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Thursday 9 June 2022
East Helena Man Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud in Covid-19 Relief SchemeRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – An East Helena man who admitted lying in a scheme to receive more than $1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for coronavirus relief aid and using the money instead for personal benefit was sentenced on June 7 to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Trevor Gene Lanius-McLeod, 48, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to bank fraud and to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also ordered $1,000,043.00 restitution, $125,000 of which will be paid jointly with co-defendant Kasey Wilson who was sentenced in March 2022.
“During a trying time in our country’s history, Lanius-McLeod stole money from a government program designed to keep businesses afloat and lined his own pockets to the detriment of truly needy businesses. Today, we send a strong message that such fraud will not go unpunished in the District of Montana. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich, IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners for their work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“The sentence handed down today is a direct reflection of the seriousness of Mr. Lanius-McLeod’s crimes,” said Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “Not only is Lanius-McLeod guilty of crimes against the federal government, but he also victimized individuals and businesses the Paycheck Protection Program was designed to protect. These actions will not be tolerated, and the judge’s ruling sends a clear message to others who try to defraud CARES Act programs that these crimes will not go unpunished.”
“Trevor Lanius-McLeod greedily robbed small businesses that depended on PPP funds to survive,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice of the Salt Lake City FBI. “His sentence should serve as a reminder that the FBI and our federal partners are vigilantly working to make sure federal assistance funds are used as intended, and that those who defraud such programs will be held accountable.”
The PPP program, which is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provided emergency assistance to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses.
In court documents, the government alleged that beginning in April 2020, Lanius-McLeod devised a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Lanius-McLeod applied for four PPP loans through Valley Bank of Helena. In the applications, Lanius-McLeod made numerous false and material statements to obtain approximately $1,043,000 in fraudulent funds from the four loans. Additionally, Lanius-McLeod applied for and received a PPP loan in the amount of $349,000 on behalf of Renovated Montana Properties LLP, an entity Lanius-McLeod controlled.
Lanius-McLeod made numerous false statements on the PPP loan application. Without the false statements, Lanius-McLeod would not have qualified for a PPP loan. The defendant falsely stated that Renovated Montana Properties LLP had paid payroll taxes and had 25 employees. The company never paid payroll taxes and had no employees besides Lanius-McLeod.
The government further alleged that in a promissory note, the defendant agreed to use the funds for business-related expenses. None of the loan money was used for these purposes. Instead, the proceeds were spent on various personal expenses, including the mortgage on Lanius-McLeod’s personal residence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and U.S. Secret Service.
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.
Detroit Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in False Return SchemeRead the Press Release
A Michigan return preparer pleaded guilty today to preparing a false tax return for a client.
According to court documents, Daneilla Allen co-owned All Star Tax Services, a return preparation business with locations in Michigan and Ohio. As part of her plea, Allen admitted that from 2014 through 2018 she prepared and filed false tax returns with the IRS for clients. The false tax returns contained fictitious business income and expenses, and false itemized deductions and education credits, in an effort to generate larger refunds than her clients were entitled to receive. Even after IRS special agents informed Allen she was the subject of a criminal investigation, she continued to prepare false returns for clients in 2020 and 2021. Allen admitted to causing a total tax loss to the IRS of more than $815,000.
Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7. She faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for assisting the filing of a false tax return. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Jeffrey A. McLellan and Sam Bean of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Cumberland County Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements Concerning Her Daughter’s Medical CareRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Shelley Noreika, age 48, of Newville, PA, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo for false statements relating to health care matters.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Noreika admitted that on or about February 4, 2020, she made false statements concerning her 5-year-old daughter to medical providers. Noreika told her daughter to pretend having a seizure while Noreika videotaped her. Noreika then emailed the video clip of the fake seizure to her daughter’s pediatric neurologist, along with false statements concerning the minor child’s medical condition. On multiple other occasions, Noreika also falsely reported to medical providers that her daughter experienced seizures, when in fact no such seizures occurred. Noreika never witnessed her daughter have an actual seizure on February 4, 2020, or on any other date. Noreika misled medical providers concerning the health and condition of her daughter knowing they would rely on her false statements in their diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Pursuant to the terms of a written plea agreement, the parties agreed the offense involved a loss amount exceeding $95,000 but less than $150,000, which includes costs borne by insurers and the government for the daughter’s unnecessary medical treatment and visits.
Noreika no longer cares for the minor child, and she also faces related state charges which are pending.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Harrisburg Field Office, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel S. Dalke is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense charged is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison After Getting Caught with a Gun During a Traffic StopRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who was caught with marijuana and a gun during a traffic stop was sentenced June 8, 2022, to five years in federal prison.
Cameron Hatcher, age 29, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 2, 2021, guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on May 2, 2021, Hatcher was stopped by an officer from the Dubuque Police Department because Hatcher was barred from driving. A police K9 alerted to the odor of drugs coming from Hatcher’s car. Officers searched the car and found marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun. Hatcher was prohibited from possessing guns because he was convicted of the felony offense of possessing marijuana with the intent to sell it in 2016.
After catching Hatcher with the gun in his car, law enforcement officers reviewed Hatcher’s social media posts. In two videos, Hatcher could be seen with guns. In one of the videos, Hatcher is seen with a Smith and Wesson, M&P 15, 5.56x45mm rifle and a black handgun that was different from the handgun found in his car during the traffic stop.
Hatcher was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hatcher was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hatcher is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-cr-1022.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Devin Clark, 34, has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for being a
convicted felon in possession of ammunition. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney,
announced the sentence today.According to information presented in court, on April 22, 2021, at 09:40 a.m., officers with
the Memphis Police Department responded to two 911 calls regarding a shooting at the Valero gas
station on Raleigh Millington Road.After receiving several threatening messages on his cell phone, the victim, agreed to meet Clark
and another gentleman at the Valero gas station for a fist fight. After the victim arrived, the
three men began arguing when Clark suddenly pulled out a pistol and began firing shots in the air.
Clark also fired several shots at the victim, hitting him in his right arm. Several shots also
hit the victim's car. The two men fled the scene but were apprehended by officers a
short time later. The victim was treated at a local hospital and released. Detectives recovered
nine .22 caliber shell casings from the scene.Clark, a convicted felon, has a prior felony conviction from 2018 for possession of
methamphetamine with intent to deliver for which he received an eight-year sentence of
incarceration. In 2017, Clark was previously convicted in federal court for being an
unlawful user of methamphetamine in possession of a firearm and received a sentence of 33 months
incarceration. As a result of his felony convictions, Clark is prohibited by federal law
from possessing ammunition and firearms.On June 2, 2022, United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, sentenced Clark to 92 months in
federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. Because Clark was on supervised
released at the time he committed this offense, Judge Lipman also sentenced him to an additional
15-months incarceration to be served consecutive to the
92 months. There is no parole in the federal system.This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Assistant United States Attorneys Raney Irwin and Regina Thompson prosecuted this case on behalf
of the government.
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Company, owners admit bringing more than 100 unauthorized migrant workers to MissouriRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A father and son from Florida and their labor contracting company have pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted bringing more than 100 unauthorized migrant workers to Missouri in 2018.
Jorge Marin-Gomez, 37, and his father, Jorge Marin-Perez, 67, each pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful employment of aliens. The Marin J. Corporation pleaded guilty April 28 to a felony wire fraud charge.
Marin-Gomez owned the Marin J. Corporation and was in charge of applying for visas for workers from Mexico. Marin-Perez was involved in the oversight and final decision making of the application process.
Marin J. Corp., with the direct knowledge and approval of Marin-Perez and Marin-Gomez, applied for H2A visas stating that the workers would be employed in Florida harvesting watermelons and blueberries, but relocated many of the workers to a farm in Kennett, in southeast Missouri, in violation of the terms outlined on the visa applications. The workers harvested watermelons and cotton there.
Marin-Perez and Marin-Gomez knew that the location of the work was pertinent to approval of the applications, the plea agreements say. They admitted engaging in a “pattern and practice” of using immigrant workers in unauthorized locations from Nov. 17, 2017 through Oct. 20, 2018 and of illegally hiring approximately 104 workers.
The corporation is scheduled to be sentenced August 2 and the individuals September 7.
In a settlement agreement with the Labor Department signed in February, the company agreed to pay $165,805 in back wages to 85 workers once housed in a former county jail in Missouri. The company also agreed to pay a penalty of $75,000 for failing to provide meals, pay the required wage rate and for charging workers to obtain employment.
“Marin J. Corporation and its owners misused the H-2A visa program in order to enrich themselves at the expense of foreign workers and other American employers,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division to vigorously pursue those who commit fraud involving foreign labor certification programs.”
