit images of her. He was convicted of those charges last year and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken prosecuted the case.
Guilty Verdict in Eight-year Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on Monday a federal jury convicted a Bear, Delaware couple on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and various other money laundering offenses, in connection with an eight-year scheme to launder drug proceeds. The jury separately found that thirteen real properties were involved in the money laundering offenses and subject to criminal forfeiture. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, sitting by designation, accepted the verdict.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between 2009 and 2017, Omar Morales Colon, age 45, and his wife Shakira Martinez, age 44, laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds through the purchase of real estate properties in Delaware and Pennsylvania using their company, Zemi Property Management. They deposited drug money into several different bank accounts – and asked their friends and family members to do the same – and then used those funds to buy cashier’s checks that funded the property purchases. The government also presented evidence at trial that Colon made improvements to those properties using drug proceeds, including paying cash to have an underground bunker installed beneath his home in Bear, Delaware.
Colon was arrested on May 6, 2017, shortly after giving his cocaine supplier $382,045 in cash in a hotel parking lot in Newark, Delaware. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) subsequently discovered the secret underground bunker beneath Colon’s residence, accessed by a tunnel behind a false fireplace, in which Colon hid a marijuana grow operation.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented on the case, “The defendant was a sophisticated drug trafficker who conspired with others, including members of the Sinaloa cartel, to bring vast amounts of cocaine into Delaware. He and Ms. Martinez also laundered the proceeds of his drug activity through the U.S. financial system. The DEA’s investigation led to the seizure of 17 kilograms of cocaine, pounds of marijuana, nearly $1 million in cash, and the conviction of a major drug trafficker. My office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who profit from illegal drug operations by not only prosecuting them, but also endeavoring to deprive them of the fruits of their illegal activities.
“Colon and Martinez underestimated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agents’ hallmark expertise,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. These defendants thought they could hide the source of their ill-gotten gains, but the overwhelming evidence presented to the jury during trial showed just how wrong they were. This guilty verdict is a reminder that our commitment to unraveling complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes remain unwavering.”
Colon was convicted in September 2021 of related counts – conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Colon faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison when sentenced, with a maximum of life. Martinez faces a maximum of twenty years in prison. Judge Bibas will determine the defendants’ sentences, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer K. Welsh and Meredith C. Ruggles are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by the DEA Philadelphia Division and the IRS-Criminal Investigation.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-00047-LPS.
Four Defendants Sentenced in North Alabama Virtual Education SchemeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – This week, four individuals were sentenced to federal prison for their part in a scheme to fraudulently enroll students in Alabama virtual schools, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.
Today, the former superintendent of the Athens City Schools district, William L. (“Trey”) Holladay, III, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,865,948.60 in restitution to Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). During the same hearing, Gregory (“Greg”) Earl Corkren received a sentence of 22 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $1,303,514.28 in restitution to ALDSE. Finally, David Webb Tutt was also sentenced today to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $15,000.00, plus $258,920.04 in restitution to ALDSE.
Earlier this week, Thomas Michael Sisk, formerly the superintendent of the Limestone County School district, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $15,000.00 and restitution in the amount of $13,000.00 to ALDSE. Each defendant will be subject to three years of supervised release after serving his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
All four defendants had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently enroll students in public virtual schools and then falsely reporting those students to ALDSE. As a result of this conduct, districts received payments from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund as if the students actually attended public schools. The various defendants then received, for their own personal use, portions of the state money. The defendants skimmed the state money through direct cash payments and payments to third-party contractors owned by the various co-conspirators. Corkren also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
In March of this year, another defendant charged in the scheme, William Richard (“Rick”) Carter, Jr., was found guilty after a four-week trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Carter’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 3, 2022.
Four Charged in Big Island Affordable Housing Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against Paul Joseph Sulla, Jr., 76, and Gary Charles Zamber, 53, both attorneys residing on the island of Hawaii (“Big Island”), on July 21, 2022. Both defendants are charged with six counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. Sulla is also charged with one count of money laundering.
In addition, Alan Scott Rudo, 55, a former Housing Specialist for the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development, and Rajesh P. Budhabhatti, 62, a private businessman on the Big Island, were charged in separate informations with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Rudo pleaded guilty to the charge before United States Magistrate Judge Rom A. Trader on July 18, 2022.
The indictment alleges a conspiracy and a scheme to deprive the public of its right of honest services spanning more than six years. According to court documents and information presented in court, Rudo solicited and accepted multiple bribes and kickbacks from Sulla, Zamber and Budhabhatti in exchange for performing, and agreeing to perform, official acts while working for the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD).
According to the indictment and informations, the defendants deceived the public into believing that Rudo was dutifully working on their behalf to provide affordable housing, when in reality he was using his official position to obtain money from Sulla, Zamber and Budhabhatti in the form of bribes and kickbacks. Rudo abused his official position with the OHCD to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) involving Luna Loa Developments, LLC, West View Developments, LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa, LLC. These companies were variously owned, controlled, and used by the defendants to obtain public benefits related to development projects in South Kohala, Kailua-Kona, and Waikoloa. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained at least $10,980,000 worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs).
