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Friday 27 May 2022
York County Man Sentenced for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Gambrill, age 46, of Windsor, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 3 years of probation by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for concealing assets during a bankruptcy proceeding. Gambrill was also ordered to pay a $7,200 fine.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Gambrill previously admitted that in 2016 and 2017, while he was a petitioner in a bankruptcy proceeding, he fraudulently concealed a $125,000 inheritance from the bankruptcy trustee and creditors. Gambrill’s bankruptcy petition was ultimately dismissed, and none of his debts were discharged.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli prosecuted the case.
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Woman Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Custody for Interfering with Southwest Airlines Flight AttendantRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Vyvianna M. Quinonez of Sacramento was sentenced in federal court today to 15 months in federal custody for interfering with a Southwest Airlines flight attendant. In addition, U.S. District Court Judge Todd W. Robinson ordered Quinonez to pay $25,981.57 in restitution and a $7,500 fine and imposed three years of supervised release. While on supervised release, Quinonez will be prohibited from flying on commercial aircraft and must participate in anger management classes or counseling, among other conditions.
Last year, Quinonez pleaded guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, admitting that she assaulted a flight attendant by punching her in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbing her hair.
According to admissions in her plea agreement, on May 23, 2021, Quinonez was a passenger aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 700 from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport. During the flight’s final descent, Quinonez failed to comply with federal rules and regulations. She was not wearing her seat belt, pulled her tray table down, and was not wearing her facemask properly. Court documents state that Quinonez failed to comply when a flight attendant instructed her to fasten her seatbelt. A short time later, another flight attendant instructed Quinonez to fasten her seat belt and stow her tray table for her own safety and wear her mask correctly. Quinonez did not comply and talked back to the flight attendant while shouting profanities.
The plea agreement states Quinonez began filming the flight attendant on her cellphone and pushed the flight attendant. Quinonez admitted she stood up and intentionally assaulted the flight attendant. The assault was captured on video by another passenger sitting a few rows ahead of Quinonez. Several passengers attempted to stop Quinonez by grabbing at her clothing and arms. Court documents state that the passenger sitting directly in front of Quinonez told investigators that she believed she “softened the blows” by grabbing Quinonez’s arm. A male passenger sitting nearby jumped between Quinonez and the flight attendant, instructing Quinonez to sit down.
The flight attendant was taken to the hospital and sustained several injuries. Three of the flight attendant’s teeth were chipped, resulting in two teeth later being replaced by crowns. The flight attendant’s left eye was bruised and swollen; she sustained a cut under her left eye, requiring three stitches; and she had a bruise in the shape of fingers on her right forearm. Due to the assault, the flight attendant was not able to perform her normal safety and customer service duties.
In a letter filed with the court, the Vice President of Inflight Operations for Southwest Airlines stated that Quinonez “created a situation onboard Flight 700 that jeopardized the entire flight and created an unsafe environment.” She explained that Quinonez’s “actions negatively impacted our workgroup beyond description . . . causing fear to come permanently into the workplace.” The letter concluded, “Southwest hopes that the ultimate sentence imposed in this matter will serve as a deterrent for others who may contemplate engaging in similar dangerous behavior aboard our aircraft.”
“Violence on aircraft endangers the lives of all onboard,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs to ensure passenger safety, will not be tolerated. We will pursue criminal charges against those who violate the law both at the airport and aboard aircraft while in flight.” Grossman commended the prosecution team, the agents and officers from FBI and San Diego Harbor Police, as well as the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration for their excellent work on this case.
“Today’s sentence should send a very strong message to air travelers - the FBI will vigorously pursue anyone who assaults or interferes with flight crews,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “I want to thank the Port of San Diego Harbor Police, the San Diego Airport Authority, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, Southwest Airlines, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their collaboration and partnership in bringing this case to a resolution.”
If you believe you are a victim or a witness to a crime occurring aboard an aircraft, immediately report it to the FBI (https://www.fbi.gov/tips or call 1-800-CALL-FBI).
DEFENDANT Case Number 21-CR-2816-TWR
Vyvianna M. Quinonez Age: 29 Sacramento, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Interference with Flight Crew Members and Attendants – Title 49, U.S.C., 46504
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Harbor Police
Transportation Security Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
Wilkes-Barre Man Sentenced to 164 Months’ Imprisonment for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Torres, age 33, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 26, 2022, to 164 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, for trafficking in fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on December 13, 2019, Torres possessed with intent to distribute 45 grams of fentanyl, which corresponds to approximately 1,800 doses of the potentially lethal substance. A search warrant executed at Torres’ home also uncovered an unlawfully possessed firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.”
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin 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.
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Watervliet Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Calvin Strong, age 30, of Watervliet, New York, pled guilty today to unlawfully possessing a firearm, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
As part of his guilty plea Strong admitted that on November 23, 2021, he possessed a Glock .40 caliber handgun and 15 rounds of ammunition in his residence. Strong’s prior felony convictions, including federal convictions for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing and intending to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and heroin, prevented him from lawfully possessing the handgun.
Strong faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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. Sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2022 before Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr.
This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the United States Probation Office for the Northern District of New York, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Watervliet Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.
Washington State Man Indicted After Escape from Federal Prison CampRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal indictment was unsealed today charging an Edmonds, Washington man for escaping from a satellite prison camp at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) in Sheridan, Oregon.
Andrew Cain Kristovich, 38, has been charged with one count of escaping from custody.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of April 25, 2022, correctional officers at FCI Sheridan, a federal prison located in Yamhill County, Oregon, discovered that Kristovich was missing from his assigned bunk. Kristovich was serving a 60-month sentence after being convicted in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and unlawfully using a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
Later, on April 25, 2022, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a residence in Vancouver, Washington for a welfare check. The officers met a female who reported that Kristovich had told her he was getting released from prison and asked her to pick him up. After the woman picked him up, Kristovich sexually and physically assaulted her and then fled with her vehicle. On April 27, 2022, the woman’s vehicle was found locked and abandoned in a retail parking lot in Edmonds, Washington.
On May 14, 2022, a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Kristovich in Carson City, Nevada. Kristovich was found in possession of a semi-automatic rifle.
Kristovich made his initial appearance in federal court in the District of Oregon today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
If convicted, Kristovich faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Kristovich also faces Washington State felony charges in Clark County Superior Court for second degree rape, second degree assault, second degree robbery, and theft of a motor vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Ashley R. Cadotte, 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.
Domestic violence is a serious crime that includes both physical and emotional abuse. It is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members and communities.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have developed support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.
Vernon Man Admits Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONDELL CHAMBERS, 31, of Vernon, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 17, 2020, Hartford Police stopped a vehicle in which Chambers was a passenger in order to arrest Chambers on outstanding warrants. When Chambers stepped out of the vehicle, he dropped a satchel containing a loaded Bersa Firestorm .40 caliber pistol. Chambers was arrested and the firearm was seized.
Chambers’ criminal history includes multiple state felony convictions for drug and gun offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Chambers is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on September 22, at which time Chambers faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Chambers is released on a $150,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena L. Coronado and David Sheldon.
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.
Virgin Islands Port Authority Officer Charged with Cocaine Possession at Henry E. Rohlsen AirportRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Wayne Jeffers, 52, of St. Croix, appeared today before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III for an initial appearance stemming from his May 20, 2022, arrest on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. Jeffers faces a minimum sentence of ten (10) years in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million if convicted.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 11, 2022, Jeffers, a Virgin Islands Port Authority Officer at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix, placed a suitcase containing twelve (12) brick-shaped objects onto the driver’s side floor of a ladder truck on the ramp of the airport. The suitcase was seized later that morning and the brick-shaped objects tested positive for cocaine. The approximate weight of the cocaine is 12.6 kilograms.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Virgin Islands Port Authority Officer Charged with Cocaine Possession at Henry E. Rohlsen AirportRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Wayne Jeffers, 52, of St. Croix, appeared today before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III for an initial appearance stemming from his May 20, 2022, arrest on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. Jeffers faces a minimum sentence of ten (10) years in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million if convicted.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 11, 2022, Jeffers, a Virgin Islands Port Authority Officer at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix, placed a suitcase containing twelve (12) brick-shaped objects onto the driver’s side floor of a ladder truck on the ramp of the airport. The suitcase was seized later that morning and the brick-shaped objects tested positive for cocaine. The approximate weight of the cocaine is 12.6 kilograms.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Provides Update on Federal Prosecutions and Ongoing Strategies to Combat Violent Crime in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — With the summer months approaching, John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today provided an update on federal prosecutions and strategies to combat violent crime in Chicago and the surrounding area.
“Anyone thinking of engaging in gun violence or trafficking dangerous narcotics in Chicago this summer needs to know that a federal prosecution could await them,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “A primary goal of our office is to reduce violent crime, and we will continue to use every available federal law enforcement tool to keep people safe this summer and beyond.”
The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts continues to be Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago also participates in a Department of Justice cross-jurisdictional strike force, led locally by U.S. Attorney Lausch, to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking and reduce gun violence. As part of the Chicago firearms trafficking strike force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborates with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Northern District of Illinois and across the country to help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms and to identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes. The Chicago strike force’s efforts have been substantially enhanced by the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD’s) Gun Investigations Team.
“Firearms traffickers and straw purchasers enable violence,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “The cross-jurisdictional strike force has increased collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and enhanced our longstanding efforts to hold accountable individuals or groups who illegally traffic firearms into Chicago.”
In addition to a sustained focus on prosecutions of federal firearm offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office endeavors to disrupt violent crime by seeking pre-trial detention for defendants who pose a danger to the community and pursuing appropriate prison sentences to deter dangerous individuals from continuing to cause violence in their communities.
Following up on activities most recently reported in November of last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains active in fighting violent crime through enforcement actions, prosecutions, and community partnerships, as illustrated by the examples below from the past six months.
