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16 June 2022
Armed Pitt County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More than 17 YearsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Alterick Wallisima Boyd of Winterville, NC, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack).
On February 16, 2021, Boyd entered a plea of guilty to the charges.
“Working with law enforcement at every level to stop the trafficking of dangerous and illegal drugs in our communities is a top priority for this office,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant, and his co-conspirators, will now be spending significant time behind bars rather than peddling significant quantities of drugs on the streets.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the investigation began in October 2018 when agents of the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force (GRDTF) in Greenville, North Carolina, received information that Boyd obtained narcotics from a source in Atlanta and was distributing large quantities of cocaine and heroin in Pitt County, North Carolina. Boyd would often hide his drugs in a concealed area, or “trap”, in his vehicle.
Agents determined that Boyd would bring 4–5 kilograms of cocaine and 1–2 kilograms of heroin per trip from Atlanta to North Carolina. The investigation showed that Boyd was working with several co-conspirators, including Michael Aaron Cartwright and Antoinette Charmane Becton.
On January 2, 2019, agents saw Boyd meeting with Cartwright. Agents conducted a traffic stop of Cartwright and seized 1.3 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment in the rear passenger floorboard.
The same day, Boyd was arrested and found in possession of cocaine and a stolen handgun. Agents then searched Boyd’s residence and seized $32,840, a .22 caliber handgun, ammunition, and approximately one kilogram of heroin.
Investigators also searched a trailer used by Boyd. They seized 1.5 kilograms of heroin and 99 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl.
From October 2019 until February 2020, agents also conducted controlled purchases of cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and 1.2 kilograms of 100% pure crystal methamphetamine from Boyd and Antoinette Becton.
Boyd, Becton, and Cartwright were charged by federal indictment on February 19, 2020. Boyd’s co-defendants have previously been sentenced:
- Michael Aaron Cartwright): 81 months imprisonment; and
- Antoinette Charmane Becton, a/k/a “Charmane Cox”): 166 months imprisonment; $222,461 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Greenville Regional Drug Task Force (GRDTF), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. 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. 4:20-CR-0016-M.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 272 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man was sentenced to 272 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, law enforcement received information from a confidential informant that Gregory Lynn McCoy, 60, was in possession of a handgun and illegal narcotics. On October 22, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of McCoy’s residence and nearby vehicle. McCoy was inside the residence at the time. Upon his arrest, McCoy tossed multiple bags of illegal narcotics into a nearby closet. Officers found 20 bags of illegal narcotics and a box of .45 caliber ammunition hidden inside his residence. Officers also found a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a loaded magazine and two additional magazines in the center console of McCoy’s Dodge Durango. The vehicle was registered to McCoy and McCoy’s DNA was found on one of the three magazines.
On November 1, 2021, McCoy was convicted at trial of possessing a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. McCoy was sentenced to 262 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and to an additional 10 months in prison for having committed the crime while on supervised release. Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, McCoy qualified for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. MacLaughlin and Joseph S. Teirab prosecuted the case.
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Alleged Gangster Disciples Members Indicted for Murder, Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging five alleged members of the Gangster Disciples with murder and racketeering related to the alleged murder of three people, as well as various other offenses including drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.
Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka Dolla Phil, 33, of Atlanta; Andrea Paige Browner, aka Light Brite, aka Shawty, 27, of Athens, Georgia; Lesley Chappell Green, aka Grip, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka Different, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia; and Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka Lil L, aka L, aka Lil Bro, aka Lil Larry, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, are each charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Chambers and Browner are additionally charged with Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering-murder (VICAR); the carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and use of a firearm resulting in death.
The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970s, and are now active in at least 25 states. Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are three gang-related murders triggered by the murder of a Gangster Disciple member. After that murder, other Gangster Disciples allegedly sought to identify and retaliate against those responsible for the victim’s death. Chambers allegedly followed Rodriguez Apollo Rucker to his Athens residence where he shot and killed Rucker, who was a relative of a suspect of the first murder.
According to the indictment, after learning that police suspected Chambers of Rucker’s murder, Chambers and Browner fled from Georgia to Texas. In order to cover up this crime, Chambers allegedly ordered that fellow gang members he suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson, be killed. Defendants Green, Guidry and Carlisle allegedly shot and killed Ruff and Jackson and left their bodies in a storage unit in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they were discovered four months later.
Chambers allegedly held a “Position of Authority” with the Gangster Disciples organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement” or “Elimination” team (E-Team); Browner was allegedly a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” or “SOS,” a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciple organization; Green allegedly was a member of the E-Team; Carlisle was a member of the GD organization; and Guidry allegedly held a “Position of Authority” as the “Assistant Literature Coordinator.”
These cases are 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.
The case is being investigated by FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alleged Gangster Disciples Members Indicted for Murder, Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Georgia returned an indictment yesterday charging five alleged members of the Gangster Disciples with murder and racketeering related to the alleged murder of three people, as well as various other offenses including drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.
Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka Dolla Phil, 33, of Atlanta; Andrea Paige Browner, aka Light Brite, aka Shawty, 27, of Athens, Georgia; Lesley Chappell Green, aka Grip, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka Different, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia; and Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka Lil L, aka L, aka Lil Bro, aka Lil Larry, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, are each charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Chambers and Browner are additionally charged with murder in aid of racketeering; the carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and use of a firearm resulting in death.
The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970s, and are now active in at least 25 states. Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are three gang-related murders triggered by the murder of a Gangster Disciple member. After that murder, other Gangster Disciples allegedly sought to identify and retaliate against those responsible for the victim’s death. Chambers allegedly followed Rodriguez Apollo Rucker to his Athens residence where he shot and killed Rucker.
According to the indictment, after learning that police suspected Chambers of Rucker’s murder, Chambers and Browner fled from Georgia to Texas. In order to cover up this crime, Chambers allegedly ordered that fellow gang members he suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson, be killed. Defendants Green, Guidry and Carlisle allegedly shot and killed Ruff and Jackson and left their bodies in a storage unit in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they were discovered four months later.
Chambers allegedly held a “Position of Authority” with the Gangster Disciples organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement” or “Elimination” team (E-Team); Browner was allegedly a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” or “SOS,” a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciple organization; Green allegedly was a member of the E-Team; Carlisle was a member of the GD organization; and Guidry allegedly held a “Position of Authority” as the “Assistant Literature Coordinator.”
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia.
These cases are 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Aliquippa Felon Sentenced to More Than a Dozen Years in Prison for Dealing Drugs and Brandishing a GunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Dana Penney was sentenced to 188 months in prison for (1) conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substances in 2017 and 2018; (2) possessing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl with intent to distribute on June 19, 2018; and (3) brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on July 18, 2018, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Penney, age 40, of Aliquippa, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Penney was on federal supervised release in 2017 and 2018 as a result of a prior federal drug trafficking conviction. Judge Ranjan sentenced Penney to a concurrent term of 12 months in prison for the supervised release violations that corresponded with the convictions mentioned above. Judge Ranjan ordered that the prison sentences be followed by six years of supervised release.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
39 Defendants Indicted in $4.7 Million Meth, Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Twenty Mexican nationals are among 39 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22 kilograms of heroin over the past two years.
“This operation took a significant amount of illegal drugs off the street, and disrupted a large Mexican drug-trafficking organization in the Kansas City metropolitan area,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “State, local, and federal law enforcement agencies worked together in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation to bring drug traffickers to justice and protect our community from the violence and other harms that result from the flow of illegal drugs.”
On June 8, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led an operation that involved 140 officers and agents from 14 state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. The takedown resulted in the arrests of 31 defendants charged in the indictment as well as three additional felony state arrests. Three of the federal defendants were already in custody at the time of the takedown and five of the federal defendants remain fugitives from justice.
On the day of the takedown, officers executed 16 search warrants and seized 84.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, 10.4 kilograms of fentanyl, 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, 10.5 kilograms of marijuana, 687 Xanax pills, 3.1 kilograms of unknown pills, a quantity of bulk cash, five firearms, a 3D printer with manufactured ghost gun parts, and a liquid methamphetamine conversion lab.
“This indictment represents HSI and our law enforcement partners’ dedication to removing deadly narcotics from our community,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City area of responsibility Katherine Greer. “We stand alongside our community leaders, stakeholders and the public, to continue our work toward a safer community without the significant dangers associated with these illegal substances.”
The 91-count indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 1, 2022. The indictment was unsealed and made public following the arrests and initial court appearances of the defendants.
