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Tuesday 26 April 2022
South Florida International Firearms Smuggler Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Delray Beach, Florida man who fueled an international firearms smuggling ring with guns he illegally purchased at South Florida gun shows through straw buyers has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison.
Mackenzie Delmas, 27, pled guilty in May 2021 to numerous federal offenses, including conspiracy, firearms smuggling, straw purchasing of firearms, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute MDMA.
Delmas was a convicted felon during the conspiracy, which operated from about 2018 to 2019. Unable to buy firearms himself due to his prior conviction, Delmas deployed straw buyers to gun shows throughout South Florida to buy firearms on his behalf. The straw buyers would falsely represent to the federally licensed firearms dealers at the shows that the firearms were for them, when in fact they were for Delmas. In a little over one year, Delmas obtained 25 firearms through straw buyers. In September 2018, Canadian law enforcement intercepted some of these guns as they were being smuggled from New York to Canada. In November 2019, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized another gun connected to Delmas during a criminal investigation.
Delmas was one of seven defendants convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Florida in this matter. Two additional defendants, Shalena Mary Haynes and Enza Esposito, are fugitives.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Miami, announced the sentenced imposed by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, with assistance from numerous federal, local, and foreign agencies, including the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (DOJ - ATR), the United States Secret Service (USSS), the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Toronto Police Service (TPS), and the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale (LSJML).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McMichael and former DOJ Anti-Trust Trial Attorney, Paola Henry prosecuted the case.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 19-cr-80045.
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Six Arrested for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Heroin in BakersfieldRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Six people were arrested in Kern County today following a year-long investigation of a Bakersfield-based drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The defendants are scheduled to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on Wednesday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m.
Those charged in the federal criminal complaint unsealed today are: Jorge Calderon-Campos, 41; Byron Adilio Alfaro-Sandoval, 45; and Johnathan Benjamin Torres, 30; all citizens of Mexico residing in Bakersfield; Jose Angel Beltran-Chaidez, 66, of Bakersfield; and Alberto Gomez-Santiago, 36; and Mark Garcia, 22, of Arvin.
According to court documents, Campos distributed in Bakersfield large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin that he imported from Mexico. Between March 2021 and February 2022, law enforcement agencies intercepted and seized approximately 86 pounds of methamphetamine and 1 kilogram of heroin that Campos and his co-conspirators attempted to distribute.
“We are committed to disrupting transnational criminal networks that flood our communities with dangerous drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Those who distribute large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, and other illegal drugs in our communities will be held accountable.”
“The successful outcome of this yearlong investigation further highlights the importance of sustained cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement,” said HSI San Francisco/NorCal Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Through this multiagency effort, we were able to disrupt transnational criminal activity responsible for importing and distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin into our communities. We especially thank our agents, the men and women of our federal and local partners as well as the prosecutorial efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California.”
“DEA and our law enforcement partners will be relentless in the pursuit of criminal networks that set-up shop in our communities and push poison into our neighborhoods,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Probation Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the charged offenses, each defendant faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Jordan Tyler Traversie, age 31, was indicted on April 5, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 25, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Traversie, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between October 14, 2021, and February 16, 2022.
The charge is merely an accusation and Traversie is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Traversie was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Semmes Man with Prior Robbery Conviction Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Semmes man was sentenced to seven years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Noah Jones, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers on December 26, 2020 after he refused to stop for a traffic violation and led police on a high speed chase through a residential area of Mobile. During the pursuit, Jones lost control of the SUV that he was driving, slammed into a tree, bailed out of the vehicle, and ran on foot through several backyards before police caught and arrested him. Jones told officers that he ran because he was out on bond for a pending state murder charge.
Between the driver’s seat and center console of the SUV that Jones had wrecked, officers found a Glock 9mm pistol, which was equipped with a fully loaded 30-round high-capacity magazine. Jones admitted that he possessed the Glock pistol. On the back floorboard of the SUV, police found two additional fully loaded 9mm pistols, which Jones denied possessing. Jones was convicted of second degree robbery in Mobile County Circuit Court in 2017. His prior felony robbery conviction rendered his possession of firearms illegal under federal law.
United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Jones to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Jones to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Seattle man who sold large quantities of fentanyl while out on bail for state drug charge sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 38-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84-months in prison for distributing fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Ricky Chavez Hernandez was out on bail from a King County Superior Court drug case when he repeatedly sold large amounts of fentanyl to someone working with law enforcement. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed 3 years of supervised release to follow the prison term.
According to records filed in the case, in early April 2021, a confidential source working with federal agents set up a drug buy from an associate of Hernandez. At the site of the deal, Hernandez sold a quarter pound of powder fentanyl for $8,500. Hernandez also offered to sell a pill press and fentanyl pills. Analysis of the fentanyl Hernandez sold showed in contained not only fentanyl, but an animal tranquilizer. The next month, Hernandez was again selling fentanyl to the confidential informant. Finally, Hernandez was arrested after setting up a third drug deal on May 27, 2021.
When agents searched Hernandez’ home at the time of his arrest, they found a mixer used for cutting fentanyl with other substances, drug scales, and other drug trafficking equipment.
Hernandez engaged in the drug trafficking in this case while out on bail for charges related to drug trafficking crimes charged in state court. In a search of Hernandez’ home in 2019, agents recovered two firearms, fentanyl powder, heroin, and fentanyl pills. Law enforcement also found methamphetamine, cocaine, and the tools of a drug dealer such as scales and cell phones in the residence.
In asking for a 90-month sentence, prosecutors noted that fentanyl is deadly, not only for drug users but for others who can be inadvertently exposed. Hernandez “was mixing pure powdered fentanyl with various other substances at his house where his mother, girlfriend, and infant daughter lived. Mixing drugs with the lethality of fentanyl — which can kill through air exposure alone—is dangerous enough. Doing so with an infant in the house indicates exceptional recklessness regarding the health risks to others,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.
Hernandez’s federal sentence and his state sentence on the 2019 case can be run concurrently. Following prison, he will be on federal supervised release for 3 years.
The case was investigated by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Seattle and Federal Way Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.
San Fernando Valley Man Indicted on Federal Charges Alleging He Sold Pound Quantities of Meth and Dozens of ‘Ghost Guns’Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today charged a San Fernando Valley man with selling a total of nearly 16 pounds of methamphetamine and 89 firearms, including dozens of “ghost guns,” or firearms that lack serial numbers.
Julio Ernesto Lopez-Menendez, 26, a.k.a. “Iroe,” of Reseda, was charged in a 13-count indictment with four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, four counts of possession of unregistered firearms, and four counts of possession of firearms not identified by serial numbers.
Lopez-Menendez’s arraignment is scheduled for May 5 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. He has been in federal custody since his April 14 arrest on a criminal complaint in this case.
The indictment returned today details a series of alleged transactions involving Lopez-Menendez from January 6 to April 7, 2022. These transactions typically involved large numbers of firearms and, sometimes, pound quantities of methamphetamine. Some firearms sold were so-called “ghost guns,” named because of their lack of a serial number.
Ghost guns are often assembled from parts purchased separately or in a kit. Because the separate parts do not bear serial numbers, the assembled ghost guns do not bear serial numbers, and they cannot be registered or traced.
In one deal on January 20, Lopez-Menendez allegedly sold the buyer – who was an undercover operative – a dozen firearms, including 10 semi-automatic “ghost gun” pistols. In a February 10 transaction, Lopez-Menendez allegedly sold the buyer nearly one pound of methamphetamine and 14 firearms, including nine semi-automatic ghost gun pistols, for $15,000.
During the final two drug deals alleged in the indictment, Lopez-Menendez sold the buyer approximately 4.2 kilograms (9.2 pounds) and 2.2 kilograms (4.8 pounds) of methamphetamine on March 8 and March 23, respectively.
In total, Lopez-Menendez sold approximately 7.25 kilograms (15.98 pounds) of methamphetamine and 89 firearms – including 53 ghost guns, the indictment alleges.
Lopez-Menendez does not have a federal firearms license and does not have any firearms registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, the central registry for all items regulated under the National Firearms Act, according to court documents.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Lopez-Menendez would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the for each distribution of methamphetamine charge. He would face statutory maximum sentences of five years in federal prison for the unlicensed firearms business charge, 10 years in federal prison for each possession of an unregistered firearm count, and 10 years in federal prison for each count of possession of a firearm without a serial number.
The FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chou of the Violent and Organized Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
San Diego Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Joseph Orabona (619) 546-7951
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 26, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Jonathan Madison of San Diego was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 100 months in prison for knowingly recruiting, advertising, and soliciting a teenage girl to engage in commercial sex acts.
Madison pleaded guilty in February 2021. In his plea agreement, Madison admitted that he transported underage girls and women and provided them to customers for commercial sex acts, which took place in California and Colorado from November 2017 through April 2020. During this time, Madison transported, provided, maintained, and obtained an underage girl (while she was 15 and 16 years old) for the purpose of her to engage in commercial sex acts, including in San Diego County. As part of his human trafficking activities, Madison caused online advertisements of the underage girls and women to be posted on various websites for customers to solicit them for commercial sex.
Madison also admitted that he videotaped himself having sexual intercourse with an underage girl and later transmitted the video to her by cell phone.
Madison, aka “Jay Jay,” “Boobutt,” and “JT,” was arrested in April 2020 on sex trafficking charges and ordered detained without bond by the Court. A federal grand jury returned an indictment in May 2020 against Madison charging him with sex trafficking of a minor.
