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8 June 2022
Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARVIN LLOYD, 51, last residing in Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 87 months of imprisonment for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service into individuals who were receiving shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico and California and distributing the drug in and around Hartford. The investigation revealed that Lloyd coordinated the shipment of numerous parcels containing kilogram-quantities of cocaine, and also parcels containing large quantities of marijuana, from California to addresses in Hartford. When the drug parcels arrived, Jesus Rodriguez, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, delivered them to Lloyd. Rodriguez also distributed cocaine, some of which he received from Lloyd, to his own drug customers, and delivered parcels to other cocaine traffickers in the Hartford area.
Lloyd was arrested on May 21, 2019. On June 4, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Lloyd, Rodriguez and 17 others with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses. Lloyd pleaded guilty on August 18, 2021.
Lloyd, a citizen of Jamaica, has been detained since his arrest and faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
Rodriguez has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Child Predator Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Sexually Explicit Material of a MinorRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – Christopher J. McGee, 45, of Evansville, was sentenced today to twenty-four years in federal prison for production and attempted production of sexually explicit material involving minors.
According to court documents, on July 12, 2021, McGee persuaded a 15-year-old minor female to produce sexually explicit images of herself and send the images to McGee.
On July 15, 2021, McGee communicated with the minor female through Skype text messaging and image transmissions. These communications included discussions about ongoing sexual activity and sending nude images to McGee. A witness picked up McGee’s cell phone and observed a chat session between the minor and McGee in which it was apparent that they were discussing sexual acts they had participated in with each other. The witness confronted the McGee and contacted the Evansville Police Department. McGee left his residence before police arrived and McGee destroyed and discarded his cell phone.
Investigators discovered that McGee had been engaging in sex acts with the minor and that the minor was providing McGee with nude images of herself. The minor’s cell phone was secured and examined by law enforcement officials, which resulted in the recovery of the text messages between the minor and McGee. Throughout the text messages, McGee persuades the minor to take nude photos of herself and send them to him.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Evansville Police Department investigated the case. The Vanderburgh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following McGee’s guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that McGee be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from prison. McGee must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.
In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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
Camden Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Large Amounts of Heroin, Cocaine and CrackRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison for conspiring to distribute large amounts of heroin, cocaine, and crack in the city of Camden, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Paul Salcedo, 31, of Camden, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin as well as quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
A total of 19 defendants were arrested in late 2018 on drug-trafficking charges based on the FBI’s investigation of a drug-trafficking organization that ran the open-air narcotics trade on the 400-500 block of Pine Street in Camden for several months in 2018. The organization included street-level sellers who worked various shifts selling drugs to customers and collecting drug proceeds. These street-level sellers were supervised by shift managers, who in turn were supervised by higher-level “runners” like Salcedo, who supplied the sellers with pre-packaged heroin, some of which was mixed with fentanyl, as well as cocaine and crack cocaine. The runners also collected drug proceeds from the shift managers and provided those proceeds to higher-level members of the conspiracy.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Salcedo to four years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay; the Camden County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief of Police Larry Robb; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.
This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which 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.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U. S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Troy A. Archie Esq., Cinnaminson, New Jersey
California Man Facing Federal Charges in Maryland for Attempted Murder of a United States JudgeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A criminal complaint was filed today charging Nicholas John Roske, age 26, of Simi Valley, California, for federal charges of attempted murder of a Supreme Court Justice. Roske is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt today at 3:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan.
The criminal complaint 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; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and U.S Marshal Johnny Hughes.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on June 8, 2022, at approximately 1:05 a.m., two United States Deputy Marshals saw an individual dressed in black clothing and carrying a backpack and a suitcase, get out of a taxicab that had stopped in front of the residence of a current Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The individual looked at the two Deputy U.S. Marshals, who were standing next to their parked vehicle, and then turned to walk down the street.
Shortly thereafter, Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received a call from Nicholas John Roske, who allegedly informed the call taker that he was having suicidal thoughts and had a firearm in his suitcase. Roske also allegedly stated that he traveled from California to Maryland to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice. Montgomery County Police Department officers were dispatched to the location near the residence where they encountered Roske, who was still on the telephone with the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center. Roske was taken into custody and law enforcement officers seized the backpack and the suitcase that were still in his possession.
As detailed in the affidavit, a search of the seized suitcase and backpack revealed a black tactical chest rig and tactical knife, a pistol with two magazines and ammunition, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crow bar, pistol light, duct tape, hiking boots with padding on the outside of the soles, and other items.
Roske was transported to the Montgomery County Police Department where, after being advised of his constitutional rights, Roske allegedly told detectives that he was upset about the leak of a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
If convicted, Roske faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for attempted murder of a United States Judge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, and its efforts to protect national security, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/anti-terrorism.
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Box Elder Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Fentanyl on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man who admitted to distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl pills on and around the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to twelve and a half years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Michael James Lamere, 39, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in late 2020, investigators received reports that Lamere was obtaining meth and other drugs in Washington and distributing them on and around the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Lamere also used others to wire money to his Washington supplier. In August 2021, law enforcement stopped Lamere, who had an active warrant and was on his way to the reservation. A search warrant was executed on his vehicle and law enforcement seized more than 300 fentanyl pills, meth and heroin. When interviewed, Lamere described picking up pounds of meth every few weeks in Washington and bringing it to Montana to sell for a profit. He also said he had stashed another half-pound of meth in Shelby, on his way to the reservation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force and Hill County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
Biddeford Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Biddeford man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for sexually exploiting a minor and transporting child pornography, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Jason Proulx, 44, to 40 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Proulx pleaded guilty on September 27, 2021.
According to court records, in 2016 or 2017, Proulx recorded sexually explicit videos of a girl who was seven or eight years old at the time. In July 2019, Proulx uploaded the videos to a French website. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at a residence in Biddeford in June 2020. Proulx was present and agreed to speak with investigators. After initially denying any involvement with pornography, he eventually admitted that he had sexually abused the girl and recorded videos of the abuse in a room in the residence.
In discussing the reasons for her sentence, Judge Torresen noted that the videos Proulx created and shared would remain on the internet forever. As a result, she said, the victim and her family would have a “cloud over their heads to the end of their days.” Judge Torresen also noted that Proulx’s crimes were committed against the most vulnerable victims in society.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Biddeford Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
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Batavia Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID FraudRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Danielle Tooley, 37, of Batavia, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that between July 9 and December 4, 2020, Tooley applied for and collected unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled, benefits that were connected to federal COVID-19 relief programs. The scheme came to the attention of law enforcement on November 24, 2020, when Tooley was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance during a vehicle traffic stop on Clinton Street in Bergen, NY. A New York State Police trooper observed a crack pipe with white residue inside Tooley’s vehicle. Tooley admitted at the time that she had crack cocaine in the center console of the vehicle. As they prepared for Tooley’s vehicle to be towed, troopers recovered six New York State unemployment benefit cards issued to individuals other than Tooley, which they turned over to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Subsequent investigation determined that Tooley consistently withdrew money from bank accounts associated with the benefit cards.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone; the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Todd Allen; the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey Burr; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Sharon B. MacDermott; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase.Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
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Ankeny Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to File Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Kevin Jeffrey Stiller, age 59, of Ankeny, was sentenced Tuesday, June 7, 2022, to 18 months in prison for failing to file income tax returns. Stiller pleaded guilty on February 3, 2022, to two counts of failure to file income tax returns, one for each of the calendar years 2015 and 2017. Senior Judge James E. Gritzner imposed a 9-month prison sentence on each count, to be served consecutively, that is one after the other. Following completion of his prison term, Stiller will be on supervised release for one additional year. Stiller is responsible for paying his tax liability in full.
Stiller is the owner and operator of Spruce Hill Tree Service and he received taxable income from this business. Stiller knew he was required to file federal income tax returns for the years 2015 and 2017 and he willfully failed to do so. Stiller additionally failed to file federal income tax returns for the years 2008 – 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
“The foundation of our tax system is the voluntary filing of tax returns by each citizen required to do so. Mr. Stiller flagrantly disregarded this basic duty for nearly 15 years”, stated Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence highlights the seriousness of filing income tax returns timely and accurately as prescribed by law otherwise you will be held accountable for not doing so.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt.
Albuquerque man pleads guilty in the murder of a U.S. letter carrierRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced today that Xavier Zamora pleaded guilty to second degree murder of an employee of the United States and using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death. Zamora, 20, of Albuquerque will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 22, 2019, Jose Hernandez, a United States Postal Carrier, was delivering mail to a community mailbox outside Zamora’s home on Terracotta Place Southwest in Albuquerque. Hernandez observed Zamora strike Zamora’s mother during an argument and attempted to intervene. Zamora became angry and retrieved a handgun from his house. Zamora went back outside, confronted Hernandez, and fatally shot Hernandez in the stomach. Zamora fled the scene and disposed of the weapon.