The federal indictment charges Jose Jesus Sanchez-Mendez, also known as “Michoacano,” 41, Jesus Morales-Garcia, also known as “Don Jesus,” 43, Luis Eduardo Pineda-Zarao, 26, Juan Bernardo Galeana-Aguilar, 45, Baltazar Flores-Norzagaray, also known as “Sinaloa,” 50, Rafael Perez-Esquivel, 51, Jose Eliazar Valle-Rivera, 39, Uziel Morales-Baltazar, 31, Erick Fernando Martinez Contreras, also known as “Alex,” 34, Joel Enrique Roman, also known as “Pelon,” 44, Miguel Angel Juarez-Lopez, also known as “Chapo,” 47, Jonathan Zuniga-Villafuerte, 30, Sergio Armando Valencia-Ochoa, 36, Juan Humberto Lemus-Mejia, 24, Yuliana Del Carmen Perez Ciprian, 38, Trinidad Torres-Meza, 41, Miriam Veronica Bustos-Martinez, 37, and Liliana Valencia-Mendoza, 40, addresses unknown and all citizens of Mexico; Flor Gonzalez-Celestine, 52, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo.; and Jose Bernabe Zamora-Cardenas, also known as “Mufa,” 52, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Kan.
The federal indictment also charges Tina Marie Cruces, 36, Lisbet Espino, 24, Frank Anthony Valdivia, 43, Melissa A. Bates, 55, and Monica L. McCubbin, 39, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Santiago Raul Mendieta-Sanchez, 41, a citizen of Honduras residing in Kansas City, Mo., Jennifer S. Lawson, 35, of Buckner, Mo.; Felton Stone Jr., 45, Donald R. Moses, also known as “Moe,” 51, Felipe Antonio Alcala, 30, Anthony C. Hughes, 37, Maria Nancy Valdez, 32, Ignacio Barragan-Vazquez, 32, Yvonne Guzman-Carpio, also known as “Morena,” 39, Kongmhink Her, 41, addresses unknown; Marco Antonio Salazar, also known as “Tono,” 29, and Nelson Alirio Garcia-Guerra, 28, both citizens of Guatemala, addresses unknown; Arantxa Sabrina Valderrama-Barros, also known as “Sabri,” 25, a citizen of Venezuela, address unknown; and Daniel Felipe Suarez-Reinoso, 30, a citizen of Colombia, address unknown.
All of the defendants are charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin from Feb. 28, 2020, to June 1, 2022.
In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Sanchez-Mendez, Zamora-Cardenas, Valencia-Ochoa, Valencia-Mendoza and Suarez-Reinoso are charged with participating in a money-laundering conspiracy related to transporting or transferring the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy to Mexico.
Sanchez-Mendez and Morales-Garcia are also charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise related to the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies and other offenses alleged in the indictment. The indictment alleges Sanchez-Mendez and Morales-Garcia occupied a position of organizer, supervisor, or manager of the ongoing criminal enterprise, from which they obtained substantial income.
The federal indictment charges various defendants in various counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl, distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine and heroin with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, money laundering, reentry by an illegal alien, and using cell phones to facilitate drug-trafficking crimes.
The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations that would require the defendants to forfeit to the government $4,718,700, which represents the proceeds of the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy and criminal enterprise. The indictment alleges the conspiracy involved the distribution of more than 335.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, with an average street price of $300 per ounce, and more than 22.1 kilograms of heroin, with an average street price of $1,500 per ounce.
The forfeiture allegations would also require the defendants to forfeit to the government $277,440 that was seized by law enforcement officers from a vehicle driven by Suarez-Reinoso and $51,445 that was seized by law enforcement officers while executing two search warrants at Kansas City, Mo., residences.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black, Patrick C. Edwards, and Mary Kate Butterfield. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Olmsted County, Minn., Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a sign
15 June 2022
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, the Department of Justice reaffirms its commitment to elder justice while joining the world in commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
Elder abuse takes many forms, including financial exploitation (abuse and fraud), caregiver neglect, and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.[1] Annually, at least 15% of older adults experience some form of elder abuse, affecting 15 to 20 million older Americans. While the staggering number of older Americans affected by elder abuse is stunning, it is the consequences associated with elder abuse that demand our attention. Victims of elder abuse experience devastating financial losses, compromised health, injury, institutionalization, hospitalization, and even early mortality to name a few.
Attorney General Merit Garland stated “The Department has a strong elder justice history that I continue to fully support. We all know an older family member or friend who has been the victim of financial fraud, either domestically or internationally, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how financial loss impacts older adults. Some older adults cut down on their prescription medications harming their health or they are unable to pay their rent and may have to move into senior subsidized housing, impacting their sense of independence. That is why the Department has devoted significant personnel and resources specifically to combat financial fraud committed against older Americans.”
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta commented “Our guiding legislation in the elder justice arena is the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA). While financial fraud is a high priority for the Department, it is important to recognize that the EAPPA instructs the Department to take a much broader stance to include elder abuse in all its forms, whether occurring in domestic or long-term care settings. Therefore, the Department continues to invest heavily in elder justice by developing tools and training to enable federal, state, and local elder justice professionals to respond vigorously yet compassionately when elder abuse occurs. Older Americans deserve to age with dignity and the Department’s commitment to elder justice contributes to this goal.”
“We will continue our efforts to protect senior citizens along with state and federal agencies who comprise our district’s Elder Justice Task Force,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Consumers are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target everyday citizens- especially when the elderly are the victims of rip-offs. Every day, people receive offers that sound just too good to be true; some come through the mail, others by telephone or the Internet. These offers have one objective – to rob you of your belongings. Prevent becoming a victim by saying “No”, ignoring the scammers, and reporting them to the authorities.”
The Department’s Elder Justice Highlights
Across the country, Department personnel and our law enforcement partners are diligently pursuing fraudsters who swindle money from older adults, whether they live with the older adult or on the other side of the globe. When older adults experience victimization, the Department responds with the full force of the federal government. For example, the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force is a federal-state collaborative body that investigates and prosecutes individuals and organizations engaged in foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect older Americans. The Money Mule Initiative involves federal, state and local law enforcement agencies specifically identifying and addressing money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes that impact older Americans. The National Nursing Home Initiative coordinates and enhances civil and criminal pursuit of nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents. The Elder Fraud Initiative within the Consumer Protection Branch is the Department’s leader in prosecuting elder fraud crimes, while Elder Justice Coordinators serving in each of the US Attorney’s Offices actively pursue elder fraud in their respective jurisdictions.
Key to the Department’s efforts to prevent and investigate elder fraud are reports from financial institutions collected by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). Today, FinCEN is releasing an Advisory on Elder Financial Exploitation, highlighting fraud typologies that impact older adults.
For every enforcement action taken, there is one (and often many) older victims whose future is forever altered. To assist older victims in recovering from crime victimization, the Department provides Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to states for crime victim services programming, with a significant portion of those funds assisting older victims. At the federal level, Victim Specialists serve alongside Elder Justice Coordinators in facilitating services for older victims. The Department enthusiastically promotes collaborations of all types and for the first time released a $3.75 million solicitation to develop statewide elder justice coalitions (June 27, 2022, deadline), through the Office for Victims of Crime, in which elder justice professionals collaborate to collectively identify and address state-level gaps in services to older victims. Importantly, the Department trains elder justice professionals to embrace a victim-centered response when interacting with older victims. For example, funding provided by the Office for Victims of Crime resulted in Responding to Transnational Elder Fraud - A Victim-Centered Approach for Law Enforcement, a training provided by the National White Collar Crime Center. These and other efforts support victim recovery and well-being.
The Department stands at the ready to intervene when fraud and abuse occur, assisting victims and holding offenders accountable. However, the Department recognizes that public awareness is our best defense and therefore extensively invests and engages in public outreach. In addition to enforcement efforts, Elder Justice Coordinators across the country engage in public outreach activities.
There are things we can all do to promote public awareness. Join us this WEAAD in sharing with your friends and family our Community Outreach Flyers containing information on elder abuse and where to report. The former FBI Director Webster warns Americans to be vigilant about elder fraud. Educate yourself about Transnational Elder Fraud Schemes and listen to the voices of older fraud victims in the video, Financial Scams -- Deceit and Devastation, so you “know fraud when you see it”. On WEAAD, and throughout the year, we can all work to find solutions to stop elder abuse.
These few examples demonstrate how collectively the Department is daily striving to promote justice and safety for older Americans through enforcement actions, victim services, elder justice training and resources, and public awareness. To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice website.
Report
To report financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm eastern time. English/Español/Other languages available.
To report elder abuse, contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by calling the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm eastern time.
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[1] What is Elder Abuse (Elder Justice Website); Overview of Elder Abuse (NIJ)
Woodbine, Iowa Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Woodbine man, Curtis Lee Jensen, age 47, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to twelve years in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography.
In January of 2021, a cyber tip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a KIK Messenger account. The email address was traced to Jensen and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Jensen’s email and KIK account. The investigation revealed that Jensen received and distributed child pornography using his KIK account.
