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12 July 2022
Former South Carolina Sheriff and Sheriff’s Deputies Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A former South Carolina sheriff and two deputies were sentenced yesterday for various charges relating to their conspiracy to violate federal law, deprivation of civil rights during an unlawful arrest, obstruction of justice, and misuse of public funds and personnel.
Former Chester County Sheriff George Alexander Underwood, 59, of Chester; Chief Deputy Robert Andrew Sprouse, 47, of Ridgeway; and former Chester County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Johnny Ricardo Neal Jr., 42, of Lancaster, were convicted of conspiracy to violate federal law and to commit federal program theft in April 2021 following a 10-day jury trial. Underwood and Neal were additionally convicted of deprivation of rights and wire fraud. Sprouse and Neal were additionally convicted of falsifying records, and Sprouse was found guilty of making false statements.
Underwood and Neal were both sentenced to 46 months, and Sprouse was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Underwood, Sprouse, and Neal conspired to use their positions to enrich themselves by obtaining money to which they were not entitled; to cover up their misconduct; and to obstruct investigations into their misconduct. Evidence showed Underwood and Neal violated the rights of a Chester County resident, K.S., who was filming the Sheriff’s Office’s response to a crash scene on Nov. 20, 2018, by arresting and detaining him without probable cause. When the FBI began investigating these civil rights violations, Sprouse and Neal created false incident reports and Sprouse made false statements to the FBI to cover up their misconduct.
Additionally, court documents and evidence presented at trial showed the three defendants directed on-duty Sheriff’s Office employees to provide manual labor or other services that personally benefited Underwood and Sprouse, including requiring them to help with extensive renovations of a barn on Underwood’s property to add a bar, a television viewing area, and other amenities. Separately, Underwood and Sprouse took family members on a trip to a conference in Reno, Nevada, and charged the costs to the Sheriff’s Office. Underwood and Neal also engaged in a scheme in which they skimmed money from payments owed to other Sheriff’s Office employees for off-duty work at public safety checkpoints.
Underwood, Sprouse, and Neal were removed from their positions with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office in approximately May 2019, after they were initially indicted by a federal grand jury.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Susan Ferensic of the FBI’s Columbia Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys William M. Miller and Rebecca M. Schuman of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case.
Former New York State Correction Officer Pleads Guilty to Depriving an Inmate of His Constitutional RightsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that AARON FINN pled guilty to a deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. FINN, formerly a correction officer at the Green Haven Correctional Facility, assaulted an inmate in the custody of the State of New York, repeatedly striking and thrashing the inmate’s head and body, while the inmate was restrained with handcuffs. The assault occurred on March 19, 2020, while FINN was employed as a correction officer. FINN’s actions deprived the inmate of the constitutional right to be free from excessive force amounting to cruel and unusual punishment. FINN pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As he admitted today, former correction officer Aaron Finn violated the constitutional rights of an inmate by using excessive force amounting to cruel and unusual punishment. This conviction should send a loud and clear message—the protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution extend to all Americans, including inmates. When the constitutional rights of inmates are violated, we will act aggressively to bring wrongdoers to justice.”
According to the Superseding Indictment and other documents in the public record, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:
FINN was previously a correction officer assigned to the Green Haven Correctional Facility. On March 19, 2020, while working as a correction officer, FINN used his body to press a handcuffed inmate face-first against a wall, and then repeatedly struck the back of the inmate’s head, causing the inmate’s head to hit a cinder block wall. FINN then repeatedly thrashed the inmate’s head against steel cell bars. After the assault, the victim required stitches to multiple lacerations on his face and head.
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FINN, 36, of Hyde Park, New York, pled guilty to a deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 242, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division, and the Civil Rights Unit of the Office’s Civil Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles S. Jacob and Lindsey Keenan are in charge of the prosecution.
Former GSA Official Sentenced to Four Months in Prison for Receiving Illegal GratuityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former employee of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for receiving illegal gratuity.
Kevin Richards, 52, of Hanover, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to four months in prison and one year of supervised release. Richards was also ordered to pay a fine of $7,500 and forfeiture of $10,250. On March 29, 2022, Richards pleaded guilty to one count of receiving an illegal gratuity as a public official and two counts of making false statements to a federal agency.
Richards was employed as the Leasing Director for the New England Region of the Public Buildings Service, a division of GSA. Starting in 2017, Richards also worked as a licensed real estate agent for a Duxbury real estate company owned by Individual A, from whom he received real estate commissions in 2017 and 2018. Richards was permitted to have a job outside GSA provided that he disclosed it, and whether or not he received any compensation, in an annual financial disclosure report required by GSA’s ethics office.
In November 2019, GSA posted a job announcement “Realty Specialist (Lease Contracting Officer)” opening in Richards’s office for which he would be the hiring manager. In April 2020, Richards emailed Individual A about the job posting, substantively edited Individual A’s resume and gave Individual A confidential GSA interview questions, all without telling GSA. Individual A applied and was selected by Richards for the position over 65 qualifying individuals who had also applied for the job. Richards then successfully sought authorization for Individual A to receive an above-normal salary – $102,517 instead of $85,428 – and an above-normal accrual rate for annual leave. Richards did not disclose his financial relationship with Individual A with GSA officials.
Shortly after Individual A started at GSA and almost two years after Richards had earned a commission from the Duxbury real estate company, Richards texted Individual A, “If you need any help on your new listing let me know.” A few days later Individual A advertised Richards as a listing agent for a $1.1 million property in Duxbury. Individual A paid Richards a $10,250 commission when the second property sold.
In his GSA financial disclosure report for 2020, Richards falsely stated that he had not held any positions outside GSA that year. On Feb. 22, 2021, a GSA ethics official emailed Richards, asking whether he still had the position with the Duxbury real estate company that he had reported having in 2019. Richards falsely replied, “I did not work for them last year. I did not do any outside business last year.” In fact, Richards had done work for the Duxbury real estate company in 2020 and later filed a federal tax return in which he reported a net loss of $14,592 working for that company in 2020.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph Dattoria, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Investigations Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Dustin Chao of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Covering up Assault of InmateRead the Press Release
Derek A. Mays, 32, a former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Center (EKCC) officer from Morehead, Kentucky, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to four counts of obstruction of justice.
According to his plea agreement, Mays admitted that on July 24, 2018, he witnessed three EKCC correctional officers assaulting an inmate, and then he falsified records in order to cover up that assault. Specifically, Mays wrote and signed an occurrence report falsely claiming that the inmate had been noncompliant. Mays also admitted to later lying to his supervisor, a Kentucky State Police (KSP) detective, and a Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet investigator, on three separate occasions, about the assault. Mays was indicted in July 2022.
Mason is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each charge. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr. Commissioner, KSP, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dembo and Mary Melton.
Former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Covering up Assault of InmateRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Morehead, Ky., man, and former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Center (EKCC) officer, Derek A. Mays, 32, pleaded guilty to an information on Monday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, admitting to four counts of obstruction of justice.
According to his plea agreement, Mays admitted that on July 24, 2018, he witnessed three EKCC correctional officers assaulting an inmate, and then he falsified records that covered up that assault. Specifically, Mays wrote and signed an Occurrence Report that was intending to cover up the assault, saying that the inmate had been uncompliant, which was false. Mays also admitted to later lying to his supervisor, a KSP detective, and a Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet investigator, on three separate occasions, about the assault.
Mays was indicted in July 2022.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr. Commissioner, KSP, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dembo and Mary Melton.
Mays is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each charge. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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Former Chief of Cardiology at Palo Alto Va Hospital Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Battery of Subordinate DoctorRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Cardiologist John Giacomini was sentenced today to eight months in prison in connection with his conviction for felony abusive sexual contact, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds; Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) Special Agent in Charge Jason Root; and Chief of Police of the Veterans Affairs Police Service Martin Sizemore. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Beth L. Freeman, United States District Judge.
Giacomini, 73, of Atherton, pleaded guilty to the charge on March 2, 2022. Giacomini practiced medicine and cardiology for over 30 years and from 1985 until 2018 he was the Chief of the Cardiology Section at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. According to his plea agreement, Giacomini admitted that beginning in the fall of 2017, he repeatedly subjected a subordinate doctor to unwanted and unwelcome sexual contact, to include hugging, kissing, and intimate touching while on VA premises. On November 10, 2017, the victim told Giacomini she was not interested in a romantic or sexual relationship with him. She also forcibly resisted his repeated attempts to kiss her on the mouth. Nevertheless, Giacomini continued to subject his subordinate to unwanted sexual advances and touching, culminating on December 20, 2017, when Giacomini aggressively groped her breasts, buttocks, and vagina during a meeting in her office. The victim later resigned from her position at the VA, citing Giacomini’s behavior as her principal reason for leaving.
At today’s sentencing, the victim spoke about the harm she suffered from Giacomini’s sexual harassment and abuse. “I felt overwhelming disappointment that my chief and former mentor who I trusted would abuse his position like that. During that period at the VA, I felt a myriad of emotions, from fear to helplessness to disgust to anger and finally sadness.” She also testified regarding her desire to prevent other female doctors from suffering her fate. “The primary reason I reported these events was to help prevent this from happening to anyone else again, especially women fellows in the field of cardiology.”
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Freeman cited the egregiousness of Giacomini’s conduct, the victim’s courage in coming forward, and the pervasiveness of workplace sexual assault as compelling factors justifying imposition of a prison sentence as opposed to a lesser sentence of probation or home detention.
"For those willing and able to share their stories of abuse, the Office of the U.S. Attorney is here to listen," said U.S. Attorney Hinds. "And where the law and evidence permit, we will act. Dedicated public servants are the government's most precious resource. It is our obligation, and our honor, to protect them from harassment and abuse in their federal workplaces and to seek justice on their behalf."
A federal grand jury indicted Giacomini on March 12, 2020, charging him with one count of abusive sexual contact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(b). Three days before his trial was set to begin, Giacomini pleaded guilty to the felony charge.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman also ordered Giacomini to serve one year of supervised release, pay a fine of $15,000, and pay mandatory special assessment fees.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Harris and Jeffrey Nedrow are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Nina Burney-Williams, Sahib Kaur, and Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and the Veterans Affairs Police Service.
Folk Nation Leader Charged in Connection with March 22, 2022 ShootingRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Kwyme Waddell with being a felon in possession of ammunition. As alleged in court filings, the charge is related to a shooting Waddell committed in Brooklyn on March 22, 2022 in which the defendant shot into a crowd of people on the block of East 21st Street between Ditmas Avenue and Dorchester Road shortly after 9:30 p.m.
The defendant is one of the top leaders of the No Love City (NLC) subset of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples, a violent street gang operating primarily in the area of Newkirk Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.
Waddell was arrested this morning in Brooklyn and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charge and arrest.
“As alleged, the defendant brazenly fired eleven shots into a crowd of people. Thankfully no one was harmed,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This Office will continue to work tirelessly with all of our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who engage in gun violence, eliminate gangs from our streets and cut off the flow of guns that allow them to victimize our communities.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force, the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.
“Today’s indictment is another step forward in our ongoing work to rid New York City of violent gangs, illegal guns, and the havoc they cause in our community,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Our focus remains on the people we serve, and we must ensure real consequences for anyone who puts New Yorkers at risk. To that end, I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the King’s County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI’s New York Field Office, and all the investigators for their work on this case and for their steadfast commitment to public safety.”
As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the charge relates to a shooting committed in Brooklyn on March 22, 2022 in which the defendant shot into a crowd of people on the block of East 21st Street between Ditmas Avenue and Dorchester Road shortly after 9:30 p.m. As captured on surveillance video, Waddell drove to the location, fired at least eleven rounds at a crowd of people standing at the corner of Dorchester Road and East 21st Street, an area known as territory of NLC’s gang rivals. Immediately following the shooting, Waddell bragged about the shooting to friends while pantomiming a gun with his hands, as captured on additional surveillance footage.
The indictment is part of a coordinated effort to dismantle the Brooklyn sets of Folk Nation Gangster Disciples and their leadership by federal and state authorities, including the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, the Joint FBI-NYPD Safe Streets Task Force, and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division. As part of the federal-state initiative, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office have brought numerous prosecutions against members and associates of Folk Nation Gangster Disciples, including 11 members and associates of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples charged with multiple shootings and related firearms offenses in Brooklyn.