“This is a fitting sentence for a man engaged in trafficking of children,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Our office will continue to seek justice when our community’s most vulnerable victims are subjected to these heinous crimes.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their excellent work on this case.
“Today’s sentence sends a strong message to those who intentionally target and victimize children,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners on the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force will use all investigative resources to identify and prosecute those who prey on minors.”
Madison has been detained in custody since his arrest in April 2020.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Cynthia A. Bashant not only imposed the 100-month prison sentence, but also ordered Madison to serve a five-year term of supervised release and to pay a $5,000 mandatory penalty assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Madison will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
DEFENDANT Case Numbers: 20CR1228-BAS
Jonathan Madison Age: 31 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591
Maximum Penalties: 10-year mandatory minimum and a maximum of life in prison; mandatory Sex Offender Registration; a maximum term of supervised release of life; mandatory restitution to the victims.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, which consists of:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- California Department of Justice
- California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation – Parole
- California Highway Patrol
- ICE/Homeland Security Investigations
- National City Police Department
- San Diego City Attorney’s Office
- San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
- San Diego County Probation Department
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
- San Diego Police Department
- The United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Stolen Firearm was sentenced on April 22, 2022, by Judge Karen E. Schreier, U.S. District Court.
Huya Smoke, age 20, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Smoke was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2021, and pleaded guilty on December 3, 2021. The conviction stems from Smoke knowingly being in possession of a stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol in Rapid City in April 2021. At the time, Smoke was also under indictment in Meade County, South Dakota.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Smoke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Queens Business Owner Sentenced for Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A New York man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for tax evasion and employment tax crimes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rocco Manzione, of Queens, owned and operated several Brooklyn-based concrete companies. From 2011 to 2017, Manzione withheld more than $1 million in federal employment taxes from his employees’ wages, but he did not timely file employment tax returns for his companies, nor did he pay the required taxes to the IRS. Instead, Manzione spent these funds on family vacations, multiple mortgages, private school tuition and luxury vehicles. For the third quarter of 2016 alone, Manzione did not pay over to the IRS $85,000 in employment taxes for Advanced Transit Mix Corp., one of the companies he owned.
In addition to the payroll tax scheme, Manzione also filed false tax returns and evaded his individual income taxes. From 2012 through 2017, Manzione initially did not file federal income tax returns, even though he earned more than $3.9 million in taxable income during that period. He concealed some of his income from the IRS by transferring funds from one of the concrete companies he owned to a bank account in the name of a nominee corporation.
In December 2015, Manzione wanted to purchase a condominium in Miami for more than $1 million. The lending banks, however, required him to provide federal income tax returns for the previous three years. To qualify for a mortgage, Manzione conspired with his accountant, John Savignano, to file false 2012 through 2014 tax returns that underreported his income for each of those years.
In total, Manzione caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $2.8 million. Savignano is scheduled to be sentenced on April 27.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Rachel P. Kovner ordered Manzione to serve two years of supervised release and to pay approximately $2.8 million in restitution.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Kathryn Carpenter of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Prior Felon Going to Prison for Possessing A Gun and AmmunitionRead 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 Marco Sweat, 41, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who handled the case, stated that on June 9, 2019, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Buffalo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, executed a search warrant at Sweat’s residence on Langfield Drive in Buffalo. During the search, investigators seized three firearms and 125 rounds of ammunition. Sweat, having previously been convicted in Erie County Court of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The sentencing is result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.
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Presidential Designation of ATF Acting DirectorRead the Press Release
On April 25, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden signed an order designating Gary M. Restaino, the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, to serve as Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Presidential Order became effective upon the President’s submission to the U.S. Senate of the nomination of former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettlebach to serve as permanent ATF Director. Acting Director Restaino will continue to serve as U.S. Attorney while the Senate considers Mr. Dettlebach’s nomination.
“After three decades of dedicated service, Deputy Director Marvin Richardson stepped up to lead ATF when he was needed the most, and under his leadership the brave professionals of ATF have worked tirelessly to protect our communities from violent crime and the scourge of gun violence,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We are extremely grateful that Marvin will continue his service to the Justice Department and our country as Deputy Director. We are also grateful for the leadership and commitment of Gary Restaino, a U.S. Attorney and career prosecutor who has served with the Department for nearly 20 years, as he takes on this new assignment as Acting Director of ATF.”
Deputy Director Richardson will work closely with Acting Director Restaino to ensure both an effective transition and continuity in executing ATF’s crucial public safety mission.
Pittsburgh Man Indicted for Early March Robbery Spree, Firearms Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of robbery, attempted robbery, and firearms violations, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The nine-count Indictment named Eric Jones, 32, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Jones committed four robberies and attempted robberies from March 6, 2022, until March 15, 2022. Specifically, on March 6, 2022, Jones is alleged to have committed a robbery at the Fox’s Pizza Den in Oakmont. Jones is also accused of committing a robbery at a Sunoco gas station and convenience store in Verona on March 10, 2022. On March 15, 2022, Jones is accused of attempting to rob a Family Dollar on Frankstown Road in Pittsburgh, and the Edgewood Avenue Express in Edgewood. The Indictment further alleges that Jones discharged a firearm during three of those robberies, and brandished a firearm in connection with another. Jones also is also accused of possessing a semiautomatic pistol from March 6, 2022 until March 19, 2022.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $2,225,000 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 investigation was the result of a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Oakmont Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Edgewood Police Department, and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years for Kidnapping and Robbing United States Postal WorkersRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that James Chandler, 55, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison, and five supervised release by United States District Court Judge R. Barclay Surrick for two counts of robbery of a postal worker and one count of kidnapping.
In September 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges in connection with two incidents that occurred on January 11 and February 4, 2021, during which Chandler robbed postal workers using a replica handgun, forcing them into their postal trucks and stealing packages from inside. During the incident in February, Chandler also forced the postal worker to drive him for several blocks in her postal truck before he fled on foot.
“Targeting and violently assaulting employees of the United States Postal Service is a serious federal crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Mail carriers provide an essential service to nearly every citizen and business, oftentimes going above and beyond to execute their duties in challenging circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Chandler terrorized two postal workers at gunpoint, and he will now spend decades behind bars for his actions.”
“Early in 2021, James Chandler terrorized two mail carriers with the United States Postal Service by pointing a gun their faces and robbing them of parcels they were delivering. With some old fashioned police work, Postal Inspectors and Philadelphia Police detectives quickly identified and arrested Mr. Chandler,” said Damon Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the Postal Inspection Service’s Philadelphia Division. “While Inspectors are busy investigating narcotic trafficking, mail fraud schemes, and the theft of mail, few other crimes will mobilize Inspectors and the resources of the Inspection Service more so than violence committed against its employees or its customers. I want to thank the officers and detectives of the Philadelphia Police Department and the prosecutors at the United States Attorney’s Office for working alongside us in holding Mr. Chandler responsible.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Oshana.
Pharmacist Sentenced for $180 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former Mississippi pharmacist was sentenced today to 10 years in the Southern District of Mississippi for a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE and private insurance companies by paying kickbacks to distributors for the referral of medically unnecessary prescriptions. The conduct resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings, including more than $50 million paid by federal health care programs.
According to court documents, Mitchell “Chad” Barrett, 55, now of Gulf Breeze, Florida, and formerly of Mississippi, participated in a scheme to defraud TRICARE and other health care benefit programs by distributing medically unnecessary compounded medications. Barrett was licensed as a pharmacist in Mississippi and was a co-owner of various compounding pharmacies. As part of this scheme, Barrett adjusted prescription formulas to ensure the highest reimbursement without regard to medical necessity. He solicited recruiters to procure prescriptions for high-margin compounded medications and paid those recruiters commissions based on the percentage of reimbursements paid by pharmacy benefit managers and health care benefit programs, including commissions on claims reimbursed by TRICARE. He further routinely and systematically waived and/or reduced copayments to be paid by beneficiaries and members, and utilized a purported copayment assistance program to falsely make it appear as if his pharmacy and its affiliate compounding pharmacies had been collecting copayments.
Barrett pleaded guilty on Aug. 25, 2021, to conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Barrett was ordered to pay restitution and forfeit all assets traced to his ill-gotten gains.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DoD OIG-DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Jackson Field Office and DoD OIG-DCIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Alejandra Arias of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with assistance from Sara Porter and Dustin Davis from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Pennsylvania man sentenced for drug trafficking chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – John Ross Lawrence, of Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 70 months of incarceration for a drug a charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Lawrence, 32, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Lawrence admitted to selling methamphetamine in February 2021 in Marshall County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cameron Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Owner of Tax Preparation Business Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Small Business OwnersRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – The former owner of a tax preparation business who defrauded at least eight small businesses, many of whose owners spoke English in a limited capacity, was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in federal prison for wire fraud and ordered to pay $190,294 in restitution.
According to court documents, Lisa Tucker Dillard, 60, of Roanoke, Virginia owned and operated a bookkeeping and tax accounting business in Franklin County, and in exchange for a monthly fee, claimed to provide accounting services to small businesses, including the preparation of federal taxes.
Beginning in 2017, Dillard began a scheme to defraud local small business owners, many of whom spoke limited English. As part of this scheme, Dillard advised her victims that they owed a tax liability to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but that she had established an installment agreement with the IRS for payment. Dillard then instructed her victims to make those installment payments directly to her claiming that she would then forward the money to the IRS.