Enforcement Actions and Prosecution Activity
The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with U.S. law enforcement agencies, including ATF, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), to investigate and prosecute a variety of violent crimes. State and local partners in this effort include CPD, Illinois State Police (ISP), Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department (RPD), and other police departments throughout northern Illinois.
The primary focus of these collaborative law enforcement efforts is to investigate and prosecute gangs and other groups of individuals who work in concert to commit violent crimes, including murders, attempted murders, robberies, carjackings, drug trafficking, and firearms trafficking. In addition, these enforcement efforts also identify for potential federal prosecution individual offenders who drive violence.
Firearm and violent crime investigations in Chicago have also been bolstered by an important tool from ATF – the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. Federal, state, and local law enforcement in Chicago have used NIBIN extensively to help solve violent crimes and prosecute trigger-pullers and other gun offenders.
Racketeering and Gang-Related Prosecutions
“Combating the unacceptable level of gang violence in Chicago has been and will continue to be a top priority in our office,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.
- A member of a violent Chicago street gang was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity that included the murder of a rival gang member. LUIS CONTRERAS, of Chicago, admitted that the murder was committed to further the purposes of the Latin Saints, a criminal organization whose members engaged in drug dealing and violence on Chicago’s South Side. ATF, HSI, and CPD led the investigation.
Firearm Trafficking and Firearm Theft Prosecutions
“We are using every available federal law enforcement tool to continue to bring impactful cases that hold firearms traffickers accountable and reduce violent crime in Chicago,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.
- DEVON DOW, of Chicago, was charged with trafficking individually manufactured “ghost guns” in Chicago. Dow allegedly sold seven “ghost guns” to an undercover law enforcement officer on the city’s South Side. The firearms were considered “ghost guns” because they contained no identifiable serial number and had been manufactured from parts collected from various sources. HSI and CPD led the probe.
- Five men were indicted for allegedly trafficking guns from St. Louis to Chicago. The charges accuse ROBERT NARUP, of Washington, Mo., of buying firearms at gun shows throughout the United States and illegally selling them to JEROME BOYKIN, of St. Louis, Mo. Boykin then allegedly brought the guns to Chicago and sold them to ROGELIO MANCERA, of Schaumburg, Ill., in exchange for marijuana. The charges accuse Mancera, RODOLFO ORTEGA of Chicago, and HECTOR CHACON of Chicago, with selling the guns on the streets of Chicago. ATF and CPD’s Gun Investigations Team led the probe, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
- A federal jury convicted JOSEPH GHANDOUR, of Glenview, Ill., of illegally selling a “ghost gun” to a convicted felon in a suburban Chicago grocery store parking lot. Unbeknownst to Ghandour, the felon to whom he sold the rifle was cooperating with law enforcement. FBI investigated.
- A man was indicted on firearm charges for allegedly straw purchasing 27 handguns from suburban Chicago stores. MATTHEW JAMAAL JOHNSON, of Dolton, Ill., allegedly falsely certified on federal forms that he was the actual buyer, when, in reality, Johnson purchased the guns on behalf of another individual. ATF and CPD led the probe.
Carjacking and Other Violent Crime Prosecutions
- A federal jury convicted a central Illinois man in the murder of McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Keltner and the attempted murder of three other federal law enforcement officers. Keltner, who was serving as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, was fatally wounded on March 7, 2019, when law enforcement attempted to execute a warrant for FLOYD E. BROWN’s arrest at a Rockford hotel. Brown fired multiple shots at a Deputy U.S. Marshal and two Special Deputy U.S. Marshals who were attempting to take Brown into custody. Brown then jumped out of a hotel window and fired a shot that fatally struck Special Deputy Keltner. FBI led the murder investigation, with assistance from ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomington Police Department, Loves Park Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and ISP.
- ANGELO STANTON, of Chicago, was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for violently robbing more than a dozen Chicago stores. Stanton carried out takeover-style heists in which he pointed a handgun at employees and demanded cash from the register or safe. He fired shots in five heists, wounding two store employees. The probe was led by FBI and CPD, with assistance from ISP and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
- A federal judge sentenced two men to federal prison for stealing expensive watches and jewelry at gunpoint from a jewelry store in Hinsdale, Ill. TOBIAS DIGGS, of Chicago, and JOSHUA MCCLELLAN, of Oak Lawn, Ill., took more than $400,000 in merchandise, including watches by Frederique Constant, Patek Phillipe, and Tudor. FBI investigated, with assistance from the Hinsdale Police Department, Oak Lawn Police Department, FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST), and the Felony Investigation Assistance Team (FIAT), a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force in the western suburbs of Chicago.
- AARON CLARK, of Chicago, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in robberies that targeted cell phone stores in the suburbs of Chicago. Clark brandished a gun during the heists and threatened to shoot store employees. ATF and CPD led the probe, with assistance from the Calumet City Police Department, Peotone Police Department, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.
- OCIE BANKS, JR., of Berwyn, Ill., was charged with robbing cell phone stores in the Chicago suburbs. Banks allegedly brandished a firearm in three robberies and one attempted robbery. FBI investigated.
- JAMAR JARVIS, of Chicago, was sentenced to ten years in prison for carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint in the city’s Edgewater neighborhood. FBI and CPD investigated, with assistance from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Illegal Possession of Firearms Prosecutions
“Any felon thinking about picking up a gun in Chicago this summer should expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and face the possibility of going to federal prison for a long time,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.
- Three convicted felons involved in an exchange of gunfire in a store parking lot in a Chicago suburb were indicted on federal firearm violations. The trio had previously been convicted of felony offenses and were prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. ATF led the investigation, with assistance from the Calumet City Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, South Suburban Emergency Response Team, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police.
- Convicted felon CIPRIANO RIVERA, of Villa Park, Ill., was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun near an alley in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. ATF and CPD conducted the investigation.
- WILLIE WARE, of Riverdale, Ill., and KEVON REED, of Chicago, were arrested after being charged with illegally possessing firearms on a CTA train car. FBI and CPD investigated, with assistance from ATF.
- LAVOYCE BAYS, of Markham, Ill., was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, and shooting a man at a gas station after a dispute. ATF and the Markham Police Department investigated.
- TERRANCE WEATHERSBY, of Chicago, was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine on a street in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. ATF and CPD investigated.
- A felon was sentenced to seven years in prison for illegally possessing a loaded semiautomatic handgun at a block party on the South Side of Chicago. ANTHONY CARR, of Chicago, tossed the gun into a large outdoor tent before Chicago Police officers apprehended him. CPD and ATF investigated.
- BERNARD HARVEY, JR., of Indianapolis, Ind., pleaded guilty to a firearm charge, admitting to illegally possessing a semi-automatic rifle at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Chicago. FBI and CPD investigated, with assistance from the VA Police Department.
- KEYZOE WILLIAMS, of Chicago, was arrested for allegedly illegally possessing a loaded machine gun in Chicago. Williams possessed a handgun equipped with a conversion device, also known as an “auto sear” or “Glock switch,” which turned the firearm into a machine gun capable of automatically firing more than one shot with a single trigger pull. ATF investigated, with assistance from ISP, CPD, Willowbrook Police Department, DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, and DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigations Team.
Significant Drug Trafficking Prosecutions
The U.S. Attorney’s Office targets traffickers who bring illegal drugs into Illinois from other states or countries, with a focus on organizations or individuals who use guns, violence, and threats of violence to protect and promote their illegal businesses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office works directly with state’s attorney’s offices in Cook County and throughout the district to ensure that individuals trafficking drugs are charged with appropriate offenses in either federal or state court.
Public safety is also being threatened by unprecedented levels of opioid misuse and overdose. Opioids are a class of highly addictive drugs that includes heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. U.S. Attorney Lausch in November 2019 created an Opioid Task Force for the purpose of combatting the growing number of unlawful distributions of controlled substances fueling the nation’s opioid crisis. This effort includes prosecuting the leaders of traditional drug trafficking organizations, as well as rogue health care providers, pharmacists, and others who contribute to the misuse of opioids. “We are actively attacking the opioid crisis from all investigative and prosecutorial angles,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.
- ADÁN CASARRUBIAS SALGADO, of Guerrero, Mexico, was extradited from Mexico on a federal indictment charging him with distributing heroin in the Chicago area in 2014 and laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds. DEA investigated.
- Ten alleged members or associates of a Chicago street gang were charged with conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine on the West Side of Chicago. The investigation, led by HSI and CPD, used undercover and covert surveillance operations and resulted in the seizure of multiple kilograms of suspected heroin, some of which was laced with fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as four rifles, four handguns, a MAC-10 submachine gun, a shotgun, and more than 450 rounds of ammunition. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
- A central Illinois man was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for attempting to traffic cocaine in Chicago. TEKOA Q. TINCH, of Bloomington, Ill., attempted to buy a kilogram of cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer in the city’s Little Village neighborhood. DEA, ATF, and CPD led the investigation.
- A federal grand jury charged GILBERTO ALMANZA, of North Chicago, Ill., with distributing approximately 46 kilograms of cocaine to an individual who, unbeknownst to Almanza, was cooperating with law enforcement. Police later conducted a court-authorized search of Almanza’s residence and discovered approximately two kilograms of cocaine and a loaded handgun, the charges allege. DEA conducted the probe.
- A federal jury convicted a suburban Chicago man of laundering illegal narcotics proceeds on behalf of drug traffickers in Mexico. HUAZHI HAN, of North Riverside, Ill., schemed with an individual in Mexico to facilitate the receipt of more than $1 million in narcotics proceeds in the United States. DEA investigated, with assistance from IRS-CI, CPD, HSI, and the U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
- A man was arrested after law enforcement seized fentanyl and a “pill press” from his suburban Chicago residence. TROY CLARK, of Calumet City, Ill., also allegedly possessed other equipment that can be used to manufacture counterfeit pills, including a funnel, metal press, and dye pieces. DEA, USPIS, and CPD led the probe, with assistance from the Calumet City Police Department.