The charge in the indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sophia M. Suarez, Dana Rehnquist and Jonathan Siegel are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
KWYME WADDELL
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-305 (ENV)
Federal Jury Finds Sacramento Man Guilty of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a six-day trial, a federal jury found Antonio Deshawn Long-Andrews, 28, of Sacramento, guilty of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between August 2017 and Dec. 5, 2018, Long targeted a young woman using force, threats of force, and coercion to cause her to perform commercial sex acts for his financial benefit. Long’s commercial sex operation occurred on the streets and inside motel rooms in Northern and Southern California cities, including Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Ana, and Orange.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 28, 2018, as part of his sex trafficking operation, Long repeatedly punched the victim inside his car in the parking lot of a motel. During the attack, the victim tried to exit the car, but an associate of Long kept her inside the car while Long continued to beat her. An eyewitness saw the attack, and the motel’s security camera recorded the victim being dragged under Long’s car. Although the victim was injured and had two black eyes, a week later, Long continued to engage her in commercial sex acts for his benefit.
During recorded calls from the Sacramento County Jail, Long maintained control over the victim, conveying that she was expected to earn money for him by selling her body to strangers. After Long’s release from the Sacramento County Jail, Long continued his exploitation of the victim from late November 2018 until his arrest on Dec. 5, 2018.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department, the California Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Christina McCall, and Nirav Desai are prosecuting the case.
Long is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Oct. 18, 2022. Long faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. The sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Federal Jury Convicts Cherokee County Resident of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jacob Lance Pritchett, age 32, of Cherokee County, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. The jury trial began on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, and concluded on Friday, July 8.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the Defendant sexually abused a child on multiple occasions when the victim was six to nine years of age. The United States also presented evidence that on one occasion the Defendant sexually abused a second victim when the child was in the fifth grade.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the Defendant is a member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Pritchett was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Eight Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to over $1.6 Million Dollars in Cares Act Covid-19 Fraud, including Identity Theft and Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging nine defendants in relation to a Maryland and California CARES Act COVID-19 unemployment insurance scheme. The indictment charges the defendants with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of United States Postal Office arrow keys. The indictment was returned on June 21, 2022, and unsealed upon the defendants’ self-surrenders and arrests. Charged in the indictment are:
Dementrous Von Smith, a/k/a “El Meecho”, age 26, of Waldorf, Maryland;
Nadine Mahoro Mwamikazi, age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland;
Sky Tiffany Lawson, age 28, of Bowie, Maryland;
Christopher Thomas Yancy, a/k/a “Lil Bhris”, age 30, of Laurel, Maryland;
Sayquan Leon Bridges, a/k/a “Quan”, age 27, of Bowie, Maryland;
Christian Malik Adrea, a/k/a “Lil Leak”, age 24, of Michellville, Maryland;
Stephawn Malik Watson, a/k/a “O-Dawg”, age 26, of District Heights, Maryland;
Aiyanna Mone Washington, a/k/a “Yanna”, age 26, of Glenarden, Maryland.
Co-defendants Von Smith, Lawson, Bridges, Adrea and Washington had their initial appearances on July 7, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Coulson. Yancy, Mwamikazi, Watson had their initial appearances yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Copperthite.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Tira Hayward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS); Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III (MSP) and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, unscrupulous individuals lined their own pockets with funds intended to aid struggling families,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who commit CARES Act COVID-19 fraud.”
“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to the unemployment insurance program. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
According to the 40-count indictment, from February 2020 to October 2021 the defendants allegedly conspired to obtain numerous victim’s birthdates, social security numbers, and other personal identifying information to prepare and submit fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits in Maryland and California. As part of the scheme to defraud, the defendants allegedly caused financial institutions to load UI benefits onto debit cards and mail the cards to physical addresses provided and monitored by the defendants. Additionally, the indictment alleges that once the defendants received the fraudulently obtained funds, the defendants made cash withdrawals and used the cash for their own financial benefit. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants submitted over 200 fraudulent UI claims and resulted in a loss of more than $1.6 million dollars. The indictment continues to allege that in October 2021, Yancy unlawfully possessed a United States Postal Service arrow key with intent to improperly use the key.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy as well as each count of wire fraud and two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft. Yancy faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for unlawfully possessing stolen United States Postal Service arrow keys. 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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This investigation was a coordinated effort between the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County Police Department, United States Postal Inspector, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Department of Homeland Security and Investigations, under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) provides grant funding and strategic support to MCIN member sites to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through inter-agency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended USPIS, HSI, ATF, DOL-OIG, the Maryland State Police, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the United States Marshals Service, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Virginia State Police Department, Howard County Police Department, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Durham, N.C. Man Admits to Operating an Unlicensed Cryptocurrency Business and Related Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jayton Gill, 34, of Durham, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and willful failure to file a tax return, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s plea hearing, from at least 2015 to February 2021, Gill operated an unlicensed money transmitting business involving the exchange of millions of dollars of cash and other monetary instruments for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero. During the relevant time, Gill conducted thousands of transactions involving thousands of Bitcoins. As Gill admitted in court today, he advertised his unlicensed money transmitting business on various public websites and made claims on one such website that he had conducted more than 4,200 transactions with 2,700 different parties. Gill also conducted unlicensed money transactions in person and via the U.S. Postal Service.
Gill further admitted that he failed to file U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for tax years 2015 through 2019, despite earning significant income from his unlicensed money transmitting business and from investing in cryptocurrency.
Gill was released on bond following his guilty plea. The charge of operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for willful failure to file a tax return is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Dupree Man Indicted on Murder and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Dupree, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for First Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Stuart Cochran, Sr, age 48, was indicted on July 11, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 11, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment, 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 Indictment alleges that June 25, 2022, in Dewey County, South Dakota, Cochran willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought killed a man by shooting him with a handgun.
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 charges are merely accusations and Cochran is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Cochran was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Dual citizen arrested for acting as a money mule and laundererRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old man who held citizenship in the United States and Ghana has been arrested following the return of an indictment in a nationwide romance fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Authorities took Kenneth Anim into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. today.
Anim had previously resided in the Houston and Richmond areas.
A federal grand jury returned the five-count indictment July 6.
From 2014 to 2019, Anim and his co-conspirator created individual sham businesses, according to the charges. They allegedly operated as money mules in relation to various mail and wire fraud schemes including internet fraud and romance scams.
The indictment further alleges Anim also opened and maintained bank accounts to collect proceeds from the schemes and to send the money to himself, his co-conspirators and overseas.
If convicted, Anim faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $500,000 maximum fine.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Grace Murphy are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Domestic Abuser sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Deandra Lee, 28, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on July 1, 2021, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) responded to a domestic disturbance call at an Exxon gas station on East 21st Street involving Lee and a woman. Responding officers learned that there were active warrants for Lee’s arrest. Lee fled when officers attempted to arrest him and was apprehended a short time later. Officers located a loaded rifle in the backseat of the vehicle in which Lee was riding that Lee admitted to handling. As a convicted felon, Lee was legally prohibited from possessing any firearms.
Four months earlier, in March 2021, Lee was convicted in state court of domestic battery and strangulation of the same woman involved in the incident that led to his July 2021 arrest. Lee was also convicted of violating a no-contact order while the domestic violence case was pending.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Columbus Field Division; and IMPD Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.
ATF and the IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Lee be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
DeSoto ISD Employee Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A DeSoto Independent School District employee pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $250,000 from the district, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Terry Lynn Sanders, the 57-year-old former DeSoto ISD Director of Energy Management, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
In plea papers, Mr. Sanders admitted he used a school district credit card to make 30 payments worth $255,100 to an outside company. The owner of the company, identified in court documents as “individual A,” then kicked back a portion of each payment, totaling approximately $100,000, to Mr. Sanders.
Mr. Sanders admitted that neither individual A nor his company performed any work for the school district, nor was the company an approved vendor with a contract with the district.
He also admitted that in order to test oversight of the card, he used the card to make seven payments worth $17,466 to pay a fictitious vendor tied to his own bank account.
Mr. Sanders now faces up to five years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch is prosecuting the case.
Darlington Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Josiah Creasey, 35, Darlington, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 20 years in federal prison for using minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing videos and pictures of the conduct. This prison term is to be followed by a life term of supervised release. Creasey pleaded guilty to this charge on April 20, 2022.
Between 2017 and 2019, Creasey sexually assaulted two girls, beginning when they were 9 and 10 years old, and took videos and pictures of the assaults. During this same time, Creasey placed a hidden camera in a bathroom to capture nude images of the girls, and another young girl. Creasey was arrested in March 2021, after law enforcement officers investigated a tip that Creasey uploaded to the internet over 40 images of child pornography. Creasey was found in possession of a significant amount of child pornography, including the images and videos that he produced.
In sentencing Creasey, Judge Peterson wanted to send a message to the community and the victims that the Court takes this crime very seriously. The judge was also concerned that Creasey was a risk to reoffend because his sexual attraction to children dominated him, and he lacked self-understanding. Judge Peterson noted that Creasy had a long way to go to fully accept responsibility and that a 20-year sentence was appropriate, as was a life term of supervised release.
The charge against Creasey was the result of an investigation conducted by the Lafayette and Grant County Sheriffs’ Offices, Platteville Police Department, and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Przybylinski Finn prosecuted this case.
Danbury Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WAYNE MARCELL, 36, of Danbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 264 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for engaging in illicit sexual acts with child, and photographing and video recording his sexual abuse. Judge Bolden also ordered Marcell to pay a $30,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2021, a 14-year-old female in Georgia met Robert Fyke, of Lubbock, Texas, on an online video/chat platform. Fyke and the minor victim then used Kik and other social media platforms to communicate. In May 2021, Fyke drove from Texas to Georgia, picked up the minor victim and drove her back to Lubbock. The minor victim resided with Fyke for approximately four weeks, and Fyke produced sexually explicit images of the victim.
While living with Fyke, the minor victim began communicating with Marcell on video game and social media platforms. In June 2021, Marcell paid an individual $2,000 to drive the minor victim from Texas to Illinois. Marcell then drove from Connecticut to Illinois, picked up the minor victim, and brought her to his home in Danbury. Marcell engaged in multiple illicit sexual acts with the minor victim, and took photos and videos of the sexual abuse.
Marcell has paid restitution of $86,885.74 to his minor victim.
Marcell has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on June 23, 2021. On April 5, 2022, he pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual exploitation of a child.
Fyke pleaded guilty to a related charge in the Northern District of Texas and, on December 16, 2021, was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Danbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and the Danbury State’s Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Crawford County Inmate Charged with Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - An inmate at the Crawford County Correctional Facility in Saegertown, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of failure to register under SORNA, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Brittany Lepkowski, 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, from April 2022 to May 2022, Lepkowski knowingly failed to update her registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Greenfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for receiving child pornography. The defendant used Facebook messenger to communicate with a minor in the Philippines and receive pornographic images of the child.
Charles Fox, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 20 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. On Nov. 22, 2021, Fox pleaded guilty to two counts of receipt of child pornography.
“Mr. Fox exploited a helpless child on the other side of the world, robbing them of their innocence,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “He engaged in this repugnant behavior while he was a registered sex offender. Protecting children from predators like Mr. Fox and securing Justice and accountability for vulnerable victims is one of my top priorities. Those who seek to sexualize and exploit children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Fox preyed upon a child, using common social media channels to seek out a vulnerable victim and exploit them,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations New England Field Office. “Child exploitation is among the most heinous crimes we investigate and HSI is totally committed to working with our partners to find predators like Fox and work for justice for their victims.”
Fox induced a minor in the Philippines to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of that conduct. Specifically, Fox used Facebook messenger to communicate with the minor and to receive the pornographic images. In exchange for the images, Fox sent Western Union payments to the Philippines.
Fox is a registered sex offender for a 2010 conviction of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI SAC Millhollin made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Robbery and Discharging A Firearm in Furtherance of A Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marques Howard (31, Tampa) with Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit that robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Howard faces up a maximum penalty of 20 years for the robbery offense, up to 20 years for the conspiracy offense, and up to 10 years for the possession of the firearm offense. The discharging of the firearm charge carries a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The indictment also notifies the Howard that the United States intends to forfeit any firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, on April 20, 2022, Howard robbed an individual at his residence in the Tampa area. During the robbery, Howard, a convicted felon, discharged his firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Howard is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Compton Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Criminal Charges for Targeting and Robbing Gay Men He Met on the Grindr Online Dating ApplicationRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Compton man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for targeting and robbing Los Angeles-area gay men he met on the Grindr online dating application.