Jensen was sentenced to 144 months in prison. He must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources about internet safety, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Venezuelans Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine on Board a Vessel Subject to U.s. JurisdictionRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Henry Gonzalez Noriega, 47, and Francisco Rodriguez Infante, 28, both of Venezuela, pleaded guilty today before District Court Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on the evening of September 25, 2019, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Donald Horsley intercepted a suspicious 55-foot vessel named La Gran Tormenta displaying Venezuelan nationality indicia approximately 38 nautical miles south of St. Croix. Occupants of the La Gran Tormenta failed to respond to USCG’s efforts to engage in questioning of the crew, and upon detection, the La Gran Tormenta changed course and began jettisoning packages. Crew members from the USCG Cutter Donald Horsley subsequently retrieved two bales from the water. The two jettisoned bales contained packages with brick-shaped objects which were subsequently laboratory tested and found to contain approximately 49 kilograms of cocaine hydrocholoride.
After requesting and receiving permission to stop the vessel from the Venezuela, the flag state, USCG personnel attempted a right-of-visit boarding which was ineffective because crew on the La Gran Tormenta disregarded the USCG’s instructions. Eventually, USCG personnel obtained control of the La Gran Tormenta through use of an entanglement tactic which stopped the vessel’s engine. A USCG counter-drug boarding team later encountered 11 persons, including the defendants.
The sentencing date for Noriega and Infante is scheduled for October 14, 2022. For their convictions, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney's Office Commits to Justice on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) this June 15thRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, as the Department of Justice recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Michael Easley, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, reaffirms the Eastern District of North Carolina’s commitment to combating elder abuse and financial exploitation. Mr. Easley commented: “Our seniors deserve our best efforts to prosecute those who attempt to capitalize on their vulnerabilities. As the Department of Justice continues to fight elder abuse on the national scale, we are doing justice for elderly victims in North Carolina.”
Examples of our commitment to prosecuting crimes that target and disproportionately impact our elders include the following:
Financial Fraud
On February 3, 2022, Furman Alexander Ford, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for eleven counts of mail fraud, eleven counts of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Ford was a New York Life (NYL) financial advisor who was advising a 72-year-old client who had recently inherited real property valued at $1.3 million.
Ford assisted in the sale of the property and the setting-up of a charitable annuity trust with NYL using the sale proceeds. The victim was his primary client while employed at NYL. As part of Ford’s responsibility as the victim’s financial agent, he drafted and submitted letters of withdrawal from the client’s annuity account to pay for certain expenses. The funds would then be electronically wired to the recipient as directed by the client.
During the investigation however, agents identified twenty separate fraudulent letters of withdrawal drafted by Ford and submitted to NYL headquarters in New York, NY. The letters were all mailed by Ford from his office in Raleigh. The funds requested ranged from $5,000 to $45,000 and totaled over $376,000. The proceeds were then electronically wired by NYL to Ford’s personal checking account. An FBI financial analysis traced the funds to the purchase by Ford of various personal items, including a BMW vehicle, Rolex watches, firearms, child support, and a cruise to the Bahamas. On December 29, 2014, Ford withdrew an additional $1 million from his client’s annuity account. In total, Ford stole over $1.3 million from the elderly victim.
Romance Scams:
On March 17, 2022, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Between 2014 and 2018, Kolaogunbule opened, maintained, and controlled approximately 20 different bank accounts at multiple financial institutions that were used to receive more than $2 million in romance scam proceeds derived from elderly citizens and other victims. Romance scammers exploit victims who are looking for companionship by creating fake profiles on online dating websites that include false personal details, such as the death of a spouse or military service. After creating the illusion of a romantic relationship to gain the victim’s trust, the scammer will typically solicit the victim for money to alleviate some fabricated crisis, such as a medical or business emergency.
More than 60 victims were directed to send money to Kolaogunbule’s accounts, many of which were titled in the names of purported export companies, including DSC Exports and Belmont Integrated Logistics. In fact, these companies were fronts for Kolaogunbule’s money laundering business.
Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who target our seniors to rob them of their life savings.
United States Attorney Waldref Joins Attorney General Garland in Recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, joined United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
“From the Palouse to the Cascades, and from the small towns to the big cities, respect for our elders is a principle we can all live by in the Eastern District of Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Having safe and strong communities means protecting our seniors, who can be among our most vulnerable—and are often the same people who have protected all of us when we have been vulnerable ourselves.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref’s comments dovetailed with the comments of Attorney General Garland. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including by advancing elder justice. Elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in our country, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new wave of exploitative practices targeted at seniors. The Justice Department has worked to expand our capacity to prevent elder abuse, prosecute perpetrators of that abuse, and protect and support elderly survivors.”
The Attorney General also noted several DOJ initiatives designed to protect and enrich the lives of the Nation’s seniors. “Our Elder Justice Initiative coordinates programmatic efforts to prevent and respond to elder abuse, including by developing training and resources for our partners at all levels of government and beyond. Our grantmaking components have also funded the development of coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches to advancing elder justice, including Multidisciplinary Teams. In addition, Elder Justice Coordinators in each of our 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide are working to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, including by supporting our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force, which was launched and is led by the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, brings together attorneys, agents, and analysts from across the federal government to disrupt and prosecute foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref concluded by joining Attorney General Garland’s call for the United States to be a leader in the prevention of elder abuse: “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Department of Justice joins our partners across America and around the world in reaffirming our commitment to preventing and ending elder abuse in all of its forms.”
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Offers Training, Resources to Combat Elder AbuseRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia offers training and resources for its citizens to prevent and respond to elder abuse.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, through the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Elder abuse is a serious crime affecting an estimated one out of ten older Americans annually, although those numbers are likely even higher. Working with our law enforcement and community partners, our office will continue to seek justice for vulnerable citizens through enforcement actions, training and resources, victim services and public awareness.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia has a dedicated Elder Justice Coordinator to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, along with offering opportunities for education and training. Citizen groups and law enforcement agencies interested in learning more about training opportunities can contact Pam Lightsey, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Middle District of Georgia, at [email protected].
To learn more about the Department of Justice’s expanding efforts to protect and support older Americans through the Elder Justice Initiative, including information about grant opportunities to advance elder justice, please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
To report financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm eastern time. English/Español/Other languages available.
To report elder abuse, contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by calling the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm eastern time.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio joins with the Department of Justice and other U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country in recognizing June 15 as Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD provides an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
“Many of us are familiar with instances involving the exploitation of loved ones or our older relatives,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “The Department of Justice and law enforcement in this region are committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including by advancing elder justice initiatives and providing support through grants, training and other resources.”
The Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative coordinates efforts to prevent and respond to elder abuse, including by developing training and resources for partners at all levels of government and beyond. Grantmaking components have funded the development of coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches to advancing elder justice, including Multi-disciplinary Teams.
Elder Justice Coordinators in each of the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide work to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, including by supporting the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force, which was launched and is led by the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, brings together attorneys, agents, and analysts from across the federal government to disrupt and prosecute foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors.
In addition, the Department of Justice continues to expand the capacity to protect and support survivors of elder abuse. This includes a training and technical assistance program to develop and expand statewide Elder Justice Coalitions and an Abuse in Later Life Program, which supports organizations dedicated to assisting older individuals and advancing comprehensive, multi-disciplinary solutions to elder abuse.
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116.
Monday – Friday 9:00 am - 8:0 pm EST.
To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833–FRAUD–11 or 1-833–372–8311.
Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by Reconfirming Commitment to Combatting Senior FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Today marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee is concerned for Maine’s senior generation. Elder abuse can take many forms, including financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, and physical, sexual or psychological abuse. Annually, 15-20 million older Americans face some form of elder abuse.
“The impact on victims of elder abuse can be devastating,” U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee said. “At the federal level, the cases we most often see involve senior scams, and instances are becoming far too prevalent. Last year alone, 475 senior Maine residents were scammed out of more than $2.5 million while nationally the losses were a staggering $1.7 billion.”
Across the country, Department of Justice personnel and its law enforcement partners are pursuing fraudsters who swindle money from older adults. For example:
- Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force is a federal-state collaborative body that investigates and prosecutes individuals and organizations engaged in foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect older Americans.
- Money Mule Initiative involves federal, state and local law enforcement agencies specifically identifying and addressing money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes that impact older Americans.
- The National Nursing Home Initiative coordinates and enhances civil and criminal pursuit of nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
- Elder Fraud Initiative within the Consumer Protection Branch is the Department’s leader in prosecuting elder fraud crimes.
- Elder Justice Coordinators serving in each of the U.S. Attorney’s Offices actively pursue elder fraud in their respective jurisdictions.
“The Department has a strong elder justice history that I continue to fully support,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “We all know an older family member or friend who has been the victim of financial fraud, either domestically or internationally, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how financial loss impacts older adults. The Department has devoted significant personnel and resources specifically to combat financial fraud committed against older Americans.”
Report Elder Abuse: Victims of elder abuse are often hesitant to report it. While the Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting cases of elder abuse, raising public awareness of scams and encouraging the reporting cases of abuse are vital to combatting the epidemic.