In creating a sense of legitimacy, Dillard applied a fraudulent IRS logo to fake receipts that she presented to her victims to make it appear that the money had been remitted to the IRS and applied to the victims’ alleged tax liabilities. In actuality, Dillard neither filed taxes nor paid any money to the IRS on behalf of any victim. Moreover, Dillard was never approved by the IRS as an authorized tax return filer because she never obtained either a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) or an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) as required by the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case.
Orangeburg and Columbia Men Who Shot Towards Police Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Two felons who shot towards, police – Phillip Michael King, 35, of Barnwell, and Anthony Lafayette Legette, a/k/a “Amp Legette,” 37, of Columbia – were collectively sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to federal firearms violations.
“As recent events in our state have shown us, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis. “We will not tolerate violence against the police in South Carolina, and I want to thank the law enforcement agencies that responded and prioritized these cases.”
“Violent individuals in possession of firearms illegally are a threat to our communities and a threat to the brave men and women working to keep our streets safe,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Mein. “ATF is proud to join our local, state, and federal partners in bringing these individuals to justice.”
"These cases are examples of how local law enforcement work in partnership with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney to arrest and prosecute prolific violent offenders,” said Columbia Chief of Police W. H. “Skip” Holbrook. “Cases like these remove the ‘trigger pullers’ from neighborhoods in our cities."
King pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition – his second such conviction in federal court. Evidence presented in court showed that on September 22, 2018, an officer with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop near downtown Orangeburg because the vehicle was reported as stolen. The vehicle failed to stop for blue lights, sirens, or marked patrol cars, and took the police on a car chase through the city. King leaned out of the rear passenger window during the pursuit and discharged two rounds from a pistol in the direction of the police car behind him. The vehicles came to a stop and King fled on foot. A loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol was recovered in the path of King’s flight on foot. King later confessed to the shooting and to hoping that during it he would be shot and killed by the police. Shell casings collected from the area of the shooting were forensically matched by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to the firearm recovered, and ATF determined the firearm was stolen.
Legette also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Evidence presented in court showed that on November 3, 2017, Legette was driving under the influence when he was in a car accident with an off-duty Columbia Police Department officer near downtown Columbia. When the vehicles came to a stop, the off-duty officer approached Legette, identified himself as an officer with the Columbia Police Department, and showed his law enforcement credentials. Legette then failed to follow commands and appeared to reach for a firearm. The off-duty officer brandished his service weapon, and Legette fled the scene in his vehicle to an apartment complex in Columbia. Legette walked inside, retrieved a pistol, told a resident that an officer was following him, came outside and announced, “there goes that [explicative] right there.” Legette pointed his firearm in the air in the direction of the officer and discharged one round. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the residence, recovered a loaded Cobra Industries, .38 caliber Derringer pistol with one spent casing inside the revolver. Legette later admitted to the shooting.
King was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based on numerous prior felony convictions, including assault with intent to kill in an incident related to a prior shooting, arson, and a federal felon in possession of a firearm conviction. King’s convictions began in 2003 and they also include unlawful carrying of a pistol, simple assault and battery, and failure to stop for blue lights.
Legette was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based on numerous prior felony convictions, including assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in a matter related to an assault that was a part of a gang ritual, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and assault and battery 2nd degree. Legette’s convictions began in 2002 and they also include driving under the influence, drunkenness, drug possession, simple assault and battery, and failure to comply with a police command.
Senior United States District Court Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced King to a total of 114 months in federal prison. Senior United States District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Legette to 63 months in federal prison. Both sentences will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision, and there is no parole in the federal system.
King’s case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
Both cases were prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The cases were investigated by the ATF, SLED, Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, and Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the cases.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to 180 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Adan Casillas-Aguilar, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. for possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking offense. Casillas-Aguilar received a sentence of 180 months’ imprisonment with a five-year term of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system. Casillas-Aguilar also forfeited $48,317 that was seized as part of the investigation.
On November 9, 2020, officers with the Omaha Police Department utilized an informant to purchase 25 grams of pure methamphetamine from Casillas-Aguilar. On November 24, 2020, a second controlled buy using an informant resulted in an additional 150 grams of pure methamphetamine being purchased from Casillas-Aguilar.
On December 2, 2020, a search warrant was executed on Casillas-Aguilar’s residence in Omaha. During the search, 9.88 pounds of methamphetamine and $48,317 were seized. In addition, officers located 8 firearms, including a loaded rifle that was located on the kitchen table.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Oklahoma Inmate Indicted for Orchestrating Drug and Firearms Conspiracies Using Contraband CellphonesRead the Press Release
An inmate who used contraband cell phones to lead a methamphetamine distribution operation has been charged along with five others in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Richard Deeter, Jr. was charged with directing a continuing criminal enterprise from prison. Deeter along with Donald Pearson, Jonna Steele, Johnny Sparks, Izabella Boling, and Nicole Cox, were charged in a 43-count indictment with taking part in drug and firearms conspiracies that included the trafficking of methamphetamine and the use of firearms to further their drug operation.
“This case demonstrates how the use of contraband cell phones within prisons fuels violent crime in communities across our state,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office is committed to working together with our law enforcement partners to thwart the use of contraband cell phones and hold accountable those individuals operating large scale criminal conspiracies from behind prison walls.”
Deeter allegedly directed the purchase and pick up of bulk quantities of methamphetamine from Oklahoma City for the purpose of redistributing the drug within the Northern District of Oklahoma. Deeter and his coconspirators utilized Facebook messenger, video calls, text messaging, encrypted instant messaging, and other methods to conduct operations. The indictment alleges he communicated with his coconspirators and others about where to pick up the methamphetamine, drug pricing, and to whom the drug would be sold. Deeter accepted payment from coconspirators and drug customers through the use of Green Dot cards and Cash App. He is also alleged to have directed the use of firearms to further the drug operation and the collection of drug debts. The conspirators kept residences in Tulsa for storing the guns and methamphetamine.
According to the indictment, criminal acts conducted as part of the conspiracy are:
-In November 2021, Deeter had a phone conversation asking an individual to find someone who could pilot a drone for the purposes of smuggling contraband into prison.
-In December 2021, Deeter sent a text message to an individual with a list of people who owed him money. On that list was Michael Johnson. Deeter directed an individual to collect the debt by stealing Johnson’s car. During the Jan. 5, 2022, attempt to collect the debt, Johnson was shot and killed.
-In June 2021, Deeter directed an individual to travel to Oklahoma City to purchase approximately 5 to 7 kilograms of methamphetamine. The next month, he directed the same individual to travel to the city to purchase 14 kilograms of methamphetamine.
-In July 2021, Deeter directed an individual to find someone to shave the heads and eyebrows of two women who owed him money.
-In November 2021, Deeter allegedly messaged Boling asking her to sell approximately 13 firearms over Facebook Messenger for a total price of $5,000.
-From November to December 2021, Deeter directed an individual to store firearms at a residence located at 1815 N. Atlanta Place in Tulsa. During that time, Deeter also used a cell phone, including video calls, to direct the same individual to trade methamphetamine for firearms.
-In November 2021, Deeter arranged for a Universal Aryan Brotherhood member to deliver a 12-gauge break open shotgun to the same residence to hide the firearm from police.
-In September and October 2021, Deeter paid rent for 1814 N. Atlanta Place in the form of counterfeit oxycodone pills, which contained fentanyl.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Defendants are charged as followed:
Richard Deeter Jr., 44, residing in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester: continuing criminal enterprise (Count 1); felon in possession of a firearm (Counts 2,3) Firearms Conspiracy (Count 5); drug conspiracy (Count 6); use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony (Counts 7-29, 31-39); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count 40, 42); possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (count 43).
Donnie Pearson, 36, of Sand Springs: felon in possession of a firearm (Count 4); firearms conspiracy (Count 5); drug conspiracy (Count 6), use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony (Count 30).
Jonna Steele, 37, of Tulsa: firearms conspiracy (Count 5); drug conspiracy (Count 6); use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony (Count 16, 18).
Johnny Sparks, 34, of Tulsa: drug conspiracy (Count 6); possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (Count 41).
Izabella Boling, 25, of Broken Arrow: firearms conspiracy (Count 5); drug conspiracy (Count 6); possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (Count 43).
Nicole Cox, 26, of Mountain Home, Arkansas: firearms conspiracy (Count 5); drug conspiracy (Count 6); use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony (Count 17).
Deeter and Pearson are members of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood.
The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case.
Ohio man sentenced for selling methamphetamineRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Kaprice D. Russell, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 124 months of incarceration for drug charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Russell, age 34, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Cocaine Hydrochloride, Methamphetamine, and Heroin,” “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Cocaine Hydrochloride within 1000 feet of a Protected Location,” one count of “Distribution of Heroin,” and one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base.” Russell admitted to working with others to sell cocaine base, cocaine hydrochloride, methamphetamine and heroin from June 2019 to August 2021 in Ohio County and elsewhere, including the Southern District of Ohio.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Clairsville Police Department assisted.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Nigerian woman sentenced for scamming Social Security Administration and FEMA out of nearly a million dollarsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Ivie Shevon Sajere has been sentenced for her role in a conspiracy that defrauded the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) out of nearly $1,000,000. The conspiracy involved the false filing of thousands of online applications for SSA retirement benefits and FEMA disaster benefits using stolen personal information.
“This was a massive fraud that impacted two government agencies and harmed thousands of victims across the country whose identities were stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “Sajere’s prison sentence is the culmination of a complicated investigation and prosecution and serves as a cautionary tale to other fraudsters similarly minded.”
