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4 May 2022
Omaha Man Sentenced to 186 Months for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced that Christopher Smith, age 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Smith to 186 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Smith will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On December 18, 2019, Smith was a passenger of a vehicle in Omaha and police found him in possession of a Taurus handgun, a .45 caliber handgun, $1,200, and methamphetamine. Smith admitted to possessing both firearms and to selling drugs. Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (2000) and felon in possession of a firearm (2006).
On February 28, 2020, officers arrested Smith at his Omaha residence. Smith was in possession of crack cocaine and $1,790. Later that day, officers executed a search warrant on a hotel room and found other conspirators along with 399 grams of methamphetamine, a drug scale, and a firearm. On March 2, 2020, officers searched a vehicle related to the investigation and found another 304 grams of methamphetamine concealed in it.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Jordan R. Torres, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 4, 2022, in federal court in Omaha for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Torres to 120 months’ imprisonment on the methamphetamine charge consecutive to 60 months on the firearm charge for a total sentence of 180 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On January 21, 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Torres, who had an outstanding arrest warrant, was staying at a local Omaha hotel and was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine and possessed a firearm. Law enforcement conducted surveillance and was able to confirm where Torres was staying. Agents made entry into the room to arrest Torres on his outstanding warrant. While in the room, officers saw in plain view drug paraphernalia. The room was cleared and secured, and officers obtained a search warrant and returned to search the room. Agents found a holster, a Smith & Wesson 9mm firearm, loose ammunition and over 350 grams of methamphetamine.
The warrant related to a charge of criminal possession of a financial transaction device. He was prosecuted by the Douglas County Attorney’s office on that charge.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Field Division, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers Recognized at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Award CeremonyRead the Press Release
Members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force won a group award for their outstanding investigative efforts in 2021. Front Row (from left to right): Lindsey Hollingworth, Nicole Bailey, Drew Cotton, Todd Colvin, Joe Green, Randy Huff. Back Row (from left to right): Matt Wharton, Frosty Williams, Chris McDonald, Colton Carpenter, Ryan Hieb, Brett Kniss, Daniel BrownLaw enforcement officers and agents were recognized for their outstanding achievements related to significant criminal cases at the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC) Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2022 in Lander, Wyoming.
“It is my great honor to recognize those in our community who go above and beyond to protect our children, our community and our way of life in Wyoming,” said United States Attorney Bob Murray. “Those honored never seek recognition, but it is important to let the public know about the accomplishments of our law enforcement and community members. I thank each and every one of them for their continued service,” said Murray.
The awards were presented by Assistant United States Attorneys and were based on complex or remarkable cases that fell into specific criminal categories. Nicole Romine, Chief of the Criminal Division for United States Attorney’s Office, said, “These men and women consistently face danger as they make arrests and investigate crime that impacts communities across the District of Wyoming. These awards recognize some of the most complex federal cases our office worked in 2021 – involving large amounts of money and/or drugs, as well as discernible impacts to victims, and resulting in successful prosecution that made our communities safer.”