- To report financial fraud: contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311.
- To report elder abuse in Maine: call 1-800-624-8404 (24-hour, toll free) or Maine Relay 711 to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
“Maine seniors deserve to feel safe and secure without the concern of predators lurking, whether online or in person,” McElwee said. “We all must play a role in protecting our elder generation by being aware, vigilant and reporting suspected or attempted abuse.”
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U.S. Attorney Charges Nurse Practitioner in $10.5 Million Disability Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Terry Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Eastern Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (“ED-OIG”), announced today the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging CATHERINE SEEMER with wire fraud, federal financial aid fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme that resulted in the fraudulent discharge of over $10.5 million worth of student loans on the basis of falsified medical certifications of permanent disabilities. SEEMER was arrested this morning and will be presented before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program is designed to help ease the financial burden of those who suffer from permanent physical or mental disabilities, including military veterans who endure service-related disabilities, by relieving them of their student loan obligations. As alleged, the defendant defrauded this program for her own benefit. She stole the identities of more than a dozen medical doctors and falsified the disabilities of more than 100 borrowers in order to profit from the multi-year scheme, which resulted in the fraudulent discharge of over $10.5 million in loans. This Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigilantly protect the integrity of critical programs that exist to help those who are most in need.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, Ms. Seemer fraudulently orchestrated the discharge of student loans in excess of $10 million on behalf of more than 100 borrowers she led to believe were eligible for various forms of student-loan relief. She ultimately reaped more than $1 million in ill-gotten gains by charging borrowers fees in exchange for her “services.” The action we have taken today is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to protecting government programs from fraudsters who seek to undermine them for their own selfish purposes.”
ED-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Terry Harris said: “Tracking down those who cheat the Federal student aid programs is a priority of our office. The OIG is committed to fighting student aid fraud in all its forms and we will continue to pursue anyone who participates in these types of crimes.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court:[1]
From June 2017 through March 2022, SEEMER orchestrated a scheme to cause the fraudulent discharge of millions of dollars’ worth of student loans for borrowers who did not qualify for relief under the federal Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program and its private analogue. As part of the scheme, SEEMER deceived over 100 borrowers into believing they qualified for various forms of student loan relief and charged them fees—often between 10% and 20% of the loan amount—to facilitate their loan discharge process. She then used the personal identifying information of the unsuspecting borrowers to submit fraudulent applications for student loan discharge on the basis of non-existent permanent physical and mental disabilities. In support of these applications, SEEMER used the stolen identities, medical license numbers, and forged signatures of over a dozen medical doctors to falsify medical diagnoses and disability certifications. The scheme resulted in the wrongful discharge of over approximately $10.5 million in loans under the disability-based relief programs. It is estimated that SEEMER earned at least approximately $1 million as a result of the scheme.
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CATHERINE SEEMER, 42, of Elmsford, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of federal financial aid fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive 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 defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. Mr. Williams noted that the investigation is ongoing.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Qais Ghafary is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace Highlights Support and Resources for Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
In observation of this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, celebrated annually on June 15th, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York highlighted available resources to increase awareness of, and prevent, various scams against seniors including brochures, flyers, and targeted presentations.
“By disseminating materials and having Assistant U.S. Attorneys provide presentations to the Eastern District community, we hope to ensure our valued senior citizens have the tools they need to protect themselves against scams,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “The Office is proud to be part of the Elder Fraud Strike Force and will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that our senior communities are protected, and those that wish to harm them are brought to justice. We encourage all to reach out for more information.”
U.S. Attorney Peace thanked the Federal Trade Commission for its help in creating some of the materials and investigating alleged acts of elder fraud.
Some common scams targeting the elderly include:
- Family imposter scams, where someone calls pretending to be the victim’s relative (often a grandchild) and claiming to need money;
- Government imposter scams, such as callers impersonating the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration and demanding payment for fictitious tax liabilities or compromised personal information connected to alleged criminal activity;
- Tech support scams, where scammers request remote access to victim computers and then demand money to fix various bogus computer problems; and
- Romance scams conducted through online dating websites. Often the scammers request payment via gift card, making it easier for them to remain anonymous.
Increasing awareness of common types of scams among potential victims helps to increase their vigilance and makes them less likely to fall prey to these schemes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has made available various materials to help increase awareness about, and prevent, frauds targeted at seniors. These include:
- Presentations by Assistant U.S. Attorneys about ways to protect yourself and your community against scams. To request a presentation please email [email protected]
- Brochure about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Strike Force, with details about how to submit a complaint if you were a victim of a scam, where to find additional information, and an overview of common scams and red flags – and how to protect yourself against them.
- Flyers about gift-card scams in English and Spanish created with the Federal Trade Commission.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the U.S Attorney’s Office. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10% of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, victim services, and public awareness.
The United States Department of Justice seeks to prevent and prosecute elder abuse and fraud through the Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates enforcement efforts Department-wide. In June 2019, the Attorney General announced the establishment of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Eastern District of New York was one of six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to be selected to be a part of this joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other organizations. The Strike Force focuses on investigating and prosecuting individuals and entities associated with foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect American seniors. These include telemarketing, mass-mailing, and tech-support fraud schemes.
In March 2022, the Office formed the Consumer Protection Team within the Office’s Civil Division to protect the health, safety, economic security, and dignity of individuals in the Eastern District of New York and nationwide, including our most vulnerable residents – older adults and children. Click here to see more recent news regarding the Office’s Elder Justice initiative.
To request a presentation or other materials, please email [email protected]
For more information on the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311).
All FTC information is in the public domain, and free to share. Visit FTC’s Pass It On to download or order free materials, including articles, presentations that you can deliver, bookmarks, and activity sheets in English and Spanish.
The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Two New Mexico men sentenced for Rio Arriba drug trafficking, money laundering conspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that José Mendoza and Ryan Rodriguez were sentenced for their parts in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
A grand jury indicted the defendants on Feb. 25, 2020. According to their plea agreements and other court records, from June 22, 2018, through Feb. 25, 2020, José Mendoza, 34, of Medanales, New Mexico, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, 37, conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Rodriguez, 29, of Chamita, New Mexico, would obtain cocaine from José Mendoza, convert it to cocaine base, then sell it to others in the Española Valley. From Oct. 7, 2019, to Jan. 8, 2020, Rodriguez sold and arranged to sell cocaine and cocaine base to an undercover agent.
Natalie Mendoza kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. Natalie and José Mendoza deposited the proceeds from illegal drug transactions into checking, savings, and loan accounts at various financial institutions to conceal the source of the money. Deposits were often split to avoid amounts that would trigger reporting requirements. The couple also made large payments towards loans or mortgages, including loans for vehicles purchased under other names. José Mendoza admitted to using false income statements to qualify for loans.
José and Natalie Mendoza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On June 7, José Mendoza was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Sentencing for Natalie Mendoza has been continued to a date to be determined.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, five counts of using a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking offenses, one count of distributing cocaine base, four counts of distribution of 28 grams and more of cocaine base, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 280 grams and more of cocaine base. Rodriguez was sentenced on June 10 to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
In addition to their prison terms, the co-defendants in the case also forfeited numerous vehicles, multiple firearms and $24,893.69 in U.S. currency.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office investigated this case with assistance from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force, which includes members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Taos Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Nelson, Peter Eicker and Steve Kotz prosecuted the case.
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Two Men Sentenced for the Unlawful Taking of a Golden EagleRead the Press Release
BOISE – Two Treasure Valley men, were sentenced for the unlawful taking of a golden eagle without permission.
According to court records, Colten R. Ferdinand, 20, of Boise, Idaho, and Wyatt G. Noe, 23, of Eagle, Idaho, were each charged by Information with one count of unlawful taking a golden eagle without permission and one count of unlawful taking a migratory bird of prey without permission. On April 10, 2021, they entered the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and shot and killed a golden eagle and shot and killed five red-tailed hawks. Both Ferdinand and Wyatt pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful taking of a golden eagle on March 24, 2022.
United States Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale sentenced Ferdinand and Wyatt to two years of probation and 15 hours of community service related to wildlife conservation. Further, Judge Dale ordered a two-year hunting ban and a two-year ban from possessing firearms. Noe was ordered to forfeit his rifle, pistol and ammunition; and was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the Idaho Fish and Game Department. Ferdinand was ordered to forfeit his rifle, ammunition, and two Streamlight flashlights and was ordered to pay $3,800 in restitution to the Idaho Fish and Game Department.
The Idaho Fish and Game Department, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management Office of Law Enforcement and Security, participated in a joint investigation that began in March of 2021, after law enforcement was notified of multiple birds of prey, to include red tail, ferruginous, and rough-legged hawks, and golden eagles, found dead under the power line that paralleled the Big Baja Road in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. All of those hawks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and golden eagles are protected under the Bald Eagle Act of 1940.