“This sentence holds Sajere accountable for her role in this complex conspiracy to defraud the Social Security Administration, alone, of nearly seven hundred thousand dollars. She stole personal information of innocent people and used it to defraud the SSA by abusing its online services,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General, for the Social Security Administration. “My office will continue to uphold the integrity of the SSA’s online services and programs that so many Americans rely on. I thank the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations, and other law enforcement agencies for joining us in this comprehensive investigation. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”
“Anyone with malicious intent can cause widespread damage to victims, and in this case, the defendant orchestrated an identity theft spree that resulted in the defrauding of two agencies that provide substantial assistance to individuals in need,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This scheme highlights the importance of national collaboration when it comes to combatting identity theft, and I thank our law enforcement partners for their essential assistance with this investigation.”
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: Beginning in approximately June 2017 until September 2018, the defendant and her husband, Neville Sajere, both Nigerian nationals who engaged in marriage fraud in an unsuccessful attempt to become U.S. citizens, participated in a money laundering scheme that defrauded nearly a million dollars from SSA and FEMA.
The scheme involved unknown fraudsters filing applications for Social Security retirement benefits and FEMA disaster relief benefits using stolen personal information. The individual victims whose personal information was stolen were often individuals highly acclaimed in their fields. It appears that these individuals were targeted because, even though they were of retirement age, they had not filed for SSA retirement benefits and did not need disaster benefit relief. Thus, the fraudsters had a better chance of getting the applications approved. The victims included a movie director, an award-winning journalist, the daughter of a legendary movie director, and a highly esteemed academic.
Once an application was approved, the fraudsters directed that the funds be deposited onto a Green Dot debit card opened using other stolen personal information. As soon as the money hit the Green Dot debit card, the defendant generated payments through Square, Stripe, and PayPal to Nevada Bridge TV, a Nigerian streaming service/television production company owned by the defendant’s husband; BAGMA, an African gospel award show business owned by the defendant’s husband; and Shevonz, a clothing store owned by the defendant.
Ivie Shevon Sajere (a/k/a Ivie Shevon Owubo), 38, Suwanee, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., to two years, six months in prison. She was also ordered to pay $949,616.40 in restitution to SSA and FEMA. Sajere was remanded into custody at the close of the sentencing hearing to begin her sentence. Because Sajere is not a United States citizen, she is likely to be deported after she completes her sentence. Sajere pleaded guilty on November 30, 2021, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Diane C. Schulman, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal prosecuted 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.
New York Man and Woman Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of MinorsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A New York woman was sentenced today to 76 months in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Her co-defendant, also from New York, was previously sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.
According to court documents, for at least a decade beginning around 2010, Omel McLean, 54, maintained a group of women and minors based in New York City whom he forced to engage in commercial sex. He controlled them with physical abuse, using a baseball bat and paddles to discipline them, and by providing and restricting their access to illegal controlled substances. McLean commonly required minors he recruited to have sex with him first. He impregnated several of his victims and then further manipulated them by restricting access to their children.
McLean recruited his co-defendant, Antoinette Finklea, 26, when she was herself a minor. Eventually, she supervised the group of women and minors for McLean. She posted advertisements and arranged the commercial sex acts. When she was old enough to travel out of state, she would bring women and minors to the Hampton Roads area, where McLean had a substantial client base.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Mike Goldsmith, Interim Chief of Norfolk Police; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Montoya and Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-50.
Missoula nurse sentenced for felony drug diversionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula nurse who admitted to diverting fentanyl and hydromorphone from Community Medical Center for her own use was sentenced today to two years of probation and fined $2,000, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Mary Schmidt Monahan, 61, pleaded guilty in January to unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that from July 2020 until about February 2021, Monahan, who is a nurse at Community Medical Center in Missoula, diverted fentanyl and hydromorphone. In January 2021, a coworker noticed Monahan acting suspiciously and observed Monahan with her back to a patient filling syringes with two drug vials. Monahan put something in her jacket pocket, pulled up her right arm sleeve to her elbow, stepped into the corner of the curtain, then returned and wiped her arm with an alcohol pad and raised it for about a minute. Shortly afterward, Monahan asked the coworker to witness her disposal of the medications Dilaudid and fentanyl. In February 2021, another coworker saw Monahan doing something with her hands before placing a vial into her scrub’s pocket. The coworker noted that Monahan was acting in an anxious manner and reported the incident. Monahan’s supervisors confronted her, and she admitted to stealing narcotics and using them. A search of Monahan’s bag revealed unmarked syringes, some of which were used, and some contained liquid, and wrappers from used alcohol swabs. Monahan provided a urine sample, which tested positive for fentanyl.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Missoula Police Department.
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Middletown Woman Pleads Guilty to Failure to Pay over TaxRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Delaware woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to failure to account for and pay over federal employment taxes. Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the plea.
According to court documents, Nyashia Coryaba, 59, of Middletown, the owner of a home healthcare agency, failed to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service the federal income taxes withheld from her employees during the third quarter of 2019. Coryaba further admitted to failing to pay over these same taxes between June 2015 and December 2019. Defendant also agreed to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $579,640.22.
Coryaba faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison when sentenced on August 31, 2022. Judge Connolly will determine her sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented on the plea, “The failure to pay over employment taxes is not only a theft from the government, it is also a theft from the workers whose taxes have been withheld. My office will continue to pursue cases where hard working individuals are victimized by their employer’s failure to comply with tax obligations.”
Coryaba chose to pay personal expenditures using funds from her company, all while being fully aware that she had not paid over to the IRS payroll taxes withheld from her employees’ paychecks,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. “Her actions adversely affect her employees’ ability to collect future social security and Medicare benefits. We will continue to track down and hold accountable those who fail to remit to the IRS payroll taxes."
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley F. Wolf is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 21-cr-48.
Michigan Real Estate Developer Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion arising from his near decade-long effort to prevent the IRS from collecting taxes he and his businesses owed.
According to court documents, Scott Chappelle, 61, of Okemos and East Lansing, was an attorney and former CPA who operated Terra Management Company, Strathmore Development Company Michigan LLC and Terra Holdings LLC, all of which were involved in real estate development and property management in the East Lansing area. As part of his guilty plea, Chappelle admitted he did not pay over to the IRS employment taxes withheld from the wages of the companies’ employees. When the IRS sought to collect the unpaid taxes, Chappelle made false statements to the agency about his and his companies’ assets and income, concealed his vacation house on Lake Michigan and purchased real property in nominee names instead of his own. Chappelle also falsely told IRS employees he could not afford to pay his tax debts, when in reality he was contemporaneously using business bank accounts to pay paid for personal expenses such as mortgage payments on two houses and a condominium, college tuition for his children, personal credit card bills, life insurance premiums, car payments for himself and one of his children, and expenses associated with boats he owned.
Chappelle also lied to IRS special agents who were investigating his misconduct. He falsely stated he had not purchased property since the IRS began collection activities, and he concealed the source of the funds used to pay for a mortgage on a condominium in East Lansing. During the criminal investigation, Chappelle also filed a false employment tax return for Terra Holdings LLC on which he claimed the company had no employees and paid no wages during the time period covered by the return. In fact, Chappelle knew the company had employees and paid wages during that period because he approved submissions to the company’s payroll provider.
Chappelle further admitted to making false statements on a loan application when he refinanced the mortgage on his Lake Michigan vacation house in Harbor Springs.
Chappelle is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 2. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge for the Western District of Michigan made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Melissa S. Siskind of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. VerHey for the Western District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
Michigan Man Arrested for Federal Kidnapping, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Michael Harris, 35, was arrested Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Knoxville, Tennessee by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Knoxville Police Department (KPD), and Knox County Sheriff’s Office on charges involving kidnapping an officer assisting federal authorities, prior convicted felon in possession of firearms, and possession with intent to distribute narcotics.
Harris made his initial appearance today, April 26, 2022, at 11:00 am in United States District Court in Knoxville, before the Honorable Debra C. Poplin, United States Magistrate Judge, and was detained pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint filed on April 25, 2022, ATF agents, Knoxville Police officers with the Organized Crime Unit and Special Operation Squad, and Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies were conducting a surveillance operation at the RK Gun Show located at the Expo Center, located at 5441 Clinton Highway, I-75 Expo Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
During the operation, law enforcement observed Harris purchasing several firearms and firearm accessories at various vendors inside the R.K. Gun Show. Harris was also using Facetime as he walked around the gun show showing different guns and accessories to an unknown individual. Due to this suspicious activity, law enforcement followed Harris to a vehicle in the parking lot of the Knoxville Expo Center and observed him loading firearms and firearm accessories into the back of a rented, red Chrysler minivan.
After a brief surveillance, officers located the red Chrysler minivan parked in a parking spot at the Shell gas station located at 6730 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, Tennessee, and activated their blue lights on their marked vehicles and approached the minivan. Officers immediately smelled the odor of marijuana wafting from the minivan. Harris exited the minivan, and an officer began to search the backseat area of the minivan. Harris noticed this and re-entered the minivan and drove away with the officer still inside. The officer in the minivan attempted to subdue Harris and to gain control of the vehicle. Harris drove the minivan into oncoming traffic and crashed into another vehicle. Harris fled the violent accident on foot but was apprehended in the adjacent woods a short time later. The officer in the minivan sustained serious injuries. Officers recovered approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, additional quantities of heroin and marijuana, and multiple firearms and rounds of ammunition during a subsequent search of the minivan. Harris was determined to be a convicted felon.