The following individuals were recognized for their involvement, commitment, and achievements regarding federal criminal cases that fell into these categories:
FRAUD/THEFT
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service: Sonia Hacker, Special Agent
- FINRA/Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group: Alex Scoufis, Principal Counsel
- U.S. Department of Education/Office of Inspector General: Tim Pikas, Special Agent
CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
- Bureau of Indian Affairs:
- Erick Blackburn, Chief of Police
- Michael Shockley, Special Agent
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: Rita Gatlin, Victim Specialist
FORFEITURE
- Drug Enforcement Agency: David Tyree, Resident Agent in Charge
- Cheyenne Police Department: Tim Meyrick, Detective Sergeant
FIREARMS
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
- Cody Ruiz, Special Agent
- Michael Hanson, Special Agent
- Rock Springs Police Department
- Jennifer Chick, Detective
- Ken Davis, Detective
- Federal Bureau of Investigations
- Kyle Michieli, Special Agent
- William Whitfield, Special Agent
DRUGS- Cheyenne Police Department
- Tim Meyrick, Detective Sergeant
- Caresa Marino, Detective
- Chase Rippy, Detective
- Craig Sanne, Detective
- Jake Reiber, Detective
- Drug Enforcement Agency
- Joseph Brock, Group Supervisor
- Garylee McDermed, Special Agent
- Chris Roetlin, Special Agent
- Jason Tempco, Special Agent
- Matt Walls, Special Agent
- Laramie County Sheriff's Department
- Ryan Wyskochil, Detective
VIOLENT CRIME
- Casper Police Department
- Tiffany Elhart, Detective
- Mitch Hill, Officer
- Aaron Trujillo, Detective
- Brenden LaPointe, Officer
- Josh Albrecht, Officer
- Sam Dunnuck, Officer
- Todd Wells, Sergeant
- Federal Bureau of Investigations
- Adrianne Culver, Special Agent
- Christine Coble, Special Agent
- Justin Kempf, Special Agent
- Jedediah Oakley, Special Agent
- Grant Gelling, Tactical Specialist
- Scott Jensen, Special Agent
- Stephanie Knapp, Supervisory Forensic Child Interview Specialist
- Terri Nave, Victim Specialist
- Lara Brewer, Investigative Operations Analyst (retired)
- Jodie Hively, Forensic Child Interview Specialist
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
- Fremont County Coroner: Erin Ivie, Chief Deputy
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: Michael Shockley, Special Agent
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation: Mike Phillips, Task Force Officer
GROUP AWARD: INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
- ICE/Homeland Security Investigations
- Nicole Bailey, Special Agent
- Caleb Forness, Computer Forensic Analyst
- Laura Elder, Special Agent
- Sherrill Maddox, Management Program Analyst
- Shannon Patak, Special Agent Investigations
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
- Chris McDonald, Supervisory Special Agent
- Brett Kniss, Special Agent
- Colten Carpenter, Special Agent
- Dan Allison, Special Agent
- Joel Greene, Special Agent
- Ryan Hieb, Special Agent
- Todd Colvin, Special Agent
- Lindsey Hollingsworth, Intelligence Analyst
- Daniel Brown, Forensic Intern
- Teton County Sherriff’s Department
- Clayton Platt, Investigative Sergeant
- Dustin Richards, Investigator
- Natrona County Sherriff’s Department: Drew Cotton, Investigator
- Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department: Matthew Warton, Detective
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Arranging Straw Purchases of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ariel Toribio, 22, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the making of a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on five separate occasions in November and December 2019, Toribio’s co-defendant, Samantha Sicard, purchased 11 firearms for Toribio and others. Toribio solicited Sicard to buy the firearms, instructed her about which firearms to purchase and paid for the firearms. Toribio traveled with Sicard to a federally licensed firearms dealer where she would fill out the necessary paperwork and falsely state she was the actual purchaser of the firearms when she was in fact purchasing them for Toribio and others.
Toribio previously pleaded guilty on November 8, 2021. Sicard pleaded guilty on November 9, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2022.
“Criminals who use lies and deception to obtain guns are often planning to use those firearms to commit crimes of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “In order to protect the public from violent crime, we work closely with the ATF to identify and prosecute those who are involved in the straw purchases of firearms. As this sentence demonstrates, those who commit federal gun crimes will be held accountable for their unlawful conduct.”
“Firearms trafficking continues to be a top priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives Boston Field Division. “ATF is committed to identifying and disrupting the sources of illegal firearms which jeopardize the safety of our communities.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Walsh.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Malden Man Indicted on Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with illegally possessing a firearm.
Herby Paul, 27, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Paul was detained following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.
According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 24, 2021, in Canton, Paul possessed a semiautomatic handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition. Paul is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Macon Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to Statutory Max Resulting from ATF’s Operation United Front Utilizing NIBIN TechnologyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon man convicted on a federal gun charge for his role in trafficking semi-automatic rifles was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum of ten years in prison resulting from an ATF investigation utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
Chadrick Purnell, 43, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on May 3, after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.
“ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, has proven to be an invaluable resource for law enforcement in our continued pursuit to reduce violent crime in every community across the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to maximize every resource at our disposal to achieve this common goal.”