Derrick Patterson, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Patterson admitted in his plea agreement to robbing five victims from June 2021 to March 2022. According to his plea agreement, Patterson targeted his victims by using Grindr, a social networking platform for gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Patterson met his victims at their homes or in hotel rooms under the pretense of sexual encounters. Once there, Patterson asked to use the victims’ phones.
During a July 2021 incident, one victim gave his phone to Patterson, who went to the victim’s kitchen, pulled out a kitchen knife, threatened the victim, and then used the victim’s Venmo account to steal $3,950. Patterson also used the victim’s online account to pay for two Hotels.com transactions, and he used the victim’s phone to send text messages to the victim’s friends and family in Nevada to request that they send the victim money, which Patterson intended to intercept.
In February 2022, Patterson entered another victim’s residence under the pretense of a sexual encounter. Patterson asked if he could use the victim’s phone. After the victim handed Patterson the phone, the victim turned away and then heard a stun gun activating. Patterson chased the victim with the stun gun and demanded money. The victim gave $120 to Patterson, who then demanded jewelry.
After Patterson left the victim’s home, he used the phone to ask the victim’s contacts for money. Patterson also used the victim’s phone to access the victim’s Apple Pay account and open a line of credit in the victim’s name with Goldman Sachs. Patterson then went to a T-Mobile store in Los Angeles and used the Goldman Sachs credit line to purchase Apple Airpods costing approximately $273. Patterson also used the victim’s bank card to pay for a hotel room.
Patterson admitted during other robberies that he assaulted one victim – against whom he used a homophobic slur – and threatened to shoot another victim during an encounter in a hotel room.
United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a September 19 sentencing hearing, at which time Patterson will face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison.
The FBI's investigation is ongoing. The Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Beverly Hills Police Department have provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeremiah M. Levine of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim or targeted by Patterson is urged to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office 24 hours a day at (310) 477-6565.
Columbia Man Indicted for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for possessing fentanyl that he intended to distribute in Springfield, Mo.
Michael E. Hunt, Jr., 41, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed on June 13, 2022, which charged the same offense.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers learned that Hunt was planning to transport fentanyl from Columbia to Springfield. Hunt was driving a black Jeep Renegade southbound on Highway 5 on June 12, 2022, when a Laclede County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop for a moving violation. A police service dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the Jeep, at which time Hunt locked the vehicle and refused to give officers the keys.
After the Jeep was unlocked by a local tow company, officers searched the vehicle and found a black gym bag on the front passenger seat that contained approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, which is consistent with distribution and not merely personal use.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Laclede County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Cleveland Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison Following Convictions of Sex Trafficking, Production of Child Pornography and Shooting at Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
Reuben Rankin, 36, of Cleveland, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker to 40 years in federal prison and ordered to pay special assessments of $5,500 following his convictions at trial of sex trafficking of a minor, production of child pornography, assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and felon in possession of a firearm.
“Trafficking children is a heinous crime, one that has earned the defendant every day of his 40-year prison sentence,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “In addition to this evil act, this defendant recklessly endangered the lives of federal law enforcement officers, and our community is now safer with him behind bars. The Department of Justice will continue to bring the full force of the law against traffickers in Ohio and around the country.”
“Today’s 40-year sentence is a testament to the collaboration between state, local and federal agencies coming together to hold human traffickers accountable and provide victims a tangible example on how we come together to protect victims, prosecute perpetrators and implement a whole-of government partnership with law enforcement and our NGO partners who are critical in this space,” said Angie Salazar, special agent in charge for HSI Detroit.
According to court documents, in May 2019, Rankin engaged in sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography in order to raise money to purchase drugs, clothing and an SUV. Rankin relied heavily on income earned from commercial sex acts to fund his lifestyle.
On October 30, 2019, law enforcement officers with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Rankin’s residence in Cleveland as part of an investigation into his activities. As law enforcement agents approached the residence, Rankin fired six shots in rapid succession at the agents through the window of his vehicle parked in the driveway. An agent returned fire with one shot. Officers then arrested Rankin and recovered a .45 caliber pistol, spent rounds of ammunition, drugs and two cell phones from his vehicle.
"The HSI Detroit Special Response Team demonstrated extraordinary discipline and restraint in this very difficult situation,” said Jared Murphey, SRT Commander. “The brave members of our team exposed themselves to extreme danger during this operation. It is their honor to protect the community from dangerous criminals like this defendant.”
Rankin is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to previous convictions of kidnapping, witness intimidation, aggravated assault and abduction in the Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court.
Rankin was convicted by a federal jury on January 28, 2022, of all counts of a superseding indictment following a nine-day trial in Cleveland.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Cuyahoga County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Cleveland Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carol M. Skutnik, Edward F. Feran and Vanessa V. Healy.
Central Georgia Bookkeeper Sentenced for Defrauding Three Small BusinessesRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Putnam County, Georgia, resident who admitted to stealing $156,734.76 from three small businesses that employed her as a part-time bookkeeper was sentenced to prison for her crime and ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
Alicia Merritt, 48, of Eatonton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III today after previously pleading guilty to one count of bank fraud. In addition, Merritt was ordered to repay $146,660.66 in restitution to the victims. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant has admitted her wrong-doing and has been held accountable for deceiving three local businesses in her community,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Whether a trusted employee steals $100,000 or $1,000,000, fraud ultimately harms lives and can negatively affect a community, as seen in this case. Working with our law enforcement partners, we want to protect hard-working citizens and do everything in our power to stop fraud and restore justice.”
“Hopefully this sentencing makes a statement that the FBI is committed to making cases like this a strong deterrent to the temptation of greed,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Merritt not only defrauded the companies she worked for, she also violated the trust they put in her, and for that she will be held accountable.”
According to court documents, Merritt’s theft from Willow Oaks Landscape was first discovered by the company’s owner in Feb. 2020. Merritt worked as the bookkeeper for the family-owned business for a decade and the owner trusted her “completely,” delegating to her payroll, vendor payments, reimbursements and giving her credit card access. When the business began to lose money, the owner assumed there must be other causes and didn’t suspect Merritt. However, from March 2019 until Feb. 2020, Merritt wrote checks to vendors, to herself for reimbursements that did not exist and cut payroll checks for former employees and cashed them for herself in the amount of $108,068.45. In addition, within this same time frame, Merritt admitted to charging $5,382.90 on the company credit card for personal expenses.
Merritt was also employed part-time managing business finances for two local Eatonton businesses, The Meat Shed and Vape on the Lake. Merritt was tasked with handling business tax payments to the Georgia Department of Revenue and IRS for the businesses. In early 2019, Merritt constructed a scheme, convincing the owner that she could better manage his tax payments if he wrote her checks for the amount owed and she, in turn, would pay the tax to the relevant revenue agency. In late 2019, Merritt’s demands escalated, insisting the owner write multiple large payments to resolve alleged tax payment deadlines, keeping the money for herself and not paying the taxes owed. In all, Merritt stole at least $33,209.31 from these businesses.
The case was investigated by FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case for the Government.
Brooklyn Center Man Indicted for Insurance Fraud After Staging a Politically Motivated Arson AttackRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Center man has been indicted for wire fraud after filing fraudulent insurance claims for a staged arson, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on September 23, 2020, Denis Vladmirovich Molla, 29, falsely reported to law enforcement that someone had lit his camper on fire. Molla reported that his garage door was vandalized with spray painted graffiti stating, “Biden 2020,” “BLM,” and an Antifa symbol, and that his camper was targeted because it had a Trump 2020 flag displayed on it. In reality, Molla started his own property on fire and spray painted the graffiti on his own garage.
According to court documents, Molla submitted multiple insurance claims seeking coverage for the damage to his garage, camper, vehicles, and residence caused by the fire. When Molla’s insurance company denied some of those claims, Molla submitted written complaints to the insurance company claiming that it was defrauding him and threatened to report the company to the Department of Commerce and to the Attorney General. Molla also created and allowed others to create two GoFundMe accounts to benefit Molla and his family. In total, Molla submitted more than $300,000 in fraudulent insurance claims, and he received approximately $61,000 from his insurance company. Molla also received more than $17,000 from individual donors via GoFundMe.
Molla is charged with two counts of wire fraud. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court earlier today before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz and Kimberly A. Svendsen are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bosque Farms man sentenced to four years in prison for assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Gregory Jojola, 32, of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison. On Nov. 24, 2020, Jojola pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner and two counts of assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Aug. 30, 2019, Jojola assaulted his intimate partner, identified in court records as Jane Doe, at the home they shared in Bosque Farms on the Pueblo of Isleta. Jojola admitted that he assaulted Jane Doe by intentionally striking and wounding her. Jojola twice held Jane Doe down and strangled her to the point she thought she was going to die because she could not breathe. Jojola continued to strangle Jane Doe as she pleaded for her life.
Upon his release from prison, Jojola will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Isleta Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti prosecuted the case.
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Attorney Pleads Guilty to Filing Fraudulent Lawsuits Under the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that attorney STUART FINKELSTEIN pled guilty to mail fraud in connection with his filing of fraudulent lawsuits pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”)
According to the Indictment and statements made in court filings:
FINKELSTEIN is a lawyer who has filed, or has caused to be filed, over 300 lawsuits pursuant to the ADA on behalf of purported plaintiffs, including Victim-1 and Victim-2. These lawsuits were filed in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Florida, the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York against various public establishments (the “Victim Public Establishments”). Each of these lawsuits made representations that Victim-1 and Victim-2 were represented by FINKELSTEIN or an associate. Furthermore, each of these lawsuits alleged that Victim-1 and Victim-2 had standing to sue under the ADA. The lawsuits sought attorney’s fees and injunctive relief to address the alleged noncompliance with the ADA.
FINKELSTEIN’s lawsuits on behalf of Victim-1 and Victim-2, however, were fraudulent. Victim-1 and Victim-2 neither retained nor authorized FINKELSTEIN to file ADA lawsuits on their behalf. Instead, FINKELSTEIN stole the identities of Victim-1 and Victim-2, made numerous false representations to the Victim Public Establishments and the courts, obstructed official judicial proceedings, and then settled these fake lawsuits in order to collect approximately $900,000 in attorney’s fees.
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FINKELSTEIN, 67, of Davie, Florida, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentence will be determined by the court.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Rushmi Bhaskaran is in charge of the prosecution.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Recognizes Department of Justice Employees and Others for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s AwardsRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, 298 Justice Department employees received awards, while 54 non-department individuals are also being honored for their work.
“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”
“I am proud to join Attorney General Garland in recognizing a former member of my office for this prestigious award,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “AUSA Murray’s contribution to this case is a clear example of the great coordination and cooperation that we have with our partners here in the Middle District of Florida.”
In the Middle District of Florida, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis D. Murray was recognized for his successful prosecution of Elvis Harold Reyes (United States vs. Reyes). Reyes, who had never been a licensed attorney, posed as an immigration attorney targeting undocumented immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries, who were seeking Florida driver licenses and work authorization. As part of the scheme, Reyes gave false, inaccurate, and incomplete legal and immigration advice to victims in order to induce them to retain his services. Because of his false representations, victims retained and paid Reyes to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other agencies, during which Reyes filed hundreds of fraudulent asylum applications. As a result of the tireless efforts of AUSA Murray, his investigative and support team, Reyes was sentenced to 20 years and 9 months in federal prison.
For details on all of today’s award recipients, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-department-justice-employees-and-others-69th-annual. For additional details on the Reyes case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/phony-immigration-attorney-who-filed-hundreds-fraudulent-asylum-applications-sentenced.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Others for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s AwardsRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, 298 Justice Department employees received awards, while 54 non-department individuals are also being honored for their work.
“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”
The 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards and recipients are as follows.
The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is the Department’s highest award for employee performance. Attorney General Garland recognizes Supervisory Special Agent Jessica A. Nye; Special Agents Peter Ahearn, Jr, Blair H. Newman, and John A. Maser; Computer Scientists Lindsey Chiesa and Naomi R. Patrick, Charlotte Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Thomas S. Breeden, Baltimore Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Carrie A. Crot, Cyber Division; Intelligence Analyst Sean A. McDermott, Richmond Division, FBI; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric L. Iverson and Anand P. Ramaswamy for the Middle District of North Carolina; and Senior Counsel Ryan Kao Jeung Dickey, Criminal Division.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Department’s second highest award for employee performance; there are 15 Distinguished Service Awards being awarded today.