- An inmate in a state prison in Arizona was charged with brokering the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Illinois. MANUEL GARCIA allegedly coordinated with a buyer outside of the prison to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl for delivery to the Chicago area. DEA investigated.
Community Partnerships
The PSN program continues to invest resources in violence-prevention initiatives.
The PSN Chicago Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, CPD, ATF, IDOC, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and academic researchers, is designed to address gun violence in certain neighborhoods in Chicago with the highest violent crime rates through aggressive prosecution of violent offenders, using all available federal statutes. The task force, which in 2018 expanded to include the city of Rockford, establishes a working relationship between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, CPD, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, RPD, and Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The PSN Task Force dedicates federal grant funds to support crime prevention programs that are aligned with law enforcement’s strategy to address gun violence. Currently, PSN grant funds support Camp Hope, a crime prevention program in Rockford for at-risk juveniles who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence; Choose to Change, a program created by Children’s Home & Aid and Youth Advocate Programs in Chicago to engage youth who are heavily impacted by violence and trauma by connecting them with intensive advocate and wraparound support services and trauma-informed therapy; and Readi Chicago’s Reentry Program, a pilot program in Chicago jointly developed by Heartland Alliance and IDOC to provide both pre-release and post-release services for those returning home from prison to reduce gun violence and recidivism among returning citizens.
Members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office have also participated in offender notification meetings and youth outreach forums. Even during the current COVID-19 pandemic, these meetings and forums are still being held, including in a virtual environment, to maintain the outreach to former offenders. Offender notification meetings provide an opportunity for individuals who have been convicted of a state or federal offense to make an informed choice not to engage in further criminal activity. Researchers at Arizona State University found that the forums in Chicago have a positive influence on the offenders’ perception of police and help create an understanding that criminal activity results in a higher risk to return to prison. Researchers at Yale University found that ex-offenders who attend an offender notification meeting in Chicago are 30% less likely to commit a new offense than those who did not attend a meeting. The quarterly youth forums assist teenagers to identify a path beyond criminal activity. The youth forums are conducted in partnership with CPD, the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and local social service agencies.
Two-Time Bank Robber Sentenced to 48 Months in CustodyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Eric Tyler Oxenham was sentenced in federal court today to 48 months in prison for robbing two San Diego banks in 2021 and violating the conditions of supervised release arising out of a prior conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. Oxenham received a sentence of 41 months on the bank robberies and 18 months on the supervised release revocation, with 7 months to run consecutive to the bank robbery sentence, for a total of 48 months.
Oxenham pleaded guilty on February 2, 2022, admitting that he robbed the banks by presenting demand notes that threatened the tellers. He was apprehended by police officers after he fled the second robbery.
In his plea agreement, Oxenham admitted that, on September 24, 2021, he entered the California Bank and Trust, located at 1024 Graves Avenue in El Cajon, approached a teller and passed a demand note to the teller, which read, “Put 50’s and 100’s in the bag.” The teller provided Oxenham with approximately $432.00. Oxenham left the bank on foot, and ultimately fled the scene in a white rental car.
Oxenham also admitted that, on September 30, 2021, he entered a U.S. Bank, located at 610 W. Washington Street in San Diego, approached a teller, and presented the teller with a demand note. The note read, in sum and substance, “This is a robbery. Put the money in the envelope.” In response to Defendant’s demands, the victim bank teller provided Defendant with approximately $1,608.00 before Defendant then left the bank on foot.
Investigators used nearby residential surveillance footage to identify the getaway vehicle, and ultimately Oxenham, who was arrested pursuant to a warrant on October 27, 2021.
“Bank robberies are serious crimes that undermine the banking system and strike fear in bank staff and customers,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners, justice was served in this case and our community is safer.” Grossman commended the prosecutors, FBI agents and San Diego Police Department officers who handled this matter.
“The San Diego FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force is committed to combatting violence on our streets and keeping our communities safe,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “This sentence should serve as notice to anyone who believes they are free to commit crime without consequences - the FBI and our partners at the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will utilize all available investigative resources to bring criminals to justice.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 22mj300
Eric Tyler Oxenham Age: 27 Campo, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Interference with Commerce by Robbery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1951(a)
Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigations
San Diego Police Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.
Two Wilmington Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Federal Stalking and Kidnapping ConvictionsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Joshua D. Wolson sentenced Ryan Bacon, 37, to thirty years in prison and Michael Pritchett, 37, to twenty-five years in prison. Bacon and Pritchett had each pleaded guilty to federal stalking, kidnapping, and firearms charges.
According to court documents, Bacon and Pritchett, along with other co-conspirators, were engaged in a public feud with M.S., a former friend of Bacon. The feud began when Bacon—who released rap songs under the moniker “Buck 50”—published a song that was construed as publicly labeling M.S. a “rat” or “snitch.” That feud resulted in violence between Bacon and his associates and M.S. and his associates.
In May and June 2017, Bacon, Pritchett, and others actively searched for M.S. in an attempt to kill him. On June 6, 2017, in their pursuit of M.S., Bacon, Pritchett, and co-conspirators kidnapped M.S.’s girlfriend, Keyonna Perkins, and held her at gunpoint. Perkins was then forced into the trunk of two separate cars, while the defendants and others used her phone to locate M.S. Bacon, Pritchett, and others finally located M.S. and fired multiple shots, but failed to hit him. Following that shooting, Perkins was forced into the trunk of a car and driven by Bacon and another co-conspirator to Elkton, Maryland where she was murdered.
Pritchett and a co-conspirator, meanwhile, continued their pursuit of M.S. after the first failed shooting. They located M.S. at Probation & Parole Offices in New Castle, and waited for M.S. to leave Probation & Parole and get into a white sedan. Pritchett and a co-conspirator then followed the white sedan into Wilmington until M.S. got out of the car. Pritchett then drove alongside M.S., while the co-conspirator reached out the front passenger window of Pritchett’s truck and fired multiple shots at M.S. While the shots missed M.S., one of the bullets ripped through an SUV and struck a six-year-old boy in the head, causing the child severe and permanent injuries.
“The defendants’ June 6 crime spree unfolded across multiple police jurisdictions and two separate states. The investigation required careful and ongoing collaboration between numerous law enforcement agencies, and we thank all federal, state, and local law enforcement who came together to help hold the defendants accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals, like the defendants, who commit crimes that display a shocking disregard for human life.”
“In an act of retribution, these men not only kidnapped and killed a woman, they opened fire in the middle of a busy street, when kids were getting out of school; forever changing the life of one six-year-old boy as he was shot while riding in the backseat of his mom’s car. Rest assured the FBI, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who seek to terrorize our communities and hurt innocent people,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger and Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, with assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, Delaware State Police, and Elkton Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-75.
Two Grand Junction Men Indicted for Fentanyl DeathsRead the Press Release
Grand Junction – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Mark Harold and Junior Anthony Highline have been indicted in separate cases on charges of distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
Both men were arrested and made their initial appearance in federal court in Grand Junction on Monday, May 25, 2022, where they were advised by a Federal Magistrate Judge of the charges pending against them.
Distribution of fentanyl resulting in death carries a potential penalty of no less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release.
The charges in the indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases were investigated by the DEA, Western Colorado Drug Task Force, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Grand Junction Police Department. Assistant U. S. Attorney Jeremy Chaffin is handling the prosecution for both cases.
Case Numbers: 22-cr-00165 Mark Harold and 22-cr-00164 Junior Anthony Highline.
Tuba City Man Sentenced to 262 Months for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Wednesday, Kristopher Lionel Goldtooth, 38, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 262 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Goldtooth previously pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder.
On April 24, 2019, Goldtooth intentionally shot the victim in the face with a shotgun, killing him. The murder took place on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, where Goldtooth is an enrolled tribal member.
The FBI and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Powell and Amy Chang, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-08108-PCT-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-084_Goldtooth# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Remaining Defendants Plead Guilty for Their Roles in Extensive Health Care Fraud Conspiracy to Defraud Medicaid Home Care ProgramRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Three residents of the Pittsburgh area pleaded guilty in federal court today for their roles in defrauding the Pennsylvania Medicaid program, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Arlinda Moriarty, 53, of Cranberry, Pennsylvania, her sister Daynelle Dickens, 47, of Pittsburgh, and their uncle Tony Brown, 64, also of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Moriarty also pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a scheme to conceal material facts in a health care matter and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to admissions made in connection with the defendants’ guilty pleas, between January 2011 and April 2017, Moriarty, Dickens, and Brown were associated with four related entities controlled by Moriarty—Moriarty Consultants, Inc. (MCI), Activity Daily Living Services, Inc. (ADL), Everyday People Staffing, Inc. (EPS), and Coordination Care, Inc. (CCI). Dickens owned CCI, and Brown was an employee of MCI. MCI, ADL, and CCI were approved under the Pennsylvania Medicaid program to offer certain services to qualifying Medicaid recipients (“consumers”), including personal assistance services (PAS), service coordination, and non-medical transportation, among other services. EPS nominally performed back-office functions for MCI, ADL, and CCI.
Between January 2011 and April 2017, MCI, ADL, and CCI, collectively, received more than $87,000,000 in Medicaid payments based on claims submitted for home health services, with PAS payments accounting for more than $80,000,000 of the total amount. During that time, Moriarty admitted orchestrating a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicaid for the purpose of obtaining millions of dollars in illegal Medicaid payments through the submission of fraudulent claims for services that were never provided to the consumers identified on the claims, or for which there was insufficient or fabricated documentation to support the claims.