“José Hernandez died protecting a stranger from violence. His selfless courage in the course of his duties embodies the highest ideals of the Postal Service—to bind the nation together,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “We cannot replace the husband, the father, the friend who was taken in this act of violence, but today’s plea represents a significant step toward justice. The United States will continue to hold accountable those who plague our communities with senseless gun violence, and to protect the federal employees who serve our nation.”
“USPS Letter Carrier Jose Hernandez was a veteran who cared about the community he served, choosing to intervene when he believed his customer was in danger,” stated Inspector in Charge Melisa Llosa. “Our thoughts remain with the Hernandez family, friends, and co-workers who continue to process this senseless crime. Investigations of Zamora and others who commit heinous crimes against USPS employees will always be the highest priority of U.S. Postal Inspectors. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their support during this investigation.”
By the terms of the plea agreement, Zamora faces 22 years in prison.
USPIS investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Niki Tapia-Brito and Eva M. Fontanez are prosecuting the case.
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7 June 2022
Williston, Vermont Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on June 7, 2022, Matthew Fidler, 35, of Williston, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 100 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Fidler to serve a five (5) year term of supervised release and to pay a $100 special assessment.
According to court records and proceedings, on February 9, 2021, officers with the South Burlington Police Department encountered Fidler in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in South Burlington. When law enforcement attempted to confirm Fidler’s identity because he was the subject of two outstanding arrest warrants, Fidler attempted to flee. After a brief chase, Fidler was subdued and taken into custody. During a search of Fidler’s person incident to arrest, law enforcement found a loaded handgun and distribution quantities of what was determined to be methamphetamine and heroin.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the South Burlington Police Department, and the State of Vermont Department of Public Safety, Forensic Laboratory, in the investigation and prosecution of Fidler.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Fidler. Brooks G. McArthur represented Fidler.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. https://www.justice.gov/psn
Walker Man Faces Federal Charges in Connection with Interstate Transmission of a Threat to Injure Florida CongresswomanRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal arrest warrant and criminal complaint was issued charging Charles T. Germany, age 66, of Walker, Louisiana, with interstate transmission of a threat to injure another.
The criminal complaint and supporting affidavit alleges that, on May 27, 2022, Germany, from his home in Walker, Louisiana, called U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy’s office in Washington DC and left a voice message threatening to kill the Congresswoman. Germany called the Congresswoman’s office again later the same day and left another threatening message. If convicted, Mr. Germany faces a sentence of up to five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Gathe commended the outstanding actions and efforts of the law enforcement agencies who worked to quickly identify the suspect and bring this complaint, including the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Kleinpeter.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Charges Florida Man with Sexual Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrest of THOMAS RIVERA. RIVERA is charged with communicating online with a 13-year-old girl and persuading the girl to meet him in Dutchess County, New York to engage in sexual activities. RIVERA was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and detained.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Through the use of video game chats, Thomas Rivera is alleged to have found and lured a 13-year-old girl into meeting him in person for the purpose of exploiting her for sex. The conduct alleged against Rivera is assuredly terrifying to any parent, and a reminder that a seemingly innocuous video game can be utilized as a weapon by online predators; we urge anyone caring for children to be mindful of their children’s online activities.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] filed on June 3, 2022 in White Plains federal court:
On or about April 3, 2022, at approximately 4:50 p.m., the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department (“TPPD”) received a report from the Town of Hyde Park Police Department concerning a 13-year-old girl being raped by a subject named “Thomas” at a hotel (“Hotel-1”) in the Town of Poughkeepsie. TPPD officers were dispatched to Hotel-1. Upon their arrival, they determined that a “Thomas Rivera” was staying in a particular room and they went to that room. RIVERA opened the door and was detained. A 13-year-old child (“Victim-1”) was found in the bathroom. Victim-1 advised that RIVERA, the defendant, had attempted to rape her.
On or about May 3, 2022, a Special Agent of the FBI (“Agent-1”) met with Victim-1, who stated, among other things and in substance and part, that she met RIVERA online in or about February 2022, while playing an online video game. Thereafter, they communicated via various gaming apps and social media platforms, including Discord and Snapchat. Victim-1 told RIVERA that she was 14 years old and in middle school. RIVERA told her that he was 31 and would be turning 32 in March. Victim-1 reported that RIVERA repeatedly asked Victim-1 to take and send him nude photos of herself. RIVERA told her that he was going to come and see her. They made a plan and he picked her up near her house.
At the time of his arrest by TPPD officers on April 3, 2022, RIVERA possessed a phone, which was seized. RIVERA’s phone revealed sexually explicit messages between RIVERA and Victim-1 exchanged via Snapchat from in or about February 23, 2022 up to in or about April 3, 2022.
On April 3, 2022, RIVERA was interviewed by TPPD detectives. Among other things, RIVERA admitted that he met Victim-1 online playing games about two months ago, that they began speaking daily via voice calls and text, that they discussed sex, and that he travelled to New York to see Victim-1. RIVERA was charged in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, and was released on bail.
There may be other victims of this alleged conduct. If you have information to report, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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RIVERA, 32 of Lauderhill, Florida is charged with one count of enticement of a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Following today’s presentment, Judge McCarthy ordered that THOMAS RIVERA be detained.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the Town of Hyde Park Police Department, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two sentenced to federal prison for robbery of downtown St. Louis McDonald’sRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former employee of a downtown McDonald’s restaurant and the man who helped him rob the restaurant at gunpoint in 2019 were sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark sentenced the former employee, Ronald Scott, 23, of St. Louis County, to nine years and four months in prison. Keith Austin, 26, of St. Louis, received a six-year term. Both pleaded guilty in January to a robbery charge and a charge of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
They admitted that on Sept. 18, 2019, they were caught trying to open a cash register by the manager of the McDonald’s at 1119 North Tucker Boulevard. Scott pulled a gun and yelled “Get back,” before they took a cash register drawer containing about $340 and drove off in a Chevrolet Impala, their plea agreements say.
St. Louis police located the Impala two days later and arrested Austin, who admitted being one of the masked men who robbed the restaurant. Scott was arrested about a year later, and admitted pointing a gun at the manager during the robbery, the plea agreements say
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
Two Plead Guilty to Conspiracy in Nigerian Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – Two defendants in a Nigerian fraud scheme pled guilty today to conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge David Denton of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Edafe Onoetiyi, 34, of Nigeria, but living in Dallas, Texas; and Susan Johns, 54, of Bothwell, Washington, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Natchez. The defendants conspired with each other and other individuals to defraud American citizens by transferring bank account information, personally identifiable information, and other access devices to create and transfer fraudulent loans and perpetrate other forms of theft, resulting in the fraudulent transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars both internally within the United States as well as to locations abroad, including Canada and Nigeria. Many of the victims of the fraud were romance scheme victims, wherein fraudsters concealing their true identities duped innocent victims into either sending money or allowing the fraudsters to use their bank account to move fraudulently obtained money.
“The United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Mississippi will prosecute those who prey upon American citizens by fraud and deceit,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca. “The efforts of Homeland Security Investigations led to this prosecution and we are grateful.”
“Perpetrators of fraud and romance schemes are using technology to their advantage to target new audiences and cause devastating financial impacts on unsuspecting victims,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge David Denton. “HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating fraud and protecting our citizens from the damage that can occur when our personal information falls into the wrong hands.”
Onoetiyi and Johns will be sentenced on September 6, 2022, in Natchez. They each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Today’s convictions are the result of a multi-year investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section assisted with preparation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Chalk and Andrew W. Eichner are prosecuting the case.
Twelfth Defendant Sentenced in Dog-Fighting, Drug Distribution RingRead the Press Release
The 12th defendant prosecuted as part of an extensive investigation into a dog-fighting and cocaine distribution network spanning three states was sentenced for his crimes in federal court today.
Shelley Johnson aka Gold Mouth, 40, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture. As a condition of his supervised release, Johnson is prohibited from owning or possessing dogs. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in both cocaine distribution and organized dog fighting based out of Roberta, Georgia, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until February 2020. In February2020, law enforcement executed 15 residential search warrants and seized more than 150 dogs that were being used for organized dog-fighting. A 136- count indictment was unsealed on Jan. 29, 2021, charging 11 individuals with various criminal activities. Three other individuals, including Johnson, were charged by criminal information.
During this time period, Johnson communicated with co-conspirator Jarvis Lockett about fighting and breeding dogs, dogs mauled and killed as a result of fighting, sharpening a dog’s teeth for fighting purposes, cash prizes for fights, and various topics detailing the business and the brutality of dog-fighting. Johnson attended a dog fight and participated as a handler inside the ring during the dog fight. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Johnson’s Macon residence on Feb. 26, 2020, recovering 13 pit bull terrier type dogs with scarring consistent with dog-fighting. In addition, agents found evidence of dog fighting activities including a digital scale, weighted collars, heavy chains, ground stakes and a variety of medical supplies to treat animals for injuries sustained from dog fighting activities.