The first Distinguished Award is presented to Senior Counsel Cory B. Leuchten of the Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Trial Attorneys Meagan K. Bellshaw, Brittney A. Dimond, Collier T. Kelley, Ihan Kim, Sarah H. Licht, Bennett J. Matelson, Lillian Okamuro, John R. Read, Ethan D. Stevenson, Lara E.V. Trager, and Jeffrey Vernon, Financial Services, Fintech & Banking Section; Economists Brian Clark and Alexander Raskovich, Economic Regulatory Section; and Financial Analyst John Griffin, Economic Litigation Section, Antitrust Division.
The second Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant Branch Director Bridget B. Lipscomb, Torts Branch, Environmental Torts Section of the Civil Division.
The third Distinguished Award is presented to Director Eli M. Rosenbaum of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy; Trial Attorney Susan Masling; Chief Historian Dr. Jeffrey S. Richter, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Criminal Division; Deputy Chief Paul F. Stone; Senior Counsel Daniel I. Smulow, National Security Unit, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division; Deputy Chief Counsel Brandon Josephsen; Senior Attorney William A. Lund; Associate Legal Advisor Ajay Bhatt, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor; and Special Agents Glen Earl Blache and John A. Witsell III, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
The fourth Distinguished Award is presented to Special Litigation Counsel Rosanna E. Gibson, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division; Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Drew Yeates; Paralegals Ester Hernandez and Ingrid Westphal-Kelson; Victim-Witness Coordinator Candelaria Bennett for the District of Utah; and Special Agent Steven S. Hymas, FBI.
The fifth Distinguished Award is presented to Special Agent Zachary C. Leasure of the San Diego Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The sixth Distinguished Award is presented to Senior Attorney Bridget Kennedy McNeil of the Wildlife and Marine Resources Section for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The seventh Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Brandon S. Flower; Victim-Witness Coordinator Christina M. Frizzell for the Northern District of West Virginia; Special Agents Ashley E. Archibald and John D. Large, Pittsburgh Division, FBI; Resident Agent in Charge Colin Davis; and Special Agent Keith Vereb, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The eighth Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Clark, Nicole Grosnoff, Peter Laserna, and Lisa H. Miller for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent Kristin Bailey, FBI; and Special Agent Robyn W. Ziemer, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The ninth Distinguished Award is presented to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lesko; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanya Hajjar and Kevin M. Trowel; Paralegal Specialist Teri Carby for the Eastern District of New York; Supervisory Special Agents Anthony Bivona and Christopher Donohue; Special Agents Delise Jeffrey, Michael W. Lever, Maegan O. Rees, and Michael J. Weniger; Victim Specialist Laura B. Riso; Task Force Officer Charles B. Fontanelli, New York Field Office, FBI; and Special Agents Megan Buckley and Christopher T. Munster, New York Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The tenth Distinguished Award is presented to Supervisory Trial Attorney Jennifer Kennedy Gellie, Counterintelligence & Export Control Section; Trial Attorney Jennifer E. Levy, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Cummings, Jr. for the District of Columbia; Intelligence Analysts Mikolaj Recko and Susan M. Zalac; Special Agents Bernie S. Annor, Kathryn M. McDonald, Michael C. Merletti, Alexa M. Racioppo, and Danielle Ray, Washington Field Office; Supervisory Special Agents David Nadasi and Matthew J. Sanderl, Counterintelligence Division; Supervisory Special Agent Jason Coffey; Special Agent Danielle S. Ditzler; and Intelligence Analyst Stephany Warner, Counterterrorism Division Fly Team, Counterterrorism Section, FBI.
The eleventh Distinguished Award is presented to Senior Level Trial Attorney Nannette L. Davis; Supervisory Trial Attorney Kathleen M. Barry, Northern Criminal Enforcement Section; Supervisory Trial Attorney Todd Ellinwood, Southern Criminal Enforcement Section; Litigation Technology Case Manager Jason D. Dowling, Office of Management and Administration; Paralegal Kevin P. Kingston, Court of Federal Claims Section, Tax Division; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Capozzi and Sagar K. Ravi for the Southern District of New York; Special Agent Amy Lindner; and CI Cybercrimes Fraud Detection Analyst David Utzke, Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The twelfth Distinguished Award is presented to Supervisory Electronics Engineer Robert J. Smith; Electronics Engineers Gregory Klatt, Peter R. Lacko, and Robert M. Weber, Operational Technology Division; and Special Agent Peter G. Diaz, New York Field Office, FBI.
The thirteenth Distinguished Award is presented to Director Shawn O. Flinn; and Deputy Director Valarie Mulcahy, Human Resources, Justice Management Division.
The fourteenth Distinguished Award is presented to Chief Inspectors Jan E. Hamm, Erin A. Lane, Michael E. Pannone, and Allison E. Russo; Senior Inspector Kathleen E. Flanagan; Inspectors Eric F. Barker, James D. Ludwig, Fei Yin Luk, and Charla Ngatcha, Evaluation and Inspections Division; Investigative Counsels S. Randall Humm and Ann Marie Terzaken, Oversight and Review Division; Assistant Director Melanie C. Danberg; and Mathematical Statisticians Elizabeth T. Heines and Ramona R. Rantala, Office of Data Analytics, Audit Division, Office of the Inspector General.
The fifteenth Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant Chief Senior Inspector Vincent G. Bellino; Deputy U.S. Marshal William J. Hicks; and Task Force Officers Mark Jeffrey and Gerik John Robert Ray, Western District of Texas, U.S. Marshals Service.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism recognizes an extraordinary act of courage and voluntary risk of life during the performance of official duties. One Exceptional Heroism Award is presented this year to Deputy U.S. Marshal Marlon J. Medrano of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity pays tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi. This award is presented to an individual whose career as an attorney, law professor and dean, and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the Department. This year’s Edward H. Levi Award is presented to Deputy Chief Douglas E. Crow of the Organized Crime and Gang Section for the Criminal Division.
The Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award recognizes employees who have served at least 20 years in the Department and who have demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication throughout their careers. This award is presented only in exceptional circumstances to those individuals of special merit and is not awarded to express general appreciation for tenure alone. Two Mary C. Lawton Award are presented this year.
The first Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Chief Teresa L. McHenry of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Criminal Division.
The second Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Zauzmer for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service, the top public service award granted by the Department, recognizes the most significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the Department in the accomplishment of its mission and objectives. This award is presented to Grants Director Kim J. Day of the International Association of Forensic Nurses.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country recognizes extraordinary efforts by those who demonstrated the Department’s commitment to fighting crime in Indian Country. This year, two Exceptional Service in Indian Country Awards are being presented.
The first Exceptional Service in Indian Country is presented to Supervisory Special Agent L. Craig Overby; Special Agents Nadine F. Brown, Steven Lowe, and Brandon Walter; Intelligence Analyst Nicolette G. Rose; Staff Operations Specialist Cara K. Kaizer; Victim Specialists Erin Harris and Michele L. Stewart, Salt Lake City Field Office; Forensic Accountant Daniel R. Conger, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Lee Sundwall for the District of Utah; Tribal Operations Officer Jo-Ellen Cree, Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Special Agents Larry S. Harris and J. Christopher Wood, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Interior.
The second Exceptional Service in Indian Country is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon B. Cozzoni, Ryan M. Roberts, and Douglas E. Snow of the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice. This award is presented to Supervisory Special Agents Adam Cushman and Steven C. Patterson; Special Agent Jacob E. Alder, Phoenix Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Victor Nguyen, San Diego Field Office; Supervisory Special Agents Ricardo L. Jimenez, Brian D. Percival, and Carlos Tomala, Legal Attaché Mexico City; Supervisory Special Agent Kyle S. Blackhurst, Legal Attaché San Salvador; Supervisory Special Agents Shannon Fontenot and Amie Loos, Criminal Investigation Division; and Supervisory Special Agent Jason P. Parrish, Laboratory Division, FBI.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements, which have significantly improved operations, productivity, or reduced costs. This year, three Excellence in Management Awards are being presented.
The first Award for Excellence in Management is presented to Geospatial Program Manager Aaron A. Jabbour of the National Geospatial Intelligence Branch for the Criminal Intelligence Division, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The second Award for Excellence in Management is presented to Deputy Chief Learning Officer Mary Beth Pfister of the Office of Legal Education for the National Advocacy Center and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.
The third Award for Excellence in Management is presented to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael H. Allen for Policy, Management and Planning; and Deputy Director Christine E. Gunning of the Security and Emergency Planning Staff for the Justice Management Division.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology recognizes outstanding achievements in applying information technology to improve operations and productivity, reduce or avoid costs, and solve problems. Two Excellence in Information Technology Award are presented this year.
The first Award for Excellence in Information Technology is presented to Deputy Chief Brian R. Young; Assistant Chiefs Mark Cipolletti, Michael T. O’Neill, Avi M. Perry, and Justin Weitz; and Trial Attorneys Drew Bradylyons, Jennifer L. Farer, Leslie S. Garthwaite, Cory E. Jacobs, Alexander J. Kramer, John F. Scanlon, Della Sentilles, and Matthew F. Sullivan, Fraud Section, Criminal Division.
The second Award for Excellence in Information Technology is presented to Deputy Chief Information Officer Craig J. Hegemann; Supervisory Information Technology Specialists Kate Myong Ahn, Kelvin N. Doan, David Robert Fruehwald, Andrew J. Leftwich, Timothy L. Robinson II, and Willie J. Williams; Supervisory Information Technology Project Manager Michael R. Barylski; Supervisory Information Technology Program Manager Desmond L. Murphy; and Information Technology Specialists Dain A. Bentley, Nelma Gail Hartfiel, Ricardo D. Phillips, Sr., Elissa M. Reynolds, and Sein Sanborn, Office of Information Technology, Executive Office for Immigration Review.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions towards protecting U.S. National Security. Two Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security Award are presented this year.
The first Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel; Paralegal Catherine Robillard; Victim-Witness Specialist Acquanette Lindsey for the Southern District of Ohio; Trial Attorney Justin Sher, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division; Supervisory Trial Attorney Paul Casey, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division; Victim-Witness Specialists Christina Conrad and Linda James, Cincinnati Field Division; Supervisory Special Agent Morgan Spurlock; Supervisory Special Agent Michael Herwig; Special Agents Patrick Gragan and T.A. Staderman; and Task Force Officers Charles Balaj, Brad Meeker, Kyle Metz, and A.J. Schweier, Joint Terrorism Task Forces, FBI.
The second Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is presented to Supervisory Attorney-Advisors Loyaan A. Egal, Eric S. Johnson, and David I. Plotinsky, Foreign Investment Review Section; Attorney-Advisor Julie E. Dickerson, Office of Law and Policy; and Attorney-Advisors Christopher R. Clements, Megan K. Fluckiger, Alice S. Jou, Lee G. Licata, and Christine M. Quinn, Foreign Investment Review Section, National Security Division.
The Attorney General’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity is the Department’s highest award for performance in support of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program. One Equal Employment Opportunity Award is presented this year to Supervisory Special Agent Catherine M. Fagan, Training Division; Supervisory Management and Program Analyst David R. Cotton-Zinn, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division; Intelligence Analyst Ashley V. Evans, Washington Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Aleksandra Panovska, Cincinnati Field Office; Staff Operations Specialist David M. Maltinsky, Los Angeles Field Office; Special Agent Anthony J. Grecco, Jr., New York Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Summer Harms, Sacramento Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Corbin M. Warfel; Special Agent Brett Kalina, San Diego Field Office; and Special Agent Clay Rehrig, San Juan Field Office, FBI.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of legal support to attorneys by paralegal specialists and other legal assistants. Three Excellence in Legal Support Awards are presented this year.
The first Excellence in Legal Support Award in the paralegal category is presented to Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Wanda G. Evans of the Office of Immigration Litigation (Appellate) for the Civil Division.
The second Excellence in Legal Support Award in the paralegal category is presented to Paralegal Specialist Jennie M. Gallagher of the U.S. Trustee Program - Region 10 for the Peoria Field Office.
The third Excellence in Legal Support Award in the legal support category is presented to Senior IT Specialist Tsang (Rowbe) Pun of the Litigation Support Section for the Antitrust Division.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding performance in administrative or managerial support by administrative employees or secretaries. Four Excellence in Administrative Support Awards are being presented.