“Utilizing technology is a key part of ATF’s strategy to identify and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “The combination of NIBIN and good police work has resulted in the arrest and conviction of a firearms trafficker who will spend the next ten years in federal prison.”
“These arrests and convictions show what technology, teamwork and street level investigations can accomplish. The partnership between ATF agents and Bibb investigators as well as the NIBIN technology has been essential in bringing gunslingers to justice,” said Bibb County Sheriff David J. Davis.
According to court documents, law enforcement used data compiled from NIBIN in order to identify locations where shell casings were collected from shooting events in Macon. These shooting events were then overlayed on a map, and teams of confidential informants and undercover agents investigated criminal activity in the areas with high density shootings. From May to July 2021, Purnell and additional co-defendants were under investigation. During this time, undercover agents and confidential informants purchased nine firearms and crack cocaine from Purnell, who is a convicted felon. The firearms included two semi-automatic rifles and a shotgun with an obliterated serial number. 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.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision and the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes prosecuted the case.
Longtime Employee of a Harford County, Maryland Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Leading a $29 Million Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Eugene Andrew DiNoto, age 51, of Bel Air, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, engaging in an illegal monetary transaction, and filing a false tax return, in connection with a kickback scheme that defrauded his employer of more than $29 million.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, Eugene DiNoto was a longtime employee of Company 1, a family-owned global business headquartered in New York, but with manufacturing facilities in Belcamp and Abingdon, Maryland, both in Harford County. Beginning in 2012, DiNoto and another employee, Elliott Kleinman, began to use their management positions at Company 1 to execute a fraudulent billing scheme whereby they would get illegal kickbacks from various drum vendors doing business with Company 1, which used drums to store and transport its products. As the facility managers, DiNoto and Kleinman oversaw the purchasing and storing of drums for use at the Harford County manufacturing facilities. They also had authority to review drum invoices and authorize payments to the drum vendors.
Anthony P. Urcioli, Sr., is the owner and President of Tunnel, Barrel & Drum Co, Inc. (TBD), located in Carlstadt, New Jersey, and of another drum supply company called Hartford Fibre Drum, Inc. (Hartford), both of which did business with Company 1. After TBD became a drum supplier to Company 1, DiNoto and Kleinman entered into arrangement with Urcioli whereby TBD could continue selling drums to Company 1 if Urcioli agreed to fraudulently invoice Company 1 for more drums than TBD actually sold and delivered to the company. If Urcioli agreed to falsify its invoices in this way, DiNoto and Kleinman said that they and TBD could split the extra money Company 1 paid TBD for the made-up drum deliveries 50/50. DiNoto told Urcioli that he would split his share of the kickbacks with Elliot Kleinman 75/25. Urcioli agreed to participate in the false billing scheme.
From approximately January 2012 to January 31, 2020, DiNoto contacted Urcioli at least once a week to discuss the number and type of drums that he actually wanted delivered to Company 1’s Maryland facilities. During the same conversation, DiNoto told Urcioli how many additional drums to charge, but not deliver, to Company 1 from TBD, and later from Hartford, Urcioli’s other company. After Urcioli created the invoices that fraudulently billed Company 1 for both delivered and undelivered drums, DiNoto approved the invoices and sent them to Company 1’s headquarters to be paid.
Urcioli also created a handwritten purchase order ticket that summarized the breakdown of actual and bogus drum orders and how the kickback amounts were calculated. Urcioli would put a copy of the purchase order ticket in an envelope along with DiNoto’s and Kleinman’s share of the kickback amount payable via checks from TBD and Hartford, and then send the envelope to their personal residences in Harford County, Maryland.
Sometimes, the invoices were not written as DiNoto had instructed, and he would call Urcioli and tell him to send a corrected invoice of adjust the kickback amounts. Occasionally, DiNoto would correct an arithmetic mistake on Urcioli’s purchase order ticket, take a photograph of the changes he made to the ticket, and then email the corrected ticket back to Urcioli.