Sulla is also charged in the indictment with money laundering. According to the allegations, he laundered the proceeds of the conspiracy and scheme to commit honest services wire fraud in an attempt to conceal, among other things, the source, location, and ownership of those proceeds.
Indictments and informations are merely allegations, and defendants Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Budhabhatti is scheduled to enter a guilty plea to the information before United State District Judge Jill A. Otake on August 1, 2022. Rudo is set for sentencing before Judge Otake on October 31, 2022.
The crimes of conspiracy and scheme to commit honest services wire fraud each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, which in this case is over $1,000,000.
As part of the investigation, the United States has recovered over $2.3 million in criminal proceeds and 45 affordable housing credits connected to the charges. As part of his guilty plea, Rudo agreed to forfeit his interest in those funds and the 45 affordable housing credits, as well as other real estate connected to the charges. Rudo has also agreed to a money judgment against him in the amount of $2,114,170.
This case is the result of an on-going investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Sydney Spector are prosecuting the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Bryant D. Aron, age 37, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Aron was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, on May 24, 2019, Aron was the driver of a vehicle involved in a high-speed chase with the Fort Wayne Police Department. During the pursuit, Aron crashed his vehicle, then exited it, and led police on a short foot pursuit. At the time of his apprehension, a loaded magazine was found in his pocket. A loaded firearm was also found inside the vehicle. Aron’s prior criminal history revealed that he had multiple felony convictions out of Allen County Superior Court which prohibited his possession of a firearm or ammunition. Aaron was convicted of the illegal possession of the firearm and ammunition at the conclusion of a two-day jury trial.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A former registered nurse who worked in the Emergency Department at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital (SMJH) in Charlottesville, pled guilty today to obtaining controlled substances, fentanyl, and hydromorphone, by fraud.
Angelica Franklin, 36, of Chesterfield, Virginia, waived her right to be indicted and pled guilty today to one count of acquiring or obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation by fraud, forgery, or deception.
According to court documents, Franklin was a registered nurse with the Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Nursing. On August 16, 2021, she began working in the Emergency Department of SMJH in Charlottesville.
Franklin admitted today that in September 2021, she knowingly and intentionally entered fraudulent verbal orders for fentanyl and hydromorphone into the SMJH electronic medical records system on behalf of physicians who did not issue the verbal orders. Franklin then obtained the fentanyl and hydromorphone from the SMJH automated dispensing cabinet but did not administer the controlled substances to patients.
In addition, Franklin admitted to unlawfully obtaining controlled substances fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and alprazolam while working as a nurse at three Richmond-area health care facilities: Stony Point Surgery Center, Vibra Hospital, and The Laurels of Willow Creek.
In total, across all facilities, Franklin unlawfully obtained approximately 4,450 mcg of fentanyl, 80 mg of hydromorphone, 3,600 mg of oxycodone, and 14 mg of alprazolam.
Franklin is scheduled to be sentenced on November 10, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Washington Division Special Agent in Charge Jarod A. Forget, Richmond District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Metro Washington Field Office Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis of the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI).
The DEA, FDA-OCI, Virginia State Police, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Virginia Department of Health Professionals are investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Alexis Gregorian of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia provided valuable assistance.
Former Member of the National Guard Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm While Engaging in Violent Extremist Online DiscussionsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former member of the National Guard was sentenced today to 4 years and 9 months in prison for unlawfully possessing several firearms while also using illegal controlled substances.
According to court documents, on June 3, 2020, Francis Harker, 22, of Norfolk, and an associate discussed “interrupting an unjust stop” by trapping law enforcement at a shopping mall in Virginia Beach. Harker obtained a semi-automatic rifle the same day as that discussion, and falsely stated on the required purchase paperwork that he was not an unlawful user of any controlled substances, when in fact, he used illegal drugs, including LSD. The following year, he purchased a handgun and made the same false statement.
In a court authorized search on November 2021, the FBI found firearms and illegal drugs at his residence, as well as approximately 100 blank COVID-19 vaccination cards. Harker, who was a member of the National Guard, took the cards from the National Guard and mailed them to associates across the country. Harker’s electronic devices and social media accounts contained statements espousing violence towards law enforcement, extremism, and white supremacy. Images he possessed include an image emblazoned with the words “Rape the Cops,” an image of himself doing a Hitler salute, and imagery stating, “there is no god but Hitler.” Harker also admitted to interacting online with members of a group called “The Base”, which the defendant described as a “group interested in terrorism.” Also found during the search was a backpack in the trunk of Harker’s car that contained components for several Molotov cocktails.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Depadilla and Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-132.
Former Long Beach Police Officer Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography While on DutyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Long Beach Police officer was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for distributing sexually explicit images of children, including when he was on duty.
Anthony Brown, 57, formerly of Lakewood and who now resides in Island, Kentucky, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips, who also ordered him to pay a fine of $15,000 and to be placed on lifetime supervised release once he is released from prison.
Brown pleaded guilty on March 21 to one count of distribution of child pornography.