As part of the investigation, officers interviewed a Boise State Graduate Research Assistant regarding the raptor shootings. The research assistant stated there was a history of raptors being killed in that area. On March 13 and 14, 2021, the research assistant reported that several dead raptors were located in the conservation area. All of the raptors collected showed evidence of being shot, and two raptors suffered bullet exit wounds. One raptor that survived the shooting was taken to a veterinarian where it was later euthanatized. On March 20, 2021, nine additional dead raptors were located, along with ammunition casings.
Law enforcement was conducting surveillance in the area on April 10, 2021, and observed Ferdinand and Wyatt driving along Big Baja Road with powerful hand-held lights and watched as they shot at raptors. When approached by law enforcement, both Ferdinand and Noe admitted to shooting at the raptors. A search of the area discovered a freshly killed golden eagle and five freshly killed red-tailed hawks, to include one juvenile hawk.
“The wonton killing of migratory birds, including the majestic golden eagle and the red-tailed hawk is senseless,” said U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. “We take our mission to support fish and game laws very seriously, as do our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement and land management. The slaughter of migratory birds will not be tolerated,” he concluded.
“These defendants knowingly shot and killed migratory birds and a golden eagle, which are protected under state and federal laws,” said Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement. “We thank the U.S. Department of Justice, the Idaho Fish and Game Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for their work on this investigation.”
U.S. Attorney Gonzalez made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Fish and Game Department, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management Office of Law Enforcement and Security, which led to charges.
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Two California Men Found Guilty of Federal Crimes for Participating in Massive International Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two California men were found guilty by a jury today of federal criminal charges for participating in an extensive, long-lasting, multimillion-dollar conspiracy – much of it committed by Nigerian nationals – that perpetrated a wide variety of frauds, including business email compromise (BEC) fraud, romance scams, elder fraud and fraud using malware.
George Ugochukwu Egwumba, 47, of Cypress, and Princewell Arinze Duru, 33, of Sacramento, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Egwumba was found guilty of one count of aggravated identity theft. Duru was found guilty of one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.
According to evidence presented at their seven-day trial, members of the conspiracy – many of whom were based in Nigeria – used middlemen to connect with their fellow co-conspirators located in the United States. The U.S.-based middlemen assisted in receiving and laundering the proceeds of the frauds either through U.S. bank accounts, money transmitting services such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or cryptocurrency.
In exchange, the middlemen and those who assisted with the laundering of illicit proceeds received a percentage of the fraudulently obtained funds.
At the center of the conspiracy were Valentine Iro, 33, of Carson, Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 41, of Gardena – both Nigerian citizens – and Chuks Eroha, 41, who is believed to have fled to Nigeria in 2017, shortly after the FBI executed a search warrant in this case. This trio of middlemen connected the fraudsters with the money launderers, sometimes with other middlemen in between, and often used the same bank accounts for laundering funds. Iro and Igbokwe have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in this case.
Egwumba acted as another middleman, receiving bank account information from Iro and Eroha to pass to other fraudsters, and also worked to commit fraud himself by using malware and other cybercrime tools. Egwumba exchanged text messages with Iro and Eroha, in which he asked for and received bank account information that could be used to receive stolen money.
LokiBot and NanoCore remote access trojan malware and other cybercrime tools were found on Egwumba’s computers, along with messages in which he discussed using these tools to attempt to commit fraud.
Duru helped Igbokwe and others in receiving and laundering the fraudulently obtained money, both by opening fraudulent business bank accounts and using money transmitting services and cryptocurrency wallets.
Duru registered a fraudulent business in Sacramento County and then used that company to open two business bank accounts at different banks. Duru gave the bank account information to Igbokwe so it could be used to receive fraud proceeds. One victim was deceived into depositing approximately $25,600 into one of Duru’s business bank accounts.
The conspiracy involved the laundering of at least $6 million in fraudulently obtained funds and the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million.
United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner scheduled an October 17 hearing for these defendants, at which time both will face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison.
So far, prosecutors have secured 19 guilty pleas in this case. Additional defendants have been arrested in Nigeria, and others are believed to be at large.
The FBI investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) provided substantial assistance during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sue Bai and Victoria Degtyareva of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
The FBI in 2017 issued a report on the rise of BEC schemes, and published a recap of 2018’s Operation WireWire, which was an international effort to disrupt international BEC scams. An FBI public service announcement that warns of the dangers of BEC schemes encourages businesses to “trust but verify.”
Three Charged with Stealing Cash and Cigarettes in Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging STEVEN GALARZA, 24, of Seymour; EFRAIN DELEON, 58, of New Britain; and GILBERTO DELEON, 56, of New Britain, with committing eight robberies of convenience stores and smoke shops across Connecticut earlier this year.
As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, between February 27 and March 22, 2022, Galarza, Efrain Deleon and Gilberto Deleon, using facsimile firearms that are designed to appear similar to real firearms, robbed the following retail locations of cash, cigarettes and other items:
- February 27 – Scott’s Village Mobil Gas Station, 843 Farmington Avenue, Farmington
- March 2 – Mystic Mobil Gas Station, 66 Whitehall Avenue, Mystic
- March 3 – Shell Gas Station, 168 Bridge Street, East Windsor
- March 3 – Food Bag, 960 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Southington
- March 5 – Valero Gas Station, 1 Main Street, Ellington
- March 5 – Sunoco Gas Station, 446 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor
- March 8 – Smoker’s Discount World, 636 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield
- March 16 – Cove Smoke Market, located at 841 Cove Road, Stamford
The indictment charges each of the defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and eight counts of Hobbs Act Robbery. If convicted, Galarza, Efrain Deleon and Gilberto Deleon face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Galarza, Efrain Deleon and Gilberto Deleon were arrested on April 19, 2022, on a federal criminal complaint emanating from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Efrain and Gilberto Deleon are detained and Galarza is released on a $50,000 bond.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and the Farmington, Stonington, East Windsor, Southington, Windsor, Wethersfield and Stamford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan Keefe and Rahul Kale.
Therapist’s ex-wife charged with defrauding Medicaid and stealing patient informationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Katy resident has been indicted for defrauding Medicaid of more than $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Authorities took Kay Le Farmer into custody today. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Dena Hanovice Palermo at 1 p.m.
On June 9, a federal grand jury returned the 22-count indictment which was unsealed upon her arrest today.
According to the charges, Farmer is the former office manager for her ex-husband - a therapist and Medicaid provider. Following their separation, Farmer allegedly used her ex-husband’s provider number to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid for counseling services that were never provided.
From 2013 until 2018, Farmer allegedly submitted or caused the submission of approximately $617,983.86 in claims for psychotherapy services that were not provided. The indictment alleges Farmer was paid approximately $432,924.69 on those claims.
In 2017, Farmer even used her employment at a pediatrician’s office to obtain patient information, according to the allegations. She then allegedly submitted more fraudulent claims to Medicaid under her ex-husband’s provider number.
According to the charges, Medicaid monies were deposited into accounts Farmer controlled.
If convicted, Farmer faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count of health care fraud.
The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado recognizes June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Cole Finegan encourages the citizens of Colorado to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2022, and to remain vigilant on behalf of our older family, friends, and loved ones who are at increased risk of abuse and fraud.
Older persons are at higher risk of exploitation, emotional and physical abuse, neglect, financial frauds, and scams, which can be perpetrated against them by strangers and trusted friends and family alike. In addition to exploiting close relationships, abusers can contact older adults by phone, email, mail, social media, and the internet. Staying connected with older adults, encouraging trust and transparency regarding their relationships and contacts, and reducing social isolation are some of the most powerful tools in our community arsenal for combatting abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
These intentional and negligent acts affect millions of older adults every year, with wide-reaching implications on victims’ physical and emotional health, their finances, and their dignity and sense of trust. Unfortunately, the unprecedented challenges of the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic have only exacerbated vulnerabilities that tend to disproportionally impact older adults.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado remains steadfastly committed to supporting and coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat abuse of our elder citizens. Schemes to defraud these citizens with tactics such as social security and tax imposter scams, tech support scams, lottery scams, and romance scams are priorities the Office continues to investigate and prosecute on an ongoing basis.
Last year, this Office secured a sentence of 108 months in prison and more than $880,000 in restitution against a defendant who targeted an elderly woman in Estes Park, Colorado by way of a lottery scam. His co-defendant is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
The Department of Justice maintains a robust set of resources to educate yourself and your loved ones about these issues at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. You may also report suspected elder fraud by calling the Denver FBI field office at (303) 629-7171.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations in order to raise the public consciousness to these too often underrecognized and underreported violations of human rights.
Texas Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Texas man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms.
Tanner Houghton, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, June 14, to 25 years in federal prison without parole.
On Oct. 14, 2021, Houghton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Co-defendant Brittany Brannan, 35, also from Texas, has pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.