The defendants admitted that the conspiracy and fraud scheme were carried out in a variety of ways. For example, co-conspirators fabricated timesheets to reflect the provision of in-home PAS care that, in fact, they never provided to the consumers identified on timesheets. Members of the conspiracy also paid kickbacks to consumers in exchange for their participation in the scheme. Indeed, Brown admitted paying kickbacks to his then-son-in-law in connection with the submission of fraudulent Medicaid claims stating that Brown had provided in-home care for the son-in-law, when, in fact, he had not. As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators also caused the submission of
Medicaid claims in the name of “ghost” employees for PAS care that never occurred.Moriarty and Dickens also admitted causing the periodic bulk submission of fraudulent Medicaid claims for so-called “unused” hours—i.e., excess hours of care that consumers had not needed and therefore should not have been billed. Finally, Moriarty admitted that during the course of audits of MCI, ADL, and CCI, she directed the fabrication of various documents for submission to state authorities in an effort to conceal the Medicaid fraud scheme. Among other things, co-conspirators fabricated PAS timesheets, criminal history checks for attendants, child-abuse clearance forms for attendants, and certain consumer affidavits to ensure that files requested as part of the audits appeared complete. During the conspiracy, Moriarty and Dickens received payments from the Moriarty-related companies totaling approximately $1,660,000 and $1,071,000, respectively.
In connection with their guilty pleas, Moriarty, Dickens, and Brown have agreed to pay restitution of $8,700,000, $1,000,000, and $43,113.02, respectively.
A total of 16 defendants were charged in connection with the health care fraud conspiracy and scheme, and 15 have now pleaded guilty. The remaining defendant died during the pendency of the case.
The conspiracy and health care fraud charges each carry a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The concealment of material facts in relation to a health care matter charge carries a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to run consecutively with any sentence imposed on any other charge and a fine of no more than $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing hearings for Moriarty, Dickens, and Brown on September 28, 2022.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Edward Song are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation of the defendants.
Three Men Indicted in District of Columbia on Federal Charges Involving Drug Trafficking Organization Based in Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three alleged members of a drug trafficking organization based in Puerto Rico have been indicted in the District of Columbia, following an investigation into shipments of cocaine from San Juan for distribution in the Washington, D.C. area. Two of the defendants face an additional charge stemming from a murder, related to the drug trafficking, that took place in Puerto Rico.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Rey Rivera Ruiz, 39, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the alleged leader, was indicted on May 26, 2022, in a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and one count of continuing criminal enterprise, for his leadership and supervisory role in the drug trafficking organization.
Additionally, Jann Jousten Aponte Rivera, 26, and Michael Gabriel Hernandez Rivera, 20, both of San Juan, Puerto Rico, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, one count of continuing criminal enterprise -- causing the intentional death of Shantay Butler, 44 -- and one count of causing the death through the use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory-minimum term of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment or death. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation seeking all proceeds of the alleged crimes. On April 1, 2021, the defendants were originally indicted in a one-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The defendants will be arraigned on the charges on a date to be determined by the Court.
According to the government’s evidence, in the fall of 2019, Rivera Ruiz, who was assisted by Aponte Rivera and Hernandez Rivera, and several other individuals, shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine from San Juan to the Washington, D.C. area, via the U.S. Postal Service. Once the kilograms arrived in the Washington, D.C. area, a local drug trafficker distributed the kilograms in the community.
Additionally, the Puerto Rico drug trafficking organization’s members allegedly traveled from San Juan to the Washington, D.C. area to collect drug proceeds, and then surreptitiously traveled on commercial airliners to return the proceeds to Ruiz Rivera and others.
According to the government’s evidence, during the course of the drug conspiracy, Ruiz Rivera and his members shipped between 50 kilograms and 150 kilograms of cocaine to the local drug trafficking organization. The charged drug trafficking conspiracy began around October 2019, and ended in April of 2021, when Ruiz Rivera, Aponte Rivera, and Hernandez Rivera, and another individual were originally indicted. Ruiz Rivera, Aponte Rivera, and Hernandez Rivera have remained in custody since their April 2021 arrests. Members of the local drug trafficking organization have previously been charged for their role in the drug trafficking scheme.
The murder took place on Oct. 14, 2020. At that time, the local drug trafficker owed several thousands of dollars to the Puerto Rico drug trafficking organization and was ordered to pay for several kilograms of cocaine which did not arrive in the Washington, D.C. area. In October of 2020, the local drug trafficker met Aponte Rivera and Hernandez Rivera in a desolate part of Levittown, Puerto Rico. Ms. Butler was in the passenger seat of the vehicle driven by the local drug trafficker. Both Aponte Rivera and Hernandez Rivera pulled out firearms and opened fired on the local drug trafficker and his vehicle. Ms. Butler was shot and died shortly after the shooting, and the local drug trafficker was shot multiple times, but survived.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Assistance is being provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department, the Frederick County, Maryland Police Department, and the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Homicide Division.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Henek and Anthony Scarpelli, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Fletcher.
Three Kentucky Correctional Officers Indicted for Assaulting Inmates and Attempting to Cover it UpRead the Press Release
Three federal correctional officers — two officers and a lieutenant — have been indicted by a federal grand jury in London, Kentucky, for their respective roles in assaults against two inmates and subsequent cover-ups, announced Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge William J. Hannah of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s Chicago Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of FBI Louisville.
Officers Samuel Patrick, 41, and Clinton Pauley, 40, were indicted for assaulting one inmate and attempting to cover it up, and Lieutenant Kevin Pearce, 37, was also indicted for helping cover up that assault. Officer Pauley was also charged with assaulting a second inmate and attempting to cover up that assault.
The indictment alleges that, on April 29, 2021, defendants Patrick and Pauley, who were officers at the U.S. Penitentiary-Big Sandy, physically assaulted an inmate, identified in the indictment as C.T., violating that inmate’s constitutional rights. The indictment also alleges that the assault resulted in bodily injury, and that defendants Patrick and Pauley, as well as a supervisory officer, Lieutenant Pearce, attempted to cover up the assault by writing false reports. The indictment also charges defendants Patrick and Pearce with witness tampering based on their efforts to pressure a fellow correctional officer to write an untruthful report that omitted the assault.
The indictment further alleges that, on March 26, 2021, defendant Pauley physically assaulted a different inmate, identified in the indictment as N.D., who was being escorted away from the prison’s lieutenants’ office at Big Sandy, and that the assault resulted in bodily injury. The indictment also charges that defendant Pauley attempted to cover up the assault of N.D. by writing a false report.
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for the assault offenses, and 20 years of imprisonment for each of the witness tampering and false report offenses.
The Office of the Inspector General and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky is prosecuting the case in partnership with Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Big Sandy Employees Indicted for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.- Three Bureau of Prisons employees of the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, located in Inez, Ky., were indicted on Thursday, for federal civil rights violations.
A federal grand jury sitting in London, Ky., returned an indictment charging the following individuals: Samuel J. Patrick, 41, of West Van Lear, Ky.; Clinton L. Pauley, 40, of Ironton, Ohio; and Kevin C. Pearce, Jr., 37, of Inez, Ky. The defendants have been charged with violating an individual’s rights under the color of law and of falsifying records to impede an investigation.
The indictment alleges that on April 29, 2021, Patrick and Pauley assaulted an inmate, in the lieutenant’s office of USP Big Sandy. After Pearce and a subordinate BOP employee witnessed the assault, Pearce asked that employee to write an untruthful report, omitting the assault. It is also alleged that Patrick pressured that employee to submit to Pearce’s demand.
The indictment also alleges that Pearce wrote a memorandum that documented the false account of the officers’ interactions with the inmate who was assaulted; that stated another employee was present in the office with the victim; and that stated the victim left the office without incident, omitting the assault. Patrick and Pauley are also alleged to have written memos to cover up the assault.
The indictment further alleges that Pauley previously assaulted another inmate on March 26, 2021, while the inmate was being escorted away from the lieutenants’ office of USP Big Sandy and that he subsequently wrote a false incident report to cover up that assault.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Office; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the DOJ OIG and the FBI. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.
A date for Patrick, Pauley, and Pearce to appear in court has not yet been scheduled yet. For the deprivation of rights charges, they each face a maximum of 10 years per, and for the falsification of records charges, they each face 20 years for each count. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Texas Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Fake Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sean T. Johnson, also known as Shawn Johnson, 42, of Dallas, Texas, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for carrying out a six-year fraud scheme in which he tricked victims into investing with him in ventures that did not exist, and lied to victims about his professional background, his contacts with celebrities, and his personal net worth, in order to induce them to invest in the scheme.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Johnson pleaded guilty in November 2019 to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced on May 26, 2022, by the Honorable Richard J. Leon. Following his prison term, Johnson will be placed on four years of supervised release. The judge also ordered Johnson to pay restitution to the victims but will decide the precise amount of restitution at a later date.
From September 2012 through October 2018, Johnson conned numerous unsuspecting victims out of money by posing as a wealthy investor and businessman. While Johnson varied his approach based upon the personality, gender, and lifestyle of the victim, the scam almost always began with the defendant flashing money near the victim, name-dropping celebrity friends who were investors in his ventures, talking up his business acumen, and offering to “help” his friends become wealthy, like him.
To entice victims, Johnson wore expensive designer clothes, talked constantly about his wealth, and bragged about owning expensive houses and condominiums. To add legitimacy to his scheme, he created “promissory notes” to document victims’ investments. The promissory notes detailed how much the person invested and when and how much money Johnson promised to return to them. With almost every victim, Johnson claimed to have an assistant whose identity he appropriated from a former co-worker, and he used fake accounts in this fake assistant’s name to communicate with his victims and lend credibility to his fake business ventures. In total, Johnson swindled his victims from all over the country out of over $1 million. He spent these illegal proceeds on lavish personal expenditures, such as luxury vehicles, designer clothing, alcoholic beverages at nightclubs, tickets to sporting events, and gambling at casinos.