From October 2019 through May 2020, Brown used MeWe, an internet-based messaging application, to engage in graphic sex chats with other users in which he posed as his wife and discussed encouraging fictitious minor female relatives to participate in group sex acts. While logged on and while he was on duty as a Long Beach Police Department officer, Brown distributed images of teenage and prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Brown was a Long Beach Police officer for 27 years. He left the force in 2021 after his arrest on state charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office dismissed those charges in light of the federal case.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Long Beach Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathrynne N. Seiden of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Former Gadsden County Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with Narcotics Trafficking InvestigationRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Former Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office deputy Joseph Barnes, Jr., 54, of Chattahoochee, Florida, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of giving a false statement to a federal officer. The sentenced was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Criminal conduct by those sworn to uphold the law represents the greatest and most harmful betrayal of public trust,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “The corrupt acts of an individual law enforcement officer endanger, rather than protect, the public. Moreover, such illegal conduct erodes the public’s trust in the legions of brave men and women who faithfully honor their oaths and place their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe. We will vigorously investigate and prosecute any officer who betrays both their oath and the public’s trust.
Court documents reflect that during an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, agents determined that then-deputy Barnes was actively aiding an individual involved in the distribution of narcotics in the Gadsden County area. Covert recordings captured Barnes physically examining the drug trafficker’s vehicle to determine if law enforcement had attached a GPS tracking device prior to the vehicle’s use to transport illegal drugs. In a subsequent covert recording, Barnes used his Gadsden County K-9, which was trained to detect the odor of narcotics, to determine if a K-9 would alert to drugs within a hidden compartment of the drug trafficker’s vehicle. Barnes’ K-9 alerted to the presence of the narcotics, but Barnes took no law enforcement action. Instead, Barnes gave the trafficker advice on how to evade law enforcement detection in the future. When questioned later by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Barnes made multiple false statements regarding his awareness of the drug trafficking activity and his efforts to facilitate the criminal conduct. Upon Barnes’ arrest he was immediately terminated by the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.
“Law enforcement officers are given incredible power to enforce the law and ensure justice," said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Jacksonville. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always work together to stop abuse of power to insure the public's continued confidence in law enforcement. Any officer who tarnishes the badge by taking advantage of their position for personal gain must and will be held accountable.”
“Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect their community. When one violates that oath, it betrays the trust of the very people they are sworn to protect,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This sentence sends a clear message that DEA will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to hold those who participate or aid in the distribution of illegal narcotics accountable for their actions.”
The case stemmed from an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a joint federal, state, and local cooperative, which targets drug trafficking organizations. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. OCDETF Lead Task Force Attorney, Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former California Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations for Assaults on Inmates and Cover up Inside CSP-SacramentoRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Arturo Pacheco, 40, of Elk Grove, pleaded guilty today to criminal civil rights violations for the on‑duty assault of two inmates entrusted to his care and to submitting false reports about those incidents in an attempt to cover them up, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Pacheco was a correctional officer at California State Prison, Sacramento (CSP-Sacramento). On September 15, 2016, while escorting an inmate, Pacheco grabbed the legs of the inmate, pulling the legs out from under him. The inmate, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back, fell forward onto the concrete floor, breaking his jaw, several teeth, and suffering other injuries. That inmate was transported to UC Davis Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. Approximately two days later, the inmate suffered a pulmonary embolism and died. While the inmate was receiving treatment, Pacheco, a sergeant, and other correctional officers began falsifying reports to cover up the incident.
Following the death of the inmate, investigators uncovered a second incident involving Pacheco. In that incident, on May 19, 2016, Pacheco had, unprovoked, discharged a canister of pepper spray at short range into the eyes of an inmate who was inside of a prison cell. Pacheco falsified his report in that case to make it appear as though his actions were justified in order to save the life of the inmate. In reality, the inmate was fully complying with commands, and any use of force at that time was unlawful.
As outlined in the factual basis to his plea agreement, Pacheco sent text messages to a friend after the May 2016 incident, commenting how “funny” the incident was and “[i]t’s all about how u write ur report”, “plus ur partners have ur back.” As Pacheco said, “[b]lood, broken glass, n just u n ur partners. … Green light!”
“Pacheco deprived inmates of their civil rights, abusing his position of authority as a correctional officer to harm them,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “While Pacheco thought a ‘green wall’ or code of silence would protect him, he was wrong. His crimes have come to light and today he has admitted to his assaults and cover up. Those who violate the public’s trust by harming inmates ‘under the color of law’ or by covering up wrongdoing must and will be held accountable.”
“The FBI is deeply committed to protecting the rights of all Americans, and those rights do not stop behind the walls of our prisons,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Dennis Guertin. “Today’s guilty plea is the result of an intensive investigation conducted by the FBI and our partners at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the United States Attorney’s Office. Corruption and civil rights violations within our prisons are some of the most difficult to detect and investigate, and we encourage anyone who has knowledge of similar crimes to reach out to any FBI field office or submit information to tips.fbi.gov.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the cooperation of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Internal Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Rosanne L. Rust are prosecuting the case.
Pacheco remains out of custody pending sentencing. Fellow former California State Prison, Sacramento correctional officer, Ashley M. Aurich, charged separately, is pending sentencing as well.