Houghton and Brannan were arrested on Dec. 27, 2020, after attempting to flee from law enforcement officers.
A Stone County, Mo., sheriff’s detective was conducting surveillance at a Branson West, Mo., hotel and saw Houghton and Brannan leave the hotel and drive to a convenience store in Reeds Spring, Mo. A sheriff’s deputy activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop Houghton, who was driving a 2001 Dodge Dakota, but Houghton rapidly sped away through a circle driveway. The driveway, however, was blocked by the detective’s vehicle. Houghton put his car in reverse and struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The officers drew their weapons and ordered Houghton and Brannon to get out of their vehicle.
When officers searched Houghton’s vehicle, they found a loaded Smith and Wesson .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a box of ammunition below the center console. They also found a loaded Amarillo Armory multi-caliber semi-automatic rifle, numerous loaded magazines, and numerous boxes of ammunition inside a duffle bag in the back seat. Officers found another duffle bag in the front passenger floorboard that contained approximately 292 grams of pure methamphetamine, 39.8 grams of heroin, and 128 fentanyl tablets.
According to court documents, Houghton had absconded from parole in Texas with Brannan. They were part of a large drug-trafficking organization, purchasing at least two pounds of methamphetamine twice a month for six months to a year, as well as varying amounts of fentanyl.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Branson West, Mo., Police Department.
Tekamah Man Sentenced to 96 Months on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tanner Joel Leichleiter, 32, of Tekamah, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for being a drug user and addict in possession of 10 firearms, to include an assault rifle. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Leichleiter to 96 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Leichleiter will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Leichleiter previously pleaded guilty to being a drug user in possession of firearms on August 23, 2021.
On April 20, 2020, Leichleiter’s co-defendant, Nora Gilda Guevara-Triana, requested that Leichleiter take her two grandchildren, ages 4 and 7, without car seats or shoes from Tekamah to Kansas to teach their mother a lesson. Leichleiter loaded the children into the vehicle, along with marijuana, a pit bull, and 10 firearms that were scattered throughout the vehicle. Drugs and guns were within reach of the children throughout the interstate trip. An Amber Alert was issued and Leichleiter was located with the children after a farmer in the area recognized Leichleiter and his vehicle from the alert. Guevara-Triana was found guilty by a jury of the kidnapping and previously received a sentence of 100 months in federal prison on February 23, 2022.
At his sentencing hearing, Leichleiter disputed that the circumstances of his firearm possession amounted to child abuse for a sentence enhancement, but the United States District Judge disagreed and found that Leichleiter had “no regard” for the children’s safety and that his case was an extreme example of illegal firearms possession.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tekamah Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff, and Wichita Police Department.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing Underage Girls to Send Him Sexually Explicit ImagesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for persuading or attempting to persuade more than a dozen underage girls to send him sexually explicit images of themselves.
THOMAS VIVIRITO admitted in a plea agreement that in 2018 and 2019 he used Instagram, Snapchat, and text messaging services to persuade or attempt to persuade the minor girls, some of whom were as young as 12 years old, to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Vivirito admitted that in some instances he instructed the victims on what type of sexually explicit conduct should be portrayed in the visual depictions of themselves.
Vivirito, 27, of Oak Brook, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal child pornography charge. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall imposed the sentence Friday after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Naperville, Ill., Police Department, and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“Victim by victim, and message by message, defendant groomed and attempted to groom over a dozen young girls over social media,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Chung and Christine M. O’Neill argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “With each new victim, each sexual message, and each explicit image received or downloaded, defendant robbed young girls of their childhood and wreaked trauma in their lives.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Statement of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today made the following statement in honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including by advancing elder justice. Elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in our country, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new wave of exploitative practices targeted at seniors.
“Over the past 15 months that I have served as Attorney General, the Justice Department has worked to expand our capacity to prevent elder abuse, prosecute perpetrators of that abuse, and protect and support elderly survivors.
“To these ends, our Elder Justice Initiative coordinates programmatic efforts to prevent and respond to elder abuse, including by developing training and resources for our partners at all levels of government and beyond. Our grantmaking components have also funded the development of coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches to advancing elder justice, including Multidisciplinary Teams.
“In addition, Elder Justice Coordinators in each of our 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide are working to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, including by supporting our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force, which was launched and is led by the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, brings together attorneys, agents, and analysts from across the federal government to disrupt and prosecute foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors.
“And we continue to expand our capacity to protect and support survivors of elder abuse. This includes a training and technical assistance program to develop and expand statewide Elder Justice Coalitions and our Abuse in Later Life Program, which supports organizations dedicated to assisting older individuals and advancing comprehensive, multi-disciplinary solutions to elder abuse.
“On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Department of Justice joins our partners across America and around the world in reaffirming our commitment to preventing and ending elder abuse in all of its many forms.”
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
St. Charles man sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison for possessing thousands of images of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a St. Charles man to six and one-half years in prison for possessing thousands of images and hundreds of videos containing child pornography.
Marcus E. Gardner, 48, was also ordered to pay $78,000 in restitution to victims who have been identified by law enforcement in the approximately 11,000 images and 500 videos of child sexual abuse investigators found on Gardner's computer and external hard drives.
Gardner pleaded guilty in March to a charge of possession of child pornography. He admitted being one of the customers of an overseas website that offered child pornography for a fee. Gardner accessed the website 1,132 times between Sept. 2, 2015 and Dec. 3, 2018 and purchased child pornography at least twice, agents with Homeland Security Investigations determined. They also determined that the website had collected the equivalent of at least $19 million in profit from users paying to access and download content.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Charles County man sentenced to seven years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court Judge John A. Ross on Wednesday sentenced a St. Charles County man to seven years in prison for selling methamphetamine.
Adam Lee Jones, 41, pleaded guilty in January to a felony charge of possession with the intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine.
Between May and July of 2020, members of the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a total of five undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Jones. In addition, on July 15, 2020, Jones had approximately one ounce of actual methamphetamine when his car was stopped by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Spearfish Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Spearfish, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft of Government Funds was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Christi Marie Johnson, age 37, was sentenced to five years of probation, $16,594.50 in restitution, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 9, 2021. She pled guilty on March 9, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from incident between on or about June 15, 2017, and May 7, 2018, when Johnson willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, and converted to her own use money from departments and agencies of the United States, namely Title II program benefits payments made to her deceased stepfather, to which Johnson knew she was not entitled. Title II is administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
South Florida Producer of Child Pornography Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal district judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced 23-year-old Keivon McBride to 40 years in prison for recording children as young as 12 engaged in sex acts and posting the videos for sale on the internet.
The children ranged in age from 12 to 17. McBride had sex with some of them in the back seat of his car and at his home. He recorded the illegal sex acts with his cellular telephone and often paid the children “hush money” to keep quiet. McBride sent one child a sex toy. At McBride’s direction, the child sent him a video of herself using the toy. In addition to sharing sexually explicit videos of children on social media messenger applications, McBride labeled some of the videos with QR codes and posted them for sale online.
In March, McBride pled guilty to producing and distributing child pornography.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami announced the sentence that U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II imposed yesterday.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-60095.
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Lyle Walter Iron Horn, age 41, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Iron Horn was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 15, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on February 20, 2021, in McLaughlin, South Dakota, in which Iron Horn assaulted an individual with shod feet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Iron Horn was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Salt Lake City Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Producing and Transporting Child Exploitation MaterialsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Joel Lehi Organista, 29, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two felony counts related to the production and transportation of child pornography. The court ordered the federal prison sentence to run concurrently with a sentence ordered by the State of Utah arising from the same investigation. Organista was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
In the plea agreement, Organista admitted to owning a Dropbox account which was used for downloading between 10 and 150 child exploitation images depicting prepubescent minors. In addition, Organista admitted to using Snapchat to contact minor children and soliciting them to perform sexual acts for him via video chat, including an incident which occurred between Organista and a 13 year-old victim, where the victim performed sexual acts for Organista via video chat.
The case originated in January of 2021, after law enforcement received multiple tips that devices and accounts attributed to Organista were receiving and downloading images containing child pornography. A search warrant was executed at Organista’s residence in June of 2021, and Organista has been in custody since that time.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah Attorney General’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.
Rosebud Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Commission of a Felony Offense Against a Minor While Required to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Alton Bear Heels, age 30, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Bear Heels was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in April 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, when Bear Heels knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years. In addition, at the time of the above-described conduct, Bear Heels was a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by virtue of a conviction under Indian tribal law.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Bear Heels was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Jesse James Leader Charge, age 27, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Leader Charge was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2022.
Leader Charge was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in October 2019. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. Between May 6, 2021, and September 14, 2021, Leader Charge failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Leader Charge was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 21, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Shady Spring residence of Larry Wayne Meadows, 70. Officers found approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, several grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, and a large assortment of prescription pills. Meadows admitted that he possessed these drugs with the intent to distribute them. Meadows further admitted to possessing four firearms that officers also found inside his residence.