More than a dozen victims submitted victim impact statements to the court in which they described the devastating emotional and financial consequences of the defendant’s misconduct. Most victims lost the entirety of their savings, ruined their credit, and/or were forced into foreclosure or bankruptcy as a result of the scheme.
Johnson was arrested in October 2018. He has been in custody since.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the assistance of the victims who came forward to report the defendant’s fraud scheme. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Amanda Rohde and Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy and former Assistant U.S. Attorney David Misler, who prosecuted the matter.
Tampa Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced James Williams, III (29, Tampa) to nine years and two months in federal prison following conviction for one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearm and serve three years of supervised release. Williams had pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022.
According to facts presented in court, on May 5, 2021, Tampa Police Department (TPD) Officers were conducting an undercover narcotics operation. While conducting surveillance, police observed Williams drive up to the target house in a black BMW, with expired registration, and go inside. Officers had prior contact with Williams and knew that his drivers’ license had been suspended. Shortly thereafter, the officers saw Williams leave the residence and get back in the BMW and drive away. He was the sole occupant of the car. TPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the BMW and arrested Williams for driving while his license was suspended.
During the initial contact, police immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside Williams’ vehicle. Officers also observed a leafy substance on and around the driver’s seat and the center console of the car. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a small plastic baggie with marijuana inside Williams’ front, left pants pocket, and a fabric backpack on the front passenger seat of the vehicle, next to where Williams had been sitting. Inside of the backpack was a brown jar containing marijuana, a larger clear plastic baggie filled with a large quantity of marijuana, a half-filled box of unused clear sandwich sized baggies, and a black and stainless-steel digital scale with marijuana residue on it. The marijuana weighed in at approximately 220.8 grams.
In addition, police also located a black semi-automatic FN Herstal model Five-Seven 5.7x28mm caliber pistol on the floor, at the base of the driver’s seat. The pistol, which was easily accessible to Williams, was loaded with 19 rounds in the magazine, and 1 live round in the chamber. Forensic analysis later confirmed that DNA obtained from Williams matched DNA found on the firearm. Subsequent investigation revealed photos of Williams posing with the firearm on his social media accounts. The firearm had been reported stolen eight months prior to being recovered from Williams. At the time of the incident, Williams had been convicted of multiple felonies, including resisting an officer with violence, possession of forged credit cards, possession of marijuana, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Gestring.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Steven A. Russell to be New Acting U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
Career prosecutor Steven A. Russell has been named the Acting United States Attorney to take over following the retirement of Interim United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp. Russell’s appointment will be effective on May 28, 2022.
Russell, a 1982 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law, has been with the United States Attorney’s Office since 1985. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Russell worked in private practice and as a Deputy Hall County Attorney. Russell is originally from Richmond, Indiana. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, Russell has handled a wide variety of cases, both civil and criminal, and currently serves as the District of Nebraska’s First Assistant United States Attorney. Russell will serve until a new U.S. Attorney is appointed by the President.
Springfield Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a sex trafficking offense involving a minor.
Carlos Casillas, 48, was indicted on one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield on May 23, 2022 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson, Casillas was released on conditions pending a further hearing which is scheduled for June 23, 2022.
According to the indictment, on or about Sept. 3, 2021 in West Springfield, Casillas caused a child under the age of 18 to engage in a commercial sex act.
On Feb. 10, 2022, Casillas was arrested on charges in Springfield District Court of aggravated rape of a child and enticing a child.
Members of the public who believe they, or someone they know, may be a victim of this crime should contact [email protected].
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources.
The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years in prison, five 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; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Florida Caretaker Who Stole Hundreds of Thousands from Elderly Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal CrimesRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, in federal district court in Fort Pierce, Sherri Lynn Smith, 52, admitted that she committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft when she used the private financial information of two seniors in her care to steal the couple’s money.
Smith worked as a caretaker for the Broward County elderly couple from 2016 through 2019. Smith had access to the victims’ bank accounts to assist them with paying their monthly bills. She used that access to embezzle approximately $300,000 out of the victims’ bank accounts without their knowledge or consent. Smith accomplished this by forging a victim’s signature on several checks made payable to herself, her family members, and her creditors. Smith also transferred money electronically from the victims’ bank accounts to her own and made electronic payments from the victims’ accounts to numerous credit card accounts belonging to Smith and her husband.
United States District Court Judge Thomas Barber, a visiting judge from the Middle District of Florida, will sentence Smith at 1:00 p.m. on August 26, in Fort Pierce. Smith faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years on the bank fraud charge and two years on each of the aggravated identity theft counts, for a total possible sentence of 34 years.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Bergstrom is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. The mission of the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s seniors. To learn more visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The public is encouraged to report victimization and suspected fraud schemes by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD 11 (1-833- 372-8311).
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-14023.
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Shiprock man arraigned for assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Raydell Billy, 31, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court today on a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm. Billy will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A grand jury indicted Raydell Billy and co-defendants Raynorma Billy and Alvin White on May 24. According to the indictment and other court records, on April 11, Raynorma allegedly drove Raydell and White to a residence at South Side Non-profit Housing in Shiprock with the intent to assault a victim, identified as John Doe. After they entered the residence, Raynorma allegedly prevented the other occupants of the residence from intervening while Raydell and White assaulted John Doe. The indictment alleges that White threatened John Doe with a machete and both Raydell and White allegedly beat John Doe with their fists.
The alleged assault occurred on the Navajo Nation.
White was arrested on April 24 and made an initial appearance in court on April 28. White appeared for a preliminary and detention hearing on May 2 and will remain in custody pending trial. White is scheduled for arraignment on May 31.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Raydell, Raynorma and White each face up to five years in prison for conspiracy and up to ten years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Pfizenmayer is prosecuting the case.
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Second Man Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Attack Democratic Headquarters in SacramentoRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The second of two California men pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building affecting interstate commerce in a scheme to attack the Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, announced U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 46, of Napa, and Jarrod Copeland, 38, previously of Vallejo, were indicted on July 21, 2021, in connection with a plan to attack targets they associated with Democrats after the 2020 Presidential election. Today, Rogers pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in United States District Court. Rogers also pleaded guilty to additional weapons violations, including one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices, and one count of possessing an illegal machine gun. Copeland previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and an additional count of destruction of records.
According to the plea agreements entered at the time of their guilty pleas, Rogers and Copeland admitted that they conspired together between November 2020 and January 2021 to destroy the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento. Rogers and Copeland admitted that they discussed plans to attack the building with cans of gasoline, including by throwing gas cans through the front windows of the building and igniting the gasoline to burn down the building.
Documents filed by the government describe that in November 2020, Rogers told Copeland that he would “hit the enemy in the mouth” by using Molotov cocktails and gasoline to attack targets associated with Democrats, including the Governor’s Mansion and the Democratic Headquarters Building in Sacramento. According to court documents, Rogers and Copeland went on to discuss potentially getting labeled as “domestic terrorists,” with Rogers describing a “hope [their] actions will make others to get involved.” The indictment describes that in late December 2020, Copeland told Rogers he contacted an anti-government militia group to gather support for the movement and in January 2021, Rogers stated to Copeland “I want to blow up a democrat building bad.” Copeland agreed, saying, “I agree” and “Plan attack.” They agreed to start with the Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento and to “see what happens.”
Rogers admitted in his plea agreement to viewing the building on the internet and sending a map of the location to Copeland. The men also admitted to discussing the building’s proximity to a fire department and certain law enforcement in devising their plan, using that information to refine the method of attack to ensure they caused the greatest damage to the building while allowing their escape without detection. Rogers and Copeland also discussed waiting until after the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, before carrying out the attack. As described in the indictment, Rogers wrote to Copeland, “after the 20th we go to war.”
According to court documents, on Jan. 15, 2021, law enforcement officers searched Rogers’s home and business and seized a cache of weapons, including 45 to 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five pipe bombs. Rogers admitted in his plea agreement that he had constructed the pipe bombs and anticipated using them against the property of those whose political views differed from his, including the Democratic Headquarters building in Sacramento. He further admitted that he possessed at least three fully automatic machine guns and considered using one of them in the attack on the building.
In addition, Copeland admitted in his plea agreement that after he learned of Rogers’s Jan. 15 arrest, he notified a militia group to which he belonged and, in response to instruction from them, destroyed evidence to prevent law enforcement from finding the evidence.
Rogers and Copeland each face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge. In addition, Rogers faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the weapons charges and Copeland faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the destruction of evidence charge. Any sentence will be determined only after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Rogers also faces numerous state charges arising out of his possession of the pipe bombs and machine guns, and his possession of assault rifles prohibited under California law, and he is being prosecuted for those offenses by the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.
Rogers’s sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2022. Copeland’s sentencing, also pending before U.S. Senior District Judge Charles R. Breyer in San Francisco, has not yet been scheduled. Rogers has remained in continuous custody since his arrest on Jan. 15, 2021; he was transferred from state to federal custody in January 2022. Copeland has remained in federal custody since his arrest on July 14, 2021.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Riebli and Eric Cheng of the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The FBI’s San Francisco Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Sacramento Field Office and Napa County Sheriff’s Department.
School and Owner Pay over $1 Million to Resolve Allegations of Attempts to Improperly Influence the School's Student Loan Default RateRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CAREER TRAINING SPECIALISTS, LLC, doing business as STONE ACADEMY, and its owner, MARK SCHEINBERG, have paid more than $1 million to resolve allegations that they violated the federal False Claims Act by concealing a series of money order payments made by Scheinberg to prevent certain loans from being counted in Stone Academy’s student loan default rate, and for failing to disclose Stone Academy’s actual, higher default rate to the U.S. Department of Education.