Urcioli wanted to pay the kickbacks to DiNoto and Kleinman by check so the payments would look like payments to drum wholesalers and be deductible as a cost of goods sold on TBD’s tax returns. DiNoto told Urcioli to make his kickback checks payable to a company linked to DiNoto, called “Sandpiper Enterprises.” Kleinman advised that he wanted his kickback checks payable to a company he formed called “EDK Management, LTD.” Urcioli agreed, and in addition to making the kickback checks drawn on TBD and Hartford accounts payable to those companies, Urcioli wrote the word “drums” on the checks to further the pretense of legitimate purchases.
DiNoto admitted that even though Sandpiper Enterprises was not engaged in any business, he maintained a commercial bank account for Sandpiper Enterprises at a local financial institution, where he deposited all the kickback checks he received. Before accessing the criminal proceeds, DiNoto routinely transferred all or part of the money into one of the personal bank accounts he maintained at the same bank. DiNoto would then withdraw the funds from his personal account or write a personal check against the balance.
Between January 2012 and January 31, 2020, Urcioli falsely invoiced Company 1 a total of $20,300,757. TBD and Hartford kept half that amount while the remaining funds were sent to DiNoto and Kleinman. DiNoto’s share of the kickbacks was approximately $7,071,106. Over the same eight-year period, DiNoto used other drum vendors besides TBD and Hartford to execute his scheme to defraud Company 1. On behalf of those other vendors, DiNoto submitted and approved invoices totaling approximately $9,197,181, resulting in a total loss to Company 1 of approximately $29,497,938.
For the period of 2017 through 2019, none of the more than $7 million in kickbacks DiNoto received for his role in the fraudulent billing scheme appeared as income on the tax returns DiNoto filed with the IRS, resulting in a loss to the U.S. government of approximately $1,374,694.
DiNoto faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud; a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for engaging in an illegal monetary transaction; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for filing a false tax return. U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby scheduled sentencing for DiNoto on July 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Elliott Dennis Kleinman, age 68, of Bel Air, Maryland and Anthony P. Urcioli, Sr., age 78, of Park Ridge, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martin J. Clarke and Harry M. Gruber, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Local man charged for importing powerful psychedelicRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 25-year-old McAllen resident has been indicted for importing dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from Brazil, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Today, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Mario Alberto Molina. He is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia Medrano for his arraignment in the near future.
According to the complaint originally filed in the case, authorities performed a routine inspection of an inbound package originating from Brazil in Miami, Florida. It was allegedly destined for Molina’s residence in McAllen. The charges allege the package was purported to be marked as natural dye for tie-dye purposes, but authorities allegedly discovered a powdery substance later determined to be 4.5 kilograms of DMT.
On April 7, law enforcement executed a controlled delivery of the package at Molina’s residence, according to the complaint, after which they executed a federal search warrant. There, they allegedly found Molina and recovered the open package.
DMT is a powerful hallucinogenic drug, most often in the form of a powder when synthetically constructed, with intense effects comparable to that of other psychedelic drugs. It is the primary psychoactive ingredient in the drug ayahuasca and is a Schedule I controlled substance.
If convicted, Molina faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $1million maximum fine.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Brostowin is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Leader of North Carolina Chapter of Oath Keepers Pleads Guilty to Seditious Conspiracy and Obstruction of Congress for Efforts to Stop Transfer of Power Following 2020 Presidential ElectionRead the Press Release
A regional leader of the Oath Keepers pleaded guilty today to seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding for his actions before, during and after the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions sought to stop the transfer of power by disrupting a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
William Todd Wilson, 45, of Newton Grove, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to seditious conspiracy in connection with the Capitol breach. As part of the plea agreement, Wilson has agreed to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation.
Wilson is the third Oath Keepers member to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction charges. Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama, pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022. Brian Ulrich, 44, of Guyton, Georgia, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2022.
As described in court documents, Wilson was an Oath Keeper member since 2016. He was a leader of a chapter from Sampson County, North Carolina. The Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. Though the Oath Keepers will accept anyone as members, they explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement and first-responder personnel.
In his guilty plea, Wilson, a military and law enforcement veteran, admitted that he agreed with others to take part in a plan to use force to prevent, hinder and delay the execution of the laws of the United States governing the transfer of presidential power. He and others used encrypted and private communications, equipped themselves with a variety of weapons, donned combat and tactical gear and were prepared to answer a call to take up arms.