“Johnson participated in a brutal criminal enterprise that profited from the suffering of animals,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).“Dog-fighting is a crime, and also closely associated with other serious crimes. The sentences in this prosecution show those who engage in this cruel and inhumane practice face significant prison time.”
“The brutality of dog-fighting alone is sickening; but this case demonstrates the strong union that exists between this bloody and inhumane business and the world of illegal gun and drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia. “Our office is committed to not only prosecuting dog-fighting participants, but working alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we will root out the entire criminal network and hold them responsible for their crimes.”
“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals involved in the inhumane torture of animals for entertainment,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Williams, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners in pursing these purveyors of death and senseless suffering.”
The following co-conspirators have been convicted and sentenced in this case:
Lekey Davis, aka Kee Boo, 46, of Talbotton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Christopher Raines, aka Binky, 51, of Talbotton, was sentenced to serve 135 months of imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Jarvis Lockett, aka J-Rock, 41, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 10 years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and cocaine distribution;
Derrick Owens, aka Doomie, 38, of Woodland, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 10 years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Jason Carter, 39, of Phoenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 97 months of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Vernon Vegas, 50, of Suwanee, Georgia, was sentenced to serve the maximum five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Shaquille Bentley, 27, of Roberta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve four years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to use of a communication facility;
Rodrick Walton, aka Rodrie Walton, 42, of Shiloh, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Reginald Crimes, 39, of Preston, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Lee Benney, 55, of Reynolds, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 21 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture; and,
Bryanna Holmes, 25, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to serve three years of probation after pleading guilty to use of a communication facility.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated by ENRD, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), USDA-OIG, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department.
Tucson Brothers Sentenced to 11 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Friday, brothers Osmar Martinez-Ochoa, 30, and Hector Martinez-Ochoa, 28, of Tucson, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker to each serve 11 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The Martinez-Ochoa brothers previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
The investigation in this case revealed that the Martinez-Ochoa brothers ran a drug trafficking organization that supplied street dealers in Tucson. Over the course of the investigation, the brothers and their organization were responsible for the distribution or possession with intent to distribute at least 10 kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine, 1.44 kilograms of heroin, and 180 grams of fentanyl. As part of a series of search warrants executed in this case, agents seized five firearms, including an AK-47 style assault rifle, and more than $50,000.00 in cash from the Martinez-Ochoa brothers.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Tucson Counter Narcotics Alliance, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the Tucson Police Department, and the Oro Valley Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-1864-01 and -02-TUC-JCH (LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-087_Martinez-Ochoa# # #
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.The Dalles Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Transporting and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A resident of The Dalles, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison today for transporting and possessing thousands of images depicting child sexual abuse.
Nickolas K. Parsons, 27, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in late 2019, as part of an ongoing investigation, officers identified a Twitter user who sent two MEGA links to child pornography. MEGA is an encrypted online file sharing service. Investigators traced the user’s Twitter account to Parsons’ residence in The Dalles where, in March 2020, they executed a federal search warrant. After seizing his mobile phone, Parsons admitted to viewing child pornography online and provided investigators with his MEGA account information. The account was later found to contain thousands of files containing child pornography.
On June 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Parsons with transporting and possessing child pornography. On February 22, 2022, he pleaded guilty to both charges.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Natalie K. Wight, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov/tips.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the NCMEC’s website at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Steubenville man indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Eugene Charles Williams, of Steubenville, Ohio, was indicted today on firearms charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Williams, 35, was indicted today on one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” and one count of “Obliterated Serial Number.” Williams, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a felony conviction, is accused of having a 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number in January 2022 in Brooke County.
Williams is facing up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms charge and faces up to five years of incarceration and fine of up to $250,000 for the obliterated serial number charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer T. Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on the Hung Jury in U.S. V. Timothy SheaRead the Press Release
“While the jury was unfortunately unable to reach a unanimous verdict in U.S. v. Timothy Shea, that in no way lessens our resolve or belief in the powerful and compelling evidence that we strongly believe proves his guilt. We look forward to retrying this case as soon as possible.”
St. Louis County employee hatched pandemic relief kickback scheme, indictment saysRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County employee who previously served as the administrative assistant to a former St. Louis County Council member hatched a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds for a local businessman in exchange for a share of the proceeds, an indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges.
Anthony “Tony” Weaver Sr., who is currently employed as the “change management coordinator” at the St. Louis County jail, was indicted May 25 on four felony counts of wire fraud. Weaver has turned himself in and is scheduled to make his first appearance in court Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The indictment alleges that on May 6, 2020, Weaver approached a man who owned several small businesses located in St. Louis County with a scheme to fraudulently apply for grants from the county’s Small Business Relief (SBR) Program. The program used federal CARES Act money to help small businesses located in the county that were closed during the stay-at-home orders by paying some of the costs incurred by the closing.
According to the indictment, Weaver told the businessman, identified in the indictment as “John Smith,” that his former boss on the council, identified as “Jane Doe,” needed to know the names of Smith’s businesses as she made the final decision. Weaver also told Smith that Doe’s office is “going to do what I tell them to do.”
Over the next few weeks, Weaver filled out applications for four SBR loans on behalf of Smith’s businesses, falsely claiming that the businesses were closed during the pandemic, and concealing the fact that Smith had at least 25% ownership in them all because an owner could only apply for one grant, the indictment alleges.
The pair agreed on multiple occasions to split any resulting money, the indictment says. They also discussed ways to avoid getting caught, with Weaver warning Smith against using a check or political donations to pay kickbacks and telling Smith that he didn’t want to use his own cell phone to submit an application because county employees might find out, the indictment says. “They’re trying to get me on something, brother. I’m too powerful, brother…,” the indictment quotes Weaver telling Smith. Weaver also said, “I hope this place is not bugged…that’s how (former St. Louis County Executive Steve) Stenger got caught,” the indictment says.
Smith’s applications were not approved, but Weaver said he could try again with the next round of funding, the indictment alleges.
According to the indictment, Weaver said he helped 10 other companies apply for grants, but only two agreed to kick back any money and only one grant was approved. Weaver told Smith that he received $300 for his help in that case.
Weaver also served as the longtime committeeman of the Spanish Lake Township and on the board of Unity PAC, a north St. Louis County political organization, the indictment says.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.
The wire fraud charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Weaver is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
South Florida Electronics Exporter Pleads Guilty to Laundering Narcotics Proceeds Through the Black Market Peso ExchangeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that earlier today, MARCELO IRIGOIN pled guilty to money laundering in connection with transactions involving his electronics export company. As part of the scheme, IRIGOIN moved over $1.4 million in narcotics proceeds through the Black Market Peso Exchange, a sophisticated market in which narcotics proceeds are bought and sold by money-launderers and then transferred overseas through shell companies and mirrored transactions. After IRIGION learned that he was the subject of a Government investigation, he provided falsified records to law enforcement in order to conceal his laundering activities from Government.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Marcelo Irigoin not only helped launder over one million dollars in drug proceeds through the Black Market Peso Exchange, he also tried to cover his tracks after he learned about the Government’s investigation. The Black Market Peso Exchange relies on so-called clean money from businesses like Irigoin’s to launder drug proceeds back to cartels overseas. Today’s guilty plea reflects this Office’s commitment to investigate and prosecute businesses and individuals who make their seemingly legitimate businesses available to facilitate these illegal transactions.”
According to the allegations in the Information and statements made during the plea and other proceedings in the case:
Beginning in June 2020, MARCELO IRIGOIN received narcotics proceeds into accounts held by his company (“Company-1”), an electronics exporter based in Doral, Florida, as payments for electronics on behalf of a particular Company-1 customer (“Customer-1”). These payments were all made by third parties with no connection Customer-1. Additionally, these payments contained significant red flags consistent with money-laundering activity, including payment amounts that did not correspond to the actual electronics Customer-1 had purchased, as well as payments broken up into multiple smaller wire transfers over the course of a single day or several days. IRIGOIN regularly communicated with the owner of Customer-1 (“CC-1”) and they discussed, among other things, the fact that CC-1 did not know in advance which third party would be sending money to Company-1 on behalf of Customer-1 for any given transaction.
These third parties were in fact shell companies that collected narcotics proceeds in the United States and sent them to Company-1 on behalf of Customer-1. Once the money was sent to Company-1, Customer-1 would release an equivalent amount of proceeds to the drug trafficking organizations, minus a commission for the money-laundering brokers. This system, known as the Black Market Peso Exchange (“BMPE”), allowed the drug traffickers to collect their narcotics proceeds in their home country without ever actually sending money in cross-border transactions from the United States.