“These agricultural workers, who were likely looking to simply better their lives through hard work and an honest wage, were instead met with deceit from their employers,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Sean Fitzgerald. “I commend the agents and officers whose hard work brought these guilty pleas to fruition.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector general and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case.
Commercial Flooring Contractor and Its Former President Plead Guilty to Antitrust ChargesRead the Press Release
Commercial Carpet Consultants Inc., a Chicago-based commercial flooring contractor, and its former president, Jerry P. Watson, have been charged for a long-running conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices for commercial flooring products and services.
Commercial Carpet Consultants Inc. pleaded guilty to a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and agreed to pay a $1.2 million criminal fine. It is the fourth corporation charged in the ongoing investigation. Jerry P. Watson also pleaded guilty and is the sixth individual to plead guilty in the investigation.
“The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners are committed to safeguarding competition in the American marketplace,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “These latest guilty pleas in the government’s investigation demonstrate our commitment to prosecuting anticompetitive conduct and holding companies and executives accountable.”
“There is no place for illegal price-fixing in the American marketplace,” said Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. of the FBI’s Chicago Field Division. “Anyone looking to profit by market manipulation should know that we won’t stop investigating unlawful collusion until justice is done.”
According to the one-count felony charge and plea agreements filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Illinois, from at least as early as 2009 until at least June 22, 2017, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition in the commercial flooring market by agreeing with other companies and individuals to submit complementary bids so that the designated company would win the contract.
A violation of the Sherman Act carries a statutory maximum penalty of a $100 million criminal fine for corporations. For individuals, violations of the Sherman Act carry maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges are the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging, price fixing and other anticompetitive conduct in the commercial flooring industry, conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office and the FBI’s Chicago Field Division.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Columbus man convicted for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Sergio Ruiz, 57, of Columbus, New Mexico, on June 8. The jury convicted Ruiz on one count each of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and importation of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine into the United States. Ruiz will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Ruiz on March 23. According to the indictment and other court records, on April 28, 2021, Ruiz attempted to cross into the United States at the Columbus Port of Entry, coming from Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico. Ruiz, a regular crosser at Columbus, was carrying a large amount of cinder blocks and two 55-gallon drums, and was directed to the secondary inspection area. A scan revealed an anomaly in the spare tire, prompting inspection by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine unit that resulted in a positive alert.
CBP officers removed and inspected the spare tire. Inside the tire, inspectors found five packages containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The total weight of the five packages was 20.8 kilograms (45.76 pounds).
Ruiz faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and CBP investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Randy M. Castellano are prosecuting the case.
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Cleveland Man Convicted of Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
Wydell S. Dixon, 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, of being a felon in possession of a firearm during an arrest on July 22, 2020, on Fullerton Avenue in Cleveland.
According to court documents, while on patrol for drug trafficking activity, members of the Cleveland Police Department’s Gang Impact Unit observed an individual standing near a car holding a bag of marijuana. As authorities went to investigate what they had just witnessed, the individual fled the scene on foot.
While in pursuit of the man, they observed another individual, later identified as Dixon, discard an object and raise his hands in the air. Officers then searched the area and found a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine that Dixon had discarded.
Dixon is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of aggravated robbery with a firearm, felonious assault, having weapons under disability, carrying concealed weapons and drug trafficking offenses, all in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. Dixon faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Cleveland Division of Police, Gang Impact Unit investigated this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryson N. Gillard and Yasmine T. Makridis.
Cell Phone Threats to Kill His Family with an Ar-15 Results in a 16-Month Prison Sentence for Former Cushing ManRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, BARRY CHRISTOPHER HUTTON, 51, formerly of Cushing, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 16 months in federal prison for illegal interstate transmission of threatening communications, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Public records reflect that, on June 14, 2021, Hutton made multiple calls from out of state by cell phone to his estranged wife, her employer, her daughter, and the Cushing Police Department threatening to get an AR-15 and kill her, her family, and himself. Hutton sent a screenshot of a flight itinerary showing a flight landing in Tulsa that day. Hutton was arrested on June 24, 2021, in Idaho.
On July 6, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment that alleged Hutton violated federal law with the interstate transmission of threatening communications and interstate stalking. Federal law prohibits a person from transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person as well as to travel in interstate commerce with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person. On January 27, 2022, Hutton plead guilty to count one of the Indictment.
On June 9, 2022, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Hutton to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release when his prison term ends. In support of this sentence, Judge Wyrick cited the seriousness of making threats to get an AR-15 and kill people and the dangerousness of domestic violence. Hutton has remained in custody since his arrest on June 24, 2021.
This case is the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cushing Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Hutzell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of "Operation 922," the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of the national Project Safe Neighborhoods initiatives to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. "Operation 922" prioritizes prosecution of federal gun crimes connected to domestic violence.
Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Canadian Citizen Sentenced to 46 Months for Pump and Dump Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
For Further Information, Contact:
Assistant U. S. Attorney Aaron P. Arnzen (619) 546-8384SAN DIEGO – Andrew Hackett, from Toronto Canada, was sentenced to 46 months in prison today for participating in a pump and dump securities fraud scheme involving the stock of a small, publicly-traded cannabis/gaming company.
In August 2021, the jury found Hackett guilty of securities fraud and conspiracy. According to evidence presented at trial, Hackett and his co-conspirators manipulated the market for Arias Intel Corp stock. Hackett, who led the scheme, made consistent efforts to artificially inflate the price of Arias Intel’s stock by controlling the majority of the company’s free-trading shares through concealed offshore and other nominee accounts, coordinating the company’s press releases with the issuance of penny stock newsletters, and using high-pressure call rooms targeting innocent investors. Hackett and his co-conspirators also engaged in manipulative trading to create the appearance that Arias Intel stock traded at higher prices and with greater volume than was actually the case.
In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson noted that Hackett played a central role in organizing the conspirators’ pump and dump efforts. The Court also scheduled a hearing on August 12, 2022 to determine the amount of restitution Hackett should pay to victims of his crime.
“The U.S. securities markets should operate on a level playing field,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “We will continue to hold those who would illegally manipulate the markets, and try to tip the scales unfairly in their favor, to account.”
“The FBI is committed to preserving the integrity of our financial markets and utilizing all available investigative techniques to root out those who attempt to manipulate it through fraudulent means,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The FBI is proud to work with our partners at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. - Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group, to hold Mr. Hackett and his co-conspirators accountable for their criminal actions.”
Three other defendants were charged alongside Hackett and who pleaded guilty - including Kuldeep Sidhu of Vancouver, British Columbia; Annetta Budhu of New York, New York; and Kevin Gillespie of Tampa, Florida - were previously sentenced.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 18cr3072-TWR
Andrew Hackett Age: 33 Toronto, Canada
Kuldeep Sidhu Age: 51 British Columbia, Canada
Annetta Budhu Age: 57 New York, NY
Kevin Gillespie Age: 53 Tampa, Florida
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Securities Fraud – Title 15 U.S.C., Sections 78j(b), 78ff; and 17 C.F.R., Section 240.10b-5
AGENCY
FBI (lead agency)
Securities and Exchange Commission
Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
California Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Laundering $5.1 MillionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Sinval De Oliveira, 49, Torrance, California was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 5 years in federal prison for his role in a money laundering conspiracy. De Oliveira pleaded guilty to the offense on March 4, 2022. Money laundering is a crime that involves using financial transactions that are designed to conceal the true source, location, or ownership of proceeds derived from other crimes.
In November and December 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with local law enforcement, investigated a series of thefts by fraud involving individuals who used false pretenses to convince employees of businesses to collect and deliver the businesses’ cash-on-hand to individuals who were supposedly legitimate money couriers. Businesses large and small were targeted in the scheme and the loss to date is approximately $300,000.
On December 2, 2020, De Oliveira flew to Milwaukee where he picked up $242,980 in fraud proceeds from co-defendants Moises Amezcua-Cardenas and Mario Amezcua-Cardenas. After he picked up the money, De Oliveira used a series of smaller ATM transactions at various Milwaukee area banks to deposit the cash into a funnel bank account. He used ATM transactions to avoid having to go into a bank and show identification. The bank account where De Oliveira deposited the money was held in the name of a Florida business but had no legitimate business purpose other than to collect cash from illicit activities. Once deposited, the fraud proceeds from Wisconsin were transferred to another funnel bank account and then eventually sent overseas. De Oliveira received a commission for the money he laundered.