The details of the charges, which include: federal kidnapping, 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(5), possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), and possession with intent to distribute more than fifty grams of methamphetamine, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) - are outlined in the arrest warrant and supporting affidavit, which are filed as public records in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville, Case Number 3:22-mj-1110.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Knoxville Police Department, and the Knoxville Sheriff’s Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne-Marie Svolto of the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Mexican nationals sentenced for deadly human smugglingRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two Mexican men have been ordered to prison following their convictions of conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens which resulted in multiple deaths, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Fabian Hernandez, 29, Emmanuel Ferral-Tonche, 20, both of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2021.
Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for both men. They are expected to face removal proceedings following their sentences.
On June 9, 2021, Hernandez and Ferral-Tonche marched a group of approximately two dozen individuals through the hot south Texas brush. Some were unable to keep going. At no time did Hernandez or Ferral-Tonche offer water or attempt to look for anyone who had fallen behind or gotten lost.
Authorities responded to multiple 911 emergency calls coming from the Hachar Ranch property in Webb County. Law enforcement discovered 24 individuals illegally present in the United States who had become lost at that location. They identified Hernandez and Ferral-Tonche as the smugglers.
Law enforcement also found the remains of three deceased people. Authorities determined Hernandez and Ferral-Tonche had guided at least two of them before they succumbed to dehydration and hyperthermia while traveling on foot.
At the hearing today, the court heard additional evidence that neither man attempted to help look for or offer water to the aliens they smuggled despite the great heat.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with assistance from the Laredo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Members of Brooklyn-Based "Bamalife" Gang Charged with Racketeering and Multiple Gang-Related ShootingsRead the Press Release
A 35-count, second superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Darrius Sutton, also known as “Blizz Meecho,” Trava Selby, also known as “Stoney,” Andrew Simpson, also known was “Drewski,” Tyshawn Sumpter, also known as “GT,” Ronnie Warren, also known as “Bossman Horse,” and Corey Williams, also known as “Moncler Mellz,” with racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in-aid-of racketeering—including attempted murder and murder conspiracy—firearms offenses, drug-dealing and fraud. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants were members and associates of a violent East New York gang called “Bamalife,” which has ongoing and violent rivalries with other gangs in East New York and elsewhere in Brooklyn. Simpson and Warren were arrested earlier today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara. Selby, who is presently in New York State custody, and Sutton, Sumpter and Williams who are already in federal custody on related charges, will be arraigned at a later date. During Simpson’s arrest in Edison, New Jersey, members of law enforcement recovered a Glock handgun with an extended ammunition clip from the defendant’s pants.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Region (DOL-OIG), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged in the superseding indictment, the defendants wreaked havoc in East New York and nearby neighborhoods, with innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire as members of Bamalife carried out senseless violence directed against rival gangs,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, are working tirelessly to protect our communities by dismantling criminal enterprises that are engines of a broad range of crimes, taking the violent gang members off the street and stopping the cycle of gun-related violence.”
“Gang members and their rivals aren’t the only ones affected by the hostility they inflict upon themselves. In this case specifically, as we allege, the defendants’ activity threatened the safety and security of the residents of East New York, who deserve to walk their streets without the fear of violence. Today’s charges should send a message that the FBI remains committed to strengthening our communities by eliminating this type of illegal activity.” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“The Unemployment Insurance Program exists to provide needed assistance to qualified individuals who are unemployed due to no fault of their own. Fraud against the Unemployment Insurance Program distracts state workforce agencies from ensuring benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive them. The Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with our many law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit the Unemployment Insurance Program,” stated DOL-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Mellone.
“Today’s charges further illustrate our unwavering commitment to dismantling violent gangs while taking illegal guns off our streets,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “We use every resource available to keep our neighborhoods safe, and any person who puts New Yorkers at risk must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI’s New York Field Office, the Office of the Inspector General’s New York Regional Office, and all the investigators involved in this important case.”
As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the defendants are charged in connection with six non-fatal shootings in East New York and elsewhere in Brooklyn that wounded 12 individuals. Also as alleged in the indictment, the defendants financed their violent shooting spree through drug-dealing and various forms of fraud, including bank fraud and unemployment benefits fraud.
The August 11, 2019 Shooting
As alleged, on August 11, 2019, Sutton accosted a member of a rival gang after a party in East New York. Sutton demanded to know if the victim was a member of the rival gang and then began shooting and pursuing the intended victim as the victim attempted to flee. Sutton struck and seriously injured his intended target and also struck an innocent bystander in the leg.
The April 20, 2020 Shooting
As alleged, on April 20, 2020, Sutton ambushed a male victim in the vicinity of 375 Sheffield Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn. Surveillance video shows Sutton approaching the victim undetected from behind, drawing his weapon, firing several shots and striking the victim in the chest, thigh and wrist before fleeing the scene. Following Sutton’s arrest on federal charges for this shooting, Warren took images of Sutton shooting his victim that were part of a court filing and posted them to Instagram with the message: “MY BOY GREAT.”
The May 16, 2020 Shooting
As alleged, on May 16, 2020, Sutton and Sumpter, together with others, shot and seriously injured a member of a rival gang in the vicinity of 2211 Pitkin Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn. Surveillance video of the shooting shows two cars pulling up to a location approximately four blocks from the shooting. Sutton exited one of the cars and approached 2211 Pitkin Avenue, where members of a rival gang are known to congregate, while Sumpter and other coconspirators waited in the vehicle. Surveillance video from inside the building shows Sutton in the lobby holding a firearm. Moments later, Sutton shot the rival in the courtyard of 2211 Pitkin Avenue, ran back to the waiting vehicles, and fled the scene.
The July 14, 2020 Shooting
As alleged in the indictment, on July 14, 2020, Sutton, Sumpter, and others opened fire on a member of a rival gang member in the vicinity of 620 Vermont Avenue in East New York. Video surveillance footage of the shooting shows Sutton, Sumpter and others arrive at the scene in two cars. Sutton and Sumpter exited one of the vehicles and began shooting, striking the rival gang member and seriously injuring him. Sutton, Sumpter, and several other individuals then ran back to the waiting vehicles, which sped off.
The February 6, 2021 Shooting
As alleged in the indictment, on February 6, 2021, Sumpter shot at a group of individuals outside a six-year old’s birthday party in the vicinity of 1093 Putnam Avenue in Brooklyn, after a member of Bamalife had an altercation with those individuals at the party. Video surveillance footage shows Sumpter outside the entrance to the party as guests, including young children, were leaving. The surveillance footage shows a group of individuals running from the scene and shows Sumpter chasing after them while firing several shots. Following the shooting, Sumpter fled in a waiting vehicle.
The August 16, 2021 Shooting
As alleged in the indictment, on August 16, 2021, Simpson and at least two accomplices shot into a crowd outside of 927 Dekalb Avenue in Brooklyn, striking eight individuals. Video surveillance of the incident shows Simpson and his accomplices double-park near the scene of the shooting, after which two of the conspirators approached the large crowd gathered in the courtyard and began firing. The shooters returned to the waiting vehicle and sped off.
Murder Conspiracies
As alleged in the indictment, from 2014 to the present, Sutton, Simpson, Sumpter and Williams conspired to murder members and associates of another East New York-based gang and beginning in 2016, Sutton, Selby, Simpson, Warren and Williams conspired to murder John Doe 1, in part in retaliation for an incident in which Warren was shot. In the course of the conspiracy, Warren released a rap song and accompanying video in which Warren and other members of Bamalife can be heard shouting that John Doe 1 and his girlfriend are “going to die together.”
Bank Fraud and other Fraudulent Schemes
As alleged in the indictment, members of Bamalife earned money through illicit means, including various fraud schemes. As alleged, in June 2019, Warren and Williams engaged in a scheme to create and deposit fraudulent checks drawn on bank accounts of unwitting victims. Warren and Williams used information from victims’ bank accounts to create fraudulent checks, which they deposited into the account of co-conspirators in order to obtain funds. Williams bragged on social media about the proceeds of his fraud schemes. For example, on July 9, 2021, he posted the following to his Instagram account with the username “darealmonclermellz”: “I just spent 80k last week like it was nothing.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The charges in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Trowel and Nick M. Axelrod are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
DARRIUS SUTTON (also known as “Blizz Meecho”)
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New YorkTRAVA SELBY (also known as “Stoney”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New YorkANDREW SIMPSON (also known as “Drewski”)
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New YorkTYSHAWN SUMPTER (also known as “GT”)
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkRonnie warren (also known as “Bossman Horse”)
Age: 25
Hoboken, New JerseyCorey williams (also known as “Moncler Mellz”)
Age: 27
Rembert, South CarolinaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-323 (S-2) (AMD)
Maywood Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Antonio Ferto-Castorena, 31, of Maywood, Illinois, was sentenced on Thursday, April
21, 2022, to a total of 168 months in prison after pleading guilty for arranging to have sex with a
minor online and traveling to pick her up in the Southern District of Illinois. Antonio
Ferto-Castorena, a citizen of Mexico, was also ordered to pay restitution and serve 5 years of
supervised release.According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Ferto-Castorena used an online chat
application to meet a teenage girl. Ferto-Castorena engaged in sexual conversations with the minor.