The first Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Administrative category is presented to Legal Assistant Christopher G. McShea for the Southern District of New York.
The second Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Administrative category is presented to Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Betty Alfaraz for the Southern District of Florida.
The third Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Secretarial category is presented to Legal Assistant Madison V. Beasley of the Environmental Enforcement Section for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The fourth Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Secretarial category is presented to Supervisory Support Services Specialist Tracey N. Armstrong for the Southern District of Texas.
The Claudia J. Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility recognizes Department attorneys who have made significant contributions in the area of professional responsibility by successfully handling a sensitive and challenging professional responsibility issue in an exemplary fashion and/or leading efforts to ensure that Department attorneys carry out their duties in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. This year’s Claudia J. Flynn Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Kole for the Central District of California.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. One Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration Award is presented this year to Division Chief Adam C. Siple of the Information Privacy and Governance Division, Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to prevent, investigate, and prosecute fraud, white collar crimes, and official corruption. Two Fraud Prevention Awards are presented this year.
The first Award for Fraud Prevention is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham C. Meltzer, Alexander B. Schwab, and Carolyn S. Small; Paralegal Specialist Yeni Gomez for the Central District of California; Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben S. Kingsley; Paralegal Specialist Jonathan Birch for the Northern District of California; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan for the Western District of North Carolina; Trial Attorney Alexander T. Pogozelski, Civil Frauds Section, Civil Division; Postal Inspector Megan Bradley, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Postal Service; Special Agent Paul Richard, Office Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency; Special Agent Ryan Wat Office of Inspector General, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Special Agents Armando Delgado-Campos and Albert Fontana, FBI; and Special Agent Kelvin Zwiefelhofer, Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The second Award for Fraud Prevention is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis D. Murray for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agents Kristy L. Anderson, Alvis A. Lockhart, and Yenixa Perez, Tampa Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Task Force Officer Ryan P. Doherty, Tampa Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety recognizes outstanding achievement in the development and support of community partnerships designed to address public safety within a community. Two Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety Awards are being presented this year.
The first Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety Award is presented to Regional Director Meg Gorecki; Associate Director Theresa J. Segovia; Lead Conciliation Specialists Walter Atkinson, Darryck Dean, and James Williams III; and Conciliation Specialists Mildred Duprey de Robles, Kim Milstead, and Linda Ortiz, Community Relations Service.
The second Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety Award is presented to Senior Inspector William A. Boldin; Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Anne M. Murphy, Northern District of Ohio; Chief John Majoy, Newburgh Heights Police Department; Chief Scott Gardner, East Cleveland Police Department; Survivor and Missing Person Advocate Amanda Berry; Producer Carrie Young; News Director Andy Fishman, Fox Channel 8 News; Former Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns Bernie Kosar; Survivor and Founder Gina DeJesus, Cleveland Center for Missing Persons; Karen McHenry of the Bellefaire JCB Missing & Homeless Youth Program; and Program Administrators Kara Davis and Maureen Draye, Cuyahoga Children & Family Services, Cleveland, Ohio.
The Cubby Dorsey Award for Outstanding Service by a Wage Grade System Employee recognizes extraordinary performance and contributions by wage grade system employees, including laborers, mechanics, and skilled craft workers. This award is presented to Electrician Supervisor Dennis W. Good of the Finance and Facilities Division for the FBI.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes exceptional performance and notable accomplishments towards the Department’s mission by an employee with fewer than five years of federal career service. Four Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee Awards are presented this year.
The first Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Trial Attorney Heather Diefenbach Call of the Washington Criminal II Section for the Antitrust Division.
The second Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Psychology Technician Jennifer A. Samonte-Rillo of the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Lompoc for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The third Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Digital Investigative Analyst Matthew E. Markovich of the Criminal Section for the Civil Rights Division.
The fourth Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.
The last award presented this year is The John Marshall Awards which are the Department’s highest awards offered to attorneys, recognizing them for their contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Thirteen awards in nine categories are being presented this year.
The first John Marshall Award in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson; Trial Attorneys Bethany Lipman, Conor M. Mulroe, and Marianne Shelvey, Organized Crime and Gang Section, Criminal Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitra Jafary-Hariri and Doug Salzenstein for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The second John Marshall Award also in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Deputy Director Matthew T. Grady of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit for the Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division.
The third John Marshall Award also in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Senior Counsels Scott D. Bauer, Sean K. Carman, Myles E. Flint II, Danica Anderson Glaser, and Jerome W. MacLaughlin; Senior Attorneys Patrick B. Bryan, Richard S. Greene IV, and Laura J. Rowley, Environmental Enforcement Section; Senior Attorney Phillip R. Dupre, Environmental Defense Section; and Trial Attorney Joan M. Pepin, Appellate Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The fourth John Marshall Award also in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse, John F. Butler, and Joseph E. DePadilla for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Trial Attorney Teresa Wallbaum of the Organized Crime and Gang Section for the Criminal Division.
The fifth John Marshall Award in the Participation in Litigation category is presented to Deputy Chief Timothy J. Moran; Trial Attorneys Tamica H. Daniel, Tanya I. Kirwan, and Lauren M. Marks; Paralegal Chiquita Robertson; Equal Opportunity Specialist Ayanna A. Brown, Housing and Civil Enforcement, Civil Rights Division; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Fagan and Ron Gallegos; and Paralegal Jessica Rogers for the Western District of Oklahoma.
The sixth John Marshall Award in the Support of Litigation category is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang, Jonathan S. Keim, and Maya D. Song for the Eastern District of Virginia; Trial Attorneys Louisa K. Marion and Adrienne L. Rose, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section; Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division; and Assistant General Counsel Joanne Pasquarelli, Office of the General Counsel, FBI.
The seventh John Marshall Award also in the Support of Litigation category is presented to Assistant Section Chief S. Jay Govindan; Senior Attorney Robert P. Williams, Wildlife and Marine Resources Section; Assistant Section Chief Stephen G. Bartell; Senior Attorney Thomas K. Snodgrass, Natural Resources Section; Senior Attorney for Legal Issues David W. Harder; and Trial Attorney Daron T. Carreiro, Indian Resources Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The eighth John Marshall Award in the Handling of Appeals category is presented to Assistant to the Solicitor General Morgan L. Ratner of the Office of the Solicitor General.
The ninth John Marshall Award in the Preparation or Handling of Legislation category is presented to Assistant Director Aimee Lee; Supervisory Trial Attorney Tara K. Hogan; Senior Trial Counsels Meen-Geu Oh and Stephen J. Tosini; and Trial Attorneys Kyle S. Beckrich, Joshua E. Kurland, and Ann C. Motto, Commercial Litigation Branch, National Courts Section, Civil Division.
The tenth John Marshall Award also in the Preparation or Handling of Legislation category is presented to Senior Counsel Christina Giffin; Trial Attorneys Danielle L. Hickman, Christian A. Levesque, and Susan Masling, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section; Trial Attorneys Sonja Ralston and Finnuala Kelleher Tessier, Appellate Section, Criminal Division; Counsel Anne Pings, Office of Legislative Affairs; Deputy Solicitor General Eric Feigin, Office of the Solicitor General; and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Laurence Rothenberg, Office of Legal Policy.
The eleventh John Marshall Award in the Asset Forfeiture category is presented to Principal Deputy Chief Daniel H. Claman, International Unit; Trial Attorneys Elizabeth A. Aloi and Michael W. Khoo, Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Section; and Trial Attorney Emily Siedell, Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division.
The twelfth John Marshall Award in the Alternative Dispute Resolution category is presented to Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Morrissey; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shoba Pillay for the Northern District of Illinois.
The thirteenth John Marshall Award in the Interagency Cooperation category is presented to Associate Chief Counsels Laura Akowuah, Tracey Allen, Jennifer Argabright, Josh Davenport, and Jaclyn M. Resly; and Senior Counsels Tara Boland, Sonia Nath, Marci Norton, Laura Pawloski, Shannon Singleton, James Smith, Paige Taylor, and Claudia Zuckerman, Office of the Chief Counsel, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Others for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s AwardsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, 298 Justice Department employees received awards, while 54 non-department individuals are also being honored for their work.
“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”
“This group worked countless hours to ensure that there was accountability for the horrific crimes committed by Reta Mays,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Their tremendous efforts helped to bring some measure of justice for the victims and closure for their families.”
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the department’s second highest award for employee performance. The team that investigated and prosecuted the case against Reta Mays, the serial killer who took the lives of eight veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Clarksburg were one of 15 teams honored with this award. The Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Brandon S. Flower, Victim-Witness Coordinator Christina M. Frizzell of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia; Special Agents Ashley E. Archibald and John D. Large, Pittsburgh Division, FBI; Resident Agent in Charge Colin Davis, and Special Agent Keith Vereb, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Veterans Affairs.
“The defendant’s guilty plea is a testament to the strength of the case developed from a highly complex investigation involving a close partnership between the VA Office of Inspector General, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, and the FBI, with the invaluable assistance of the West Virginia State Police and the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force,” said VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “Their tireless and dedicated efforts resulted in solving this series of heinous crimes against veterans and providing some measure of closure for the victims’ families.”
“I’m extremely proud of the work done by my agents, the VA OIG, and the U.S. Attorney’s office on the Reta Mays investigation,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “I want to thank Attorney General Garland for recognizing this team. The results of this case and the efforts of everyone involved are a testament to the excellent collaboration we have with our law enforcement partners and the US Attorney’s Office. This case demonstrates the value and effectiveness of partnerships to ensure justice for all of the citizens we serve and protect.”
Read more about the case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/former-va-hospital-nursing-assistant-sentenced-seven-consecutive-life-sentences
There are 20 other categories for awards that were given today. For a full list, go to www.justice.gov/news.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Selection of Colette S. Peters as Director of the Federal Bureau of PrisonsRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced that he has selected Colette S. Peters to serve as Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at the Department of Justice.
“The Justice Department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights depends on an effective, safe, and humane correctional system,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Director Peters is uniquely qualified to lead BOP in its efforts to ensure the rehabilitation, health, and safety of incarcerated individuals, a safe and secure work environment for correctional staff, and transparency and accountability across federal detention facilities.”
BOP is one of the largest components of the Department of Justice and the nation's largest correctional agency, with approximately 150,000 federal offenders housed in 122 federal prisons, and 178 community-based facilities worldwide. The Director of BOP is responsible for leading over 36,000 employees in the implementation of BOP's core mission.
Ms. Peters has 30 years of experience in public safety and has been the Director of the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) since 2012. She is the first woman to serve as ODOC Director and is also the Chair of the National Institute of Corrections Advisory Board and a past Vice President of the Association of State Correctional Administrators.
“Colette Peters has a proven track record as a visionary leader in the field of corrections and public safety,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “With her experience and judgment, she is the right leader for BOP and its dual mission of providing both safe detention and meaningful preparation for those in custody reentering society. I look forward to working with her.”
Ms. Peters has demonstrated an ability to lead change by establishing a vision for reform, and using creativity, innovation, external awareness, and strategic thinking to achieve her vision. Under her leadership, ODOC developed the “Oregon Way,” a visionary approach to improving employee health and wellness and reducing the use of segregation for adults in custody to transform environments inside correctional facilities to be more humane and reflective of the outside community.
She began her career in public safety as a Victim Advocate and Crisis Mediator with the Denver Police Department. She was Director of Public Affairs for ODOC from 2004-2006, and the ODOC Assistant Director for Public Services and Inspector General from 2006-2008. From 2009-2012, she was Director of the Oregon Youth Authority, the state agency responsible for providing custody, rehabilitation, and treatment services to youth ages 12-24 who committed crimes prior to their 18th birthday.
Ms. Peters earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the College of St. Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, and her master’s in criminal justice from the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado in Denver.
She will assume her duties on Tuesday, August 2.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric L. Iverson and Anand P. Ramaswamy Receive Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service for Work in Disrupting International Cyber Malware OperationRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, two Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Middle District of North Carolina were awarded the Attorney General’s David Margolis Award, along with multiple law enforcement partners, for the exemplary work targeting the Emotet malware operation. The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award is the department’s highest award for employee performance.