Judge Conley found that the Wisconsin financial transactions were part of a much larger pattern of nation-wide money laundering activity undertaken by De Oliveira, concluding that the defendant laundered more than $5.1 million in illicit proceeds from various unlawful activities in just the five months surrounding the Wisconsin transactions. Judge Conley also found that De Oliveira knew he was conducting financial transactions using proceeds from criminal activities. Judge Conley took into consideration many factors in arriving at an appropriate sentence, including the fact that De Oliveira was already on probation for another criminal offense in California at the time of this offense, that his conduct was more serious than his co-defendants, and that he would likely be deported back to his home country of Brazil following his imprisonment.
Co-defendant Mario Amezcua-Cardenas was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on May 18, 2022, and co-defendant Moises Amezcua-Cardenas is scheduled for sentencing on June 17, 2022. Mario Amezcua-Cardenas and Moises Amezcua-Cardenas are brothers.
The charges against the defendants were the result of investigations conducted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Merrill Police Department, Wausau Police Department, Everest Police Department, West Allis Police Department, Stevens Point Police Department, and Marathon County Sheriff’s Department, with special assistance from the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin prosecuted this case.
Burlington County Businessman Admits Defrauding over 75 Victims of More Than $2.7 Million in Scheme to Sell Pesticides He Claimed Would Kill CoronavirusRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man today admitted selling $2.7 million worth of pesticides he claimed were registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as being effective against coronavirus, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, announced.
Paul Andrecola, 63, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of knowingly distributing or selling an unregistered pesticide in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), one count of wire fraud, and one count of presenting false claims to the United States.
“Paul Andrecola’s scheme profited on the fears of the American people during the height of concerns about transmission of COVID-19,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “Our office is dedicated to protecting public health and prosecuting to the full extent of the law those who commit such egregious criminal acts.”
“Andrecola not only cheated dozens of people out of millions of dollars, but also endangered the health of those who relied on his fraudulent virucidal products,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting such crimes to the fullest extent possible.”
“This announcement represents the largest pandemic fraud case related to the sale of unregistered pesticides charged nationwide,” Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in New Jersey said. “This case underscores EPA’s commitment with our law enforcement partners to hold violators accountable when they undercut the level playing field used by law abiding companies to ensure the integrity and safety of their products.”
"The EPA Office of Inspector General is pleased to have contributed to this investigation by focusing on falsified records purporting to have been produced by the EPA," Special Agent in Charge Nic Evans of EPA's Office of Inspector General said.
According to documents filed in this case, and statements made in court:
FIFRA regulates the distribution, sale, and use of pesticides to ensure that pesticides sold in the United States are safe, effective, and bear labeling containing true and accurate information. The EPA is responsible for regulating the manufacture, labeling, and distribution of all pesticides shipped or received in interstate commerce.
Under FIFRA, all pesticides must be registered with the EPA before the pesticide can be sold or distributed, and no person may distribute or sell a pesticide that has not been registered with the EPA. Before pesticide products can legally make claims that they can kill a particular pathogen, such as SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus), the claim must be authorized by EPA based on a review of data. In March 2020, at the beginning of the global pandemic, the EPA created a list of EPA-registered products that it deemed to be effective against coronavirus, titled “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.” The EPA has continued to update this list since its creation.
Andrecola, who controls two companies and is employed by a third company, all based in in Mount Laurel, manufactured various disinfectant products, including liquids and wipes, under the brand name “GCLEAN.” GCLEAN products were unregistered pesticides under FIFRA and none of the products were on EPA’s List N. Andrecola placed another company’s EPA registration numbers on his company’s products and falsely marketed that his products were EPA-approved to kill coronavirus by creating numerous false documents to support his claims. Andrecola, or others at his behest, would provide this falsified documentation to potential customers representing that various sanitizer and wipe products in the names GCLEAN or GC200 were EPA-registered products List N to persuade them to purchase the unregistered pesticide products.
From March 2020 through May 2021, Andrecola used these fraudulent representations to make more than 150 sales of unregistered pesticides for a profit of more than $2.7 million. The purchasers of these unregistered pesticides included a police department in Delaware, a fire department in Virginia, a medical clinic in Georgia, a janitorial supply company in New York, a school district in Wisconsin, and numerous U.S. Government agencies, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Moody Air Force Base, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Forest Service.
The count of illegal sale of an unregistered pesticide carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of one year, and a fine of up to $25,000. The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and the count of false claims against the United States is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. Both the charges of wire fraud and false claims against the United States are each also subject to fines of $250,000, twice the gross profits to Andrecola, or twice the gross loss suffered by the victims, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 11, 2022.
As part of the plea agreement, Andrecola agreed to forfeit $2.74 million – the proceeds from the sale of the illegal product, and to make full restitution for all losses resulting from his commission of the charged crimes.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amon with the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanks the U.S. EPA Office of the Inspector General Eastern Region under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Nicolas Evans; Homeland Security Investigations Newark Field Office under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; Defense Criminal Investigative Service Northeast Field Office under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick Hegarty; Naval Criminal Investigative Service Northeast Field Office under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Wiest; and the Mount Laurel Police Department under the direction of Chief Stephen Riedener, for their assistance in this investigation.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason P. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Economic Crimes Unit in Newark and Trial Attorneys Adam C. Cullman and Matthew D. Evans of the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Bronx Man Charged with 2018 Murder During Which He Shot the Victim’s Five-Year-Old SonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, Police Commissioner for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced today that JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Suave,” was charged with the October 23, 2018 murder of Jaquan Millien in connection with a drug trafficking crime. As alleged, RODRIGUEZ shot and killed Millien in the Webster Houses apartments in the Bronx, New York. During the shooting, RODRIGUEZ shot Millien’s five-year-old son, who was with his father at the time. Thankfully, his son survived. RODRIGUEZ was arrested today and will be presented this afternoon in Manhattan federal court. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Rodriguez allegedly murdered Jaquan Millien with his five-year-old son at his side. His callous actions not only took Millien’s life, but also put Millien’s son’s life in jeopardy too when he shot him during the murder. We hope that today’s charges bring some measure of comfort to the family of Jaquan Millien and make clear that this Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of anyone who takes another person’s life.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “Allegedly murdering a man, and nearly murdering his five-year-old child, didn't solve the rivalry between Rodriguez and his victim. Now multiple lives are shattered, and Rodriguez faces life in federal prison for his alleged criminal actions. This type of senseless violence puts everyone in the community at risk, and it will not be tolerated.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Joshua Rodriguez, by his alleged actions, was willing to shoot and kill a rival drug trafficker and to do so without regard for the victim’s innocent five-year-old son, who was wounded by the gunfire. This kind of criminality, and the violence it breeds, remains a focus of the NYPD. We commend our detectives, our F.B.I. partners, and the federal prosecutors of the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for working together to achieve a measure of justice with today’s arrest.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
On or about October 23, 2018, JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Suave,” shot and killed Jaquan Millien in the vicinity of the Webster Houses in the Bronx, New York. During the shooting, RODRIGUEZ shot Millien’s five-year-old son. The murder was in connection with a marijuana trafficking rivalry between RODRIGUEZ and Millien.
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RODRIGUEZ, 30, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison; one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and using a firearm to commit murder during a drug-trafficking crime, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Mathew Andrews is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Boise Man Sentenced to over 19 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – Judd Evans Ballard, 47, of Boise was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for distribution of child pornography by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye.
According to court records, the investigation began after Yahoo reported that child pornography had been uploaded to two Yahoo accounts. The report was assigned to the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) Task Force for investigation. ICAC determined that the accounts belonged to Evans. ICAC obtained search warrants for the accounts and located several files of child pornography.
A federal magistrate judge subsequently issued a search warrant for Ballard’s residence in Boise. During the execution of the search warrant, ICAC located a cellphone belonging to Ballard. A forensic examination of the cellphone revealed over 1,000 images and videos of child pornography. ICAC also located evidence that Ballard had used a social media application to trade child pornography files with another individual. Ballard has previous sexual offense convictions.
Chief Judge Nye also ordered Ballard to serve a lifetime term of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay $9,000 in restitution to victims in the images he possessed. Judge Nye also ordered Ballard to forfeit the cellphone that was used to commit the offense. As a result of the conviction, Ballard will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the ICAC, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, and Idaho Department of Corrections Probation and Parole which led to charges.
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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Discharging a Firearm Resulting in Death in a Murder-For-HireRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Daquante Thomas, a/k/a “Glock,” age 20, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death, in connection with a murder-for-hire conspiracy.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Chief Gregory Der of the Howard County Police Department; and Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson.
According to the plea agreement, on October 4, 2020, Howard County Police responded to a shooting in the area of Basket Ring Road in Columbia. Victim Juan Ross was found shot and killed at the scene, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Investigation identified Daquante Thomas as one of the shooters.