Pacheco is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on October 17, 2022. Pacheco faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the false reporting counts and 10 years in prison on each of the assault counts and a $250,000 fine per count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Federal Court Bars Grand Rapids Physician from Prescribing Controlled Substances and Orders Civil Judgment over Forged Opioid PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – David D. Sova, D.O., of Grand Rapids entered into a settlement with the United States in which he agreed to a court order to never prescribe controlled substances. According to the terms of the consent decree entered by U.S. District Court Judge Jane M. Beckering, Dr. Sova is also ordered to pay $170,000 in civil penalties to resolve the United States’ allegations that he forged opioid prescriptions for his own use.
In its civil complaint, the United States alleges that Dr. Sova issued prescriptions for controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Specifically, the United States alleges that Dr. Sova issued prescriptions for the opioids oxycodone and hydrocodone purportedly written for one of his patients. However, this patient never received these prescriptions, as Dr. Sova arranged for them to be filled and collected for his own personal use.
“Responsibility to protect against diversion of controlled substances starts with the provider,” said U.S. Attorney Mark A. Totten. “When a physician breaks the rules and diverts controlled substances for their own use, they cannot be entrusted to prescribe controlled substances to others and must face the legal consequences of their own misconduct. My office will continue to work with DEA and state law enforcement to enforce compliance with controlled substance prescribing laws.”
“Medical and dental professionals must not abuse the privilege of prescribing controlled substances,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene, Detroit Field Division. “DEA will continue to work with all levels of law enforcement to investigate allegations of unlawful prescribing.”
This case was investigated by DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Hull represented the United States.
The complaint and consent decree in this case can be found on the Court’s online docket under United States v. Sova, No. 1:22-cv-658 (W.D. Mich.).
The claims resolved by the consent decree are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Erie Man Sentenced for Selling HeroinRead the Press Release
Erie, Pa - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months in jail on his conviction of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Alberto Arroyo-Amaro, 24.
According to information presented to the court, Arroyo-Amaro was involved in a sale of 41.91 grams of heroin on or about August 22, 2018.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Baxter stated, “The scourge of heroin in our community has led to many broken hearts and broken families.”
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Arroyo-Amaro.
Dulce man indicted for assault, kidnapping in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico announced today that Shondo DeJesus was arraigned on a two-count indictment charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and kidnapping in Indian Country. DeJesus, 35, of Dulce, New Mexico, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted DeJesus on July 14. On March 5, DeJesus allegedly assaulted a victim, identified in the indictment as Jane Doe, at his home in Ducle. Afterward, DeJesus allegedly kept Jane Doe in the home against her will until March 7. DeJesus allegedly committed the crimes on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. Both DeJesus and Jane Doe are enrolled members of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, DeJesus faces up to 10 years in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and up to life in prison for kidnapping.
The Jicarilla Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
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District of Columbia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Killing Man in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gregory Washington, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 14-year prison term for confronting and killing a man at his ex-wife’s apartment in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Washington pleaded guilty in April 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to voluntary manslaughter while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a 14-year prison term, consistent with the Court’s voluntary sentencing guidelines. The Honorable Rainey R. Brandt accepted the plea and sentenced him accordingly. Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Washington and his ex-wife had divorced in 2019 after less than a year of marriage. His communications with her made clear that he wanted to reunite, but she rejected that plan. On Oct. 24, 2019, Washington drove to his ex-wife’s apartment in the 900 block of 21st Street NE. He crept into the apartment about 5:10 a.m., and confronted the victim, Alie Labay, who was there with Washington’s ex-wife. The two men tussled, and Washington shot Mr. Labay three times. Mr. Labay, 32, who was unarmed, suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, back and arm. He died a short time later.
Washington fled the apartment after the shooting. He was arrested on Nov. 26, 2019. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Amy Trotto and former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker. Finally, they acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Prava Palacharla, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Declo Man Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Melvin Misael Alcaraz-Valdez, of Declo, Idaho, was sentenced to federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, today. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Alcaraz-Valdez to 135 months. Alcaraz-Valdez, upon completion of his time, was ordered to serve an additional five years of supervised release.
According to court records, in March 2020 through March of 2021, law enforcement investigated multiple individuals for distributing methamphetamine in the Minidoka and Cassia County area. Through the use of surveillance, undercover officers, controlled purchases, and search warrants, law enforcement found that Alcaraz-Valdez was actively engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine and was in possession of large quantities of methamphetamine. During the investigation law enforcement recovered more than four (4) pounds of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Idaho State Police, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa Police Department, and Ada County Sheriff’s Department, which led to the charges.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Charleroi Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 21, 2022, to charges of receipt and attempted receipt of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Joey Leroy Barton, 51, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on March 28, 2019 and April 11, 2019, Barton received and attempted to receive digital images depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor while engaged in an online conversation with a minor over Facebook messenger.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for July 21, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 80 years in prison, a fine of $80,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the defendant remains detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, the Roseville (Minnesota) Police Department, and the North Strabane Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Barton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
CEO of Titanium Blockchain Pleads Guilty in $21 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The CEO of Titanium Blockchain Infrastructure Services Inc. (TBIS) pleaded guilty Friday in the Central District of California for his role in a cryptocurrency fraud scheme involving TBIS’s initial coin offering (ICO) that raised approximately $21 million from investors in the United States and overseas.