“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, speaking of all the award recipients. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iverson and Ramaswamy were recognized today for their role as part of a multinational operation involving actions in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom disrupting Emotet malware and botnet. According to court documents, Emotet was a family of malware that targets critical industries worldwide, including banking, e-commerce, healthcare, academia, government, and technology. Emotet malware primarily infected victim computers through spam email messages containing malicious attachments or hyperlinks. Emails were designed to appear to come from a legitimate source or someone in the recipient’s contact list. Once it infected a victim computer, Emotet could deliver additional malware to the infected computer, such as ransomware or malware that steals financial credentials.
Emotet operators targeted over 1.6 million computers worldwide between April 1, 2020, and January 17, 2021, including approximately 45,000 located in the United States. Attacks from this software cost millions in losses, including $1.4 million in losses in the Middle District of North Carolina, where the software targeted North Carolina school districts in 2017. Since then, multiple other victims in North Carolina have been the target of this software, causing more damage and financial loss to the citizens of the Middle District. In addition to financial loss, these cyber-attacks disrupted business operations, interfered with government services, and harmed critical infrastructure in multiple countries.
“AUSAs Iverson and Ramaswamy committed countless hours to this case and to protecting the digital security of businesses and private citizens in the Middle District of North Carolina, and beyond. In coordination with our law enforcement partners, they have gone above and beyond to protect the information and privacy of individuals all over the world,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston. “They are extremely well deserving of this award and of the recognition for their service by the Attorney General.”
“The Emotet malware investigation began with a small North Carolina school system and quickly elevated to one of the top cyber threats in the world. Our special agents, computer scientists, and analysts worked tirelessly with local, federal and international partners on this case, and we are honored they are being recognized nationally for their extraordinary work," said Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells of the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
Attorney General Garland recognized Supervisory Special Agent Jessica A. Nye, Special Agents Peter Ahearn, Jr, Blair H. Newman, and John A. Maser, Computer Scientists Lindsey Chiesa and Naomi R. Patrick, Charlotte Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Thomas S. Breeden, Baltimore Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Carrie A. Crot, Cyber Division; Intelligence Analyst Sean A. McDermott, Richmond Division, FBI and; Senior Counsel Ryan Kao Jeung Dickey, Criminal Division along with AUSAs Iverson and Ramaswamy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, the FBI Charlotte Division, and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) conducted the operation in close cooperation with Europol and Eurojust who were an integral part of coordination and messaging, and investigators and prosecutors from several jurisdictions, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, France’s National Police and Judicial Court of Paris, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police and General Public Prosecutor’s Office Frankfurt/Main, Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, Netherlands National Police and National Public Prosecution Office, Swedish Police Authority, National Police of Ukraine and Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) also provided significant assistance. CCIPS Senior Counsel Ryan K.J. Dickey and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Iverson and Anand Ramaswamy of the Middle District of North Carolina led the U.S. efforts.
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Armored Truck Robbery Ringleader Sentenced to 10 Years for Brazen 2019 Broad Daylight Robbery in University CityRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jerry Collins, 42, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh for his role in a broad daylight armed robbery of an armored vehicle containing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash nearly three years ago.
In November 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and related offenses including using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime in connection with the incident. On August 1, 2019, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Collins’ co-defendant, Tyree Holmes, and another individual, both wearing masks and gloves and armed with semi-automatic weapons, exited a Chevy Trailblazer that had parked behind a Garda armored truck near the 3500 block of Market Street as one of two guards removed three black bags containing a total of $434,000 in United States currency. As the robbers approached the guard holding the money bags, they pointed their firearms at the guard and announced a robbery while Collins waited nearby in the driver’s seat of the Chevy Trailblazer. Holmes grabbed the bags of money and attempted to get back into the Chevy Trailblazer when both guards drew their firearms and began shooting at the fleeing robbers. During the ensuing gunfire, Holmes dropped the bags of money and fled on foot while the other robber got into the Trailblazer with Collins and fled the scene. Collins and Holmes were both arrested several months later by the Philadelphia Police Department and charged by federal indictment.
“This defendant orchestrated an armed robbery of an armored vehicle in the middle of the day in a busy section of downtown Philadelphia, putting the lives of the guards and many bystanders at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Mr. Collins will now spend years behind bars for this serious and violent offense.”
“This daylight armed heist by Collins and his buddies was as brazen as it was foolish,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “The way it all unfolded on that busy block, it's a miracle no one was hurt, or worse, in the gunfire that ensued. I'd like to thank the FBI-PPD Violent Crimes Task Force for their great work on this case. We and our law enforcement partners are fighting day in and day out to get violent criminals off the street and make Philly safer for all.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney José Arteaga.
Armed Duo Is Sentenced to Prison for Convenience Store RobberyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced to prison two men for the 2020 armed robbery of a convenience store in Charlotte, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Brandon Antoine Martin, 24, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 132 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Rodrick Lovette Tillman, 29, also of Charlotte, was sentenced to 114 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
In February and March 2022, Tillman and Martin each pleaded guilty to robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, or Hobbs Act Robbery, and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on October 6, 2020, Tillman and Martin robbed the Xpress Mart convenience store located at 2700 N. Tryon Street in Charlotte. Court records show that Tillman entered the convenience store first pretending to be a customer. After picking up two items, Tillman approached the cash register as if to pay for them. While Tillman was at the counter, Martin entered the store. Martin walked up to the counter, pulled out a black semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, leaned over the counter and pointed the gun at the store clerk. According to court records, shortly after Martin pointed his gun at the victim, Tillman also pulled out a black semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at the victim. Tillman then walked around the counter and held the gun to the victim’s head and chest area while Martin remained across the counter, holding the gun to the victim’s torso. The victim opened the cash drawer and removed the cash. At least one of the gunmen then told the victim to move toward a cabinet/shelf to get more cash. The victim complied and Tillman accompanied him. The two robbers fled the scene with $400 in cash.
Following the robbery of the convenience store, Tillman and Martin were involved in a shooting incident at another location in Charlotte, during which Martin sustained a gunshot injury. Martin was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for his injury. While investigating the shooting incident, law enforcement recovered three loaded firearms from Martin’s vehicle, two of which Martin and Tillman had used during the convenience store robbery.
Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Martin is affiliated with the Bloods street gang. Law enforcement also determined that after the three firearms were seized from Martin’s vehicle following the robbery, Martin attempted to acquire another firearm by offering to trade cash and drugs.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Allen Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that an Allen, South Dakota, man convicted of Enticement of a Minor and Sexual Abuse of a Minor was sentenced on July 6, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
On the charge of Enticement of a Minor, Stacey Garnette, a/k/a Stacy Garnette, age 44, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. As to the charge of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Garnette was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The prison sentences are to be served concurrently.
Garnette was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2019. He pleaded guilty on January 3, 2022.
The conviction stems from Garnette, while employed at Red Cloud Indian School as a bus driver/mechanic, having an intimate relationship with a 14 year old female. Garnette used a cellular telephone to send messages to the juvenile female to induce her to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Garnette was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
11 July 2022
Wilson Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wilson man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On April 7, 2022, Cody Allen Driver, 32, pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on January 14, 2021, officers with the Wilson Police Department received information that Driver was in possession of two firearms and methamphetamine at his residence in Wilson, North Carolina. Officers traveled to Driver’s residence and observed Driver outside his residence with a firearm in a holster on his waist. Officers took Driver into custody and secured the .22 caliber pistol from his waist. Officers then conducted a search of Driver’s residence and recovered a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, assorted ammunition, a quantity of crystal methamphetamine, and digital scales. At the time, Driver was prohibited from possessing firearms for being a convicted felon.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Wilson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-167-D.
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Wasatch Railroad Contractors and Its Chief Executive Officer Sentenced on Wire Fraud and Knowing Endangerment ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced today that JOHN ELDON RIMMASCH, 47, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and WASATCH RAILROAD CONTRACTORS (“WASATCH”), incorporated in Wyoming in 2005, appeared before Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on July 5, 2022, for sentencing after a federal jury found them guilty on five counts of wire fraud and one count of knowing endangerment for knowingly exposing employees to asbestos and placing them in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.
Headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Wasatch also operated a facility in Shoshoni, Wyoming. The company performed repair and restoration on freight cars and its Wasatch Railroad Contractors division purported to specialize in restoring historic railroad equipment. John Eldon Rimmasch is the founder and owner of Wasatch and served as its Chief Executive Officer.
This case arose after Wasatch and its owner, Rimmasch, entered a contract to restore a historic railcar owned by the National Park Service. Wasatch failed to complete the restoration, and in the process, Rimmasch knowingly placed 30 of his employees in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury by exposing them to asbestos without proper safety measures. Through directives of its owner, Rimmasch, Wasatch invoiced the National Park Service certifying that it performed the asbestos abatement pursuant to the contract, knowing full well it had not.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Johnson found that John Rimmasch attempted to obstruct justice by presenting a fraudulent exhibit at the jury trial and abused his position of trust during the commission of the crimes. Rimmasch was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 30 months and three years of supervised release on each count to run concurrently. Rimmasch was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,428 and a special assessment of $600. Wasatch Railroad Contractors, now defunct, was ordered to pay a special assessment of $2,400.00.
“Our office will vigorously prosecute those who commit environmental crimes or engage in fraud against the government,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vassallo. “We appreciate the excellent investigative work performed in this case by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of the Inspector General and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.”
“The Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General will continue to aggressively root out attempts to defraud the U.S. government and taxpayers,” said Jamie DePaepe, Special Agent in Charge, Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General's Western Region. "We hope today’s sentencing will serve as a deterrent to others contemplating stealing federal funds for their own personal gain, as well as to those who would knowingly risk the lives and health of others in furtherance of their fraudulent scheme.”
The crimes were investigated by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher and Special Assistant United States Attorney Richard Baird prosecuted the case.
Case N0. 21-cr-00138-ABJ
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Addresses Latin American Judges at Justice Department’s Judicial Studies InstituteRead the Press Release
Today at the Judicial Studies Institute (JSI) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor addressed virtually 24 judges from Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and Panama as part of a Department of Justice (DOJ) training program for Western Hemisphere judiciaries. Justice Sotomayor stressed the importance of their contributions to the rule of law in the Western Hemisphere and lauded them for their roles in transforming Latin American justice.
With the support of Justice Sotomayor, and in partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Justice Department’s Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT) launched JSI in 2012 as a response to the wave of justice sector reforms in Latin America, during which many countries transitioned from inquisitorial to adversarial systems of justice. Through Spanish instruction, practical exercises, and observations of courtroom proceedings, participating judges learned about evidentiary guidelines, the role of judges, courtroom management in an adversarial justice system, human smuggling, and judging without gender, among other important topics.
This capacity building is critical to the region, as there are significant differences between the two systems. For example, in an inquisitorial system, judges investigate charges and determine guilt through written deliberations behind closed doors. In an adversarial system, the judge acts as an impartial referee responsible for weighing evidence and guaranteeing the rights of both the victim and the accused in an open courtroom setting. JSI offers judicial counterparts the opportunity to learn practical skills, encouraging JSI alumni to become agents of change within their judiciaries. Many DOJ-trained JSI alumni been able to go on to serve as force multipliers in the region, imparting their training within their own judiciary and for future OPDAT programs.
Since establishing JSI in 2012, OPDAT and its partners at the University of Puerto Rico and Inter-American University law schools, the Puerto Rico State Judiciary, and the U.S. Federal Judiciary have trained over 1,000 Latin American judges. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of this important and sustainable project.
Please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-opdat for more information about OPDAT’s capacity-building efforts around the world.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan appointed to serve on Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the appointment of U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan of the Northern District of Georgia to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department of Justice policies. Buchanan, along with 12 other U.S. Attorneys from around the United States, will serve on the AGAC.
“These U.S. Attorneys will represent the views of dedicated federal prosecutors across the country and provide advice and insight into essential matters facing the Department,” said Attorney General Garland. “I look forward to working alongside them in carrying out the Department’s core priorities of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights.”
“It’s a great honor to be selected for the AGAC,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Attorney General and the leadership of the Department of Justice on issues affecting the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney Office community, and our federal, state, and local stakeholders.”
The Senate confirmed Buchanan’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia in April 2022. U.S. Attorney Buchanan began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Inge P. Johnson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. From 2006 to 2009, he was a litigation associate at McGuireWoods. From 2010 to 2013, Buchanan served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Alabama. He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia in 2013 and has held the positions of National Security and Anti-Terrorism Council Coordinator since 2017 and Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime and National Security Section since 2018. Buchanan received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2005 and his B.S. from Samford University in 2001.