Meadows is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit (BRCDVCU).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-99.
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Punxsutawney Man Pleads Guilty to Obscenity Charge in Project Safe Childhood CaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of transporting obscene writing over the internet, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Dominic Runco, age 69, pleaded guilty to one count of Importation or Transportation of Obscene Matters in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 1462 before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about October 28, 2020 to on or about November 25, 2020, Runco knowingly sent obscene writing describing in explicit and graphic detail the sexual abuse of children to other individuals over email and in a chatroom.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 5 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Dominic Runco.
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Admitted to Sexually Abusing Five Minor Victims and Recording the Sexual Abuse over 13 YearsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Garnell Eugene Graves, age 58, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty yesterday to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child in relation to the sexual abuse of five minor victims.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Not only did Graves inflict abuse on generations of victims, molest minor victims, and sexually abuse children for over a decade, but he also threatened to sexually abuse other children if the victims attempted to end the cycle of abuse,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “Our office will continue to obtain justice for child abuse survivors and actively prosecute predators who abuse the most vulnerable among us.”
"Mr. Graves displayed horrific and disturbing behavior victimizing innocent children over and over again," said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to do everything in our power to hold perpetrators accountable and to protect others from harm."
According to his guilty plea, from 2007 to 2020, Graves sexually abused five minors between the ages of 6 and 13 years old. Beginning in 2007, Graves frequently sexually abused Minor Victim 1 and continued to sexually abuse Minor Victim 1 until she was 13 years old. When Minor Victim 1 was approximately 8 and 9 years old, Graves showed Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 1’s friend adult pornography and asked the two children to participate in sex acts like those conducted in the video with him. Over the course of several years, Graves engaged in oral and vaginal sex with Minor Victim 1 and, in some instances, Graves recorded the sexual encounters. At times, Graves showed Minor Victim 1 the videos of the abuse. Graves also often gave Minor Victim 1 gifts, including a smartphone, in exchange for her “forgiveness” and to encourage her not to inform her mother.
Additionally, Graves placed a hidden camera in Minor Victim 1’s bedroom and recorded videos of Minor Victim 1 in various stages of undress. Approximately 10 videos of this conduct were located on Graves’ digital devices.
Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 2 when Minor Victim 2 was 12-years-old. On three occasions, Graves photographed himself sexually abusing Minor Victim 2, who appeared to be sleeping at the time of the abuse. The images were located on Graves’ digital devices.
Similar to his conduct with Minor Victim 1, Graves showed pornography to Minor Victim 3 and Minor Victim 4 on a social media platform and told the victims of his desire to do the same conduct with them.
Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 3 from age 6 through age 13. In at least one instance during an interaction with Minor Victim 3, Graves told Minor Victim 3 that they would get married and have children in the future. Graves also showed Minor Victim 3 pictures of him and Minor Victim 1 engaging in sex acts when Minor Victim 1 was a minor. In order to conceal his conduct and prevent Minor Victim 3 from disclosing Graves’ abuse to others, Graves provided Minor Victim 3 with food, money, and other gifts. After Minor Victim 3 tried to end the abuse, Graves threatened Minor Victim 3 by telling her that if she stopped, he would abuse Minor Victim 5. Graves’ abuse of Minor Victim 3 included oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
On at least 11 instances between 2014 and 2017, Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 3 and produced videos and images of that abuse. The videos and images were located on Graves’ digital devices.
Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 4 when she was between 9 and 10-years old. In 2017, Graves produced ten images Minor Victim 4 laying on a bed with her genitals exposed. The images were located on Graves’ digital devices.
When Minor Victim 5 was approximately 6 or 7 years old, Graves entered the room where she was sleeping and took her to another room. Graves proceeded to sexually abuse Minor Victim 5 by rubbing his genitals on Minor Victim 5’s genitals. After the encounter, Graves instructed Minor Victim 5 not to tell anyone.
In 1991, Graves was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor child in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Additionally, in 1998, Graves was convicted of sexual offense in the third-degree in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Graves faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and maximum of 50 years in federal prison for each of the four counts of sexual exploitation of a child followed up by up to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, and the BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Phoenix Man Sentenced for Lying to Purchase FirearmRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Bobby Lee Seely, Jr., 48, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 80 months in prison. Seely previously pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.
In September 2020, Seely made the false statement when he attempted to purchase a pistol from a federally-licensed firearms store in Arizona. When Seely attempted to purchase the pistol, he stated on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form that he was not prohibited from possessing a firearm. However, Seely was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition because he had previously been convicted of a felony offense as well as a domestic violence misdemeanor.
“Federal law doesn’t just prohibit felons from possessing firearms,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence, including where the victim is a spouse or intimate partner, also preclude gun ownership and possession in America. And for good reason: victims are more vulnerable when their abusers have firearms.”
Following his arrest in this matter, agents searched a storage unit owned by Seely and recovered a privately made firearm or “ghost gun” that was loaded with a high-capacity magazine. Agents also found over 100 rounds of ammunition.
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-0643-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 094_Seely# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Parmelee Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact by Force was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Justis Running Bear, age 23, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Running Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 13, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 14, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on March 28, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, when Running Bear did knowingly engage in sexual contact with the victim by use of force.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Running Bear was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Owner/Manager of Key West Labor Staffing Companies Convicted of Immigration Fraud, Money Laundering and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted a man who operated labor-staffing companies in Florida with conspiracy to harbor non-resident aliens and induce them to remain in the country, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
Mykhaylo Chugay and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in southern Florida, including General Labor Solutions LLC, Liberty Specialty Service LLC, Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC and Tropical City Group LLC, between August 2007 and July 2021. At trial, the government proved that Chugay, through these staffing companies, facilitated the employment of individuals in hotels, bars and restaurants in Key West and other locations, even though the employees were not authorized to work in the United States.
The government also proved that Chugay and his co-conspirators defrauded the IRS out of more than $10 million in Social Security and Medicare taxes that should have been collected and paid over in connection with the employment of these workers. In addition, the government proved Chugay conspired to encourage workers to enter the United States and remain in the country, in violation of immigration laws. The government also proved that Chugay and others sent checks and wires totaling more than $11 million in proceeds from the illegal scheme to conspirators in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Chugay was convicted at trial on all counts. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22 and faces maximum penalties of five years in prison on the tax conspiracy, 10 years in prison for conspiring to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States and 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations provided substantial assistance at trial.
Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty, Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr., and Paralegal Robert Resto of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Clark of the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.
Owner of Lumberton Tax Preparation Business Arrested for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Emmanuel Wesner Jean, owner of Jean Tax Services (JTS), a tax preparation business located in Lumberton, N.C., was arrested today on charges of tax fraud. In the criminal complaint, which was unsealed today, Jean is charged with aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
“Tax fraud is a crime that victimizes all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Working closely with IRS Criminal Investigation, we will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases.”
According to the allegations in the complaint, Jean falsified the federal income tax returns of at least two JTS clients without their knowledge, by claiming false tax information that minimized their tax liabilities and maximized their refund amounts. The clients learned that Jean claimed these credits on their tax returns when they were subsequently audited by the IRS and required to repay the monies they received. The complaint also alleged that Jean falsified a return prepared as part of an undercover investigation by the IRS.
Jean was arrested at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport attempting to board a flight to Haiti. At his initial appearance today, Jean was ordered to be held in custody pending further proceedings. Jean faces a statutory maximum penalty of 36 months in prison if convicted.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa K. Labresh and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:22-MJ-1121-BM.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to 97 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Larry Brye, 30, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court, in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and hydrocodone, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Brye to 97 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Brye will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Between May and August of 2020, law enforcement conducted five controlled buys from Brye in which he collectively sold fentanyl, marijuana, and methamphetamine. On August 19, 2020, officers executed a search warrant at Brye’s Omaha residence and located cocaine, hydrocodone, alprazolam, tramadol, marijuana, heroin, fentanyl mix, and a cutting agent. Officers also located two handguns. Brye was not permitted to possess firearms because of a 2018 federal felony conviction for being a user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Brye also has convictions for theft, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault and battery.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
North Carolina Nail Salon Owner Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Compelling a Victim’s Labor for Almost Two YearsRead the Press Release
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced defendant Thuy Tien Luong, 38, of Charlotte, North Carolina, to 15 years in prison and ordered her to pay $75,000 in restitution to the victim. A federal jury previously convicted the defendant of forced labor on Jan. 8, 2021, following a five-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendant compelled the victim’s labor for almost two years through a variety of coercive means. The defendant physically, emotionally and verbally punished the victim when she disobeyed the defendant or otherwise failed to perform the required labor to the defendant’s satisfaction. As an example, the defendant falsely claimed that the victim owed her a debt of $180,000, made her sign a debt contract, and threatened to go to the police if the victim did not continue to work to pay off the fabricated debt. The defendant beat the victim with nail salon tools, including cuticle clippers, nail files and brooms leaving the victim with scars, bruises and marks. She also threatened to ruin the victim’s reputation with her family by threatening to tell them information that would negatively impact the victim’s relationship with her family. The defendant’s scheme caused the victim to continue working for the defendant until a particularly violent assault led her to report the defendant to the Davidson Police Department.