According to court documents, Michael Alan Stollery, 54, of Reseda, California, was the CEO and founder of TBIS, a purported cryptocurrency investment platform, and touted TBIS as a cryptocurrency investment opportunity, luring investors to purchase “BARs,” the cryptocurrency token or coin offered by TBIS’s ICO, through a series of false and misleading statements. Although he was required to do so, Stollery did not register the ICO regarding TBIS’s cryptocurrency investment offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), nor did he have a valid exemption from the SEC’s registration requirements.
Stollery admitted that, to entice investors, he falsified aspects of TBIS’s white papers, which purportedly offered investors and prospective investors an explanation of the cryptocurrency investment offering, including the purpose and technology behind the offering, how the offering was different from other cryptocurrency opportunities, and the prospects for the offering’s profitability. Stollery also planted fake client testimonials on TBIS’s website and falsely claimed that he had business relationships with the Federal Reserve and dozens of prominent companies to create the false appearance of legitimacy. Stollery further admitted that he did not use the invested money as promised but instead commingled the ICO investors’ funds with his personal funds, using at least a portion of the offering proceeds for expenses unrelated to TBIS, such as credit card payments and the payment of bills for Stollery’s Hawaii condominium.
Stollery pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18 and faces 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.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Cory Nootnagel of the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, Western Region, made the announcement.
The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Reserve Board’s OIG Western Region San Francisco Office are investigating the case.
Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Kevin Lowell, Tian Huang, and Andrew Tyler are prosecuting the case.
California Woman Charged with Smuggling Marijuana Through Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Joeva Elizabeth Williams of Sacramento, CA, appeared before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on July 25, 2022, following her arrest on Saturday, July 23, 2022, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. She was ordered released upon the posting of a $10,000.00 unsecured bond.
According to court documents, on July 22, 2022, Williams arrived at the Cyril E. King airport on an inbound flight from that originated in Houston, TX. While conducting an inbound inspection of United Airlines flight #1908 , a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in two suitcases. Williams later retrieved both suitcases from the luggage carousel and was later escorted by CBP officers to a secondary inspection. After conducting a search of Williams’ suitcases in secondary inspection, CBP officers discovered thirty-seven (37) vacuum-sealed packages containing a green, leafy substance which field-tested positive for marijuana. The total weight of the packages was approximately 20.44 kilograms.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Brockton Man Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining over $1.5 Million in COVID-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was charged on July 21, 2022 in connection with a scheme to submit false applications to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) funds through the Small Business Administration (SBA) which were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Joao Mendes, 59, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, beginning in or around June 2020 and continuing until at least in or around September 2020, Mendes submitted or caused to be submitted multiple fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of various entities. The fraudulent PPP loan applications misrepresented the number of employees and the average monthly payroll expenses of Mendes’s various businesses. Mendes also allegedly submitted false tax records in support of his loan applications. In his EIDL applications, Mendes allegedly misrepresented the number of employees, gross revenues and costs of goods sold for each business. Based on the fraudulent applications, Mendes and others received over $1.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds. Once Mendes received the funds, he either spent them for his own personal benefit—including for the purchase of cryptocurrency—or transferred the funds into other accounts he controlled or to other individuals.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses, through the PPP. Another is the EIDL, through which the SBA offers loans that can only be used on certain permissible business expenses, which can include payment of fixed business debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other business-related expenses that could have been paid had the COVID-19 disaster not occurred. The American Rescue Plan Act established the RRF to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open through forgivable loans for eligible uses.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of making a false statements to a financial institution provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. 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; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Robert Manchak, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Amir Ehsaei, Acting Assistant Director in Charge for the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office; Weston King, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Western Region; Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, New York Regional Office; Ryan Korner, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office; William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division; and Stephen Donnelly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, Eastern Region, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and Carol E. Head of Rollins’ Criminal Division and Trial Attorney Jennifer Bilinkas of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Attorney Advisor Scott J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Olivia Zhu of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided significant assistance.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possessing over 200 Counterfeit Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced on July 21, 2022 for possessing hundreds of pressed fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone intended for distribution.
Diamondez Pierre, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 25, 2021, Pierre pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
“The impact of the opioid crisis in our communities has been catastrophic. It is taking more and more lives by the minute. Mr. Pierre contributed to and, moreover, profited off this devastation, pain and suffering by trafficking fentanyl disguised as pharmaceutical grade prescription pills,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “To say fentanyl is dangerous would be a gross understatement – it is deadly. Getting fentanyl traffickers who seek to exploit addiction for a profit off of our streets is critical and mandatory in addressing the opioid epidemic. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue putting drug traffickers out of business. We must protect the health and safety of our Commonwealth.”
“We are currently facing a crisis with the amount of illicit drugs flowing into our neighborhoods, today’s sentencing demonstrates that if you peddle this poison, you will be held accountable,” said James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target individuals who deal this dangerous drug and ensure that they are brought to justice.”
On Aug. 8, 2020, law enforcement stopped Pierre in his vehicle in Brockton. A search of Pierre’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a backpack that contained 204 blue pressed fentanyl pills, disguised as “Perc 30” oxycodone pills, intended for distribution.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, ATF SAC Ferguson and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley Jr. of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Delgado Gonzalez, 38, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 13 years and nine months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
In addition, Gonzalez was ordered to forfeit three firearms and associated ammunition that were in his possession when he was arrested.