As detailed in the plea agreement, a co-conspirator accused Juan Ross, age 23, of Columbia, Maryland, of cooperating with law enforcement, including on a live social media conversation on September 9, 2020, and in text message. Juan Ross was arrested on drug and weapon charges on September 5, 2020, but was released on bail after being interviewed by police.
Thomas admitted that the co-conspirator solicited him and another person to kill Juan Ross and that he accepted payment from the co-conspirator to commit the murder. As detailed in the plea agreement, the defendant used interstate commerce facilities, specifically cellular telephones and a vehicle, in the commission of the murder-for-hire.
According to the plea agreement, on October 4, 2020, after text messaging each other about the address where they could find the victim, Thomas, and two co-conspirators drove to the area of Basket Ring Road in Columbia to locate Juan Ross, then drove to a drug store nearby. A short time later, Thomas and one of the co-conspirators returned to the area of Basket Ring Court, shot and killed Juan Ross and drove away together.
Thomas faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison for use and discharge of a firearm resulting in death. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for October 28, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.
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. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Howard County Police Department, and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution and thanked the FBI, the Maryland State Police, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Oldham and Lindsey N. McCulley, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Armed Career Criminal Indicted for Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jerome Miller, Jr. (38, Tampa) with possession of ammunition by an Armed Career Criminal. If convicted, Miller faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. The indictment also notifies Miller that the United States intends to forfeit the ammunition traceable to the offense.
The indictment alleges that on February 8, 2022, in Tampa, Miller was in possession of ammunition. At the time of the incident, Miller had three previous convictions for delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the City of Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Roderick Jones, age 42, of Albany, pled guilty today to two separate instances of unlawful possession of firearms.
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 Chief Eric Hawkins of the Albany Police Department.
As part of his plea, Jones admitted that he possessed a loaded .380 caliber pistol in his vehicle when he was arrested on impaired driving charges on January 17, 2019, after crashing his vehicle into a building on Rensselaer Street in Albany. Jones further admitted that on September 29, 2019, he possessed a 9mm pistol that he discharged four times at two occupied residences in the Ida Yarbrough Homes in Albany. On both occasions, prior felony convictions for robbery prevented Jones from legally possessing firearms in New York.
Jones faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on October 13, 2022 by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the Albany Police Department and ATF with the assistance of the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Segovia and Emmet O’Hanlon.
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.
40 Alleged Meth Traffickers Charged in Operation Kullvid-20Read the Press Release
Fourteen alleged methamphetamine traffickers were arrested on Wednesday in Operation Kullvid-20, to announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Led by the DEA’s North Texas Strike Force, the investigation has netted a total of 40 federal defendants plus 2,708 kilograms of methamphetamine, 29 guns, and $742,000 cash to date, including 17 kilograms of methamphetamine, 6 guns, and $12,000 cash seized just yesterday. Over the course of the investigation, agents have also seized six vehicles, 30 kilograms of heroin, and 719 grams – or roughly 539,500 lethal doses – of fentanyl.
The defendants – the majority of whom were arrested in the Dallas area – will begin making their initial appearances on Friday. Five defendants remain at large.
“The North Texas Strike Force’s goal is simple: dismantle the most dangerous and violent criminal drug networks in North Texas that are responsible for poisoning our neighborhoods with methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “Through the combined efforts of our federal, state, and local partner agencies, we will not stop until individuals such as those arrested yesterday are held accountable to justice and to the victims and families of so many that have been destroyed because of their greed.”
According to court documents, the defendants conspired to smuggle powered methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States. Distributors then oversaw the conversion of powder to crystal before selling the drugs to local customers.
Over the phone, defendants allegedly spoke in code to avoid detection by law enforcement, using the Spanish word “diente,” or “tooth” to refer to 10 packages of meth and the word “ventilador,” or “fan,” to refer to 20 packages. (Both terms sound similar the words, “diez” and “vente,” or “ten” and “twenty.”)
At one point, an unidentified coconspirator warned a top distributor to abandoned his residence because he believed law enforcement was monitoring the home.
“Get the [expletive] out of there, cousin! I tossed everything out. These dudes, the cops are following me, but I’m taking off, cousin,” the coconspirator said. “All right, all right,” the distributor replied.
Those charged in a 22-count superseding indictment filed in May and unsealed this week include:
- George Anthony Cervantes: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Fernando Mancha, Jr.: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Cynthia Sanchez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Myda Marivel Garcia: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Luis Enrique Esquivel-Madrigal: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Bruno Rafael Hernandez-Rios: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Fnu Lun, aka “Paniquedo:” conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Eric Perez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Enrique Cabrera Gomez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Porfirio Pineda: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Jose Eulalio Perez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Charles McEntye Zoffuto: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Raquel Desara Martinez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces’ (OCDETF) North Texas Strike Force conducted the investigation. Agencies that participated in Wednesday’s takedown include: the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Dallas Coppell, and Grand Prairie Police Departments. Homeland Security Investigations, the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office, and the Corsicana, Mesquite, Balch Springs, and Wills Point Police Departments assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kull is prosecuting the case.
The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to attack and reduce the supply of illegal drugs entering the United States and to diminish violence and other criminal activity associated with the drug trade. OCDETF works with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify, disrupt, and dismantle traffickers and trafficking networks.
Wednesday 8 June 2022
York County Man Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Matthew Jeremy Acevedo, age 31, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to 235 months in prison, for drug trafficking and possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Acevedo pleaded guilty to trafficking over five kilograms of methamphetamines, trafficking fentanyl, and being in possession of firearms as a convicted felon. The drugs and firearms were seized during a June 17, 2021, search warrant at Acevedo’s York home. During the search, police arrested Acevedo and seized 17 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, firearms, and other drug trafficking materials. Acevedo was a previously convicted felon and prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
The case was investigated by the York County Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of opioids. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin and fentanyl traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also 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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Worcester Man Convicted of Hobbs Act ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was convicted yesterday by a federal jury for his role in an attempted robbery of a Rockland-based glassware dealer.
Grace Katana, a/k/a “King Grace,” 31, was convicted of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, commonly referred to as Hobbs Act robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 20, 2022. Katana was indicted in July 2019 with co-defendants Junior Melendez, Shaun Walker and Keith Johnson.
According to the charging documents, in March 2019, Katana conspired with Melendez, Walker and, allegedly, Johnson to rob a high-end glassware dealer in Rockland. Intercepted communications revealed Katana and his co-conspirators planned the robbery over the course of six days. On March 25, 2019, the men traveled over 60 miles from Worcester to Rockland in two vehicles to scope out the robbery target location prior to purchasing a two-foot iron crowbar, screwdriver and razor blades from a nearby hardware store. Agents actively monitoring the defendants subsequently converged and disrupted the attempted robbery. In addition to the items purchased in Rockland, a loaded .380 firearm was seized from one of the vehicles.
Melendez and Walker previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 28, 2022, and Oct. 13, 2022, respectively. Johnson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
The charge of Hobbs Act conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent; and Rockland Police Chief John R. Llewellyn made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg A. Friedholm and Kristen M. Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Woods Cross Man Charged with Torturing Animals and Distributing Videos OnlineRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Samuel J. Webster, 18, of Woods Cross, was charged by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City with 23 felony counts related to the alleged torture of four guinea pigs obtained from pet supply stores across the Wasatch Front. Webster was charged with 18 felony counts of distributing animal crush videos on YouTube, one felony count of creating an animal crush video, and four felony counts of animal crushing.
The term “animal crush video” as defined under federal law, makes it illegal to depict, via photograph, motion-picture film, video, digital recording or electronic image, actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, and is obscene.
According to allegations in the Indictment, Webster obtained the four guinea pigs from pet supply stores in Farmington, Salt Lake City, and West Jordan, in October of 2021. Shortly thereafter, it is alleged that Webster posted 23 videos of himself torturing the guinea pigs and posted the videos to multiple YouTube accounts. It is alleged that Webster posted the videos with graphic titles including “Guinea Pig Torture” and “Torture is Fun.” After posting the videos on YouTube, Webster allegedly posted comments to his own videos reinforcing his desires about killing and torturing guinea pigs.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. FBI Special Agents are conducting the investigation.
An Indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
West Virginia Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Travelling to PA to Have Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Moundsville, West Virginia, has been sentenced in federal court to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Jason W. Lynn, age 44.
According to information presented to the court, from April 4, 2019, until May 3, 2019, Lynn communicated online and through text messages with an undercover law enforcement officer who Lynn believed to be a real minor. In the beginning of May 2019, Lynn made arrangements with the purported minor to meet at a hotel in Pittsburgh for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. Lynn was arrested on May 3, 2019 by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after Lynn traveled from West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to meet the purported minor.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the FBI for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lynn.