The AGAC appointees include U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York (Chair); U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Vice Chair); U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee for the District of Maine; U.S. Attorney Trini Ross for the Western District of New York; U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina; U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana; U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris for the Central District of Illinois; U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota; U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona; U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado; and U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves Welcomes 600 Youths to 12th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence” SummitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations welcomed more than 600 youths at the 12th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence Youth Summit,” held on July 8 at Catholic University and streamed virtually.
The event focused on a variety of subjects, including gun violence prevention, human trafficking, teen dating violence, opioid awareness, and mental health, The summit also featured a speed networking session for youth to connect with mentors in various professions. The summit was comprised of dynamic speakers, entertainment, and information and resources.
Since the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted its first Youth Summit in 2011, thousands have participated in the activities. The event is a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime.
This year’s partners included Black and Missing Foundation Incorporated, D.C. Prevention Centers, East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), the D.C. Department of Employment Services Summer Youth Employment Program, the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute, the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health, Phil More Fit Fitness, Drug Free World, the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project, The TraRon Center, the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the FBI.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks all of those who participated and looks forward to many future events on behalf of youths in the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace to Lead Attorney General's Subcommittee on White Collar CrimeRead the Press Release
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, has been selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace will play a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, tax fraud, securities and commodities fraud, and identity theft.
“I am honored that Attorney General Garland and my colleagues on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee have chosen me to lead the White Collar Fraud subcommittee,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The Attorney General has made clear that the vigorous and fair enforcement of corporate criminal policies is a department priority. The subcommittee, which includes many of my outstanding U.S. Attorney colleagues from around the country, will thoughtfully advise on issues of significance in this area in furtherance of the department’s mission to protect investors, consumers, employees, corporations and the integrity of financial markets from sophisticated wrongdoers. I look forward to serving in this important role.”
The AGAC was established nearly 50 years ago to give United States Attorneys a voice in department policies and to advise the Attorney General of the United States.
U.S. Attorney Announces Results of Multi-Faceted Strategy to Combat Fraud Related to COVID-19Read the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved to date by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19. Those efforts have included complementary actions by the Criminal, Asset Recovery, and Civil Divisions, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
“Throughout the pandemic, my office and our law-enforcement partners have used all available methods to combat fraud related to COVID-19, and we will continue to do so,” stated U.S. Attorney Handberg. “After the United States instituted multiple programs to financially assist those most harmed by the pandemic, criminals sought to defraud those programs for personal enrichment at the expense of the taxpayers who funded these programs. We will continue to disrupt these fraud schemes, prosecute those who commit crimes, and return ill-gotten gains through our efforts.”
On the criminal-enforcement front, the United States Attorney’s Office and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies joined together in March 2020 to form the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the Task Force has prosecuted 34 defendants for fraud schemes designed to exploit federal programs created or expanded to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”), Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), and the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”). These defendants collectively sought to defraud the United States of over $39 million. Twenty-five of those defendants have already been found guilty, while prosecution remains pending against nine defendants. (See chart for criminal case details.)
For example, Keaujay Hornsby, a/k/a “Plug,” (26, Tampa); Kareem Spann, a/k/a “Reem,” (27, Tampa); and Tywon Spann, a/k/a “Weez” (25, Tampa) pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy related to numerous violent, drug trafficking, and COVID-19 related frauds that were committed in furtherance of a criminal enterprise called “Robles Park.” Hornsby and Kareem Spann have also pleaded guilty to committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering and discharging firearms in aid of crimes of violence. Eriaus Bentley (29, Tampa) and the three other defendants have each also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit fraud and identity theft, and committing numerous substantive acts of fraud and identity theft.
“Robles Park” is a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in acts involving murder, assault, intimidation, narcotics trafficking, unemployment insurance fraud, identity theft, obstruction of justice, and other crimes.
In another matter, Alexander Leszczynski (22, North Redington Beach) has been charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering; he is pending trial on those charges. Leszczynski used fictitious charitable entities, such as Love & Bliss, Inc., to engage in numerous frauds. The schemes included fraudulently applying for and receiving two PPP loans, engaging in a check kiting scheme, and attempting to deposit $2.7 million of worthless checks into the Love & Bliss, Inc. business account. The United States ultimately seized the PPP proceeds from an account Leszczynski controlled. In a separate fraud scheme, Leszczynski filed fraudulent warranty deeds purporting to deed himself and his businesses 10 properties around the United States collectively valued at more than $300 million.
In addition to the work of the Criminal Division, the District’s Asset Recovery Division and federal seizing agencies have completed the forfeiture of more than $14 million of PPP, EIDL, and UI funds that were fraudulently obtained, depriving the fraudsters of their ill-gotten gains and recovering the proceeds for the victims. The District’s Civil Division has similarly combatted fraud related to COVID-19 through its enforcement efforts.
The Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Through the PPP, the federal government authorized over $600 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The EIDL program provides economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The MSLP provided support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI programs provided unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own.
The criminal cases identified in the linked chart have been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Small Business Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida.
The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Middle District of Florida COVID Fraud Cases
Charged Cases
Defendant(s) (Age)
Charge(s)
Max. Imprisonment
Type of Fraud*
Intended Loss Amount
Tampa Division
Richard Simpkins (47)
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
PPP
$1.9M
Joseph Abdo (39)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
PPP
$500k
Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria (33)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
EIDL
$150k
Steve Moodie (33)
Melinda Hernandez (33)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
UI
$550k
Alexander Leszczynski (22)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
PPP
$200k
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Candace Rich, Diego Novaes, and Jennifer Peresie
Orlando Division
Don Cisternino (46)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal Monetary Transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Aggravated Identity Theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
PPP
$7.2M
Emmet Bowens (53)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
PPP
$740k
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt and Amanda Daniels
Fort Myers Division
Daniel Joseph Tisone (34)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Aggravated Identity Theft
Maximum Prison Term: 2 Years Consecutive
Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
PPP/EIDL/MSLP
$2.6M
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Trent Reichling and Shannon Laurie
Ocala Division
Levelle Harris (36)
Wire Fraud (14 counts)
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
PPP
$1.2M
This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk
Adjudicated Cases
Tampa Division
Rolanda Wingfield (39)
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
UI
$135k
Keith Nicoletta (49)
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
PPP
$1.9M
Randy Jones (34)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
EIDL/UI
$250k
Rosenide Venant (37)
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
EIDL/PPP
$413k
Julio Lugo (45)
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
EIDL/PPP
$4.4M
Keaujay Hornsby (26)
Racketeering conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
UI
$3M
Kareem Spann (27)
Racketeering conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
UI
$3M
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones and Tiffany Fields
Orlando Division
Daniel Johnson (34)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive
Unlawful transfer of firearm
Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years
UI
$2.3M
This COVID Fraud case from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSA Emily Chang
Fort Myers Division
Anthony Bruey (36)
Amber Bruey (35)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
PPP/EIDL
$881k
Edrica Leann Watson (30)
False statement to a lending institution
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Year
PPP
$392k
Liliana Gonzalez (31)
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
PPP
$169k
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Trent Reichling and Jesus M. Casas
Sentenced Cases
Tampa Division
Louis Thornton, III (63)
Wire Fraud
Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison
EIDL/PPP
$815k
Kary Stevenson (48)
Corey Quinn (35)
Conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft
Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10 months in federal prison (Stevenson)
Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal prison (Quinn)
UI
$1M
Bridgitte Keim (52)
Bank fraud
Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison
PPP
$588k
Wayne Ganaway (47)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison
EIDL
$300k
Eriaius Bentley (29)
Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud
Sentence Imposed: One year in federal prison
UI
$3M
Tywon Spann (25)
Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud
Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9 months in federal prison
UI
$3M
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, and SAUSA Chris Poor
Orlando Division
Jacquavius Smith (21)
Possession of short-barreled rifle; felon in possession of firearm; and aggravated identity theft
Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month in federal prison
PPP
$10k
Johnson Eustache (40)
Wire fraud
Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison
EIDL/PPP
$2.2M
Joseph Harrison (43)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Sentence Imposed: 12 months in federal prison
UI
$2.1M
Tomas Ziupsnys (39)
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; aggravated identity theft
Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison
PPP
$2M
Holly Urban (36)
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Sentence Imposed: 30 months in federal prison
PPP
$1.5M
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella, Amanda Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, and Jennifer Harrington
Fort Myers Division
Casey Crowther (36)
Bank fraud, false statement to a financial institution, illegal monetary transaction
Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month in federal prison
PPP
$2.7M
This COVID Fraud case from the Fort Myers Division was handled by AUSA Trent Reichling
Types of Fraud*
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Main Street Lending Program (MSLP)
U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition of Brazilian Citizen from Paraguay for Participation in Money Laundering and Unlicensed Money Transmitting SchemesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KASSEM HIJAZI, a citizen of Brazil, was extradited to the United States from Paraguay on July 8, 2022. HIJAZI was extradited on charges of money laundering and operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business, for his involvement in a cross-border money laundering operation.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Kassem Hijazi agreed to launder the proceeds of narcotics trafficking, and for years operated an illegal money transmitting business, the proceeds of which were further laundered into and out of the United States. Thanks to the continued efforts and coordination with our law enforcement counterparts in Paraguay, Hijazi, a Brazilian national, has now been extradited to the U.S. to face the consequences of his crimes.”
HIJAZI was arrested on August 24, 2021, in Paraguay. He was presented and arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment[1]:
Between 2018 and October 2020, KASSEM HIJAZI orchestrated a money laundering operation and operated an unlicensed money transmission business. Specifically, in December 2019 and between October and December 2020, HIJAZI laundered funds that he believed were proceeds derived from narcotics trafficking. Between 2018 and 2020, HIJAZI operated an unlicensed money transmission business that included sending funds from overseas into and out of the United States, including into the Southern District of New York. HIJAZI, using his illegal money transmission business, further laundered funds related to that business into and out of the United States in support of his crimes.
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HIJAZI, 49, is charged with two counts of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; two counts of international money laundering, each of which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; and operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
U.S. Attorney Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. He also thanked law enforcement partners in Paraguay, particularly the Public Ministry’s Attorney General’s Office and the National Anti-Drug Secretariat. Finally, he thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service, for their support and assistance in the defendant’s extradition.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Mortazavi is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] The charges in the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Three Members of International Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Convicted in Manhattan Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the convictions last week of MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, and ALEXANDRU RADULESCU for their participation in an international conspiracy to commit a variety of offenses, including access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, following a seven-day trial before the Honorable Sidney H. Stein.
United States Attorney Damian Williams said: “As the jury recognized, these defendants participated in a prolific ATM skimming and money laundering ring that spanned years and continents. They caused staggering losses by, among other things, stealing account numbers and personal identification numbers of their victims using sophisticated technology. Because of yesterday’s verdict, they will no longer be able to ‘cash out’ on others’ identities.”
As proven at trial:
MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, and ALEXANDRU RADULESCU were members of an international “ATM skimming” and money laundering organization (the “Skimming Organization”). From approximately 2014 to 2019, the Skimming Organization made millions of dollars by installing sophisticated machinery on ATMs and point-of-sale machines, capturing unsuspecting bank customers’ card numbers and PINs, reencoding that information on counterfeit cards, and then “cashing out” those cards to withdraw as much money as they could.
The Skimming Organization sent crews of “install” and “cash out” workers to travel throughout the country, carrying out numerous skimming operations at various banks and on point-of-sale machines. The operations often lasted a period of days. After cashing out, the teams would take a cut of the money earned and provide the rest to the Skimming Organization’s leaders.
LIMBERATOS and RADULESCU were leaders of the Skimming Organization, who ran teams of “install” and “cash out” workers, oversaw the manufacture and repair of skimming devices, cased ideal locations, organized skimming jobs, and made millions of dollars as a result. LIMBERATOS also participated in laundering the proceeds of the skimming jobs, including through a restaurant business he owned. CONSTANTINESCU helped to send and receive packages containing skimming and skimming-related equipment, worked with an engineer who fashioned skimming devices, and laundered money for the Skimming Organization from the United States to Romania.
CONSTANTINESCU, LIMBERATOS, and RADULESCU were among 33 defendants charged in connection with this case.