According to court documents, between September 2020 and March 2021, Gonzalez (also known as “Spider”) conspired with, among others, co-defendant Omar Alberto Navarro to acquire methamphetamine in Mexico, transport it to the Eastern District of California, unload the narcotics from “load cars,” store the narcotics, and sell and distribute the narcotics to others. For instance, on Oct. 29, 2020, at the behest of Navarro, Gonzalez transported approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine to a meeting in Bakersfield and sold the methamphetamine to Scott Gordon James, who is charged in a related case, for $6,200. On March 26, 2021, Gonzalez possessed in a storage unit in Bakersfield approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, which he possessed with the intent to distribute to others.
In 2009, Gonzalez was convicted and sentenced in U.S. District Court – Southern District of Ohio, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin.
On April 8, 2021, Gonzalez and eight other defendants were charged in three related indictments for trafficking and purchasing to sell methamphetamine from a conspiracy orchestrated by Navarro, 38, of Arvin. The other charged defendants are: Daniel Armendariz Mercado, 42; Miguel Angel Martinez, 27; Amayrani Jared Arreguin, 25; and Yvette Gallegos, 23, all of Bakersfield; Lizette Mendez, 32, of Delano; and James Scott Gordon, 47, of Chico. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Co-defendant Randal Jason Newell was sentenced on March 29, 2022, to three years and three months in prison for attempting to smuggle approximately 111 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to Bakersfield.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Shafter Police Department, the Kern County Probation Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Baker and Laura J. Berger are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – Michael Dewayne Charles, 33, of Evansville, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on September 26, 2021, a deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of the Corner Pocket Bar in Evansville after a report that a suspect brandished a firearm in the parking lot. Upon arrival, the deputy observed Charles push another male against an SUV while brandishing a Kimbro 9mm handgun. Charles then fled from the deputy before being apprehended. Charles was interviewed by police and admitted he brandished the pistol while arguing with his cousin. The pistol was later found to have an obliterated serial number.
Charles is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions in Vanderburgh County, including sexual battery, burglary, and domestic battery. Because of his prior convictions, Charles is an Armed Career Criminal under federal law and subject to enhanced penalties for illegally possessing a firearm.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding made the announcement.
ATF and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following the defendant’s guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Albany Felon Sentenced to 162 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tyler Purvis-Mitchell, age 28, of Albany, was sentenced today to 150 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine-laced pills in the city of Albany.
Purvis-Mitchell, who was on federal supervised release at the time of his offense, was sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison, to be served consecutively, for violations of his release conditions, including for his reckless flight from members of the Albany Police Department (APD).
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and APD Chief Eric Hawkins.
Purvis-Mitchell was convicted after a jury trial in December 2021. The evidence at trial established that on May 7, 2020, Purvis-Mitchell possessed with the intent to distribute more than 125 pills containing methamphetamine and weighing over 50 grams, in his residence and his vehicle. The jury voted to acquit Purvis-Mitchell of two felony charges for possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered that Purvis-Mitchell serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.
This case was investigated by APD and ATF with assistance provided by the New York State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emmet J. O’Hanlon and Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
24 July 2022
Statement from U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins on White Supremacist Activity in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
“Every single person deserves to live their life fully and authentically as who they are. But, if your authentic self is a bigot that wants to harm, humiliate and terrorize people, you are not welcome here. There is no hierarchy as to who is entitled to a full and authentic life. We all are. In Boston, Massachusetts we have a long history of standing up to hate and injustice. We don’t hide behind masks. When we see inequity and harm, we look the culprit in their eyes and demand that it stops. If it doesn’t, we use every means at our disposal - legislatively, through the courts, and with community organizing - to end it. And that is exactly what is going to happen here. If the public has any troubling or concerning information about members of white supremacist groups, we ask that you notify your local police departments or a member of law enforcement. I will be announcing a dedicated number for the community to call in the coming weeks. We need to expose these cowards. As was shown by the swift response of Mayor Wu and the Boston Police Department this weekend, there is a zero tolerance policy for white supremacists or any potential racially motivated violent extremist in Massachusetts. As the Chief Federal law enforcement officer, I stand ready to deploy federal time and resources to assist our State, Local and Tribal partners in effectuating any arrests and prosecutions.”
23 July 2022
Fairport Man Arrested, Charged with Attacking A Congressman Using A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that David G. Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a member of Congress using a dangerous weapon. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that on July 21, 2022, New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, a Republican candidate for Governor of New York, attended a gubernatorial campaign event in Perinton, NY. During the event, Congressman Zeldin was speaking from the bed of a flatbed trailer. Jakubonis walked onto the trailer, approached the Congressman, extended a keychain with two sharp points toward him and grabbed his arm. A struggle then ensued between Congressman Zeldin and Jakubonis and, as bystanders intervened, Jakubonis pulled Congressman Zeldin down onto the bed of the trailer, stating several times during the assault, “you're done.” Jakubonis was subdued and arrested.