Stone Academy is a for-profit school with campuses in East Hartford, Waterbury and West Haven that awards career diplomas in various medical fields, and it participates in federal student loan and grant programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. One measure that determines an institution’s eligibility to participate in Title IV programs is the institution’s “cohort default rate” (“CDR”), which is the percentage of the institution’s federal student loan borrowers who default (or are deemed to default) within a specified time after entering repayment status. If an institution’s CDR is too high – an indicator that too many of an institution’s graduates are unable to repay their student loans – the institution faces administrative consequences that may include termination of eligibility to participate in certain Title IV programs. For purposes of calculating an institution’s CDR, a borrower is considered to be in default if an institution – or an institution’s owner, agent or affiliated individual – makes a payment to prevent a borrower’s default on a loan included in a cohort.
This settlement resolves allegations that, between February 2015 and March 2019, Scheinberg and Stone Academy mailed 154 small, direct payments to loan servicers on behalf of 102 students in attempts to prevent those students from defaulting on their loans and being counted in Stone Academy’s CDR. The payments were made with money orders purchased and filled out by Scheinberg without the students’ knowledge or consent, and in a manner intended to conceal the fact that these payments were made by Scheinberg and Stone Academy. Stone Academy then failed to disclose to the Department of Education its actual, higher CDR reflecting the deemed default of numerous borrowers given Scheinberg’s concealed payments.
In addition to making payment of $1,023,950, plus interest, under a civil settlement agreement, Stone Academy and Scheinberg also entered into an administrative agreement with the Department of Education in which Scheinberg agreed to cease involvement and participation in the operations, and divest direct ownership, of both Stone Academy and another for-profit school, Creative Workforce LLC, doing business as Paier College of Art. The administrative agreement also governs Scheinberg’s agreed-to retirement from Goodwin University and the University of Bridgeport.
“The cohort default rate is an important metric that students can use to research whether a school provides a valuable education because it can show whether the degree they would earn will help them find employment that allows them to stay current on their student loans,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Educational institutions – especially private, for-profit schools – that attempt to hide high student loan default rates from the Education Department and their students not only risk forfeiting their and their students’ eligibility to receive federal funds, but they risk federal enforcement by our office and our investigative agency partners.”
“Today’s settlement is a result of the work and effort of the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice to protect and maintain the integrity of federal student aid programs,” said Terry Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “We will continue to work together to ensure that federal student aid funds are used as required by law. America’s taxpayers and students deserve nothing less.”
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Gruber with the assistance of Auditor Susan N. Spiegel, along with assistance from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel and Federal Student Aid.
San Luis Obispo Man Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Federal Prison for Bribing County Supervisor and Filing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Luis Obispo man was sentenced today to 22 months in federal prison for paying a county supervisor approximately $32,000 in bribes – most of them in cash – in exchange for the supervisor’s votes and influence on other votes affecting his cannabis business interests.
Helios Raphael Dayspring, a.k.a. “Bobby Dayspring,” 36, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. Dayspring has paid the restitution order of $3,438,793 to the IRS in this case.
In October 2021, Dayspring pleaded guilty to one count of bribery and one count of subscribing to a false income tax return.
Dayspring owned, operated, and had a controlling interest in multiple farms that grew cannabis in San Luis Obispo County. He also had ownership interests in businesses that sold marijuana to the public, including in Grover Beach. To further his interests in the farms that grew cannabis in San Luis Obispo County, Dayspring began paying bribes to a San Luis Obispo County supervisor in the fall of 2016 and continued doing so through November 2019.
In total, Dayspring paid the late Third District supervisor multiple bribes in cash and money orders totaling $32,000. In exchange, the supervisor voted on matters affecting Dayspring’s farms, including voting multiple times in favor of legislation that permitted Dayspring’s farms to operate before it had obtained final permitting approvals.
In addition to bribing the San Luis Obispo County supervisor, Dayspring attempted to bribe the then-mayor of Grover Beach in exchange for two dispensary licenses in that city. The attempted $100,000 bribe took place during a dinner meeting in September 2017. The mayor did not respond to the offer, and Dayspring did not end up paying the bribe.
Dayspring also substantially underreported his personal income on his federal tax returns for the years 2014 through 2018, which resulted in the IRS losing more than $3.4 million in tax revenue. For example, for the tax year 2018, Dayspring falsely reported his taxable income as $1,262,894, when in fact his income was greater than $6.5 million.
Dayspring “had one goal: build a cannabis empire,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “To accomplish that goal, he would not let anything get in his way, including the law.”
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.
San Antonio Man Sentenced for Arson of Travis County Political Party OfficeRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – A San Antonio man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for arson.
According to court documents, on September 29, 2021, Ryan Taylor Faircloth, 31, threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of the Travis County Democratic Party office in downtown Austin, causing a fire. Faircloth admitted to targeting the political party office because he opposed positions he believed to be taken by the Democratic Party. A good Samaritan was able to extinguish the fire before 911 responders arrived.
On January 10, 2022, Faircloth pleaded guilty to one count of arson. In addition to the prison sentence, Faircloth was ordered to pay $12,472.84 in restitution and a $5,000 fine.
“Violence in the political process is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “We all must respect the rule of law. Those who commit acts of violence or destroy property for a political or ideological agenda will be held accountable for their crimes. My office will continue to investigate and bring to justice anyone who uses violent acts to harm, intimidate or coerce their fellow citizens participating in the political process.”
"Those who commit violence for any ideological agenda will be held accountable for their actions," said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr.
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Austin Police and Fire Departments, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys G. Karthik Srinivasan and Michael C. Galdo prosecuted the case.
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St. Croix Man Charged with Possession of an Unlicensed FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that an Information was filed charging Rionel Allembert, 21, of St. Croix, with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a firearm with a school zone. If convicted, Allembert faces up to five years in prison.
According to court documents, on September 28, 2021, members of the Virgin Islands Police Department located a Taurus 9mm handgun in a ditch at #21 Anna’s Hope, St. Croix. DNA testing later revealed the presence of Allembert’s DNA on the firearm. Allembert did not have a license to possess the firearm which was located approximately 290 feet from the Church of God of Holiness Academy, a preschool.
This case is being investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force are investigating, and Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Croix Man Charged with Possession of an Unlicensed FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that an Information was filed charging Rionel Allembert, 21, of St. Croix, with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a firearm with a school zone. If convicted, Allembert faces up to five years in prison.
According to court documents, on September 28, 2021, members of the Virgin Islands Police Department located a Taurus 9mm handgun in a ditch at #21 Anna’s Hope, St. Croix. DNA testing later revealed the presence of Allembert’s DNA on the firearm. Allembert did not have a license to possess the firearm which was located approximately 290 feet from the Church of God of Holiness Academy, a preschool.
This case is being investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Richmond Man Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of over $1 million in funds intended for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
According to court documents, from April 2020 to April 2021, Moe Ayemen Mathews, 51, with the assistance of his co-conspirator, submitted at least 38 fraudulent PPP loan applications to financial institutions for businesses the conspirators claimed to own and operate. In their first draw PPP applications, the conspirators falsely certified that the information and supporting documentation provided was true and accurate when, in fact, the applications contained false statements, false certifications, and fabricated tax documents. For instance, the conspirators repeatedly inflated or fabricated the average monthly payroll and number of employees working for their purported businesses, and they submitted fabricated tax documents to substantiate the false information provided in their PPP applications. Once their fraudulent applications were approved, the conspirators did not use the funds in accordance with the program’s requirements.
Additionally, after their first draw PPP applications were approved and funded, the conspirators submitted fraudulent second draw PPP applications predicated on their fraudulently-obtained first draw PPP loans. When submitting the second draw PPP applications for their purported businesses, the conspirators concealed the fact that they had intentionally and knowingly submitted false and misleading first draw PPP applications. Once these second-draw applications were approved, the conspirators used the loan proceeds contrary to the program’s requirements.
Mathews is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Inspector General of the Small Business Administration (SBA); and Jay N. Lerner, Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), made the announcement after Senior U.S. Districy Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the Virginia State Corporation Commission for their assistance with this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kashan Pathan is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-44.
Retired Massachusetts State Trooper Sentenced in Overtime Abuse InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A retired Massachusetts State Police Trooper was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).
Daren DeJong, 60, of Uxbridge, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Mark L. Wolf to two years of probation, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. DeJong was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,500 and restitution in the amount of $14,062. In January 2019, DeJong pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.
DeJong, who is retired, was a Trooper assigned to Troop E, which is responsible for enforcing criminal law and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. DeJong received overtime pay for hours that he either did not actually work at all, or shifts in which he departed one to seven hours early.
The conduct involves overtime pay for selective enforcement initiatives, including the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE) and the “X-Team” initiative. Both initiatives are intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers and targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds. DeJong was required to work the entire duration of the shifts – either four or eight hours – and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift. DeJong concealed the fraud by submitting citations that were issued outside the overtime shift, altered the citations to create the appearance that citations were issued during the overtime shift, and/or submitted citations that were never issued and never took place.
Trooper DeJong earned $200,416 in 2016, which included approximately $68,394 in overtime, of which more than $14,000 was attributable to AIRE and X-Team shifts that DeJong either left early or did not show up for.
In 2015 and 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
DeJong is the eighth and final defendant to be sentenced in the case involving MSP Troop E overtime abuse.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Putnam County Commissioner Facing Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Putnam County Commissioner was charged yesterday with possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Jimmy Ray Neal, 57, of Baxter, Tennessee, was arrested at his home, after FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a search warrant. Neal was transported to Nashville and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge late yesterday.
A criminal complaint obtained yesterday alleges that Neal was identified as an administrator of a group in the Kik app in which images of child pornography were viewed and shared with other users. Specifically, the images depicted naked pre-pubescent females with the focus on the genital area.