“This defendant used psychological coercion, debt bondage and violence to break down the will of one of her employees, exploit her vulnerabilities and force her to work long hours under threat of serious harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There continues to be no place for such cruel conduct in our society, and the Department of Justice remains committed to identifying and eliminating human trafficking.”
“Human trafficking is human suffering and it has no place in modern society,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina. “As our nation prepares to commemorate Juneteenth, it’s difficult to grasp that there are still people in our communities subjected to a life of servitude, compelled to work long hours for little or no pay, abused physically and mentally by those who ‘employ’ them. Traffickers who use their victims as commodities, take advantage of their needs and exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Luong’s egregious criminal conduct is a form of human trafficking that not only exploited our nation’s labor laws, but also subjected the victim to unspeakable harm, including physical and mental abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Thankfully, HSI and its law enforcement partners have put an end to Luong’s activity and she is facing appropriately severe consequences. Pursuing human traffickers and protecting their victims remains a top priority of HSI.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney King and Special Agent in Charge Martinez announced today’s sentence. The case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the Davidson Police Department and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani M. Ford of the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit assisted with sentencing and restitution in this matter.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
New York Man Sentenced to Twenty-Four Months’ Imprisonment for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marlon Valoy De La Rosa, age 23, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced on June 8, 2022, to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $19,138.01 in restitution by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on January 4, 2020, at approximately 4:30 AM, Steelton Borough Police observed De La Rosa along with two other individuals tampering with a U.S. Mail blue collection box in the Borough of Steelton, Pennsylvania. One individual, later identified as Enrique Reyes, used what appeared to be a white rope with an object attached to it to “fish” into the mailbox’s opening while a second individual, later identified as Josue Peguero, stood nearby as a lookout. De La Rosa drove the vehicle in which the individuals arrived and left the scene.
Following a traffic stop, the individuals were found to be in possession of numerous debit cards in different names, none of which matched De La Rosa, Reyes, or Peguero. De La Rosa possessed a receipt from a fraudulent ATM transaction using a stolen check and a stolen, washed check belonging to a different individual.
The investigation showed that De La Rosa, Reyes, and Peguero had conducted multiple fraudulent debit card transactions in New York City just prior to traveling to the Harrisburg area and had also recently traveled to the Boston area, where they had gone mail fishing and obtained additional checks from the mail. Their debit card transactions involved the use of stolen, altered checks and debit cards belonging to other people. The investigation further determined that the three had been involved in the stealing of checks and the depositing of these checks in a fraudulent manner for several months leading up to the time of their arrest.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Steelton Borough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.
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New Britain Man Charged with Illegal Gun and Ammunition PossessionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging LUIS JAVIER LOPEZ, 23, of New Britain, with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
The indictment alleges that, on February 26, 2022, Lopez possessed a loaded Taurus G3 9mm pistol and a magazine containing 9mm ammunition.
It is further alleged that Lopez has been previously convicted in state court of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Lopez with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lopez has been detained since his arrest on related state charges by Hartford Police on February 26, 2022.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Angel M. Krull.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Nail Salon Owner Is Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Compelling A Victim's Labor for Almost Two YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Thuy Tien Luong, 38, of Charlotte, North Carolina, to 15 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay $75,000 in restitution to the victim. A federal jury previously convicted the defendant of forced labor on Jan. 8, 2021, following a five-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Luong compelled the victim’s labor for almost two years through a variety of coercive means. The defendant physically, emotionally and verbally punished the victim when she disobeyed the defendant or otherwise failed to perform the required labor to the defendant’s satisfaction. As an example, the defendant falsely claimed that the victim owed her a debt of $180,000, made her sign a debt contract, and threatened to go to the police if the victim did not continue to work to pay off the fabricated debt. The defendant beat the victim with nail salon tools, including cuticle clippers, nail files and brooms leaving the victim with scars, bruises and marks. She also threatened to ruin the victim’s reputation with her family by threatening to tell them information that would negatively impact the victim’s relationship with her family. The defendant’s scheme caused the victim to continue working for the defendant until a particularly violent assault led her to report the defendant to the Davidson Police Department.
“This defendant used psychological coercion, debt bondage and violence to break down the will of one of her employees, exploit her vulnerabilities and force her to work long hours under threat of serious harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There continues to be no place for such cruel conduct in our society, and the Department of Justice remains committed to identifying and eliminating human trafficking.”
“Human trafficking is human suffering and it has no place in modern society,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina. “As our nation prepares to commemorate Juneteenth, it’s difficult to grasp that there are still people in our communities subjected to a life of servitude, compelled to work long hours for little or no pay, abused physically and mentally by those who employ them. Traffickers who use their victims as commodities, take advantage of their needs and exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Luong’s egregious criminal conduct is a form of human trafficking that not only exploited our nation’s labor laws, but also subjected the victim to unspeakable harm, including physical and mental abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Thankfully, HSI and its law enforcement partners have put an end to Luong’s activity and she is facing appropriately severe consequences. Pursuing human traffickers and protecting their victims remains a top priority of HSI.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney King and Special Agent in Charge Martinez announced today’s sentence. The case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the Davidson Police Department and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani M. Ford of the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit assisted with sentencing and restitution in this matter.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
Multiple Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison After All Being Caught in a House with Five GunsRead the Press Release
Three Waterloo men who were found in a house with five guns and another felon were sentenced on June 10, 2022, to federal prison. The fourth man is set to be sentenced next month.
All four individuals, Qunshaundes Davion McNealy, age 27, William McNealy III, age 22, Sahjit Mcyle Phillips, age 23, and William Rashad Burt, age 28, all from Waterloo, Iowa, each pled to being a felon in possession of at least one firearm. Evidence in this case showed that, on July 6, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a search at a residence in Waterloo and located all four individuals along with five guns and evidence of marijuana trafficking.
Qunshaundes Davion McNealy was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. In sentencing Qunshaundes McNealy, the court found he possessed a firearm with an extended magazine, possessed at least three firearms, including a stolen firearm, and that he possessed the firearms in connection with offenses of possessing marijuana with the intent to deliver and carrying weapons. He has multiple prior convictions, including Burglary, Assault Domestic Causing Bodily Injury, Assault Causing Serious Injury, and Harassment.
William McNealy III was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. In sentencing William McNealy, the court found he possessed a firearm with an extended magazine, possessed more than three firearms, including two stolen firearms, and that he possessed the firearms in connection with the offense of carrying weapons. At the time of his arrest, he was on parole for a 2017 conviction for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon from Black Hawk County.
Sahjit Mcyle Phillips was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. In sentencing Phillips, the court found he possessed a firearm with an extended magazine, possessed more than three firearms, including a stolen firearm, and that he possessed the firearms in connection with the offense of carrying weapons. Phillips was on parole for a 2017 conviction for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon from Black Hawk County and was on supervised release on a 2017 federal conviction for Theft of a Firearm from a Licensee. The court revoked Phillips’ term of supervised release in the 2017 federal conviction and imposed an additional term of 10 months’ imprisonment to run consecutively to the new case for a total of 110 months’ months imprisonment.
All three men were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. There is no parole in the federal system.
William Rashad Burt is currently set for sentencing before Judge Williams on July 6, 2022, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
All four men are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 21-cr-2064 and 17-cr-2001.
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McLaughlin Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Theresa White Lightning, a/k/a, Theresa Red Fox, age 37, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
White Lightning was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 8, 2021. She pleaded guilty on December 6, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on May 27, 2020, in McLaughlin in which White Lightning assaulted two Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers while they were performing a lawful arrest.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
White Lightning was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Sentenced for Attempted Robbery of an ATMRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRISHUN GARY, age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced by the Honorable Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. GARY was sentenced to 3 years of probation, 6 months to be served on home confinement and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The defendant was also ordered to pay $39,324 in restitution.
According to court records, on or about February 5, 2020, GARY and others attempted to break into an ATM located in the drive-through of a Capital One Bank using sledgehammers, crowbars, chains, and a truck. Just prior to this robbery attempt, GARY and others were observed in the same truck attempting to break into an ATM at Hancock Whitney Bank.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
Lower Brule Woman Sentenced for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, woman convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Esther Flute, a/k/a, Esther Flute-Rencountre, age 61, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Flute was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. She pled guilty on March 7, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on August 2, 2021, in Lower Brule. Flute used two weapons to cause multiple wounds to the victim in an extended assault, which resulted in the victim’s death.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Flute was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.