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marion W. Payson and is being held pending a detention hearing on July 27, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the U.S. Capitol Police, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Chad Beckett, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian J. Ratajczak, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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22 July 2022
司法部對德克薩斯州休斯頓市展開環境正義調查Read the Press Release
Download Traditional Chinese Press Release Translation
華盛頓——司法部 (Department of Justice, DOJ) 今天宣佈已開始對休斯頓市有關非法傾倒 的運營、政策和做法展開一次環境正義調查。 這項調查將由 Civil Rights Division（民權 司）帶頭審查該市在響應市政服務要求時（包括在響應非法傾倒時）是否違反了聯邦民權 法律，對休斯頓的黑人和拉丁裔居民進行了歧視。
「非法垃圾場不僅吸引齧齒動物、蚊蟲和其他害蟲，造成健康風險，還可能污染地表水， 影響正常排水，使該地區更易發生洪災，」司法部 Civil Rights Division 助理檢察長克裡 斯汀·克拉克 (Kristen Clarke) 表示。「在美國，不應有人因無效的固體廢物管理或不完善 的執法計畫而面臨生病和遭到其他嚴重傷害的風險。我們將對這些環境正義問題及其對休 斯頓市的黑人和拉丁裔社區的影響展開公平和徹底的調查。」
「非法垃圾場會引起人們對公共健康和安全、物業價值和生活品質的重大擔憂，」德克薩 斯州南部地區的美國檢察官珍妮佛 B. 勞維裡 (Jennifer B. Lowery) 表示。「我們期待著與 Civil Rights Division 展開合作，確保休斯頓市履行其聯邦民權義務。」
本次調查將審查該市針對非法傾倒的執法和固體廢物管理的運營、政策和做法是否導致對 黑人和拉丁裔居民的歧視，進而違反了 1964 年《民權法案》第 VI 章 (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI)。Title VI 禁止聯邦財政援助的接受者基於種族、膚色或原籍 進行歧視。
Civil Rights Division 的聯邦協調與合規科 (Federal Coordination and Compliance Section) 正 在德克薩斯州南部地區美國檢察官辦公室的支援下進行這項調查。在宣佈之前，司法部已 向休斯頓市的市長辦公室和法律部門通報了調查啟動的情況。
透過執行國家民權法律來應對歧視性的環境和健康影響是司法部的一項首要任務。2022 年 5 月，司法部長梅裡克·加蘭德 (Merrick Garland) 宣佈設立有史以來第一個環境正義辦 公室 (Office of Environmental Justice)。 他還宣佈發佈了司法部的綜合環境正義執法戰略 (Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy)，這為使用司法部的民事和刑 事執法權力和工具（包括民權權力）以實現環境正義提供了一套路線圖。2022 年 7 月， 司法部還發佈了 2022-26 年戰略規劃 (2022-26 Strategic Plan)，將保護民權和推進環境正義 確立為一個焦點領域。2021 年 11 月， Civil Rights Division 宣佈了其對 DOJ 接受者， 即：阿拉巴馬州公共衛生局 (Alabama Department of Public Health) 和朗茲縣衛生局 (Lowndes County Health Department)，進行首次 Title VI 環境正義調查。
「司法部最近設立的 Office of Environmental Justice 和綜合環境正義執法戰略確認了我們 對追求法律之下的平等正義所做出的堅定承諾，」司法部環境與自然資源司 (Environment and Natural Resources Division) 助理檢察長陶德·金 (Todd Kim) 表示。 「這項調查體現了 司法部對緩和有色人種社區、低收入社區和部落社區經常承受的不成比例的環境負擔所做 的承諾。」
我們鼓勵有相關資訊的個人透過電子郵件 [email protected] 或致電 1-888-TITLE06 (1-888-848-5306) 的形式與 Federal Coordination and Compliance Section 取得聯繫。 如 需有關 Civil Rights Division 的其他資訊，請查看其網站 www.justice.gov/crt。如需有關 Environment and Natural Resources Division 的其他資訊，請查看其網站 www.justice.gov/enrd。請在此處查看本新聞稿的西班牙語版。
司法部对德克萨斯州休斯顿市展开环境正义调查Read the Press Release
Download Simplified Chinese Press Release Translation
华盛顿——司法部 (Department of Justice, DOJ) 今天宣布已开始对休斯顿市有关非法倾倒 的运营、政策和做法展开一次环境正义调查。这项调查将由 Civil Rights Division（民权 司）带头审查该市在响应市政服务要求时（包括在响应非法倾倒时）是否违反了联邦民权 法律，对休斯顿的黑人和拉丁裔居民进行了歧视。
“非法垃圾场不仅吸引啮齿动物、蚊虫和其他害虫，造成健康风险，还可能污染地表水， 影响正常排水，使该地区更易发生洪灾，”司法部 Civil Rights Division 助理检察长克里 斯汀·克拉克 (Kristen Clarke) 表示。“在美国，不应有人因无效的固体废物管理或不完 善的执法计划而面临生病和遭到其他严重伤害的风险。我们将对这些环境正义问题及其对 休斯顿市的黑人和拉丁裔社区的影响展开公平和彻底的调查。”
“非法垃圾场会引起人们对公共健康和安全、物业价值和生活质量的重大担忧，”德克萨 斯州南部地区的美国检察官珍妮弗 B. 劳维里 (Jennifer B. Lowery) 表示。“我们期待着与 Civil Rights Division 展开合作，确保休斯顿市履行其联邦民权义务。”
本次调查将审查该市针对非法倾倒的执法和固体废物管理的运营、政策和做法是否导致对 黑人和拉丁裔居民的歧视，进而违反了 1964 年《民权法案》第 VI 章 (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI)。Title VI 禁止联邦财政援助的接受者基于种族、肤色或原籍 进行歧视。
Civil Rights Division 的联邦协调与合规科 (Federal Coordination and Compliance Section) 正 在德克萨斯州南部地区美国检察官办公室的支持下进行这项调查。在宣布之前，司法部已 向休斯顿市的市长办公室和法律部门通报了调查启动的情况。
通过执行国家民权法律来应对歧视性的环境和健康影响是司法部的一项首要任务。2022 年 5 月，司法部长梅里克·加兰德 (Merrick Garland) 宣布设立有史以来第一个环境正义办 公室 (Office of Environmental Justice)。 他还宣布发布了司法部的综合环境正义执法战略 (Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy)，这为使用司法部的民事和刑 事执法权力和工具（包括民权权力）以实现环境正义提供了一套路线图。2022 年 7 月， 司法部还发布了 2022-26 年战略规划 (2022-26 Strategic Plan)，将保护民权和推进环境正义 确立为一个焦点领域。2021 年 11 月， Civil Rights Division 宣布了其对 DOJ 接受者， 即：阿拉巴马州公共卫生局 (Alabama Department of Public Health) 和朗兹县卫生局 (Lowndes County Health Department)，进行首次 Title VI 环境正义调查。
“司法部最近设立的 Office of Environmental Justice 和综合环境正义执法战略确认了我们 对追求法律之下的平
等正义所做出的坚定承诺，”司法部环境与自然资源司 (Environment and Natural Resources Division) 助理检察长托德·金 (Todd Kim) 表示。 “这项调查体现 了司法部对缓和有色人种社区、低收入社区和部落社区经常承受的不成比例的环境负担所 做的承诺。”