This long-running investigation by the FBI began in July 2021, and after the arrest of an Oklahoma man on child pornography charges, other users in the Kik app group were identified, including “tennesseemaster,” later identified as Jimmy Ray Neal.
A preliminary and detention hearing is set for Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 2 p.m.
If convicted, Neal faces a mandatory minimum of five years, and up to 20 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Morrison is prosecuting the case.
The charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Philadelphia LCN Associate Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Racketeering and Drug DealingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Daniel Castelli, 68, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release by United States District Court Senior Judge R. Barclay Surrick for racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
In January 2022, the defendant pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment stemming from his involvement in criminal activity with and for the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra, also known as the LCN, the mafia, and the mob. The Philadelphia LCN is one of a number of LCN organized crime families based in various cities throughout the United States. The goal of the LCN in Philadelphia and elsewhere is to make money through the commission of various crimes, including illegal gambling, loansharking, drug trafficking, and extortion.
According to court documents, and the defendant’s guilty plea, Castelli was an associate of the LCN who worked with LCN members and other associates to commit crimes such as drug trafficking, extortion, and loansharking. The defendant pled guilty to his involvement with the LCN for that conduct as well as for an effort in 2016 to obtain a kilogram of cocaine, intended for later resale, on behalf of other LCN members and associates.
“Even though the Philadelphia mob has been weakened over the decades due in large part to persistent law enforcement, the organization and its criminal activities are still very much a problem and are damaging the communities in which it operates,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting anyone who is committing serious federal crimes like these, and we will not rest until the mob is nothing but a bad memory.”
“The Philadelphia LCN is committed to criminality, it seems, with Daniel Castelli admitting he took part,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “He helped the organization make money through all manner of illegal activity, including drug dealing, posing a clear danger to the community. The FBI will continue to target those engaged in organized crime, as we work every day to make Philadelphia safer.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including its Philadelphia Field Division and Atlantic City Resident Agency, as part of a long-running investigation, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Ortiz and Justin Ashenfelter, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Gottfried and Brendan Woods of the Department of Justice Criminal Division, Organized Crime and Gang Section.
Peru Man Sentenced for False Statements to the Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Troy John Pitzen, age 58, of Peru, Iowa, was sentenced May 26, 2022, to 24 months in prison following his guilty plea to making false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Pitzen’s term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.
Between 2006 and 2017, Pitzen stole approximately $371,356 in Social Security survivors benefits belonging to his three minor children. Those benefits were paid to Pitzen, as the children’s representative payee, following the death of the children’s mother. During that time, Pitzen repeatedly submitted paperwork to the SSA falsely claiming the children were living with him and he was using the children’s survivors benefits to care for the children. In fact, the children were living with and being cared for by other individuals while Pitzen continued to receive the children’s benefits and converted most of those benefits to his own use.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Palm Beach Art Dealer Charged with Carrying Out Art Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, Palm Beach art dealer Daniel Elie Bouaziz made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge in West Palm Beach to face charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with his alleged scheme to sell forged high-end artwork.
The criminal complaint affidavit alleges the following: Bouaziz engaged in a scheme to sell paintings and other artwork that he falsely marketed for sale as original or authentic pieces by prominent artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Roy Lichtenstein. Bouaziz sold the fraudulent art from his Worth Avenue galleries in Palm Beach, Florida -- Danieli Fine Art and Galerie Danieli. Victims unknowingly purchased the fraudulent art pieces (some of which were inexpensive reproductions), for tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars. Bouaziz purchased the low-cost reproductions from online auction sites, then drastically marked-up the prices and sold the works to victims as originals. Bouaziz used several tactics to deceive his victims, including falsifying a work’s provenance (the art’s ownership history) and adding a signature to a piece to make it appear authentic and increase its perceived value. In addition, Bouaziz laundered money he received from the fraudulent art scheme, according to the affidavit.
It is alleged that the following fake pieces, among others, were sold or offered for sale as authentic as part of this scheme:
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum print sold by Danieli Fine Art.
The fake George Rodrigue work being sold by Danieli Fine Art.
The fake Basquiat painting for sale at Danieli Fine Art for $12,000,000.00.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami; and Matthew Line, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Office and IRS-CI Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Schall is prosecuting this case.
The criminal complaint contains mere allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you believe you have been a victim of art fraud, please contact the FBI’s Art Crime Team at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-mj-08209-RMM.
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Orleans Parish Man Sentenced on Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant JAMAL BAZLEY, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 26, 2022 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to 80 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to Count Two of a three-count indictment.
Count Two charged BAZLEY with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(a)(2). According to court documents, on June 2, 2020, investigators arrested BAZLEY and his co-defendant for being felons in possession of firearms. Law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by BAZLEY; however, he refused to stop and fled into the parking lot of a Home Depot located near the intersection of S. Claiborne Ave. and Earhart Blvd in New Orleans, LA. The vehicle proceeded into the gated parking lot, and attempted to evade law enforcement. BAZLEY and the two other vehicle occupants exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Once the scene was secure, investigators observed a rifle and two handguns within the immediate area of the vehicle, as well as ski masks and a pair of gloves on the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle.
This case was being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Orleans Parish Man Indicted for Violation of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RONNIE DAVIS, age 27, a resident of Orleans Parish, was charged on May 26, 2022 in a one-count indictment by a federal grand jury for possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, announced U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, DAVIS, knowing that he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year in the State of Louisiana, did knowingly possess two firearms, a Taurus 9 mm handgun and a Century Arms "Draco" style 7.62 rifle.
If convicted, DAVIS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Mike Trummel.
Orangeburg Felon Who Tried to Flee Officers Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA —Quinnton Jamar Henderson, 32, of Orangeburg, has pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence revealed that on December 31, 2019, members of the United States Marshals Carolina Regional Task Force were looking for Henderson, who was wanted on an outstanding state court bench warrant, when they located him sleeping inside his vehicle in the driveway of his Orangeburg residence. When officers attempted to wake Henderson up to arrest him, he drove off and fled the scene. A short time later, officers located Henderson in his vehicle on an unpaved roadway off Highway 210 in Branchville. During a search of the area surrounding Henderson’s vehicle, officers located a .380 caliber handgun.
The firearm was preliminarily linked through ballistics analysis as having been involved in a shooting incident in Cayce on December 22, 2019. The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
Henderson’s prior state convictions include the following: possession of stolen firearm (2009), failure to stop for blue light and siren (2009), possession of crack cocaine (2009), possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2009), assault and battery 3rd degree (2012), pointing and presenting a firearm (2012), two counts of failure to stop for a blue light and siren (2017), and two counts of grand larceny (2017).
Henderson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Henderson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Carolina Regional Task Force, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cayce Police Department 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.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Rankin Smith is prosecuting the case.
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Operators of Key West Labor Staffing Company Sentenced to Prison for Tax Conspiracy and Immigration CrimesRead the Press Release
The operators of a Key West, Florida, labor staffing company were sentenced to prison today for tax and immigration crimes related to their operation of the business.
Former City of Key West Police Officer Igor Kasyanenko was sentenced to 22 months in prison, and Roman Riabov was sentenced to 18 months in prison, for conspiring to defraud the IRS and conspiring to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States.
Mikus Berzins was sentenced to 28 months in prison, and Andrejs Kozlovs was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. Both men knowingly hired 10 or more aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2014 to 2020, Berzins, Kasyanenko and Riabov owned and operated Phoenix ADB Services Inc. Kozlovs worked for the company from approximately 2016 to 2020. They each facilitated the employment of individuals in hotels, bars and restaurants in Key West and other locations, even though the employees were not authorized to work in the United States. In addition, all four men paid the workers without withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from their wages, and then did not report those wages to the IRS as required by law. Kasyanenko and Riabov also encouraged workers to enter the United States and remain in the country, in violation of immigration laws.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham ordered defendants Berzins and Kasyanenko to each serve three years of supervised release, and Riabov and Kozlovs to each serve two years of supervised release. Kasyanenko and Riabov were also ordered to pay approximately $3.4 million in restitution, and Kozlovs was ordered to pay approximately $3 million in restitution. Berzins was ordered to pay a fine of $250,000.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling, Jr. of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Clark for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
ODAI Wireless, LLC Pleads Guilty to Copyright InfringementRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ODAI WIRELESS, LLC d/b/a ELITE WIRELESS, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on May 26, 2022 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Phillips Currault to one-count of copyright infringement.
According to court records, ODAI WIRELESS, LLC, d/b/a “ELITE WIRELESS” infringed the copyright of three fashion designers, Gucci, Supreme and Burberry, when it attempted to import for resale and distribution approximately 1,200 counterfeit cloth masks without the authorization of the three fashion designer copyright holders.
ODAI WIRELESS, LLC, d/b/a “ELITE WIRELESS” faces a fine of up to $200,000.00 or up to twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss to any victim. There is also a $125.00 mandatory special assessment fee due after conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for September 7, 2022 before Judge Currault.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.
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Northfield Resident Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on May 27, 2022, Shaka Africa, 31, of Northfield, Vermont, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to 32 months of imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for possessing a firearm in 2020 after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.
According to court records and proceedings, Africa was involved in a shooting incident on August 27, 2020, in Morristown Vermont. Africa had just arrived in his vehicle at a residence on Elmore Road when a Jeep that had been following him aggressively pulled into the driveway behind him. Africa, without knowing who was in the Jeep, drew a handgun and fired a round at the Jeep. The bullet struck the Jeep in the left rear wheel well. The occupants of the Jeep immediately departed and reported the incident to police. Police later located Africa and seized a 9-millimeter pistol from him. Africa was determined to be a felon, having been convicted in 2016 of aggravated assault with a weapon in Washington County, Vermont.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Morristown Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in the investigation and prosecution of Africa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Lasher prosecuted the case for the United States. Africa was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. https://www.justice.gov/psn
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Matthew Mark Wood, 25, of Reidsville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to a felony charge of obstruction of an official proceeding and five related misdemeanor offenses. According to court documents, on Jan. 2, 2021, three days before he traveled to Washington, Wood sent an iMessage to another individual in which he stated, “If they want to raid Congress, sign me up, I’ll be brave heart in that bitch!"