In May 2020, the DEA served a subpoena on Company-1 for records relating to its transactions with these BMPE entities. In responding to this subpoena, IRIGOIN provided false information meant to give the impression that these BMPE entities were actually Company-1 customers, when they were in fact only making payments to Company-1 on behalf of Customer-1. Additionally, IRIGOIN secretly told CC-1 to stop sending payments to Company-1, which was under Government investigation, and instead set up a separate bank account that he used to receive payments from BMPE entities on behalf of Customer-1.
* * *
As part of his guilty plea, IRIGOIN, 41, of Hialeah, Florida, agreed to forfeit $1,436,171.60 to the United States, including over $600,000 the Government had previously seized from various company bank accounts. IRIGOIN pled guilty today to one count of money laundering. This offense carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as IRIGOIN’s sentence will be determined by the judge.
IRIGOIN is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty on September 13, 2022.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Deininger and Sheb Swett are in charge of the prosecution.
SSNDOB Marketplace, A Series of Websites That Listed More Than 20 Million Social Security Numbers for Sale, Seized and Dismantled in International OperationRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, along with Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon for the IRS - Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge David Walker for the FBI - Tampa Division, today announced the seizure of the SSNDOB Marketplace, a series of websites that operated for years and were used to sell personal information, including the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers belonging to individuals in the United States. The SSNDOB Marketplace has listed the personal information for approximately 24 million individuals in the United States, generating more than $19 million USD in sales revenue.
The SSNDOB administrators created advertisements on darkweb criminal forums for the Marketplace’s services, provided customer support functions, and regularly monitored the activities of the sites, including monitoring when purchasers deposited money into their accounts. The administrators also employed various techniques to protect their anonymity and to thwart detection of their activities, including using online monikers that were distinct from their true identities, strategically maintaining servers in various countries, and requiring buyers to use digital payment methods, such as bitcoin.
The international operation to dismantle and seize this infrastructure is the result of close cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Cyprus and Latvia. On June 7, 2022, seizure orders were executed against the domain names of the SSNDOB Marketplace (ssndob[.]ws, ssndob[.]vip, ssndob[.]club, and blackjob[.]biz), effectively ceasing the website’s operation.
“I applaud the extensive work and cooperation by our domestic and international law enforcement partners in bringing a halt to this global scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “The theft and misuse of personal information is not only criminal but can have a catastrophic impact on individuals for years to come.”
“Identity theft can have a devastating impact on a victim’s long-term emotional and financial health. Taking down the SSNDOB website disrupted ID theft criminals and helped millions of Americans whose personal information was compromised,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon, IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Special agents with IRS-CI’s DC Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work with the U.S. and international law enforcement community to end these complex scams, regardless of where the money trail leads them.”
“These seizures demonstrate the FBI’s strong working relationship with our international partners in disrupting malicious cyber activity,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “Dismantling illicit marketplaces that threaten the privacy and security of the American public is a priority of the FBI.”
The U.S. investigation was led by the IRS - Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and the FBI – Tampa Division, with assistance from the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. Substantial assistance was also provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices responsible for Latvia and Cyprus, the Latvian Police, and the Cyprus Police.
The investigation is being overseen by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones and asset forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
Repeat Offender on Supervised Release Admits to Stealing Mail and Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man appeared in federal court today and admitted to stealing mail from residential mailboxes and using the stolen information to commit wire fraud, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Soheil Akhavan Rezaie, 37, entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed plea documents and statements made in court, beginning in 2021 through March 2022, Rezaie and others targeted neighborhoods in Charlotte and surrounding areas and stole large quantities of mail from residential mailboxes. The stolen mail included credit cards, tax forms, financial statements, personal identifying information (PII), and personal and business bank checks. As the defendant admitted in court today, Rezaie altered the amounts of the stolen checks or changed the names of the payees to his own and then deposited the altered checks into bank accounts he controlled. He then withdrew the funds before the victims and financial institutions could determine the checks were stolen. In other instances, Rezaie stole blank checks and wrote checks to himself, which he then cashed with various financial institutions. Rezaie caused more than $150,000 in loss through the fraudulent check cashing scheme. Court records also show that Rezaie used the stolen PII to create fake identification documents in the mail theft victims’ names.
Rezaie pleaded guilty to wire fraud which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set. When Rezaie engaged in this scheme he was on supervised release for a 2017 mail theft conviction. In addition to the current court proceedings, a second revocation of Rezaie’s supervised release is pending, for violating the terms of his supervised release for the 2017 conviction.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and USPIS for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.
Each year, the U.S. Postal Service® handles billions of letters and packages, the majority of which arrive safely at their intended destinations. According to USPIS, here are the extra steps the public can take to prevent mail theft and ensure that mail arrives safely at its destination:
- Promptly pick up mail – try not to leave letters and packages in the mailbox or at the door unattended for any length of time.
- Deposit mail close to pick up time – deposit outgoing mail into collection boxes before the last collection or inside the local postal office.
- Inquire about overdue mail – if you have not received valuable or important mail you’re expecting, contact the sender to inquire about it.
- Do not send cash – be careful about what you are sending in the mail. Avoid mailing cash and gift cards.
- Arrange for prompt pick up – if you will not be available to receive a package in person, contact the postal service to hold your package.
- Use the Hold for Pick Up option – when shipping packages, use the Hold for Pick Up option, so the recipients can pick up package at their local post office.
- Request signature confirmation – when mailing important mail, consider requesting a signature confirmation from the recipient.
- File a change of address – when moving, promptly file a change of address with the Postal Service.
To report suspected mail theft, please call USPIS at 1-877-876-2455.
Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving over 3,000 Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident pleaded guilty yesterday to receiving thousands of images and videos of prepubescent minors — including children under 12 years old — engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Ryan Thomas Eley (25) pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Anne R. Traum presided over the hearing and scheduled sentencing for September 6, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions Eley made in court, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded at least 12 CyberTips — pertaining to an IP address originating from Eley’s residence — to law enforcement. On August 4, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Eley’s residence and seized USB flash drives, an external hard drive, and a cell phone belonging to Eley. Forensic analysis of the seized devices revealed that some of the images and videos found on his devices depicted prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct and intercourse with adults. In total, over 2,700 child pornography images and over 400 child pornography videos were recovered from Eley’s electronic devices.
At sentencing, Eley faces a statutory mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Eley also will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Sparks Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. St. Clair is prosecuting the case.
The 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Report child sexual exploitation to NCMEC by calling the hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
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Reality TV stars convicted of fraud and tax evasionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA, Ga. – Following a three-week trial, a federal jury found Todd and Julie Chrisley guilty of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million of fraudulent loans. The jury also convicted Todd and Julie Chrisley and their accountant, Peter Tarantino, of a number of tax crimes, including conspiring to defraud the IRS. The Chrisleys were found guilty of tax evasion, and Peter Tarantino was found guilty of filing two false corporate tax returns on behalf of the Chrisleys’ company. The jury also found Julie Chrisley guilty of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
“The jury found that Todd and Julie Chrisley committed multiple fraud schemes for several years and their accountant, Peter Tarantino, filed false corporate tax returns on their behalf,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This office and our partner agencies will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute white collar criminals who flout the law.”
“As today’s outcome shows, when you lie, cheat and steal, justice is blind as to your fame, your fortune, and your position,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “In the end, when driven by greed, the verdict of guilty on all counts for these three defendants proves once again that financial crimes do not pay.”
“Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley and their Certified Public Accountant, Peter Tarantino, conspired to evade the assessment and payment of the Chrisley’s income taxes. The Chrisleys and Tarantino knew the law was clear on taxable income and who is required to file and pay taxes,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “These convictions should send a clear message regardless of your fame or notoriety, everyone will be held accountable for paying their fair share of taxes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Before Todd and Julie Chrisley became reality television stars, they conspired to defraud community banks in the Atlanta area to obtain more than $30 million in personal loans. The Chrisleys, with the help of their former business partner, submitted false bank statements, audit reports, and personal financial statements to banks to obtain the millions of dollars in fraudulent loans. The Chrisleys then spent the money on luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate, and travel—and used new fraudulent loans to pay back old ones. After spending all the money, Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy and walked away from more than $20 million of the fraudulently obtained loans.
The evidence further showed that in 2014, while Todd Chrisley was in bankruptcy proceedings, Julie Chrisley again manufactured financial documents and lied to real estate agents to obtain a luxury rental house in Los Angeles, California. As soon as the Chrisleys began renting the house, they failed to pay rent, and the homeowner filed an eviction lawsuit.
Around the time that Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, the Chrisleys became the stars of their own reality show, which was recorded in Atlanta and later in Nashville. The evidence at trial showed that while they were earning millions from their TV show, Todd and Julie Chrisley, along with their accountant, Peter Tarantino, conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.