我们鼓励有相关信息的个人通过电子邮件 [email protected] 或致电 1-888-TITLE06 (1-888-848-5306) 的形式与 Federal Coordination and Compliance Section 取得联系。 如 需有关 Civil Rights Division 的其他信息，请查看其网站 www.justice.gov/crt。如需有关 Environment and Natural Resources Division 的其他信息，请查看其网站 www.justice.gov/enrd。请在此处查看本新闻稿的西班牙语版。
“Felony Lane Gang” Member Who Defrauded Illinois Bank Using Stolen Identity Sentenced to 42 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Delvin O.E. Mills, 29, of North Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to 42 months in prison on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in connection with his involvement in a bank fraud scheme which targeted female victims in Southern Illinois. Mills was also ordered to pay restitution, a $2,000 fine, and serve five years on supervised release upon his release from prison.
In July 2021, Mills conspired with others to cash stolen checks and fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions using stolen driver licenses belonging to individuals living in Southern
Illinois. The group targeted banks located in Glen Carbon and Wood River.Mills admitted members of the conspiracy broke into vehicles parked in public places throughout
Southern Illinois to steal valuables left in those vehicles. Items included purses and wallets containing ID’s and checkbooks. Members of the organization wrote checks from the stolen checkbooks made payable to other persons from whom the group had stolen identities.Mills and his co-defendant, Mary Thornhill, attempted to cash checks at local banks using the furthest lane of each bank’s drive-up window to avoid detection by the tellers. The “Felony Lane
Gang” is a term used by law enforcement to describe individuals who use this tactic to defraud banks. Mills admitted that on July 19, 2021, he and Thornhill went to Regions Bank in Glen Carbon, Illinois, and successfully cashed a check made payable to a person whose identity had been stolen.
Mills and Thornhill were arrested by officers with the Glen Carbon Police Department within minutes of leaving Regions Bank.“This case involves a criminal scheme that has unfortunately become far too common in our
District,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This office is committed to assisting our local law enforcement partners in their investigations of these serious crimes and to holding those individuals who target our communities, defraud our financial institutions, and steal the identities of innocent victims accountable. The significant prison sentence imposed by the court in this case is not only just punishment for this defendant, but should also serve as a warning to others contemplating such crimes.”Prior to arriving in Southern Illinois, Mills pleaded guilty to similar charges in the District of
Oregon. Mills was on pre-trial release pending sentencing in Oregon when he fled the state. On June
5, 2021, Mills was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, for breaking into cars. After his release in
Nevada, Mills traveled to the Southern District of Illinois to continue his spree. On July 14, 2022, Mills was sentenced in the District of Oregon to 55 months in prison. According to the Judgment entered in the SouthernDistrict of Illinois, Mills’ two federal sentences will run consecutively—for a total of 97 months in prison.
Mills’ co-conspirator, Mary Thornhill, has pled guilty and will be sentenced next month.
Thornhill’s sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2022.The investigation was conducted by the following Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies: Glen Carbon, Clinton County, Germantown, Belleville, New Baden, Salem, and O’Fallon. Other agencies assisting with the case were the Kirkwood, Missouri, and St. Louis County Police Departments, along with the
United States Secret Service and the Fairview Heights Domicile Office of the Springfield Resident
Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross prosecuted the case.