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.
Violent recidivist sentenced to 10 years in prison for using a stolen identity to buy gunsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Dawuan Na’jee Williams, a multi-convicted felon, has been sentenced to federal prison for using another person’s name and date of birth to purchase more than two dozen firearms, some of which were later used in a shooting and other crimes.
“Because he’s a felon several times over, Williams could not lawfully possess or purchase firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He then skirted federal law by utilizing stolen identification information to purchase firearms and will spend the next decade in federal prison.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Special Agent in Charge, Jeffrey L. Matthews, of the Newark Field Division said, “This is a reminder that all would-be firearms traffickers and those that contribute to violent crime in our communities are on our radar and there is no safe haven. ATF is deliberate and calculated in our approach to stem violent gun crimes from devastating our neighborhoods, while exploiting investigative leads derived from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), connecting crime guns to crime scenes, and leveraging our expertise to support investigations across multiple jurisdictions.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Williams purchased more than two dozen firearms and large-capacity ammunition magazines from federally licensed firearms dealers in North Georgia and the Atlanta metro area between May 2020 and June 2021. Some of these guns were used in crimes just days after Williams obtained them.
For example, in May 2021, police officers in Newark, New Jersey, recovered a loaded semiautomatic pistol from a crime scene just eight days after Williams bought that firearm. In early July 2021, police officers in Tallahassee, Fla. responded to the location of a shooting and recovered a pistol that Williams purchased approximately four weeks earlier. In late July 2021, ATF agents seized several guns from Williams’s residence. Those guns included a pistol Williams purchased two months before ATF recovered it. NIBIN analysis linked that pistol to a shell casing recovered from the scene of the Tallahassee shooting. In connection with that incident, authorities in Florida charged Williams with various offenses, including attempted murder and aggravated assault. Those charges remain pending.
During the entirety of his buying spree, Williams was strictly prohibited from purchasing firearms because he had been convicted previously of numerous felonies, including home invasion robbery, robbery, terroristic threats, kidnapping, aggravated battery, drug trafficking, grand theft, and criminal use of personal identification information. During each sale, Williams used identification information belonging to a victim who was unaware of Williams’s identity theft.
Dawuan Na’jee Williams, 40, of Jonesboro, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg to ten years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Williams pleaded guilty on February 9, 2022, to one count of presenting false identification to a federally licensed firearms dealer.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, Firearms Trafficking Coordinator for the Northern District of Georgia, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
United States Sues the Town/Village of Harrison, New York and Its Fire Department for Discrimination and Sexual HarassmentRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has filed a lawsuit against the TOWN/VILLAGE OF HARRISON (“HARRISON”), the FIRE DISTRICT TWO OF HARRISON, and the HARRISON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT NO. 1 OF HARRISON, N.Y. d/b/a HARRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT (“HARRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT”), alleging discrimination on the basis of sex and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). HARRISON and the HARRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT are alleged to have unlawfully discriminated against a female firefighter by creating a hostile work environment and terminating her employment after she reported that a male senior firefighter had harassed and stalked her.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Sexual harassment in the workplace is abhorrent. All employers, including government agencies, must ensure that sexual harassment is prohibited—not ignored or followed by illegal employment actions against victims, as we allege occurred at the Town of Harrison. This suit seeks to remedy the civil rights violations committed by the Harrison Fire Department and the Town of Harrison, and ensure that Harrison protects its employees’ rights in the future.”
As alleged in the complaint filed in the White Plains federal court:
In 2015, Angela Bommarito (“Bommarito”) joined the HARRISON Fire Department. In her first month on the job, a senior firefighter, Henry Mohr (“Mohr”), pressured Bommarito with unwanted sexual advances. Mohr later also harassed and stalked Bommarito, including by repeatedly following her and calling her on numerous occasions. Further, Mohr used sexually demeaning expletives to describe Bommarito in front of other firefighters. HARRISON and HARRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT leaders learned of Mohr’s harassment, including through reports by Bommarito. After those officials failed to take any employment action against Mohr and the harassment persisted, Bommarito filed a report with HARRISON’s Police Department. In response, HARRISON’s then-Police Chief told Mohr, in a recorded interaction, that Bommarito’s presence at the firehouse was a “temptation,” which was “hard to resist sometimes,” and that the Police Chief “want[ed] to broker a deal with the Town to make sure this whole thing dies” so that he could get Mohr “out of this situation.” Bommarito subsequently signed a resignation letter prepared by the Police Chief after he threatened to arrest her and report her other relationships to HARRISON’s Fire Commissioners. Soon after, Bommarito attempted to withdraw the resignation, but the HARRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT proceeded with the termination of her employment.
Following Bommarito’s departure from the Harrison Fire Department, Mohr continued to harass and stalk her. Mohr was eventually arrested for his harassment of Bommarito and pled guilty to harassment in the second degree. A family court judge also entered an order of protection against Mohr.
Title VII authorizes the Department of Justice to commence an action in the United States District Court against HARRISON and the HARRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT to remedy discrimination on the basis of sex and retaliation in violation of Title VII. The United States’ complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as compensatory damages on behalf of Bommarito.
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This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles S. Jacob and Natasha W. Teleanu are in charge of the case.
Tylertown Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A Tylertown man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony crime, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jahadd Allen, 24, was arrested on October 18, 2020, after McComb, Police officers responded to a complaint of individuals violating the city noise ordinance. Upon arrival, an officer observed Allen jumping on another person’s car, with a handgun protruding from his pocket. Allen refused to obey the officer’s instruction to get off the car and was taken into custody. A Taurus handgun was removed from Allen’s pocket. Allen was convicted of armed robbery in 2018 and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Allen was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on January 18, 2022.
The McComb Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works 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.
Two Minneapolis Men Charged in a Violent Carjacking Conspiracy Targeting Uber and Lyft DriversRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two Minneapolis men have been charged in a 20-count indictment for their roles in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies targeting Uber and Lyft drivers, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“Last month, along with federal and local law enforcement partners, I announced a new strategy to address the rising violent crime in our communities. Today’s indictment represents an important step forward in that strategy. As alleged, these two defendants led a carjacking ring that engaged in a series of violent, premeditated acts against Uber and Lyft drivers,” said U.S. Attorney Luger.
According to court documents, between September and October 2021, Shevirio Kavirion Childs-Young, 18, and William Charles Saffold, 20, along with others, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy lured victim-drivers to particular locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the victim-drivers arrived, members of the conspiracy brandished firearms and demanded the cell phones and wallets of the victim-drivers. Members of the conspiracy forced the victim-drivers at gunpoint to unlock their cell phones and provide passcodes. The conspiracy members then transferred money, via Cash App or other applications, from the accounts of the victim-drivers to the accounts of members of the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy then carjacked the victim-drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, members of the conspiracy struck, pistol whipped, and threatened to kill the victim-drivers.
Childs-Young and Saffold are charged with conspiracy, brandishing firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence, aiding and abetting carjacking, and aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act).
Saffold made his initial appearances earlier today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John Docherty. He was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings. Childs-Young is in state custody and is expected to appear in U.S. District Court at a later date.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Federal Inmates Charged with Possessing Weapons and Drugs in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two federal inmates were indicted separately yesterday by a federal grand jury for possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, two Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood (FCI Allenwood) inmates were indicted for:
- Jeffery Wood, age 26, possession of a sharpened plastic shank on April 19, 2020; and
- Jeffrey Lamarche, age 43, possession of a sharpened metal shank, and several strips of paper soaked in a Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid on May 18, 2020.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel are prosecuting the cases.
If convicted, Wood and Lamarche face a maximum of five years of incarceration and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Two Federal Inmates Charged with Possessing Phones in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two federal inmates were charged separately by criminal informations yesterday for possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, two federal inmates were charged with possessing phones in prison:
- Christopher Edwards, age 51, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg, possessed an iPhone on October 22, 2021;
- Angel Anchondo, age 20, an inmate at the Low Security Correctional Institution, Allenwood, possessed an LG cellphone on December 15, 2021.
Federal law prohibits inmates from possessing cellphones to ensure institutional security.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel are prosecuting the cases.
If convicted, Edwards and Anchondo face a maximum of one year of incarceration and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal indictments and informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Troy City Council Member Pleads Guilty to Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kimberly McPherson, age 61, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to identity theft in connection with her casting of absentee ballots in two other people’s names in elections held in 2021.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
McPherson successfully ran for re-election to the Troy City Council in 2021, first in the primary and then in the general election. In pleading guilty to the unlawful possession and use of a means of identification of another person, she admitted that in the primary election, she unlawfully cast an absentee ballot in the name of another person, and that in the general election, she unlawfully cast absentee ballots in the names of two people other than herself.