According to court documents, Wilson and other conspirators engaged in numerous communications in the weeks leading to Jan. 6, often using an encrypted messaging application called “Signal.” In one post, on Dec. 14, 2020, Wilson wrote, “It is time to fight!” In another, on Dec. 30, 2020, he posted, “Things are about to get real . . . and we need to be ready as ever!” On Jan. 5, 2021, in response to a message anticipating unrest after the next day’s Congressional proceeding, Wilson replied, “That’s why I have all my gear with me.”
On Jan. 5, Wilson drove to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He brought an AR-15-style rifle, a 9-millimeter pistol, approximately 200 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a camouflaged combat uniform, pepper spray, a large walking stick intended for use as a weapon, and a pocketknife.” He stayed at a Virginia hotel with other Oath Keepers leaders. Wilson stored his firearms, ammunition and combat gear in the hotel room and was prepared to retrieve the weapons if called upon to do so.
On the afternoon of Jan. 6, Wilson and others marched to the Capitol. Shortly after 2 p.m., he and others in the group bypassed barricades and Capitol Police officers and unlawfully entered the restricted grounds. At 2:34 p.m., Wilson entered the Capitol through the Upper West Terrace Doors. He was the first of the Oath Keepers co-conspirators to breach the building. Wilson was armed with a pocketknife and wore a neck gaiter and beanie hat to mask his appearance. By 2:38 p.m., he had marched through the Rotunda to the east side of the Capitol, where he joined in the center of a mob of people trying to push open the Rotunda Doors from inside the building. About one minute later, the Rotunda Doors were forced open, and a mob of people, including more Oath Keepers, moved inside.
Wilson exited the Capitol at 2:55 p.m. He later met with other co-conspirators at a restaurant in Vienna, Virginia, where one member advised that incriminating materials should be deleted from their cell phones. On Jan. 7, after arriving at his home, Wilson took steps to conceal incriminating evidence of his participation in the conspiracy from being stored in his Apple iCloud account. In late January 2021, he intentionally discarded his only cell phone into the Atlantic Ocean to prevent law enforcement from discovering incriminating evidence about his participation in this conspiracy.
Wilson was charged in a criminal information that was filed today. Nine other members of the Oath Keepers, including Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 57, the founder and leader, also are charged with seditious conspiracy in an indictment returned Jan. 12, 2022; they have pleaded not guilty.
Wilson faces up to 20 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and up to 20 years for obstruction of an official proceeding, along with potential financial penalties. No sentencing date was set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, including its Fayetteville Resident Agency.
In the 15 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Leader of North Carolina Chapter of Oath Keepers Pleads Guilty to Seditious Conspiracy and Obstruction of Congress for Efforts to Stop Transfer of Power Following 2020 Presidential ElectionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A regional leader of the Oath Keepers pleaded guilty today to seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding for his actions before, during, and after the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions sought to stop the transfer of power by disrupting a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
William Todd Wilson, 45, of Newton Grove, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to seditious conspiracy in connection with the Capitol breach. As part of the plea agreement, Wilson has agreed to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation.
Wilson is the third Oath Keepers member to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction charges. Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama, pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022. Brian Ulrich, 44, of Guyton, Georgia, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2022.
As described in court documents, Wilson was an Oath Keeper member since 2016. He was a leader of a chapter from Sampson County, North Carolina. The Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. Though the Oath Keepers will accept anyone as members, they explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement, and first-responder personnel.
In his guilty plea, Wilson, a military and law enforcement veteran, admitted that he agreed with others to take part in a plan to use force to prevent, hinder, and delay the execution of the laws of the United States governing the transfer of presidential power. He and others used encrypted and private communications, equipped themselves with a variety of weapons, donned combat and tactical gear, and were prepared to answer a call to take up arms.
According to court documents, Wilson and other conspirators engaged in numerous communications in the weeks leading to Jan. 6, often using an encrypted messaging application called “Signal.” In one post, on Dec. 14, 2020, Wilson wrote, “It is time to fight!” In another, on Dec. 30, 2020, he posted, “Things are about to get real . . . and we need to be ready as ever!” On Jan. 5, 2021, in response to a message anticipating unrest after the next day’s Congressional proceeding, Wilson replied, “That’s why I have all my gear with me.”