Throughout the conspiracy, the Chrisleys operated a loan-out company that received their income earned from their show and other entertainment ventures. To evade collection of half a million dollars in delinquent taxes owed by Todd Chrisley, the Chrisleys opened and kept the corporate bank accounts only in Julie Chrisley’s name. One day after the IRS requested information about bank accounts in Julie Chrisley’s name, the Chrisleys transferred ownership of the corporate bank account to Todd Chrisley’s mother in an effort to further hide his income from the IRS. All the while, Todd Chrisley operated the loan-out company behind the scenes and controlled the company’s purse strings.
While the Chrisleys were earning millions and evading paying Todd Chrisley’s delinquent back taxes, they also failed to file tax returns or pay any taxes for the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 tax years. At one point, Todd Chrisley falsely claimed on a radio program that he paid $750,000 to $1 million in federal income taxes every year, even though he had not filed or paid his personal income tax returns for years. Tarantino was also convicted of filing two false corporate tax returns for the loan-out company, which falsely claimed that the company earned no money and made no distributions in 2015 and 2016.
Finally, Julie Chrisley was convicted of obstruction of justice. After learning of the grand jury investigation, she submitted a fraudulent document in response to a grand jury subpoena to make it appear that the Chrisleys had not lied to the bank when they transferred ownership of the loan-out company’s bank account to Todd Chrisley’s mother. Julie Chrisley transmitted this document with the intent of impeding the grand jury’s investigation into her and her husband and avoiding prosecution.
Sentencing for Todd and Julie Chrisley, and Peter Tarantino, has been scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas J. Krepp and Annalise K. Peters are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Quincy Man Indicted for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with receiving child pornography.
Matthew Ormon, 50, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography. He will appear in federal court in Boston on June 8, 2022, before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler. Ormon was previously charged by criminal complaint on April 5, 2022.
According to the charging documents, during a search of Ormon’s residence on April 5, 2022, multiple electronic devices, including two custom built computers and a network drive device were seized. At least one device was found to contain a folder with numerous videos depicting child pornography. Forensic review of the devices remains ongoing.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Proposta dos Trustes Federais de Recursos Naturais para a Construção do Parque Ribeirinho em East NewarkRead the Press Release
Planos para transformar um antigo lote industrial em um parque ribeirinho público podem em breve se tornar realidade para os moradores do local. Em 7 de junho de 2022, o Departmento de Justiça anunciou a abertura de um período de 30 dias para comentários públicos em um acordo que disponibilizaria um crédito à empresa BASF pela sua contribuição no desenho, construção e administração por 30 anos de um parque de cinco acres (2,02 hectares) no cruzamento da Clay Street e Passaic Avenue.
O crédito seria aplicado à responsabilidade civil da empresa BASF, sendo esta uma das mais de 100 partes cuja as atividades passadas contribuíram potencialmente para a contaminação e danos aos recursos naturais relacionados ao Site Diamond Alkali Superfund e à área de estudos de Berry’s Creek. A BASF é a primeira dessas partes potencialmente responsáveis nos sites a propor uma restauração precoce e proativa para tratar dessa suposta responsabilidade civil por danos aos recursos naturais.
O Departmento de Justiça, em nome dos Trustes, está solicitando comentários públicos para determinar o nível de apoio da comunidade para a implementação de um contrato de crédito com a BASF.
“Este acordo inovador irá tratar de décadas de danos aos recursos naturais decorrentes da contaminação industrial e trará vida a um espaço público saudável a ser desfrutado por gerações, disse Todd Kim, Procurador de Justiça da Divisão de Recursos Naturais e Meio Ambiente do Departamento de Justiça, e acrescentou, o Departamento de Justiça está empenhado em buscar justiça para as comunidades que sofrem injustamente com a contaminação nos Estdos Unidos. Este acordo traz, em curto prazo, benefícios duradouros às comunidades que poderiam levar muitos anos de litígio para serem alcançados.”
O projeto do parque melhoraria a qualidade de vida das comunidades e beneficiaria os animais silvestres ao converter um terreno industrial endurecido em florestas, gramados, áreas de pântano, e jardins de polinizadores interligados por passeios públicos e uma passarela elevada junto ao Rio Passaic. Se o acordo for aprovado, antecipa-se que o projeto de construção irá prosseguir e a abertura do parque ao público estaria prevista para o final de 2023 ou a primavera de 2024.
“Este parque irá fornecer um espaço verde necessário para comunidades urbanas que atualment enfrentam uma carência desses espaços, e melhorar as oportunidades de recreação e acesso ao rio, ajudando a conectar as pessoas à natureza em suas vizinhanças. O parque irá também criar e preservar áreas naturais junto ao Rio Passaic, o qual fornece habitats de forrageio, ninho e descanso para uma variedade de aves migratórias e animais silvestres” disse Wendi Weber, Diretora da Regional Noroeste da Serviço Federal de Pesca e Animais Silvestres,
Apesar do contrato de crédito não tratar de todos os danos decorrentes da contaminação, esta restauração precoce apresenta benefícios importantes no avanço das negociações de acordos ou litígios que com frequência levam anos para se finalizarem. O projeto de restauração do parque ribeirinho e o crédito para a avaliação dos danos aos recursos naturais estão acontecendo separadamente, mas em coordenação com as atividades de limpeza dos Sites, as quais estão sendo supervisionadas pela Agência de Proteção Ambiental dos Estados Unidos.
Este seria o primeiro projeto de restauração associado com a avaliação de danos aos recursos naturais realizada pelo governo federal e com as atividades de restauração relacionadas aos extensos Sites Diamond Alkali Superfund e a área de estudos de Berry’s Creek. O Serviço Federal de Pesca e Animais Silvestres e a Administração Nacional Oceânica e Atmosférica (NOAA) estão autorizados a agir em nome do público, como Trustes, quando danos aos recursos naturais acontecem. Os Trustes são a favor do contrato de crédito e dos benefícios previstos no projeto de melhoria da qualidade da água, criando habitats para aves e polinizadores, e aumentando o acesso do público ao rio, inclusive com oportunidades passivas e ativas de recreação para comunidades carentes desproporcionalmente impactadas pela contaminação.
“As atividades industriais dessas hidrovias de trabalho têm um legado de contaminação que afeta desproporcionalmente as comunidades carentes. Este parque ribeirinho de cinco acres representa um primeiro passo importante na restauração da função do ecosistema e do uso recreativo nas comunidades ao seu redor. A NOAA tem o prazer de se juntar à indústria e aos nossos parceiros locais e federais neste esforço”, comentou Nicole LeBoeuf, Diretora do Serviço Oceânico Nacional da NOAA.
Um Projeto Precoce de Restauração e Avaliação Ambiental para o projeto de parque proposto foi emitido pelos Trustes em julho de 2021, após os comentários públicos e análise. Durante todo este processo, os Trustes solicitaram e responderam os comentários públicos relacionados ao projeto proposto. O Contrato de Crédito, ou seja, o próximo passo nesse processo, é o mecanismo de vinculação e financiamento que implementa o Projeto Precoce de Restauração e Avaliação Ambiental Final para o parque proposto. Quando o projeto for finalizado e de acordo com os termos do contrato de crédito, a BASF poderá receber um crédito de $73,5 milhões, que poderão ser usados para a compensação parcial da suposta responsabilidade civil por danos aos recursos naturais em conformidade com a Lei de Resposta Ambiental Abrangente, Indenização e Responsabilidade Civil do Site Diamond Alkali Superfund e do cercano área de estudos de Berry’s Creek. Os Trustes prevêm que o projeto servirá de modelo à medida que outras partes potencialmente responsáveis considerem abordar proativamente a responsabilidade civil por danos aos recursos naturais.
O contrato de crédito estará disponível para comentários públicos por um período de 30 dias até XX de agosto de 2022. O Departamento de Justiça, ao considerar os comentários públicos, determinará se irá implementar o contrato de crédito. O acordo proposto pode ser examinado e baixado neste website: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. Os comentários devem ser enviados ao Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, e devem constar como referência: In Re BASF and Trustees Interim Settlement Agreement, D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-3-07683/14. Os comentátios na proposta podem ser enviados até XX de Agosto de 2022 por e-mail ou via postal:
(1) Por e-mail: [email protected]
(2) Por via postal:
Assistant Attorney General
U.S. DOJ – ENRD
P.O. Box 7611
Washington, D.C. 20044-7611Uma reunião pública informativa virtual será realizada na noite do dia 15 de junho de 2022, e uma reunião presencial será realizada na noite do dia 28 de junho.
Mais informações sobre as próximas reuniões, o projeto do parque, o contrato de crédito, o processo de avaliação dos danos aos recursos naturais e o papel dos Trustes podem ser encontradas aqui: https://darrp.noaa.gov/EastNewarkRiverfrontPark.
O Departamento de Justiça avaliará todas as informações recebidas durante o período de comentários e anunciará uma decisão final no início de agosto.