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CONSTANTINESCU, 48, of Queens, New York, was convicted of one count of conspiring to commit access device fraud, one count of conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiring to commit money laundering. Those counts carry a maximum potential sentence of 59 years and six months in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years of in prison.
LIMBERATOS, 56, of Deer Park, New York, was convicted of one count of aggravated identity theft. Shortly before trial, LIMBERATOS pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit access device fraud, one count of conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud, and one count of conspiring to commit money laundering. Those counts together carry a maximum potential sentence of 59 years and six months of in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.
RADULESCU, 36, of Romania, was convicted of one count of aggravated identity theft. Shortly before trial, RADULESCU pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit access device fraud, one count of conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud, and one count of access device fraud. Those counts together carry a maximum potential sentence of 54 years and six months in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
All three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Stein on October 13, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. (CONSTANTINESCU), 3:00 p.m. (LIMBERATOS), and 3:30 p.m. (RADULESCU).
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Hanft, Samuel P. Rothschild, Maggie Lynaugh, and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution.
Three Former Hawaii Correctional Officers Convicted of Civil Rights Violations for Assaulting an Inmate and Attempting to Cover it UpRead the Press Release
On July 8, after a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted three former correctional officers at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center — Jason Tagaloa, 31, Craig Pinkney, 38, and Jonathan Taum, 50 — for assaulting an inmate in violation of his civil rights and for obstructing justice in attempting to cover up the violation. A fourth officer, Jordan DeMattos, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the assault and cover up, and testified for the government at trial. After the jury’s verdict, Judge Leslie Kobayashi ordered the U.S. Marshals to take the defendants into custody pending their sentencing hearings.
The evidence at trial established that the defendants assaulted the inmate in the prison’s recreation yard. Over the course of two minutes, the defendants punched and kicked the inmate in the head and body while he was lying face-down in a pool of his own blood. The inmate suffered a broken nose, jaw and eye socket. After the beating, the defendants wrote false reports in which they omitted almost all of the force they had used. When the prison opened an investigation, the defendants met to get their stories straight and brainstorm false excuses they would give for having used force. Ultimately, the Hawaii Department of Public Safety fired all four officers.
“These defendants abused the trust given to them as law enforcement officers when they violently assaulted an inmate and lied to cover it up,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will prosecute corrections officials who violently assault inmates inside our jails and prisons, and abuse their official positions to cover-up their crimes. We are committed to using our civil rights laws to ensure that the rights of all individuals, including those in custody, are fully protected.”
“This prosecution and verdict affirm our office’s commitment to ensuring every person’s civil rights are protected under the law,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii. “We will continue to enforce those rights the Constitution and other federal laws provide.”
“The FBI will always investigate when a person's civil rights are violated,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “As correctional officers, they were held to upholding the standards of law enforcement officers within the state prisons and they did not do so in this case. The FBI will vigorously pursue justice for those whose civil rights were violated.”
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for the deprivation-of-rights offense, 20 years of imprisonment for the false report offenses and five years of imprisonment for the conspiracy offense.
The FBI conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan of the District of Hawaii, and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Three Former Hawaii Correctional Officers Convicted of Civil Rights Violations for Assaulting an Inmate and Attempting to Cover it UpRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On July 8, after a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted three former correctional officers at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center — Jason Tagaloa, 31, Craig Pinkney, 38, and Jonathan Taum, 50 — for assaulting an inmate in violation of his civil rights and for obstructing justice in attempting to cover up the violation. A fourth officer, Jordan DeMattos, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the assault and cover up, and testified for the government at trial. After the jury’s verdict, Judge Leslie Kobayashi ordered the U.S. Marshals to take the defendants into custody pending their sentencing hearings.
The evidence at trial established that the defendants assaulted the inmate in the prison’s recreation yard. Over the course of two minutes, the defendants punched and kicked the inmate in the head and body while he was lying face-down in a pool of his own blood. The inmate suffered a broken nose, jaw and eye socket. After the beating, the defendants wrote false reports in which they omitted almost all of the force they had used. When the prison opened an investigation, the defendants met to get their stories straight and brainstorm false excuses they would give for having used force. Ultimately, the Hawaii Department of Public Safety fired all four officers.
“These defendants abused the trust given to them as law enforcement officers when they violently assaulted an inmate and lied to cover it up,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will prosecute corrections officials who violently assault inmates inside our jails and prisons, and abuse their official positions to cover-up their crimes. We are committed to using our civil rights laws to ensure that the rights of all individuals, including those in custody, are fully protected.”
“This prosecution and verdict affirm our office’s commitment to ensuring every person’s civil rights are protected under the law,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii. “We will continue to enforce those rights the Constitution and other federal laws provide.”
“The FBI will always investigate when a person's civil rights are violated,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “As correctional officers, they were held to upholding the standards of law enforcement officers within the state prisons and they did not do so in this case. The FBI will vigorously pursue justice for those whose civil rights were violated.”
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for the deprivation-of-rights offense, 20 years of imprisonment for the false report offenses and five years of imprisonment for the conspiracy offense.
The FBI conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan of the District of Hawaii, and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
State Prosecutor Is Sworn-In as Special Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King swore in Annabelle Chambers as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Asheville. Ms. Chambers is a state prosecutor with North Carolina’s 43rd Prosecutorial District which serves the Counties of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, Swain, Haywood and Jackson, under the leadership of District Attorney Ashley Welch.
The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the 43rd Prosecutorial District and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. State and federal authorities share concurrent jurisdiction over certain crimes. Concurrent jurisdiction allows for prosecution in either state or federal court. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office have established this formal partnership to ensure that the appropriate venue for prosecution is selected. The goal of this partnership is to make counties within the jurisdiction of the 43rd Prosecutorial District safer through a coordinated enforcement effort.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King said, “The SAUSA program is an important tool we can use to make communities safer by identifying and prosecuting cases in federal court that result in the greatest local impact. I want to thank District Attorney Welch for her continued support of the program and for her ongoing coordination and cooperation with our office in our shared goal to protect our communities.”
“Cooperation across all levels of government is one of the most effective weapons we have in combatting crime," District Attorney Welch said. “The SAUSA program has proven an amazing tool for vigorous prosecution of criminal activity in the 43rd Prosecutorial District. This program demonstrates how a strong, successful and sustained federal and state partnership can help us safeguard our communities. I thank U.S. Attorney King for her continued support of SAUSA and anticipate additional initiatives involving her office and mine.”
As a dually-sworn state and federal prosecutor, Ms. Chambers will be primarily responsible for criminal cases arising out of the 43rd Prosecutorial District involving the violation of federal criminal statutes. Ms. Chambers will remain on the staff of the District Attorney’s Office but will serve in all respects as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in charge of overseeing the progression of federal cases from the initiation of federal charges to disposition and sentencing. Ms. Chambers will collaborate with state, local and federal agencies to identify and prioritize cases originating in state court for federal indictment. Ms. Chambers will also be responsible for drafting charging documents, search and arrest warrants, complaints, motions and responses, presenting matters before the grand jury, representing the United States before all federal courts in the Western District of North Carolina, and other such duties necessary for the successful prosecution of these cases.
Prior to joining the District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Chambers was an Associate with Asheville Legal, Wimer Snider, P.C. Before that, Ms. Chambers was an Assistant State Attorney with Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit in Brevard County, where she prosecuted felony cases in Circuit Court. Ms. Chambers received her law degree from Stetson University College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee.
Spencerport Man Who Attempted to Have Sex with A Minor Going to Prison for 10 YearsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dale Trimmer, 47, of Spencerport, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that beginning in December 2020, Trimmer used a chat application to attempt to communicate with minors online, including a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Trimmer was repeatedly informed that the child was only 13 and lived with her mother. Despite this, he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the child, told her that he wanted to have sex with her, and attempted to solicit sexually explicit photographs. At one point, Trimmer attempted to conduct a live video chat with the child and sent the child a sexually explicit video of himself. Trimmer also sent the child photographs of gifts that he bought for the child. As the conversations continued, Trimmer discussed meeting the child for sex as well as plans for how they could carry on a sexual relationship. Trimmer was arrested on February 17, 2021.
During the investigation, investigators learned that in 2006, Trimmer was convicted in New York State Court of Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors and sentenced to serve six months in the Monroe County Jail followed by five years’ probation. Trimmer subsequently violated the terms of probation and was re-sentenced to serve one to three years in prison. In that case, Trimmer also used an online chat application to engage in sexually explicit online conversations with a person he believed was a 14-year-old female but was actually an undercover Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigator. During those chats, Trimmer told the undercover investigator that he previously had sex with at least two minors in the past, and that he wanted to meet the minor for sex. The defendant was arrested after attempting to meet the minor in person.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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Sells Man Sentenced to 25 Months for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Thursday, Kyle Devan Cachora, 28, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 25 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Cachora previously pleaded guilty to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon.
On July 2, 2020, Cachora, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, stabbed a Tohono O’odham woman. The offense occurred on the Tohono O’odham Nation in San Xavier, Arizona.
The FBI and Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances M. Kreamer Hope, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00956-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-113_CachoraReality Show Cast Member Pleads Guilty to Running Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that earlier today, JENNIFER SHAH pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jennifer Shah was a key participant in a nationwide scheme that targeted elderly, vulnerable victims. These victims were sold false promises of financial security but instead Shah and her co-conspirators defrauded them out of their savings and left them with nothing to show for it. This Office is committed to rooting out these schemes whatever form they take.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment, and statements made during the plea and other proceedings in the case:
From 2012 until March 2021, JENNIFER SHAH, together with others (collectively, the “Participants”) carried out a wide-ranging telemarketing scheme that defrauded hundreds of victims (the “Victims”) throughout the United States, many of whom were over age 55, by selling those Victims so-called “business services” in connection with the Victims’ purported online businesses (the “Business Opportunity Scheme”).
In order to perpetrate the Business Opportunity Scheme, Participants, including SHAH, engaged in a widespread, coordinated effort to traffic in lists of potential victims, or “leads,” many of whom had previously made an initial investment to create an online business with other Participants in the Scheme.
SHAH, among other things, sold leads to other Participants for use by their telemarketing sales floors with the knowledge that the individuals they had identified as “leads” would be defrauded by the other Participants, including by lying to Victims about how much they would earn after purchasing the business services and the purported success of others who had purchased the services. SHAH received as profit a share of the fraudulent revenue per the terms of their agreement with those Participants. SHAH often controlled each aspect of the frauds perpetrated by other Participants on the individuals they had identified by, among other things, determining which “coaching” sales floor could buy leads from them, selecting the downstream sales floors to which the “coaching” sales floor was permitted to pass the leads, choosing the firms to provide “fulfillment” services, that is, documents and records purporting to demonstrate that the services the Participants claimed to provide to those Victims were actual and legitimate, setting how much the downstream sales floors could charge, and determining which “products” each of the downstream sales floors could sell.
In approximately 2017, SHAH began operating a Manhattan-based sales floor that sold downstream “business opportunity” products to victims on lead lists provided by the defendant as part of the Business Opportunity Scheme (the “Manhattan Sales Floor”). Between 2018 and 2020, SHAH controlled the day-to-day operations of the Manhattan Sales Floor. Among other things, SHAH, with other Participants, moved certain operations for the Manhattan Sales Floor to Kosovo to avoid law enforcement and regulatory scrutiny. The salespeople at the Manhattan Sales Floor engaged in the same fraudulent sales practices as other telemarketing floors in the Business Opportunity Scheme: namely, lying to and misleading Victims into purchasing “business opportunity” products to ostensibly advance their non-existent online businesses.
SHAH undertook significant efforts to conceal her role in the Business Opportunity Scheme. For example, SHAH, among other things, incorporated her business entities using third parties’ names and instructed other Participants to do the same, used and directed others to use encrypted messaging applications to communicate with other Participants, and made numerous cash withdrawals structured to avoid currency transaction reporting requirements.
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SHAH, 48, of Park City, Utah, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing through which she victimized 10 or more persons over the age of 55, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. As part of her guilty plea, SHAH also agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and to pay restitution up to $9.5 million.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as SHAH’s sentence will be determined by the judge.
SHAH is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein on November 28, 2022.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI’s El Dorado Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher, Benet J. Kearney, Robert B. Sobelman, and Sheb Swett are in charge of the prosecution.
If you believe you have been a victim of the scheme described above, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact Wendy Olsen-Clancy, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at 866-874-8900 or [email protected].