On Jan. 5, Wilson drove to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He brought an AR-15-style rifle, a 9-millimeter pistol, approximately 200 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a camouflaged combat uniform, pepper spray, a large walking stick intended for use as a weapon, and a pocketknife.” He stayed at a Virginia hotel with other Oath Keepers leaders. Wilson stored his firearms, ammunition, and combat gear in the hotel room, and was prepared to retrieve the weapons if called upon to do so.
On the afternoon of Jan. 6, Wilson and others marched to the Capitol. Shortly after 2 p.m., he and others in the group bypassed barricades and Capitol Police officers and unlawfully entered the restricted grounds. At 2:34 p.m., Wilson entered the Capitol through the Upper West Terrace Doors. He was the first of the Oath Keepers co-conspirators to breach the building. Wilson was armed with a pocketknife and wore a neck gaiter and beanie hat to mask his appearance. By 2:38 p.m., he had marched through the Rotunda to the east side of the Capitol, where he joined in the center of a mob of people trying to push open the Rotunda Doors from inside the building. About one minute later, the Rotunda Doors were forced open, and a mob of people, including more Oath Keepers, moved inside.
Wilson exited the Capitol at 2:55 p.m. He later met with other co-conspirators at a restaurant in Vienna, Virginia, where one member advised that incriminating materials should be deleted from their cell phones. On Jan. 7, after arriving at his home, Wilson took steps to conceal incriminating evidence of his participation in the conspiracy from being stored in his Apple iCloud account. In late January 2021, he intentionally discarded his only cell phone into the Atlantic Ocean to prevent law enforcement from discovering incriminating evidence about his participation in this conspiracy.
Wilson was charged in a criminal information that was filed today. Nine other members of the Oath Keepers, including Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 57, the founder and leader, also are charged with seditious conspiracy in an indictment returned Jan. 12, 2022; they have pleaded not guilty.
Wilson faces up to 20 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and up to 20 years for obstruction of an official proceeding, along with potential financial penalties. No sentencing date was set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, including its Fayetteville Resident Agency.
In the 15 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Las Vegas Man Indicted for Assaulting Federal Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday for allegedly assaulting two federal task force officers.
Isaiah Tisby, 26, is charged with two counts of assault on a federal officer with use of a deadly and dangerous weapon or infliction of bodily injury, and two counts of assault on a federal officer and employee. U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler scheduled a jury trial to begin on July 12, 2022.
According to allegations in the indictment, on March 18, 2022, Tisby used a can of bear attack deterrent to assault two federal task force officers who were carrying out their official duties.
If convicted, Tisby faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the assault on a federal officer with use of a deadly and dangerous weapon or infliction of bodily injury counts; and a statutory maximum penalty of eight years in prison for the assault on a federal officer and employee counts.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Las Vegas Man Charged for Unlawfully Manufacturing and Selling Privately Made Firearms, Including Machine Gun Conversion Devices, Without A Federal Firearms LicenseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday for allegedly possessing a machine gun, and for allegedly engaging in the manufacturing and selling of privately made firearms, including machine gun conversion devices commonly referred to as “Glock Switches” — which are designed to convert semi-automatic pistols to fire automatically — without a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
Clarence Meekins (36) is charged with one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of engaging in the business of dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 17, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts.
According to allegations in the complaint, between March 23 and April 11, 2022, Meekins sold privately made 3-D printed firearms and Glock Switches. On April 28, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants on Meekins’ vehicle and residence. During the searches, law enforcement seized a rifle, a shotgun, a .38 revolver, 3-D printers, machine gun conversion devices, 3-D pistol frames, and various magazines and ammunition. Meekins does not have an FFL, which is required to engage in the business of dealing or manufacturing firearms.