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Pittsburgh Man Indicted on Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA. A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating various federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Shaquan Moore, 30, formerly of Point View Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Moore is alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute 10 grams or more of a mixture of p-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl and a quantity of fentanyl on or about January 19, 2022. Moore is also alleged to have possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and alleged to have possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon on or about January 19, 2022.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Agency, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pamlico County Man Sentenced to over Twelve Years for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Pamlico County man was sentenced to 151 months in prison for drug conspiracy and distribution offenses. On December 1, 2021, Lionel Dangelo Hatch Jr., pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Hatch, 37, was involved in a drug conspiracy spanning from 2005 to 2019. He pled guilty to involvement in a conspiracy that distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), and a quantity of marijuana. Hatch also personally distributed quantities of cocaine or cocaine base (crack) on at least ten occasions in the Pamlico County area.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The State Bureau of Investigation, Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Brown prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-CR-44.
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Oakland County Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Role in Bribery Scheme of Clinton Township OfficialRead the Press Release
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Jay A. Schwartz, 55, of Northville, Michigan, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine by U.S. District Court Judge Robert H. Cleland in Port Huron, Michigan. Judge Cleland pronounced the sentence after Schwartz was convicted at trial of conspiracy and bribery involving federal programs.
According to court records, from March 2014 to January 2016, Schwartz, an Oakland County, Michigan, attorney, was part of a conspiracy that provided Dean Reynolds, an elected Trustee of Clinton Township, Michigan, cash and free legal services in return for Reynolds’ assistance steering a waste collection contract with Clinton Township valued at approximately $36 million to Rizzo Environmental Service, Inc. (“RES”).
As part of the conspiracy, Schwartz, provided Reynolds with approximately $40,000 worth of free legal services in order to influence Reynolds’ decision to extend a waste collection contract with RES for 10 years. Schwartz also assisted his co-conspirators in paying and concealing a $3,000 cash bribe to Reynolds so he could pay for a psychological exam in his divorce proceedings.
Dean Reynolds was sentenced in 2019 to 17 years in prison for his role in the scheme.
This case was investigated by the Detroit FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford, Michael Freeman and Suzana Koch of the Northern District of Ohio.
Northside Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Brandon Washington, 35, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense before United States District Judge Robert Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in March 2021, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police narcotics agents working with the Drug Enforcement Administration utilized an undercover agent to purchase cocaine from Washington at a hotel in Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood. Agents executed search warrants on multiple hotel rooms thereafter, which led to the seizure of additional quantities of cocaine base (in the form commonly known as “crack”), drug paraphernalia commonly used to process cocaine into cocaine base, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol. By pleading guilty, Washington admitted that he distributed cocaine, possessed cocaine base with the intent to distribute it, and unlawfully possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded Washington to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Ball is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Washington.
North Side Man Charged with Attempting to Coerce a Minor to Visit his Apartment for SexRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Anthony Antosz, 45, formerly of Perrysville Avenue, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from on or about January 19, 2022, and continuing thereafter until on or about May 16, 2022, Antosz did use a facility and means of interstate commerce, specifically the Internet and a cellular telephone network, to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice or coerce an individual who had not attained the age of eighteen (18) years to engage in sexual activity.
According to an affidavit in support of a Criminal Complaint filed in this case, after chatting with an undercover agent posing as a 12-year-old child for months over his cell phone and the internet in an effort to entice the purported child to have sex, Anthony Antosz sent a Lyft ticket to the purported child so the child could ride to his apartment to engage in sexual activity. Antosz lined the staircase leading up to his apartment with lit candles in an effort to set the mood for his anticipated sexual encounter with a child.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years in prison, a fine not to exceed $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Risacher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Noncitizen in Yakima County Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – On June 3, 2022, United States District Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr., sentenced Lorenzo Jimenez Alanis, 47, of Mabton, Washington, to 15 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, along with downloading and possessing a large collection of child pornography. Judge Mendoza also ordered Alanis to serve five years of federal supervision after he is released from prison, although under current U.S. law, it is likely that Alanis will be removed from the United States after his release from custody. Alanis pleaded guilty earlier this year.
According to information disclosed in court documents and during proceedings, Alanis was a source of supply for pound level quantities of methamphetamine associated with a drug trafficking organization operating directly out of Mexico. Alanis was arrested in a DEA Tri-Cities operation while he was delivering four pounds of methamphetamine. A search warrant was executed at his home and additional quantities of methamphetamine, multiple firearms and indicia of drug trafficking were also seized. When Alanis was arrested, officers searched his cellular telephone and discovered thousands of images and videos of children being sexually abused, tortured, and violated. Troublingly, Alanis’ collection included images and videos depicting prepubescent children who were the same age as his own children and younger. Alanis came to the United States unlawfully in 1992, when he was approximately 17-18 years of age, and has lived in the lower Yakima Valley since then.
“The wide scope of Mr. Alanis’ criminal conduct is staggering. This case involved both largescale methamphetamine dealing as well as downloading and collecting thousands of crime scene photos of minors being sexually abused,” said Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “I commend the seamless communication and collaboration in this case between DEA, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in Richland, and our state and local partners—what began as a drug case concluded with a child exploitation offender behind bars for 15 years. Whether it is illegal drugs or illicit images of children, law enforcement in the Eastern District will continue to seek out, investigate, and prosecute criminal conduct to keep the communities of Eastern Washington safe and strong.”
“Mr. Alanis used his direct connections with a Mexican drug trafficking organization to supply methamphetamine in Eastern Washington, and even more disturbing, possessed large amounts of child pornography,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jacob D. Galvan, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The DEA, with its federal, state, and local partners, will relentlessly pursue individuals who seek to harm and exploit vulnerable individuals, especially children.”
“Mr. Alanis represented a triple threat to our community through his trove of videos depicting violent sexual abuse of children, distribution of methamphetamine, and firearms possession,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “I applaud the work of our federal and state law enforcement partners in Eastern Washington to address these critical threats and ensure that criminals like Mr. Alanis are brought to justice.”
This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation
and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
This case was also 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. Information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by DEA Seattle Field Division, Tri-Cities Resident Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, METRO Drug Task Force, the Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, and Pasco Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, Tri-Cities Resident Office, and the ICAC Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Stephanie A. Van Marter, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Andrew Medina, 31, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that on August 31, 2020, law enforcement officers intercepted a package from California, which contained approximately 837 grams of pure methamphetamine. On September 4, 2020, Drug Enforcement Administration agents conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel, which had been replaced with sham and a transmitter installed, at Medina’s residence on South Avenue in Niagara Falls. Approximately an hour later, the transmitter alerted agents that the parcel had been opened. As agents approached the home, they observed Medina standing on the second-floor balcony throwing the sham and parcel into an adjacent yard. Medina was then taken into custody. During the execution of a search warrant at the residence, agents recovered the parcel, the sham placed inside the package, approximately $15,200 in U.S. currency, approximately 74 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and a black iPhone. In addition, a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and a .40 caliber magazine loaded with five rounds. Medina was previously convicted three times in 2011 and 2012, on drug charges in California and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2022, before Judge Vilardo.
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New York Man Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on June 6, 2022, Edward Hart, age 32, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner following his conviction for bank fraud. Judge Conner also ordered Hart to pay victims restitution in the amount of $82,969.06 and to serve two years of supervised release following his release from prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Hart was a member of a conspiracy in which he and others stole mail from postal boxes, rifled that mail to find checks that had been made payable to third parties, and then altered the checks and deposited them in other bank accounts. The conspiracy formed in the New York City area and extended into central Pennsylvania. The conspiracy also involved the participation of a former Harrisburg area U.S. Postal Service employee, Kazaria Blair, who provided the conspirators access to a postal key that enabled them to open blue postal collection boxes to steal the mail. The investigation identified at least 40 stolen checks, of which 19 had been cashed, resulting in financial losses to victims.
Blair pleaded guilty on May 23, 2022, to stealing keys adopted by the post office, and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service – Harrisburg Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.
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New York and Florida Resident Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for $6.8 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A dual New York and Florida resident was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $6.8 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Gregory J. Blotnick, 35, of Florida, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Judge Martinotti imposed the sentence by videoconference today.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2020 through March 2021, Blotnick submitted 21 fraudulent PPP loan applications to 13 lenders on behalf of nine purported businesses that Blotnick controlled.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
On Blotnick’s fraudulent PPP applications, which sought a total of approximately $6.8 million in total loans, Blotnick falsified various information to the lenders including the number of employees, the federal tax returns for his purported businesses, and payroll documentation. Blotnick obtained approximately $4.6 million in PPP funds and then misused the loan proceeds, including by transferring the funds to brokerage accounts from which he placed more than approximately $3 million in losing stock trades.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Blotnick to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $4,577,631.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott; special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; and special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephen Donnelly, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Government Fraud Unit in Newark and Trial Attorney Cory E. Jacobs of the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Defense counsel: Adam Kaufmann Esq and Jason Berland Esq, New York.