As part of her plea agreement, McPherson has agreed to resign from the Troy City Council.
McPherson faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of 3 years, when she is sentenced 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.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Tenderloin Drug Dealer Sentenced to 46 Months for Fentanyl SalesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Emil Arriola Melendez was sentenced in federal court today to 46 months in prison for the distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon. Senior United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney handed down the sentence.
Melendez, 33, of South San Francisco, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2022, to distributing fentanyl. In his plea agreement, Melendez admitted that in September and November 2021 he exchanged numerous text messages with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a drug buyer. Melendez arranged through the messages to sell fentanyl and heroin to the undercover officer. On September 22, 2021, near Geary and Hyde Streets in San Francisco’s Tenderloin area, Melendez met and sold the undercover officer 110 grams of fentanyl for $3,000. Melendez further admitted that on October 27, 2021, he again met with the undercover officer near Geary and Hyde Streets and sold the officer 227 grams (approximately eight ounces) of fentanyl and 56 grams (approximately two ounces) of heroin. Melendez charged the officer $7,800.
In its sentencing memo, the government described that the investigation of Melendez began when three individuals in Trinity County in the rural north of California (population: 12,541) died from fentanyl overdoses in a single weekend in August 2021. The dealer who sold fentanyl to the decedents before their overdoses was arrested. That dealer identified Melendez as a source of fentanyl supply and said that he would drive to meet and buy fentanyl from Melendez in the San Francisco Bay Area and then return with the fentanyl to Trinity and Shasta Counties. This information led to the undercover officer being introduced to Melendez and Melendez’s sales to the officer.
During the search of Melendez’s home at the time of his arrest, law enforcement located a privately made firearm (a PMF, or “ghost gun”). As part of the sentence, the firearm was forfeited.
In addition to the 46 month federal prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney ordered Melendez to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Melendez was in custody at his sentencing hearing and begins serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tartakovsky prosecuted the case with the assistance of Mark DiCenzo. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force, and the North State Major Investigation Team.
Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opioid that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone and can typically be obtained at a lower cost than genuine Oxycodone. Counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills are commonly shaped and colored to resemble Oxycodone pills sold legitimately in the marketplace. Counterfeit pills known as M30s are round tablets that are often light blue, but can vary in color, and have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl can have significant effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills, drastically raising the danger of overdoses. Fentanyl recently became the leading cause of drug overdose deaths throughout the United States.
Taylorsville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Taylorsville man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, in April of 2020, DEA agents intercepted communications among Harold Keyes, Jr., 29, and his co-defendants conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Specifically, on April 24, 2020, agents intercepted methamphetamine related communications occurring in and around a residence in Hattiesburg. Keyes was stopped by Hattiesburg Police Department for a traffic violation and officers discovered over a kilogram of methamphetamine wrapped in 3 bundles hidden in the front of Keyes’s pants.
In addition to the prison sentence, Keyes was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Don’t Tell on Me Bro,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Don’t Tell on Me Bro” 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.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Hattiesburg Police Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s, and Columbia Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Sovah Health to Pay United States $4.36 Million to Settle Claims of Controlled Substance Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Sovah Health has agreed to pay the United States $4.36 million to settle claims that the hospital system violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) on numerous occasions between 2017 and 2020. As part of the resolution, Sovah Health further agreed to be subject to a period of four years of increased compliance and oversight during which any failure to comply with its obligations may result in contempt of court findings that could result in additional monetary sanctions and injunctive relief. The settlement is the third-largest civil penalty ever obtained from a hospital system under the Controlled Substances Act and the largest ever in the Fourth Circuit.
The claims center around Sovah Health’s failure to have effective controls in place to prevent the diversion of powerful painkilling prescription opioids. Sovah Health is a regional health care delivery system comprised of a hospital with two campuses - Danville and Martinsville. In 2017, Danville (formerly Danville Regional Medical Center) and Martinsville (formerly Memorial Hospital of Martinsville & Henry County) united to form Sovah Health.
From 2017 to 2019, a Sovah Health employee diverted more than 11,000 Schedule II controlled substances from Sovah Health. From January to May 2020 a second Sovah Health employee tampered with Fentanyl vials and hydromorphone injectables by replacing the controlled substance with saline and diverting the controlled substance. The United States alleged Sovah Health failed to provide effective controls and procedures to guard against the diversion of controlled substances, filled orders for controlled substances without a system in place to disclose suspicious orders of controlled substances, and failed to maintain readily retrievable records of controlled substances.
“As opioid overdose deaths skyrocket, it is critical that health care companies are held accountable when they fail to effectively safeguard these powerful prescriptions within their facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia. “The oversight provided by this resolution will ensure future compliance involving these important but potentially deadly substances, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will continue to vigorously pursue these cases with our federal and local partners in order to protect Virginia’s communities.”
“Today's settlement sends a clear message to all registrants that it is essential to maintain effective controls to prevent the diversion of controlled substances” said DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget. “DEA is dedicated to combat the prescription drug abuse problem in Virginia and throughout the country and to hold all DEA registrants accountable."
“The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that patients receive medicines that are safe and effective,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to protect the public health by holding accountable health care companies that fail to safeguard their prescription drug inventory and thereby compromise their patients’ health and comfort.”
“With opioid deaths and overdoses at record-breaking highs, especially across Southside Virginia, there must be zero tolerance of trusted health professionals engaging in drug diversion,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “For the safety and protection of Virginia's communities, our Virginia State Police Drug Diversion special agents, in collaboration with our local and federal public safety partners, will continue to aggressively pursue investigations related to the illegal distribution of Fentanyl and other prescription drugs.”
The agreement, which is available here, resolves Sovah Health’s potential civil and criminal liability based on the investigation. As part of the resolution, Sovah Health has committed to additional compliance measures including, but not limited to, having cameras at all Automated Dispensing Machines to capture the activity of placing/removing controlled substances; promptly reporting losses and diversion of controlled substances; taking and reporting disciplinary action taken against employees found to have been responsible for theft, diversion or loss of controlled substances; maintaining a mandatory random drug testing program for employees; and conducting a full physical inventory of all federally scheduled II-V controlled substances more frequently than required by law.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Lugar and Randy Ramseyer represented the United States in this matter.
The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Roanoke Resident Office Diversion Group, and the Virginia State Police.
South Carolina Woman Sentenced for Role in International Money Laundering, Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Greenville, South Carolina woman, who was involved in a longtime romantic relationship with the leader of an extensive methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, was sentenced this week to 36 months in federal prison.
Lisa Yvonne Fleming Neely, 56, pled guilty in February 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering with the intent to promote the carrying on of a crime - specifically to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
According to court documents, in 2012, Neely began a romantic relationship with Joshua Desorcy while he was incarcerated. Upon his release from prison, Desorcy began selling methamphetamine in the Greenville, South Carolina area and Neely assisted him by wiring funds to various sources connected with a Mexican drug cartel.
Desorcy moved to Bristol, Virginia to expand his drug dealing business and Neely continued to support him by coordinating his travels to purchase massive amounts of methamphetamine from additional sources in Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas.
When Desorcy was arrested in 2021, Neely conspired with him to threaten a co-conspirator into falsely claiming ownership of a firearm that was found in Desorcy’s possession. In addition, Neely not only continued to facilitate communications between the incarcerated Desorcy and his drug suppliers, but also organized additional shipments of methamphetamine into the Southwest Virginia area at his direction.
In February 2022, Desorcy was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Ronald Horton, age 24, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to serve 20 years in prison for sexually exploiting a 5-year-old child. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Horton admitted that he recorded multiple videos that depicted his sexual abuse of the child and then uploaded those videos to an account he maintained on a blogging website.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Horton is released from prison, and ordered Horton to pay a $100 special assessment. Horton will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by HSI and the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Kopita as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Rochester Man Arrested on Multiple Child Pornography ChargesRead 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 Matthew Shulman, 36, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted production of child pornography, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography following a previous conviction for possessing child pornography. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 25 years in prison, a maximum of 50 years, lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between May 2021, and June 2022, Shulman engaged in sexually explicit online communications with an undercover New York State Police Investigator that he believed was an 11-year-old girl. During these conversations, Shulman asked the girl to produce and send images to him and he attempted to persuade the girl to meet him for sex. On June 7, 2022, the NYSP and Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Shulman’s residence at which time Shulman was taken into custody. Shulman was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in Monroe County Court in June 2016 and is a registered sex offender.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and is being held without bail.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
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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Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Sigfrido Adolfo Rivero, 56, of Nogales, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 121 months in federal prison, followed by 120 months of supervised release. Rivero previously pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
On May 19, 2021, Rivero was arrested as he attempted to pass through the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint near Amado, Arizona, after it was discovered that he had approximately 190,000 pills (19.24 kilograms) of fentanyl hidden in his vehicle. In a previous case, Rivero was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for trafficking bulk quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Rivero served most of that sentence before being released, and was on parole for about five months when he committed this new drug trafficking crime.