Meekins has prior felony convictions in Nassau County, New York, including possession of a controlled substance, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Accordingly, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The statutory maximum penalties are 10 years in prison for illegal possession of a machine gun, and five years in prison for engaging in the business of dealing or manufacturing firearms without a license.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kalispell businesswoman accused of running money mule business to launder funds overseas from wire fraud schemes in the United StatesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Kalispell woman suspected of operating a money mule business to collect money from various wire fraud schemes occurring in the United States and then sending the funds overseas in return for a commission appeared today for arraignment on conspiracy and money laundering charges, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Theresa Anne Chabot, 57, pleaded not guilty to a 30-count indictment charging her with unlicensed money transmitting business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 17 counts of money laundering-promotion and 11 counts of money laundering-spending. If convicted of the most serious crime, Chabot faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Judge DeSoto released Chabot pending further proceedings.
The indictment alleges that from about May 2016 until about February 2021, Chabot conspired with others and through her business, Avalanche Creek, LLC, an unregistered money transmitting business, to operate as a money mule related to various wire fraud schemes occurring in the United States. The wire fraud schemes included advance pay schemes, internet-enabled frauds, investment schemes, romance schemes, lottery and sweepstakes frauds and COVID-19 funding fraud. A money mule is a person who transfers illegally acquired money for other individuals. Money mules often receive a commission for providing their services.
The indictment further alleges that during the scheme, Chabot opened more than 50 bank accounts, collected the proceeds from the wire fraud schemes and then transmitted the money overseas. Banks closed numerous accounts after reviewing the activity, and at least 15 banks directly informed Chabot the accounts were being closed because of fraud, in violation of bank policies and other identified misuse. Despite repeated account closures, Chabot opened new bank accounts that enabled her to receive proceeds from fraud schemes with victims located in the United States. Chabot received a fee, which in many instances totaled approximately 10 percent of the fraudulent proceeds deposited into her bank accounts. Chabot would then forward the remaining funds overseas, including to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations.
PACER case reference. 22-18.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement with Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, to Ensure Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today entered into an agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Columbus, Ohio. The department reached the agreement with Badrivishal LLC, which owns and operates the hotel. The agreement requires a series of modifications to provide better access for customers with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs.
The Civil Rights Division launched an investigation after it received a complaint from a couple who claimed that they reserved accessible rooms after being told by hotel staff that the rooms had accessible “roll-in” showers fitted for wheelchairs. Upon arrival during the Thanksgiving holiday, neither of the bathrooms had a roll-in shower and the couple were forced to find a different hotel.
The ADA requires that hotels provide access to individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs. After conducting an architectural assessment, the department alleged that the hotel here failed to comply with the accessibility standards under the ADA and presented barriers for people using wheelchairs. These barriers prevented such individuals from entering showers in the room, safely transferring into beds, enjoying the breakfast offered at the hotel, accessing the front desk and getting from accessible parking into the hotel.
“As the country reopens from the COVID-19 pandemic and people travel with more frequency, people who use wheelchairs should not face barriers at hotels because of their disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to enforcing the rights of people with disabilities so that they may travel worry-free and enjoy access to hotels.”
Under the agreement, the hotel will remove these barriers by modifying parking spaces, building entrances, public restrooms, the front desk, drinking fountains and routes within the hotel to ensure that they are accessible. The hotel will also ensure that its rooms, including bathrooms, that are required and advertised as accessible to people who use wheelchairs are, in fact, accessible. The agreement further requires the hotel’s managers, front desk personnel and reservations staff undergo training regarding the ADA’s requirements to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Finally, the hotel will pay $20,000 in damages to the couple harmed by the discrimination.
People interested in finding out more about the agreement, or the ADA can call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA website at http://www.ada.gov.
Justice Department Announces New Training Resource for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic ExaminationsRead the Press Release
Today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall announced the launch of an updated and expanded resource aimed at health care professionals. Originally developed in 2008 with OVW funding by the Dartmouth Medical School’s Interactive Media Laboratory, the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination: A Virtual Practicum (SAMFE VP) teaches every step of a victim-centered sexual assault medical forensic examination and serves as a training tool for law enforcement, prosecutors and other professionals. The revised and improved SAMFE VP is designed to enhance care for patients from diverse communities, including transgender patients, young people, elders and incarcerated patients. The SAMFE VP provides interactive training on various topics including evidence collection, physical examinations, medical and forensic documentation, crime laboratory analysis and courtroom testimony. Earlier this year, President Biden signed into law the historic reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which expands access to justice, safety and services for survivors and enhances training for sexual assault forensic examiners.