On February 5, 2020, Ferto-Castorena drove from Maywood, Illinois, to Teutopolis, Illinois, to pick
up the minor from school. School employees notified the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office who
apprehended Ferto-Castorena prior meeting the minor.As part of his plea agreement, Ferto-Castorena admitted to producing child pornography of a minor
who was located in California, using an online chat application. The images were located on
Ferto-Castorena’s cell phone.The investigation was conducted by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Effingham Police
Department, and the FBI Springfield and Chicago Field Offices.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006
by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and
Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and
rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
more information about internet safety education, please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”Mariano Lake man sentenced to five years in prison for Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Harrison Davis, 60, of Mariano Lake, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced in federal court today to five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Davis pleaded guilty on May 10, 2021.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on July 1, 2018, in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, Davis was riding an ATV with his five-year-old grandson. Davis was intoxicated at the time, causing him to crash. Both Davis and his grandson were ejected. The grandson was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene from blunt head trauma. Medical records show Davis’ blood alcohol content was .278 three to four hours after the crash.
Upon his release from prison, Davis will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case.
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Local Real Estate Developer Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - A man pleaded guilty to tax evasion arising from his near decade-long effort to prevent the IRS from collecting taxes he and his businesses owed.
According to court documents, Scott Chappelle, 61, of Okemos and East Lansing, was an attorney and former CPA who operated Terra Management Company, Strathmore Development Company Michigan LLC, and Terra Holdings LLC, all of which were involved in real estate development and property management in the East Lansing area. As part of his guilty plea, Chappelle admitted he did not pay over to the IRS employment taxes withheld from the wages of the companies’ employees. When the IRS sought to collect the unpaid taxes, Chappelle made false statements to the agency about his and his companies’ assets and income, concealed his vacation house on Lake Michigan, and purchased real property in nominee names instead of his own. Chappelle also falsely told IRS employees he could not afford to pay his tax debts, when in reality he was contemporaneously using business bank accounts to pay for personal expenses such as mortgage payments on two houses and a condominium, college tuition for his children, personal credit card bills, life insurance premiums, car payments for himself and one of his children, and expenses associated with boats he owned.
Chappelle also lied to IRS special agents who were investigating his misconduct. He falsely stated he had not purchased property since the IRS began collection activities, and he concealed the source of the funds used to pay for a mortgage on a condominium in East Lansing. During the criminal investigation, Chappelle also filed a false employment tax return for Terra Holdings LLC on which he claimed the company had no employees and paid no wages during the time period covered by the return. In fact, Chappelle knew the company had employees and paid wages during that period because he approved submissions to the company’s payroll provider.
Chappelle further admitted to making false statements on a loan application when he refinanced the mortgage on his Lake Michigan vacation house in Harbor Springs.
Chappelle is scheduled to be sentenced on August 2. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge for the Western District of Michigan made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Melissa S. Siskind of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. VerHey for the Western District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
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Knox County Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — A Barboursville, Ky., man, David E. Hamblin, 37, was sentenced to __ months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Hamblin’s plea agreement, in July 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle and found him in possession of over 50 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm, which was loaded and in the pocket of the driver’s side door. Hamblin admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and he possessed the firearm to protect himself from the dangers associated with his drug trafficking activities.
Hamblin pleaded guilty in November 2021.
Under federal law, Hamblin must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Winston Tye, Barboursville Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Barboursville Police Department, and Knox County Sheriff’s Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Justice Department Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Events Throughout the CountryRead the Press Release
DETROIT, MI – In observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 24-30, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, along with the Detroit Crime Victims’ Action Team, will be recognizing crime victims and those who have dedicated their lives to serve and assist victims of crime.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 24-30, with the theme: Rights, access, equity, for all victims. This theme underscores the importance of helping crime survivors find their justice by enforcing victims’ rights, expanding access to services, and ensuring equity and inclusion for all.
This year’s honoree is Open Arms, part of Ascension Southeast Michigan Community Health. Open Arms is a crime victim service program that provides individual and family counseling, crime victim court advocacy, peer support groups, and legal support for victims of crime and domestic violence. Open Arms will be recognized for their tireless work to ensure that the needs of victims are met.
This year’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week event will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Lafayette Greens. This location is located on the corner of Shelby and W. Lafayette. Lillian Reyes, Drop-In Youth Director with the Ruth Ellis Center, will be the guest speaker and share her emotional story. All are welcome to attend this event.
United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel are both scheduled to speak at the event and will be joined by local and federal law enforcement leaders. Bishop James Williams, Crime Stoppers of Michigan will moderate Tuesday’s event.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan is committed to assisting victims of crimes and protecting them from further harm,” stated U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “Our staff of professionals are dedicated to ensuring that victims’ rights are protected and that they have access to services in their time of need.”
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Eastern District of Michigan, like other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, has a dedicated Victim Witness Unit that serves federal crime victims across the District's many counties. Our staff notify victims of significant case events through the Department of Justice's Victim (DOJ) Notification System (VNS). Such notice enables victims to participate in court proceedings and make their voices heard. In calendar year 2021, our staff made more than 68,000 notices to victims. In addition to notification, the Eastern District of Michigan's Victim Witness Unit provides essential services to victims, such as making referrals for counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court to provide support and guidance during the proceedings. These services provide tools victims need to reshape their futures.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Program at [email protected].
Jury Finds Husband and Wife Guilty of Participating in International Fraud RingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN- Caesar Oruade, 38, and Ayana Saunders, 36, of Hawthorne, California, have been convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to launder money. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the conviction today.
According to information presented in court, in May 2017, a computer intrusion at a real estate company resulted in a Memphis woman’s $76,000 payment on a home purchase being diverted to the bank account of California resident Jeffrey Cranford. Agents investigating the case followed the money and found that the $76,000 had been "chopped" and sent to several other U.S. bank account holders before ultimately being wired to an account in Nigeria. Many others across the United States and in Canada had been similarly victimized in their attempts to purchase real estate. The proceeds of romance fraud were flowing through the same accounts as well.
Bank accounts belonging to defendant Ayana Saunders generally served as the last domestic stop for funds before leaving the United States; they then landed in the Nigerian account of Caesar Oruade. Saunders and Oruade, now married, claimed the money came from "investors" who were funding the making of Nigerian films through their production company. Both were convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to launder money.
Victims from around the United States and Canada testified that they had been directed by either an online real estate lender or an online love interest or friend to wire money to Saunders as insurance on their pending loan or to assist their "friend" in an emergency. More than half a million dollars moved into Saunders’ accounts over the course of approximately one year. Saunders took a cut before forwarding the remaining fraudulently obtained funds to Nigeria.
Wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering each carry sentences of up to twenty years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
"Targeting domestic and foreign fraudsters who scam innocent people out of their hard-earned money is a priority for the FBI," said Douglas M. Korneski, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Memphis Field Office. "These convictions demonstrate the effectiveness of state and federal law enforcement working together to protect the public from real estate and romance scammers and bring those responsible to justice."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Memphis Division, investigated this case with assistance from the United States Secret Service (USSS), FBI – Los Angeles Division and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Sentencing is set for July 21, 2022, before Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen. Jeffrey Cranford pled guilty in the scheme and is set to be sentenced on May 5, 2022, before Judge J. Daniel Breen.
Assistant United States Attorneys Raney Irwin and Debra Ireland are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
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Judge sentences East Prairie, Missouri, Woman to 36 months for Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., sentenced Angelica Woods to 36 months in prison today. The 59-year-old East Prairie, Missouri, resident pleaded guilty on October 7, 2021, to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Woods was employed by an in-home services provider in Mississippi County, Missouri. Part of Woods’ job duties for the service provider included going to homes of elderly clients to provide in-home services for them. Woods devised a scheme to defraud Sallie Mae Bank, and a client of the service provider, to fraudulently obtain a student loan for another person.
On or about November 6, 2018, Woods sent in interstate commerce by wire transmission a false and fraudulent Application Promissory Note fraudulently using the client’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number, to obtain a student loan from Sallie Mae Bank in the amount of $18,000.00. At the time the loan application was submitted, the client was unaware that Woods had used her identity to guarantee repayment of the student loan, and had not given Woods permission to use the client’s identity to obtain the student loan. Woods fraudulently caused student loan proceeds in the approximate amount of $18,000.00 to be sent to Missouri Welding Institute located in Nevada, Missouri, via wire transfer in interstate commerce as directed by lender Sallie Mae Bank.
The case was investigated by the East Prairie Police Department, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Paul W. Hahn handled the prosecution for the government.
Jamaican Wedding Trip Lands Felon Back in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood and current resident of the suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison for violating his federal supervised release, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Kevin Carter, age 50, of MacFarlane Drive, Penn Hills, PA 15235.
According to information presented to the court, Carter was released from federal prison on January 19, 2018, after serving 168 months for multiple federal heroin trafficking crimes. He was found to have travelled outside western Pennsylvania without permission when a Pennsylvania State Trooper stopped him as he was driving back from New Jersey on March 3, 2021. Then, on April 7, 2021, Carter was stopped by a Pittsburgh Police Officer for driving a motorcycle while holding a three-year-old child on the tank. In addition to not having a helmet or eye protection for himself or the child, Carter was found to be driving without registration, insurance, or a motorcycle license while he possessed a small amount of marijuana.