“The United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona is committed to combatting the fentanyl epidemic plaguing this country and will advocate vigorously for appropriately strict punishment for those involved in the distribution of this dangerous drug,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino.
Members of the Counter Narcotics Alliance, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, conducted the investigation in this case. The Counter Narcotics Alliance is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force operating in the Pima County and Greater Tucson area. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-01382-SHR(LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-089_Rivero# # #
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.Registered Sex Offender Arrested on New Child Pornography ChargesRead 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 Michael Woloschuk, 42, of Hamlin, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography, after having previously been convicted of a child pornography offense. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from a social media platform that an individual distributed child pornography over the platform. NCMEC forwarded the information to the New York State Police, who identified the individual as Woloschuk, a registered sex offender. On October 26, 2021, during the execution of a search warrant at Woloschuk’s residence, investigators seized several digital devices, to include a thumb drive and laptop. A forensic analysis recovered several videos and images of child pornography, to include material that depicted violence against prepubescent children. Some of the child pornography was located on the thumb drive, which also contained Woloschuk’s sex offender registration information. Woloschuk was previously convicted on New York State child pornography charges in 2005 and sentenced to serve 3 to 9 years in prison.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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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Portland Man Faces Federal Charges for Using Instagram to Sexually Exploit Children OnlineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—On June 7, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging a Portland man for using Instagram to persuade children to produce and send him sexually explicit photos of themselves.
Solomon Dean Cook, 18, has been charged with sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation of children, receiving child pornography, and possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, Cook first came to the attention of federal law enforcement in January 2022 when the parent of a minor victim in Portland called the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) to report that an Instagram user had persuaded their child to produce and share a sexually explicit photo of herself. The user threatened to distribute the image if the child did not continue producing and sending more images.
In follow-up interviews with investigators, the minor victim identified a second child in Portland who had been victimized by Cook. She told investigators that Cook posted nude photos of both children on his Instagram stories.
After receiving the tip, federal agents traced two Instagram accounts to Cook and identified his Portland residence. On May 11, 2022, agents executed a federal search warrant on the residence. During the search, Cook confessed to enticing the reporting minor victim to produce the sexually explicit image and to exploiting additional victims in the same manner. Cook was arrested and made his first appearance in federal court the same day.
Cook will be arraigned on the indictment on June 10, 2022.
If convicted, Cook faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison with a 15-year mandatory minimum, a life term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. He may also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF). It is being prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website at www.missingkids.org.
The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced after Pleading Guilty to Setting Fire that Killed 3 Pittsburgh Firefighters in 1995Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to no further penalty after pleading guilty today to malicious destruction of property by fire resulting in death, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David Cercone imposed the sentence on Gregory Brown, 44, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brown served 20 years in state prison for his conviction on the arson that was the subject of this case. That conviction was vacated in 2016.
According to information provided to the court during today’s hearing, the defendant, then 17, set fire to the residential rental home located at 8361 Bricelyn Street in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood on February 14, 1995, which resulted in the deaths of Pittsburgh firefighters Thomas Brooks, Patricia Conroy and Marc Kolenda.
U.S. Attorney Chung stated, “Captain Thomas Brooks, and Firefighters Patricia Conroy and Marc Kolenda were dedicated public servants with families and friends who loved them. In 1995, these dedicated public servants died in the line of duty. Today, defendant Gregory Brown acknowledged under oath that the evidence as described in court establishes his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and is sufficient to secure his conviction. A conviction and waiver of appellate rights is important in securing justice for these public servants and their families and holds Gregory Brown responsible forever in the eyes of the law.”
“Arson is a very serious and violent crime, and in this case resulted in the tragic deaths of three Pittsburgh firefighters,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “ATF and our experts will continue to work closely with our state and local partners to investigate these violent acts of arson and make sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions. I would like to commend the work of all the investigators and prosecutors in this case since this incident occurred.”
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney and Special Assistant Rebecca Walker of the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal, and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gregory Brown.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Drug LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood pleaded guilty in federal court to a violation of the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Asa Collins, aka “Asa Brown”), 20, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on April 27, 2021, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Officers stopped a vehicle operated by Collins in Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood for a traffic infraction. During a subsequent search of his vehicle, officers found approximately 8 “bricks” – containing roughly 400 individual dosage units – of heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol mixtures (each of which is a scheduled controlled substance), along with a loaded .45 caliber pistol. In connection with his guilty plea, Collins admitted to possessing the controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, along with unlawfully possessing the .45 caliber pistol.
Senior Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for October 20, 2022. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Cook and Jerome A. Moschetta are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Collins.
Pharmacist sentenced to over 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Thomas Ukoshovbera A. Gbenedio has been sentenced for illegally dispensing and distributing controlled substances from his pharmacy. After Gbenedio was found guilty by a jury, he attempted to flee the country to avoid prison.
“Gbenedio used his pharmacy as a pill-mill to supply highly-addictive narcotics to drug dealers and drug addicts,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His greed exacerbated the opioid epidemic that continues to plague our community. After the jury found him guilty, he then attempted to leave the country, but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. Now, he will serve a significant prison sentence.”
“As the nationwide trend toward the non-medical use of prescription drugs swells, the need for an organized, immediate, and effective response increases correspondingly,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “The abuse of a trusted medical professional (a pharmacist in this case) like Mr. Gbenedio will not be tolerated. He will now face the consequences of his unlawful acts. This case is a perfect example of the success that can be achieved when DEA and its law enforcement partners work collaboratively confront, engage and eliminate the distribution of controlled substances by medical practitioners. Doing so will help to stem the tide against this country’s opioid epidemic.”
“Justice is served due to collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement partnerships,” said Michael Yeager, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Georgia.
“This investigation emphasizes the commitment of the FBI and our partners in combatting the opioid epidemic in our country,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The public must trust in medical professionals, and the FBI will continue to investigate those who abuse their responsibilities and endanger others by engaging in criminal activity.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Gbenedio was a licensed pharmacist who owned Better Way Pharmacy in Mableton, Georgia. An investigation into Gbenedio began after Georgia Drug & Narcotics Agency (GDNA) agents conducted a routine inspection at Better Way and noticed that several of Gbenedio’s customers were driving long distances - including from Kentucky and Alabama - to get prescriptions filled at Better Way. Several of the prescriptions were for large quantities of highly addictive opioids, like oxycodone, and many of the prescriptions were purportedly from the same physician.
The investigation later revealed that the prescriptions being filled by Gbenedio between 2014 and 2016 were not real prescriptions; they were fake or fraudulent and otherwise illegal. Gbenedio charged his customers up to $1,000 to fill the illegal prescriptions for controlled substances.
After a two-week jury trial, Gbenedio was convicted of 70 counts of illegally dispensing and distributing controlled substances and one count of refusing an administrative inspection warrant.
Once the jury announced its verdict, Gbenedio was ordered to report to Probation for location monitoring. Instead of reporting, Gbenedio attempted to flee. He ultimately was apprehended at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport with the assistance of U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Thomas Ukoshovbera A. Gbenedio, 72, of Mableton, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., to 15 years, eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $200,000. Gbenedio had been found guilty by a jury on October 29, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Adams and Erin N. Spritzer prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Four Years for Laundering Funds from Lottery Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Sheldon Shaun Hibbert, 43, most recently of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 48 months in prison. Hibbert previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Hibbert participated in a scheme where scammers called elderly victims and falsely stated they had won a lottery. To receive their “winnings,” the victims were told they must first submit money for taxes and fees. Hibbert’s role in the scheme was to help launder the fraudulent proceeds to Jamaica on behalf of his co-conspirators. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered a forfeiture money judgment against Hibbert totaling $196,523. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for August 5, 2022.
IRS - Criminal Investigation, FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in the case. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-1973-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-088_Hibbert# # #
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.Omaha Man Sentenced to 131 Months for Methamphetamine, Firearm and ThreatRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dustin T. Baker, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for distribution of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and willfully making a threat involving explosives materials. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Baker to imprisonment for a term of 71 months, to be followed by a mandatory consecutive 60-month term of imprisonment resulting from his conviction for the firearms offense. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Baker placed an explosive device on the hood of a Chevy Tahoe that belonged his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend (victim). Baker called the victim approximately 11 times between 1:22 a.m. and 4:28 a.m. during the early hours of August 26, 2021. During the calls, Baker threatened the victim and threatened to blow up his car.