On Jan. 6, Wood illegally made his way to the West Plaza of the Capitol soon after the breach of a police line meant to secure the restricted grounds. Wood remained in the West Plaza for about an hour before climbing stairs to the Northwest Plaza. He was several feet behind those who broke out and climbed through the Capitol’s window next to the Senate Wing Door. He was the 10th person to enter through that window, getting inside at approximately 2:13 p.m.
Once inside, Wood and other rioters made their way to the hallway immediately outside the Senate Chamber. Once stopped in their advance by law enforcement there, Wood returned to the first floor and joined a growing group of rioters in the Capitol Crypt. At approximately 2:24 p.m., he sent an iMessage to a group chat, declaring, “We just broke through Capitol police, we are going to bust into the house chambers.”
Wood subsequently followed others through the Small House Rotunda, up a staircase, and into the House Speaker’s office suite. While in that area, he entered at least three offices or other sensitive spaces, including the Speaker’s conference room. He then moved to the Rotunda and other areas of the Capitol, removing the ropes from stanchions he passed, calling protesters to follow, and staying in the building despite clouds of chemical irritant. When the Metropolitan Police Department arrived to assist the Capitol Police in clearing rioters from the Rotunda, Wood and other rioters did not immediately leave. It was not until approximately 3:31 p.m. that Wood finally left the Capitol through the East Rotunda Door.
Wood was arrested on March 5, 2021, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is to be sentenced on Sept. 23, 2022. He faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the obstruction charge and a total of 3 ½ years of additional time and additional fines for the five misdemeanor offenses. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Wood as #71 on its seeking information photos, and the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 16 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
New Haven Man Admits Possessing Firearm While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL STANLEY, 33, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to possessing a firearm while on supervised release following a prior federal conviction for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stanley was arrested on September 7, 2021, after New Haven Police conducted a court-authorized search of Stanley’s New Haven hotel room and seized a fanny pack containing his driver’s license, a small quantity of narcotics and a loaded Ruger SR9, 9mm pistol. Stanley’s DNA was recovered from swabs taken from the gun.
Stanley’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including a federal conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In October 2014, Stanley was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for that offense. He was released from prison in May 2019.
Stanley pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford on August 8, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He also faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
New Britain Man Sentenced to Prison for Florida to Connecticut Gun Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JULIAN JUDGE, 24, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking firearms that were stolen in Florida to Connecticut. Judge Meyer also ordered Judge to pay a $3,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in late February 2021, Judge and Dominic Colon-Brown drove to Florida to obtain firearms and bring them back to Connecticut. In Florida, Judge and others obtained three handguns, which Judge knew were stolen or otherwise illegally obtained.
On March 8, 2021, law enforcement recovered a .40 caliber handgun and a high capacity magazine that Judge’s associate discarded during a foot chase in New Britain. A subsequent search of a New Britain apartment where Judge and his associate resided revealed three additional loaded firearms, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and approximately 60 grams of cocaine. The serial number on one of the firearms found in the apartment matched the serial number of a firearm that had been stolen in Florida in February 2021.
During the investigation, Judge and his associates were captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms. Judge and Colon-Brown also posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms.
Judge was arrested on May 27, 2021. He has been detained since September 23, 2021, when his bond was revoked after he was arrested for domestic violence offenses. On November 22, 2021, Judge pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines
Colon-Brown also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, New Britain Police Department, Farmington Police Department, West Hartford Police Department and Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
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.
Moline Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possession of Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Moline, Illinois, man, Zachary Ryan Inman, 28, of the 5000 block of 4th Avenue, was sentenced on May 26, 2022, to five years’ imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, for possession of ammunition as a felon.
According to the evidence presented at sentencing, law enforcement agents responded to a domestic disturbance at a Moline apartment building. There, Inman was found hiding in a closet. Witnesses at the sentencing hearing testified that during the incident Inman battered his girlfriend, threatened her, and brandished a gun. A gun was not ultimately located but when booked at the Rock Island (Illinois) County Jail, agents found ammunition in Inman’s pocket.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow stated that Inman’s actions should be considered in crafting his sentence. Chief Judge Darrow emphasized the danger that Inman’s actions posed to the community, his criminal history, and the need to protect the public.
Inman entered a plea of guilty to the offense in August 2021. The statutory penalties for felon in possession of a firearm are a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum three year term of supervised release.
The Moline Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Mexican Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States after Having Been Previously RemovedRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Mexican National was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for illegal reentry by a removed alien, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Rirearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Marco Antonio Aviles-Aviles, 35,was arrested by officers of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office after a traffic stop on Interstate 20 in June, 2021. Aviles-Aviles could only produce a Mexican passport as a form of identification. Further investigation determined that Aviles-Aviles had been previously deported, on two prior occasions, after illegally crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. After a citizen of a foreign country has been removed from the United States it is unlawful for them to return to the United States without the permission of the United States Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Aviles-Aviles pled guilty on February 17, 2022, to illegal reentry after removal.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham 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 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.
Men Charged with Trafficking 16-Year-Old RunawayRead the Press Release
Two men who allegedly trafficked teenage girls have been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
LaDarius Alton Smith, 33, and Ulises Rene Garcia, 22, were indicted on Tuesday on two counts of sex trafficking a child. Both have been ordered detained pending trial.
According to court documents, the case began when the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services contacted the North Texas Trafficking Task Force to report that a 16-year-old runaway, identified in court documents as JD 1, had been spotted on megapersonals.eu, a known commercial sex database.
An undercover agent initiated conversation with the individual who posted the ad and arranged for a commercial-sex date at a hotel in Dallas on April 12.
Once there, the agent encountered a 17-year-old girl, identified as JD 2, who said she had locked herself out of the room. Mr. Garcia gave JD 2 a key to that room, and then she began conversing with the agent. Another individual, later determined to be Mr. Smith, spoke with the agent on the telephone and promised to bring JD 1 to the hotel soon.
A surveillance team then observed a dark blue BMW enter the hotel parking lot. Mr. Smith got out and escorted JD 1 and another 17-year-old, JD 3, to the hotel room.
Agents recovered the girls and transported them to the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center for comprehensive care.
Meanwhile, law enforcement conducted a search of the hotel room, where they found a backpack containing JD1’s high school schedule.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Garcia and Mr. Smith are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted, they each face up to life in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Magliolo is prosecuting the case.
If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call local law enforcement or the confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline, staffed 24/7, at 1-888-373-7888.
Manderson Man Indicted on Assault and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharging, Brandishing, or Possessing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person, and Assault on a Federal Officer.
Elijah West, age 24, was indicted on May 19, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on May 25, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges stem from West, a previously convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, discharging a firearm multiple times in December 2021 in Manderson. West also assaulted two individuals and an Oglala Sioux Tribe police officer during the same time period. The charges are merely an accusation and West is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
West was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Man Sentenced for Transnational Cybercrime EnterpriseRead the Press Release
A New York man was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for purchasing stolen or compromised credit cards and assisting other members of the Infraud Organization in monetizing their fraudulent activity. The Infraud Organization, a transnational cybercrime enterprise engaged in the mass acquisition and sale of fraud-related goods and services, including stolen identities, compromised credit card data, computer malware, and other contraband. According to court documents, the enterprise boasted over 10,000 members at its peak and operated for more than seven years under the slogan “In Fraud We Trust.” The Infraud Organization is responsible for the purchase and sale of over four million stolen credit and debit card numbers. This scheme cost victims more than $568 million dollars.
John Telusma, 37, aka Peterelliot, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in the District of Nevada to one count of racketeering conspiracy on Oct. 13, 2021. According to court documents, the defendant joined the Infraud Organization in August 2011, maintaining his membership for five and a half years. Telusma was among the most prolific and active members of the Infraud Organization, purchasing and fraudulently using compromised credit card numbers for his own personal gain.
Telusma is the 14th defendant to be held accountable for his role in the Infraud scheme. Telusma’s co-defendants who have been previously sentenced include:
- Infraud co-founder Sergey Medvedev, 34, aka Stells, of Russia, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison;
- Malware developer Valerian Chiochiu, 32, aka Onassis, of California, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison;
- VIP Member Arnaldo Sanchez Torteya, 35, aka Elroncoluna, of Mexico, who was sentenced to eight years in prison;
- VIP Member Edgar Rojas, 31 aka Guapo, of Venezuela, who was sentenced to eight years in prison;
- ATM skimmer Jose Gamboa, 35, aka Rafael101, of California, who was sentenced to eight years in prison; and
- VIP Member Pius Wilson, 35 aka FDIC, of New York, who was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas made the announcement.
The HSI Las Vegas and the Henderson, Nevada, Police Department investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson and Trial Attorneys Chad McHenry and Alexander Gottfried of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Misuse of a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CESAR LOPEZ-MATA (LOPEZ-MATA), age 27, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty on May 26, 2022 before U.S. District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe to a one count bill of information charging him with misuse of a Social Security Number, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
According to court documents, LOPEZ-MATA, a citizen of Guatemala, presented a false Social Security card when attending a pre-employment safety class at the Gulf Coast Safety Council in St. Rose, Louisiana. LOPEZ-MATA falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him when in fact, the social security number had been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to an another individual.
LOPEZ-MATA faces a possible sentence of up to five (5) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for August 18, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.
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