Moultrie, Georgia, Resident Guilty for Trafficking a Kilo of Crystal MethRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident admitted in federal court last week that he was attempting to distribute one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine in his hometown.
Anthony Giddens, 40, of Moultrie, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on June 2. Giddens faces a maximum 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Methamphetamine has a devastating impact in our communities. Those who profit by trafficking large amounts of this highly addictive and deadly drug face the possibility of federal prosecution for their crime,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank the Moultrie Police Department and Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office for their continued efforts to prevent the distribution of methamphetamine and other harmful and illegal drugs in their community.”
According to court documents, Giddens was pulled over for a tag violation by a Moultrie Police Department patrol unit on Sept. 10, 2019, on Veterans Parkway South. Giddens acted evasive and nervous during his exchange with the officer. Giddens also admitted he had marijuana in the vehicle and dumped a cup of marijuana blunts. During a search of the vehicle, the officer found a large plastic bag filled with 1005.68 grams of crystal methamphetamine on the front passenger seat. A Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office drug investigator was dispatched to the scene and located a stolen pistol, a revolver, two digital scales, a large quantity of plastic baggies and $2,214 cash.
The Moultrie Police Department and Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case.
Mobridge Man Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mobridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on June 6, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Spencer Jacob Rinehart, age 29, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, five years of supervised release, a fine in the amount of $1,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Rinehart was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2021. He pled guilty on December 7, 2021.
Between January 1, 2017, and April 29, 2020, Rinehart knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Mobridge, South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Mobridge Police Department, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Rinehart was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals
Mobridge Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mobridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on June 6, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Justin Jerome Howard, age 39, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Howard was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 13, 2021. He pled guilty on January 4, 2022.
Howard, a person required to register as a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration between August 17, 2021, and August 29, 2021, while living near Kenel, South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Mobridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Howard was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Milton, Vermont Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on June 7, 2022, Emanuel Dunn, 36, of Milton, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 60 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Dunn to serve a ten (10) year term of supervised release and to pay a $100 special assessment.
According to court records and proceedings, on July 11, 2019, a confidential informant (CI) working with the Northwest Vermont Drug Task Force (NW DTF) arranged to purchase a half-gram of cocaine base and a bundle of heroin from Dunn. Dunn instructed the CI to come to his residence in Winooski, Vermont, to pick up the drugs. The CI went to the residence, where he gave Dunn $160 and received cocaine base. Dunn and the CI drove to a location in Burlington, Vermont, to pick up the heroin, which Dunn then gave to the CI. The substances distributed by Dunn were determined to be cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Northwestern Vermont Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the South Burlington Police Department, and the State of Vermont Department of Public Safety, Forensic Laboratory, in the investigation and prosecution of Dunn.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Dunn. Robert W. Katims represented Dunn.
Michigan Man Sentenced for Traveling to New York Intending to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Robert Hardin, age 76, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced today to serve 10 years in federal prison for traveling to New York from Michigan for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 10-year-old child. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Hardin admitted that from July of 2021 through August of 2021 he exchanged sexually explicit messages via an online social networking application and text message with an undercover officer posing as the mother of a 10-year-old girl. In these messages, Hardin expressed a desire to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the child. Hardin further admitted that on August 24, 2021, he traveled from Michigan to New York in order to meet with the child and engage in sexual conduct with her. Hardin was arrested after arriving in New York and has been in custody since that date.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will start after Hardin is released from prison, and ordered Hardin to pay a $100 special assessment. Hardin will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Leading Role in Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN - Percy Woodears, 40, has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) began an investigation into Percy Woodears a/k/a Boom in October 2019. Between October 2019 and February 2021, agents determined Woodears was obtaining kilogram amounts of cocaine and through a network of associates, distributed both powder and crack cocaine for profit.
On February 5, 2021, agents seized three individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine, a safe containing approximately $313,898 in cash, and four firearms, from locations connected to Woodears' drug trafficking activities. Woodears and 15 other individuals were indicted for their roles in the cocaine and crack cocaine distribution on February 25, 2021. During the arrest of the co-conspirators, agents seized 6 additional firearms.
On January 13, 2022, Woodears pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine; and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 3.4 kilograms of cocaine. Woodears had previously been convicted of a federal firearms offense in the Western District of Tennessee in 2010.
The 15 other defendants have also pled guilty.
"This case highlights the impact multiple agencies can have when they join forces. We will continue to work together and pursue those individuals who threaten our communities by distributing illegal and dangerous drugs as well as illegally possessing firearms," said Mickey French, Special Agent in Charge, ATF.
On June 2, 2022, United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Woodears to 135 months incarceration to be followed by five years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Memphis Police Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Allen and Jennifer Musselwhite prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###Max sentenced imposed for distributing images involving children engaged in sadistic conductRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 58-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Steven Furman pleaded guilty Feb. 1.
Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton handed Furman the statutory maximum of 240 months. He will also serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He was further ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Furman was a hands-on offender and had sexually abused teenage girls over the course of several years, one of whom provided an in-person victim impact statement. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the horrible details of Furman’s crimes and her powerful statement.
The investigation began after authorities learned about the distribution of files containing child pornography. The images included prepubescent minors forced to engage in sadistic or masochistic conduct. Furman was associated with that IP address.
Law enforcement also discovered Furman was writing and sending fantasies stories about abusing children.
On April 6, 2021, they executed a search warrant at Furman’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed 671 images and videos depicting child pornography. At the time of his arrest, Furman admitted to using the internet to view, download and distribute child pornography.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly Smith and Dennis Robinson prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Lumberton Man Sentenced to More than Six Years for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Lumberton, North Carolina man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Following his release, he will face three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Edward Shaquille Alford, 29, was named in an Indictment filed on July 28, 2021, charging him with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 9, 2022, Alford entered a plea of guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On February 27, 2021, investigators with the Lumberton Police Department and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence in Lumberton. Investigators located a loaded Glock 21 .45 caliber firearm with an extended magazine in the room where Alford was staying.
Alford made bond on state charges but was arrested again on a firearm charge on May 8, 2021, when Lumberton Police Department investigators attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Alford. Alford fled from the traffic stop and was apprehended nearby. A Springfield AR-15 was recovered from the driver’s side door.
Alford previously sustained multiple state felony convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, as well as a prior conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Lumberton Police Department, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the cases and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 7:21-CR-00096-D-001.
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Los fideicomisarios federales de recursos naturales proponen la construcción del parque Riverside en East NewarkRead the Press Release
Los planes para convertir un antiguo sector industrial en un parque público frente al río pronto pueden convertirse en realidad para los residentes del área. El 7 de junio de 2022, el Departamento de Justicia anunció la apertura de un período de 30 días para recibir comentarios del público sobre un acuerdo que le acreditaría a la empresa BASF Corporation su contribución al diseño, la construcción y la administración durante 30 años de un parque de cinco acres (2,02 hectáreas) en la intersección de Clay Street y Passaic Avenue.
Ese crédito se calcularía hacia la responsabilidad de BASF como una de las más de 100 compañías cuyas actividades pasadas contribuyeron potencialmente a la contaminación y daños a los recursos naturales relacionados con el lugar de superfondo Diamond Alkali y el área de estudio de Berry's Creek. BASF es la primera de estas compañías potencialmente responsables en estos lugares que propone una restauración temprana y proactiva para abordar una porción de estas supuestas responsabilidades por daños a los recursos naturales.
El Departamento de Justicia, en nombre de los fideicomisarios, ahora solicita comentarios del público para establecer cuál es el apoyo de la comunidad para la implementación del acuerdo de acreditación con BASF.
“Este acuerdo innovador abordará los daños a los recursos naturales causados por décadas de contaminación industrial y dará vida a un espacio público saludable para el disfrute de generaciones”, dijo el fiscal general auxiliar Todd Kim de la división de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales del Departamento de Justicia. “El Departamento de Justicia se compromete a buscar justicia para las comunidades que han cargado una injusta proporción de la contaminación en los Estados Unidos. Este acuerdo brinda, a corto plazo, beneficios duraderos a las comunidades que podrían haber demorado muchos años de litigio para lograrlo”.
El proyecto del parque mejoraría la calidad de vida de las comunidades y beneficiaría a la vida silvestre al convertir endurecidos terrenos industriales en bosques, praderas, humedales y jardines de polinizadores unidos por senderos y una pasarela elevada a lo largo del río Passaic. Si se aprueba el acuerdo, se anticipa que la construcción del proyecto procederá y el parque se inauguraría al público a fines de 2023 o en la primavera de 2024.