On the morning of August 27, 2021, investigators located Baker outside of his residence on Ruggles Street in Omaha. Two other persons were also present at the residence. Baker consented to a search of his house and investigators found methamphetamine, a gun, and ammunition. The gun was later determined to have been stolen. Baker admitted he had a firearm in his house and admitted to placing the device on the Tahoe. Police arrested Baker.
A quantity of methamphetamine was recovered from Baker’s bedroom and from one of the two additional persons present at Baker’s house when investigators arrived on August 27, 2021. That person told investigators that she purchased the methamphetamine on her person from Baker when she arrived at his residence a few hours earlier. She further stated on August 26, 2021, she and another party gave Baker a ride, dropping him off at a specific location (near the victim’s residence) and picked him up two hours later when he messaged her to park at “something and Elm”. She said she felt the concussion from a loud explosion at that location and that when Baker returned, he commented, “That’s what happens when you don’t pay me my money or mess with me.”
On August 30, 2021, after Baker was arrested, he made a jail call to his mother and told her the police didn’t find all of the devices he used at the victim’s residence. Baker asked his mother to tell another party to retrieve it from his sock drawer. Investigators were able to obtain a search warrant and seized the second device.
This case was 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.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of More than $40,000 in Social Security FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOHN EDWARD JONES, age 42, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
According to court documents, beginning around July 2015 and continuing through March 2020, JONES collected Social Security Administration benefits paid to a deceased individual. In total, JONES fraudulently received approximately $40,361.00 in Social Security Administration benefits to which he was not entitled.
JONES faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter set sentencing for September 8, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Throwing an Explosive Device at Police During May 30, 2020, Pittsburgh ProtestRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Long Beach Township, New Jersey, has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release on a conviction of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Nicholas Lucia, 27.
The court was previously advised that on May 30, 2020, Lucia threw an explosive device towards several uniformed police officers who were attempting to maintain control during ongoing rioting. The explosive device landed on the vest of one of the officers, and another officer quickly pulled it off and threw it before it exploded. One officer suffered a concussion as a result of being in close proximity to the explosion.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the joint investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lucia.
Naugatuck Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing NarcoticsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON METZ, also known as “Jay,” 53, of Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2020, the DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of heroin, cocaine and crack in the Waterbury area, and was believed to be headed by Zachary Lee Foster. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones used by members of the organization, physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs. The investigation revealed that Metz was working closely with Foster to distribute narcotics. Between October 2020 and January 2021, Metz was intercepted numerous times on a wiretap ordering distribution quantities of narcotics from his New York supplier, and coordinating the sale of narcotics to several associates who, in turn, sold the drugs to their own customers.
On March 1, 2021, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Metz. Foster, and 15 others. Metz and others were arrested on March 3, 2021. On that date, law enforcement executed seven search warrants and seized approximately 40,000 bags of heroin/fentanyl, 350 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of crack cocaine, and nine firearms.
Metz pleaded guilty on February 16, 2022.
Metz, who had been released on bond, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of today’s court proceeding.
Foster has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and Brendan Keefe 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.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
Muskegon Doctor Pleads Guilty to Billing for Office Visits She Never Performed and Agrees to Settle Civil Claims for Half A Million DollarsRead the Press Release
Physician restricted from future controlled substance prescribing
GRAND RAPIDS – A Muskegon physician pleaded guilty on May 25, 2022, to a felony information charging her with one count of health care fraud. According to court documents, Soaries Maxine Peterson, M.D., 68, billed Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for services that she did not perform. Dr. Peterson admitted that she billed for office visits for patients who came to her office, often to obtain monthly prescriptions for controlled substances, when she was on vacation out of state or when she was outside of the office performing other services. During these encounters, patients met only with unlicensed office staff and no qualified health professional.
As part of a global settlement, Dr. Peterson also agreed to pay the United States and the State of Michigan $500,000 to resolve her civil liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged fraudulent claims she billed to Medicare and Medicaid, as well to resolve her federal liability under the Controlled Substances Act related to her prescribing of controlled substances. More specifically, the United States alleges that Dr. Peterson wrote prescriptions for controlled substances to her patients without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. As part of the investigation, Dr. Peterson surrendered her Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) registration for cause, and she has agreed to never reapply for a new registration, preventing her from ever prescribing opioids and other controlled substances in the future.
“Health care providers who fraudulently bill for services they did not provide must be held accountable, especially when those services involve the prescribing of controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “The citizens of this district deserve better. My office is committed to working with our federal and state partners to combat this unprofessional, unsafe, and unlawful behavior in Michigan.”
“I appreciate the coordinated effort across state and federal agencies to reach this outcome,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “My office will continue to work with our partners to ensure providers who commit fraud are held accountable. Patients and all Michigan residents deserve better.”
“The charges to which Peterson pleaded guilty describe a person who was more motivated by greed than by her duty to provide appropriate medical care to patients,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) in Michigan. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate health care fraud committed by medical professionals who defraud federal health care programs and knowingly place their patients at risk.”
“Providers who fraudulently bill federal health care programs and prescribe controlled substances without a medical need show no regard for the well-being of their patients and irresponsibly divert funds needed to care for beneficiaries,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”). “Our agency will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable providers who engage in fraud and endanger the beneficiaries of our federal health care programs.”
“Disregard for laws regulating controlled substances is what is fueling the nation’s overdose epidemic,” said Kent R. Kleinschmidt, DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Detroit Field Division. “This reckless behavior will not be tolerated, and DEA is committed to pursuing anyone who fails to meet their prescribing obligations.”
Dr. Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1347). She is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Hull represents the United States in the civil case, and Assistant Attorney General Stacy M. Race of the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division represents the State of Michigan in its civil case.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 234 Months in Prison for Shooting Victim During Attempted CarjackingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 7, 2022, Jack A. Clayborne, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a 234-month term of imprisonment for shooting a victim during an attempted carjacking. That term of imprisonment will be followed by an additional 60 months of supervised release. Clayborne had been convicted by a jury of attempted carjacking, discharging a firearm in furtherance of the attempted carjacking, and of possession of ammunition by a felon.
The evidence presented at trial established that in 2016, Clayborne and a second gunman, Eric Booker, attempted to carjack their victim after the victim backed his car into his garage. Clayborne walked up to the garage with a handgun and shot the victim through both of his legs. The victim then retrieved a legally owned handgun and shot back, hitting Booker. Booker was found guilty by a jury in 2017.
“Violent crimes like carjackings and armed robberies present an unacceptable threat to the safety and security of our communities,” commented U.S. Attorney Frohling. “In this case, Clayborne not only brazenly attempted an armed carjacking but also was willing to pull the trigger – and shoot the victim – just to try to take the car. As part of a combined effort with our federal, state, and local partners to combat violent crime, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to prosecuting violent offenders – including carjackers like Clayborne and Booker -- in federal court.”
"The FBI and our law enforcement partners are firmly committed to protecting neighborhoods from senseless and unprovoked crimes, including attempted carjackings," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. "The sentencing today demonstrates behaviors of this type will not be tolerated here in Milwaukee, nor anywhere in the state of Wisconsin."
“The Milwaukee Police is committed to working with our community, local, state and federal partners to combat violent crime that has been plaguing our community. We are extremely proud of the dedication and hard work of the members of MPD, FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office that collaborate to bring violent offenders to justice,” said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
This case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mel Johnson, Rebecca Taibleson, and Christopher Ladwig and tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Taibleson and Philip T. Kovoor.
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Mexican Man Sentenced for Fraud Involving a Social Security CardRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Mexican national was sentenced to 12 months in prison for fraud or misuse of a social security card.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Chief Patrol Agent Jason E. Schneider of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, and Special Agent in Charge David L. Denton of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Jesus Alberto Charqueno-Hernandez, 26, was arrested on October 25, 2021, by Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies after they received a 911 call for assistance. Deputies responded to the location of the 911 call near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Highway 57. Charqueno-Hernandez was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance.
In trying to identify him, officers found several forms of identification in Charqueno-Hernandez’ possession, including a Florida state identification card bearing another person’s name with a photo of Charqueno-Hernandez. Officers and agents also found a Social Security Card which bore the name and Social Security Number of the person named on the Florida Identification Card who was determined to be a victim of identity theft. Knowing that the name and SSN were not his own, he unlawfully used the victim’s information for the purpose of gaining employment.
Immigration records checks revealed that Carqueno-Hernandez had been previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico and had illegally returned to the United States.
Carqueno-Hernandez pled guilty on January 25, 2022. After serving his prison sentence, he is subject to Department of Homeland Security proceedings to remove him from the United States.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.