When Carter obtained a passport and booked a flight to Jamaica to attend his cousin’s wedding, the Court issued a warrant and he was arrested shortly before boarding the flight to Montego Bay on March 17, 2022. Records showed that Carter had actually had his girlfriend book many additional airline trips in order to hide them from the Court. Specifically, evidence during the April 26, 2022, court hearing revealed that Carter took at least 14 trips to various out-of-state locations including Las Vegas, Disney World and Los Angeles, between his 2018 release from prison and the March 17, 2022, flight that resulted in his arrest.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ranjan rejected the defendant’s request for a sentence of time served and instead sentenced him to 24 months of incarceration, a sentence within the guideline range of 21 to 27 months of incarceration applicable to Carter’s violations.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the United States Probation Office, United States Customs and Border Protection Officers and the United States Marshal Service for the investigation and efforts leading to the successful prosecution of Carter.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing His Twin’s Identity to Obtain Veterans BenefitsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Wayne Bowen (64, Jacksonville) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered Bowen to reimburse various federal agencies a total of $63,773 for government benefits that he had received in connection with his identity theft scheme. Bowen had pleaded guilty on January 20, 2022.
According to court documents, in 2014, Bowen used the name, Social Security card, and military discharge papers of his estranged twin brother to apply for federally subsidized housing benefits. The specific subsidy – intended for indigent military veterans – was funded under a joint program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Unlike his twin, Bowen is not a military veteran.
When interviewed by federal agents, Bowen admitted that he had been using his twin brother’s identity for years. He had obtained a Florida identification card using his twin’s name and had been arrested and convicted of felony offenses under his twin’s identity. Although Bowen initially told the agents that he, like his twin, had served and been honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Bowen eventually relented and admitted that those were lies.
Due to Bowen’s fraudulent use of his twin’s identity, the VA provided him with $32,434 in medical services, HUD provided him with $18,905 in housing subsidies, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded $12,434 in nutritional benefits for him. Bowen’s twin has confirmed that he did not apply for any of these benefits and that he never gave Bowen permission to use his name.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Illinois man was sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for sex trafficking a woman and transporting another woman to engage in prostitution, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“Sex trafficking is an insidious crime that causes lasting physical and emotional trauma. Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of Mr. Stennis’s crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “I commend our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the Bloomington Police Department for their commitment to this case.”
“While today’s sentencing cannot undo the pain Stennis inflicted upon those who survived his abuse, it is my hope that by seeing him held accountable for his heinous crimes they will be given some form of solace knowing he is no longer in the communities in which they live,” said Jamie Holt, acting special agent in charge of HSI St. Paul. “HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, are dedicated to the eradication of sex trafficking and will continue to search out those who intend to profit off the pain and abuse of others.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, between January and March 2019, Darnell Deshawn Stennis, 30, transported one woman around the Midwest, using threats and physical violence to force the woman into performing commercial sex acts. In March of 2019, Stennis transported a second woman between Minnesota and North Dakota for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.
On March 25, 2019, officers with the Bloomington Police Department were dispatched to the La Quinta Inn in Bloomington, Minnesota, following a report that a hotel guest heard yelling and what sounded like someone being thrown against a wall. Upon arrival, officers encountered Stennis and the two women, identified as Victim A and Victim B. Officers checked the hotel room and observed obvious signs of a disturbance, including a toilet seat that was broken into multiple pieces and a towel rack that was bent. Victim A reported to officers that Stennis had violently assaulted her after she told him she didn’t want to engage in commercial sex work anymore. Victim A reported that Stennis choked her, bashed her head into the towel rack, and pushed her down onto the toilet seat. Stennis, who also had outstanding warrants, was arrested and placed into custody. After his arrest, Stennis instructed Victim B to lie to the investigators and destroy evidence of the sex trafficking. He continued to force Victim A to perform commercial sex acts for several months, even while he was in custody, by threatening her with physical violence.
On October 7, 2021, Stennis was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, two counts of transporting an individual to engage in prostitution, and one count of obstruction. Stennis was sentenced earlier today by U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bloomington Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Manda M. Sertich, and Evan B. Gilead.
Harrison County woman admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Heather Joe Paugh, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Paugh, 30, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Paugh, a person prohibited from having firearms, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in August 2021 in Monongalia County.
Paugh faces up to 10 years of incarceration and fine of up to $250,000. 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 Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Hancock County Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY– On April 20, 2022, a Hancock County Kentucky woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple child pornography offenses. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Shasta Maria Coiles, 40, of Lewisport, Kentucky, was sentenced for committing three counts of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor. Coiles committed these offenses in March of 2020 and was arrested that month by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition to the prison sentence, Coiles was placed on supervised release for her lifetime.
“I commend the work of the FBI agents who investigated the case and AUSA Hancock for his handling of the prosecution,” stated United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “The production, distribution, and transfer of child pornography merit the 20-year sentenced imposed. Upon release from prison, the defendant will be under the close supervision of federal probation officers for the remainder of her life. This office, in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, will continue to work diligently to identify and prosecute those who sexually exploit children.”
"Coiles' significant sentence will not undo the harm and pain her actions have caused innocent children and their families, but we hope it will serve as a wake-up call to those who think they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet," said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI's Louisville Field Office. "Uncovering those who exploit this most vulnerable population will always be a major focus of the FBI and our law enforcement partners."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Seth Hancock, Branch Chief of the Paducah U.S. Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case.
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This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Glen Allen Man Pleads Guilty to $400,000 Bankruptcy Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Glen Allen man pleaded guilty today to executing a mail fraud scheme during the course of his bankruptcy proceeding in order to conceal the true extent of his financial assets from the Bankruptcy Trustee and his numerous creditors.
According to court documents, in January 2019, William Henry Romm, III, 44, filed a Voluntary Petition for Bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In filing that petition, Romm deliberately concealed his recent receipt of both a sizeable life insurance policy payout and a parcel of real estate, both of which he had received following his father’s death. Romm shortly thereafter sold that real estate and spent the bulk of those concealed proceeds on, among other things, a boat for his personal use.
Over the course of the next two years, Romm continued to conceal his receipt and dissipation of additional funds, including more than $268,000 that he received from the sale of his late father’s residence. Romm’s efforts to conceal also included concealing his marital status from the Court and Trustees by representing himself as single in his court filings; opening bank and brokerage accounts in his wife’s name, but over which he maintained control; using those accounts to hide the real estate sale proceeds; drafting checks on the bank account by forging his wife’s signature; and using the brokerage account to trade stocks he purchased with those real estate sale proceeds.
To ensure the Bankruptcy Court and Trustee remained unaware of his financial activities, Romm also filed knowingly false paperwork with the Bankruptcy Court and made numerous false statements under oath. In total, Romm concealed more than $400,000 in assets from the Bankruptcy Court before the Court dismissed his bankruptcy case in August of 2021.
Romm is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-41.
Ganado Man Sentenced to 18 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Leon Lee Jones, 38, of Ganado, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 18 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Jones previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On July 11, 2018, Jones shot and killed the victim, who was his intimate partner. The murder occurred near Klagetoh, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Jones is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, as was the victim.
The FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Samuels and William Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-08369-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-050_Jones# # #
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.Four Members and Two Associates of the Genovese Organized Crime Family Charged with RacketeeringRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Letitia James, New York State Attorney General, and Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney, announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging four members and two associates of the Genovese Organized Crime Family with racketeering.
The Superseding Indictment charges NICHOLAS CALISI and RALPH BALSAMO, alleged Captains in the Family, MICHAEL MESSINA and JOHN CAMPANELLA, alleged Soldiers in the Family, and MICHAEL POLI and THOMAS POLI, alleged associates of the Family, with racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and extortion.
MESSINA was previously arrested and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on April 12, 2022. BALSAMO, CAMPANELLA, MICHAEL POLI, and THOMAS POLI were arrested today and will be presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger this afternoon. CALISI was arrested in Boca Raton, Florida and presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida. The case is assigned to United States District Judge John G. Koeltl.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “From extortion to illegal gambling, the Mafia continues to find ways to prey on others to fill its coffers. Our office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to putting organized crime out of business.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James said: “For years, members of the Genovese crime family have terrorized New York communities with violence and illegal businesses. These individuals allegedly made their money through illegal gambling and loan sharking — saddling victims with incredible debt that they cannot repay. Today’s indictment makes clear that we will continue to root out organized crime wherever it exists, and I thank U.S. Attorney Damian Williams and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez for their partnership in taking down these criminal enterprises.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said: “Organized crime, and the illegal conduct that flows from its activities, remain a problem in Brooklyn and beyond. My Office is committed to continue working together with our law enforcement partners to investigate these criminal organizations, as we’ve done in this case. I thank the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the New York State Office of the Attorney General for their partnership and cooperation.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment, which was unsealed today[1]:
The Genovese Organized Crime Family is part of a nationwide criminal organization known by various names, including La Cosa Nostra (“LCN”) and the “Mafia,” which operates through entities known as “Families.”
Like other LCN Families, the Genovese Organized Crime Family operates through groups of individuals known as “crews”. Each “crew” has as its leader a person known as a “Captain” and consists of “made” members, known as “Soldiers.” Soldiers are aided in their criminal endeavors by other trusted individuals, known as “associates,” who sometimes are referred to as “connected” or identified as “with” a Soldier or other member of the Family. Associates participate in the various activities of the crew and its members. In order for an associate to become a made member of the Family, the associate typically needs to demonstrate the ability to generate income for the Family, and/or that the associate is capable of committing acts of violence.
A Captain is responsible for supervising the criminal activities of his crew, resolving disputes between and among members of the Family, resolving disputes between members of the Family and members of other Families and other criminal organizations, and providing Soldiers and associates with support and protection. In return, the Captain typically receives a share of the illegal earnings of each of his crew’s Soldiers and associates.