“Este parque proporcionará los espacios verdes necesarios para las comunidades urbanas que actualmente enfrentan una escasez de tales espacios, y mejorará las oportunidades recreativas y el acceso al río, ayudando a conectar a las personas con la naturaleza en sus vecindarios”, comentó Wendi Weber, directora regional del noreste del Servicio Federal de Pesca y Vida Silvestre. “También creará y conservará áreas naturales a lo largo del río Passaic que brindan un hábitat de alimentación, anidación y descanso para una variedad de aves migratorias y vida silvestre”.
Si bien el acuerdo de acreditación no aborda todos los daños sufridos como resultado de la contaminación, esta restauración temprana brinda beneficios significativos antes de acuerdos negociados o litigios que a menudo demoran años de que terminen. El proyecto de restauración del parque ribereño y la acreditación de la evaluación de daños a los recursos naturales se realizan por separado, pero coordinando con las actividades de limpieza del lugar que supervisa la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos.
Este sería el primer proyecto de restauración asociado con la evaluación federal de daños a los recursos naturales y las actividades de restauración relacionadas con el extenso lugar de superfondo Diamond Alkali y el área de estudio de Berry's Creek. El Servicio Federal de Pesca y Vida Silvestre y la Oficina Nacional de Administración Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA) están autorizados para actuar en nombre del público como fideicomisarios cuando se han producido daños a los recursos naturales. Los fideicomisarios respaldan el acuerdo de acreditación y los beneficios que se anticipan con el proyecto de mejorar la calidad del agua, crear un hábitat para las aves y los polinizadores y aumentar el acceso público al río, incluidas las oportunidades de recreación activas y pasivas para las comunidades de pocos recursos que se han visto afectadas de manera desproporcionada por la contaminación.
“Las actividades industriales de estas vías fluviales en funcionamiento tienen un legado de contaminación que afecta de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades de bajos recursos”, comentó Nicole LeBoeuf, directora del Servicio Nacional Oceánico de la NOAA. “Este parque ribereño de cinco acres representa un primer paso importante para restaurar tanto el funcionamiento perdido del ecosistema como el uso recreativo perdido para la comunidad a su alrededor. La NOAA se complace en unirse a la industria y a nuestros socios locales y federales en este esfuerzo”.
Los fideicomisarios emitieron un plan de restauración temprana y una evaluación ambiental para el proyecto del parque propuesto en julio de 2021 luego de los comentarios y la revisión del público. A lo largo de este proceso, los fideicomisarios han solicitado y respondido a los comentarios del público con respecto al proyecto propuesto. El acuerdo de acreditación, el próximo paso en el proceso, es el mecanismo vinculante y de financiamiento que implementa el plan final de restauración temprana y la evaluación ambiental para el parque propuesto.
Cuando termine el proyecto, según los términos del acuerdo de acreditación, BASF obtendrá un crédito de $73,5 millones que puede utilizar para compensar parcialmente la supuesta responsabilidad de la empresa por daños a los recursos naturales en virtud de la Ley integral de respuesta ambiental, compensación y responsabilidad respecto al lugar de superfondo Diamond Alkali y el área de estudio cercana de Berry's Creek. Los fideicomisarios anticipan que este proyecto servirá como modelo a medida que otras de las partes potencialmente responsables consideren abordar de manera proactiva las responsabilidades por daños a los recursos naturales.
El acuerdo de acreditación estará disponible para comentarios públicos durante 30 días hasta el día XX de agosto de 2022. Tras considerar los comentarios del público, el Departamento de Justicia determinará si implementará el acuerdo de acreditación. El acuerdo propuesto se puede examinar y descargar en este sitio web: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. Los comentarios deben dirigirse al Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, y deben referirse a In Re BASF and Trustees Interim Settlement Agreement, D.J. Ref. Nº 90-11-3- 07683/14. Los comentarios sobre la propuesta pueden enviarse hasta el día XX de agosto de 2022 por correo electrónico o por correo postal:
(1) Por correo electrónico: [email protected]
(2) Por correo postal:
Assistant Attorney General
U.S. DOJ – ENRD
P.O. Box 7611
Washington, D.C. 20044-7611Se celebrará una reunión virtual de información al público en horario vespertino el 15 de junio de 2022 con una reunión en persona que se llevará a cabo en horario vespertino el 28 de junio.
Puede encontrar más información sobre las próximas reuniones, el proyecto del parque, el acuerdo de acreditación, el proceso de evaluación de daños a los recursos naturales y el papel de los fideicomisarios en https://darrp.noaa.gov/EastNewarkRiverfrontPark.
El Departamento de Justicia evaluará toda la información recibida durante el período de comentarios y anunciará una decisión final a principios de agosto.
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Leader of Washington County Drug Distribution Network Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of Washington County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Marcus Brown, 34, of Washington County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on June 1 to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine from April of 2020 and continuing to November 19, 2020, before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Mr. Brown also accepted responsibility for conspiring to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base as well quantities of heroin and fentanyl and for possessing firearms in conjunction with his drug trafficking. Mr. Brown is the lead Defendant of 20 defendants charged in the Superseding Indictment returned in this case
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that in 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a drug trafficking organization lead by Mr. Brown that operated throughout the greater Washington County area. Beginning in April of 2020 and continuing through October of 2020, the FBI received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Mr. Brown, as the leader of this multi-member drug trafficking organization, was intercepted orchestrating and directing the movement of drugs from New Jersey to the Western District of Pennsylvania for distribution throughout Washington County by various members of the organization. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, firearms, ammunition, body armor, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization, including Mr. Brown.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than ten years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark V. Gurzo and Jerome A. Moschetta are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mr. Brown. 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.
Johnston Man Sentenced for Making a Destructive DeviceRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Chad Allen Williams, age 47, of Johnston, was sentenced Friday, June 3, 2022, to 60 months in federal prison for Making a Destructive Device and Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. Williams pled guilty to the charges on January 20, 2022.
According to court documents, Williams admitted to detonating homemade explosive devices on a public street in Ankeny on May 12 and June 7, 2021. A third explosive device was found in the same location on the morning of June 9, 2021. The device, which did not detonate in spite of apparent attempts to do so, was found to contain a significant amount of metallic shrapnel. With the assistance of neighbors and other community members, law enforcement worked together to trace the devices to Williams, and executed a search warrant at his Johnston residence on June 18, 2021.
As a result of the search warrant, Agents located controlled substances and items consistent with the manufacture of explosive devices, including the specific explosive devices located in Ankeny. Agents also seized a loaded Ruger, Model P89, nine-millimeter pistol in Williams’ vehicle. Subsequent to execution of the search warrant, Williams admitted to manufacturing and placing the explosive devices on the Ankeny street. Williams also admitted to being a user of methamphetamine, which disqualified him from the right to possess a firearm.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Ankeny Police Department, the Iowa Department of Public Safety Intelligence Division, the Iowa State Fire Marshall, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Johnston Man Admits to Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Johnston man who arranged for the sale and delivery of thousands of fentanyl pills plead guilty today in federal court in Providence to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and to distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Johnathan King, 31, admitted to the court that on May 25, 2021, he arranged to sell and have delivered 4,000 fentanyl pills to a person who arranged for the purchase while under surveillance by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force. King sold the same individual an additional 1,000 fentanyl pills on two dates in June 2021.
King, detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 20, 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2022. Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl are punishable by statutory penalties of a minimum of ten years of incarceration; a term of life with a mandatory minimum term of supervised release of five years; and a fine of $10,000,000. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H Vilker.
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Jefferson County man sentenced to four years on child pornography, explosives chargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a Jefferson County, Missouri man who was caught with child pornography and homemade explosive devices to four years in prison.
Nathan L. J. Baucom, 26, pleaded guilty in October to possession of child pornography and possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device.
He admitted receiving two images containing child pornography on Nov. 1, 2019 via Snapchat, and being caught by law enforcement on May 18, 2020 with five videos and 34 images containing child pornography on his cell phone. Baucom also had three improvised explosive devices consisting of carbon dioxide cylinders containing a fuse, explosive powder and steel shot, his plea agreement said.
Baucom told law enforcement that he planned to use the devices for fishing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Jefferson County man gets nearly 5 years for jail escape, gun chargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a man who escaped from the St. Ann jail while awaiting trial on a gun charge to four years and nine months in prison.
Jason W. Woolbright, 48, of Jefferson County, arranged for the purchase of a 1996 red Ford Mustang in June of 2021, and then had Christina Louise Deal stash it near the jail. On the night of July 9, 2021, he and two other inmates escaped through a window.
The U.S. Marshals captured all three inmates within 24 hours.
The felon in possession of a firearm charge stems from an Oct. 1, 2020 traffic stop by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Woolbright, who was on supervised release after being sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison on a 2013 drug charge, told the officer he only had prison ID, not his driver’s license. The officer also spotted a Xanax pill in the van and found a loaded Colt handgun under the driver’s seat.
Woolbright pleaded guilty March 9 to the escape charge and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Deal, 47, pleaded guilty in April to a charge of assisting an escape and is scheduled to be sentenced in August.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Bateman prosecuted the case.