At times relevant to the charges in the Superseding Indictment, NICHOLAS CALISI and RALPH BALSAMO were Captains in the Genovese Family, MICHAEL MESSINA and JOHN CAMPANELLA were Soldiers in the Genovese Family, and MICHAEL POLI and THOMAS POLI were associates of the Genovese Family.
Members of the Genovese Family, including CALISI, BALSAMO, MESSINA, CAMPANELLA, MICHAEL POLLI, and THOMAS POLLI, engaged in or agreed that others would engage in certain crimes, including making extortionate extensions of credit, financing extortionate extensions of credit, collecting extensions of credit by extortion, extortion, operating illegal gambling businesses, and transmission of gambling information.
* * *
A chart containing the ages, residency information, and charges against the defendants, as well as the maximum penalties they face is attached. The maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Office of the New York Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Celia V. Cohen, Rushmi Bhaskaran, and Justin Rodriguez, as well as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Murray, are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States v. Michael Messina, et al., S1 22 Cr. 212 (JGK)
DEFENDANT
AGE
CITY OF RESIDENCE
CHARGES
MAX SENT.
Messina, Michael
69
New Fairfield, CT
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
20 years
Calisi, Nicholas
63
Boca Raton, FL
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
20 years
Balsamo, Ralph
51
Tuckahoe, NY
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
20 years
Campanella, John
47
Bronx, NY
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
20 years
Poli, Michael
37
Hawthorne, NY
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
20 years
Poli, Thomas
64
Bronx, NY
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
20 years
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Superseding Indictment, and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 168 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Mandell D. Strawter, age 30, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced, April 25, 2022, by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, on his plea of guilty to distributing a controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Strawter was sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in February 2019, Strawter distributed heroin. Strawter was determined to be a career offender based on his prior felony convictions for armed robbery and dealing cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
Former Substitute Teacher and Coach Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead 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 Steven Gasiorek, 36, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Williams M. Skretny to receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, a maximum penalty of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that between March 2014, and April 16, 2019, Gasiorek worked as a substitute teacher and athletic coach at John F. Kennedy Middle and High Schools in Cheektowaga, NY. During that time, Gasiorek pretended to be a teenage girl living in California and used a fictitious Instagram account in the name of LEXIGURL1015 to communicate with numerous minor males and receive child pornography from them. Gasiorek knew the victims he was communicating with were minors, and he served as a teacher or coach to some of the victims he received child pornography from.
On April 16, 2019, during the execution of a search warrant at Gasiorek’s residence, a laptop computer and external hard drive were seized. A forensic examination recovered images and videos of child pornography depicting many minor males, of which 29 have been positively identified. The victims lived in Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. In total, Gasiorek possessed over 600 images and videos of child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Baker, and the Fauquier County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Jeremy Falls.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.
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Former State Unemployment Contractor and Co-Conspirator Indicted for Stealing Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A former contract employee with the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, and one co-conspirator, were charged today in an indictment for their roles in a scheme to steal unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent-in-Charge Irene Lindow, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, FBI Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca and Julia Dale, Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Charged are Autumn Mims, 29, of Troy, Michigan and William Haynes, 25, of Detroit, Michigan.
The indictment charges Mims and Haynes with conspiring to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. Mims is also charged with illicitly possessing fifteen or more unauthorized access devices.
According to court records, Autumn Mims worked for the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency as an Unemployment Insurance Examiner. Her duties included reviewing, processing, and verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims.
It is alleged that shortly after Mims began working for the State of Michigan, she began using her insider access to fraudulently process claims in the names of third parties without their knowledge or authorization. It is also alleged that as part of the scheme, Mims and Haynes caused unauthorized bank accounts to be fraudulently opened in the names of third parties and caused unemployment insurance claim payments to be issued to those illegitimate accounts. It is also alleged in the indictment that Mims and Haynes took control of those unemployment insurance claim payments and used the funds for their own benefit.
During the execution of a search warrant at Mims’s residence, law enforcement officers located significant evidence of fraud, including personal identifying information of third parties and receipts relating to transactions made using proceeds of the fraud scheme.
Mims was previously charged in a criminal complaint for her alleged role in the scheme.
“Those who commit unemployment insurance fraud not only steal from honest taxpayers but they also make it more difficult for legitimate claimants to receive the assistance to which they are entitled,” stated United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “We will continue to work tirelessly to fight unemployment abuse and fraud.”
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate fraud involving unemployment insurance programs. This is particularly true when an allegation involves misconduct by the very government employees and contractors charged with overseeing those programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to aggressively investigate unemployment insurance fraud,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“These defendants conspired to use Mims’ official position to take money meant for people who were unemployed during the pandemic. That money was vital to many of our community members who were suffering pandemic-related economic challenges,” said Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI’s Detroit Division. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our state and federal partners to investigate unemployment insurance fraud.”
“The unemployment insurance benefits system is built on trust that the residents of Michigan will receive the money they are entitled to when they lose their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Julia Dale, Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. “We will not tolerate an abuse of that trust. I am committed to our partnership with law enforcement as together we identify bad actors and bring them to justice.”
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Owner of Chrysler Dealerships in Lodi and Sonora Charged with Wire Fraud for Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against Vincent Elliot Porter, 73, of Oakdale, charging him with wire fraud, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between 2013 and 2017, Porter owned and operated two Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealerships: Sonora Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, and Lodi Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. He used his ownership of those businesses to defraud investors of approximately $8 million. He promised investors fixed rates of return and falsely represented that the investments were risk free and backed by collateral. He misrepresented the financial health of the dealerships and the intended use of investor funds. Porter spent much of the investors’ funds for personal use including expensive travel (including to golf resorts such as Pebble Beach, high end hotels such as the Ritz Carlton, and numerous trips to Las Vegas, the Napa Valley, and other luxury locations), the purchase of an expensive vehicle, and other personal expenses.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Porter faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Florida Man Sentenced for Misleading Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A Florida man was sentenced today for lying to federal agents. Steve Hill, 57, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $345,727.15 by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Formerly of the Memphis area, Hill spent nearly a quarter century working in the medical sales industry for various Fortune 500 companies, during which time he received standard compliance training on the Anti-Kickback Statute. In 2014, then working under Brad Duke of Little Rock, Hill began to promote expensive compounded prescription drugs covered by TRICARE. Hill operated on a commission basis, earning a fixed percentage of whatever TRICARE paid for the drugs.
To generate sales, Hill encouraged a Memphis area doctor to prescribe the expensive compounded drugs by agreeing to share his commission on the doctor’s prescriptions through payments to the doctor’s spouse. Most of Hill’s payments would eventually be routed to a Tennessee shell corporation formed under the spouse’s name. Within a year, Hill’s arrangement succeeded in generating over $1 million in TRICARE compounded prescription drug claims, earning Hill $345,727.15.
Federal agents investigating the case discovered the connection between Hill, the shell corporation, the spouse, and the doctor. In August 2017, federal agents visited Hill’s Memphis area home to discuss his promotion of compounded prescription drugs. When asked about his financial dealings with the spouse, Hill denied paying the spouse anything in relation to the doctor’s prescriptions.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander D. Morgan.
# # #
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Covid-19 Related Fraud and Identity Theft Offenses in Connection with A Scheme to Unlawfully Obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance FundsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jorice Williams Dennard, age 25, of Tampa, Florida, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to mail fraud and identity theft offenses in connection with a scheme to unlawfully obtain Pennsylvania Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the criminal Information to which Dennard pleaded guilty alleges that Dennard submitted a false application with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for PUA funds utilizing the personal identification information, including name, birth date, and social security number of another person. The PUA program is administered by the various states, including Pennsylvania, but its benefits are funded in part by the federal government through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (or “CARES Act”). The Information further alleges that Dennard also falsely provided a residential address in Jim Thorpe, PA on the same fraudulent application and then, on January 28, 2021, traveled to this address and to the Jim Thorpe Post Office in an effort to obtain a package addressed to his identity theft victim that contained a debit card in the victim’s name with a balance of over $14,000 in PUA funds.
This case stems from an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 22 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. There is also a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of 2 years that attaches. A sentence following a finding of guilt will be imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes.
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Final Defendant Sentenced in Federal Drug Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – Ryan Compton, the remaining defendant in a federal drug conspiracy, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and for distributing methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, beginning on or about November 19, 2020, and continuing to on or about December 14, 2020, Ryan Compton, 32, of Owensboro, KY, conspired with Christopher Berry, 41, of Harned, KY, to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. Compton also distributed 83 grams of methamphetamine to another person on December 2, 2020.
Berry was previously sentenced on August 13, 2021, to 15 ½ years in federal prison for engaging in the same conspiracy with Compton. Berry was also sentenced for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and possessing a handgun as a convicted felon. Berry’s prior felony convictions were for two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree.
“Excellent investigative work by the ATF Bowling Green Office, the Kentucky State Police, and the Henderson Police Department, stated Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. This office, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will continue to root out and aggressively prosecute those who poison our communities with illicit drugs.”
“Many families in Kentucky have endured pain and suffering due to the drug crisis plaguing our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “ATF is committed to making our communities safer. This investigation demonstrates that federal, state, and local law enforcement work closely to pursue drug dealers who use guns. I commend the Kentucky State Police, the Henderson Police Department, the ATF Bowling Green Office and the prosecution team for their hard work in bringing these offenders to justice.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Kentucky State Police, and the Henderson Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted the case.
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