“All survivors of sexual violence deserve access to compassionate and competent care, and professionals must be able to obtain the resources, training and institutional support required to meet survivors’ needs. Medical forensic care providers can have an enormous impact on survivors, as well as on the investigation and prosecution of these cases,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “Programs, initiatives and projects funded under the Violence Against Women Act, including the SAMFE Virtual Practicum announced today, support practices that save lives and help build coordinated community responses to sexual and domestic violence.”
“Forensic medical examiners are often among the first people survivors encounter in the aftermath of sexual assault, on what might have been the worst day of their lives, when they are just beginning to process the trauma of what they’ve been through. It is not an easy job, but it is critical in so many ways: research shows that survivors who work with forensic medical examiners have much better outcomes when compared to those who do not,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Randall. “The SAMFE Virtual Practicum ensures that nurses and other professionals have the knowledge and skills they need to respond effectively when a survivor needs medical treatment and evidence collection after an assault.”
With funding from the department’s National Institute of Justice, OVW collaborated to update the SAMFE VP with End Violence Against Women International; the Academy of Forensic Nursing; the International Association of Forensic Nurses; and more than 30 multidisciplinary experts – the full list of people and institutions who made the project possible is available as a pdf file. For more information about SAMFEs and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), OVW’s Patchwork Podcast has an episode titled “Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Assist Survivors at the Intersection of Health and Justice Systems.”
OVW provides funding under several grant programs to provide sexual assault patients with medical forensic exams to treat their post-assault healthcare needs and to collect evidence of their sexual assault. OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at http://www.justice.gov/ovw.
Justice Department Announces Enforcement Action Charging 12 Medical Professionals with Opioid Distribution OffensesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with federal and state law enforcement partners, today announced criminal charges against 14 defendants in eight federal districts across the United States for their alleged involvement in crimes related to the unlawful distribution of opioids. Twelve of the defendants were medical professionals at the time of these alleged offenses.
“Today’s Opioid Enforcement Action highlights the Justice Department’s latest efforts in responding to the nation’s opioid epidemic, which last year alone caused the tragic loss of life for more than 75,000 people in the United States due to overdose,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with its partners to combat this epidemic, and to seek to prevent the next tragic loss of life.”
One of the cases announced today charged a Kentucky dentist with unlawfully prescribing morphine. In August 2020, this dentist issued three opioid prescriptions to a 24-year-old patient in a five-day period. The patient died from a morphine overdose, allegedly from one of the prescriptions the dentist issued during those five days. Another case charged a former nurse and clinic director in Tennessee with unlawfully obtaining opioid pain pills for personal use and further distribution by filling fraudulent prescriptions in the names of current and former hospice patients. According to the indictment, the defendant then used the patients’ hospice benefits to cover the costs of the unlawfully obtained prescriptions opioids. A third case charged a Kentucky doctor with unlawfully prescribing opioids to patients whose health care treatments were paid for by taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The defendant allegedly preyed on these patients for continued access in order to bill these programs for medically unnecessary procedures.
“When we helped announce ARPO strike forces in 2019 we said it would be an enduring commitment to stamp out illegal opioid trafficking by prescription pad and we meant it,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “As is evident by the results announced today, we will continue to bring coordinated enforcement actions to address the opioid scourge plaguing the region.”
Today’s announcement also highlighted the continued efforts of the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Over the past three years, ARPO has charged 111 defendants with crimes related to the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. Together, these defendants issued prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills.
Since its inception, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids
“The FBI and our partners are working together to combat the opioid crisis and hold accountable those abusing their prescription privileges,” said Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. “We urge the public to assist us in keeping the community safe by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI with tips about those illegally prescribing opioids.”
“Those who illegally prescribe opioids not only undermine critical efforts to address the epidemic; they also put patients at risk of overdose and physical harm,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This enforcement action demonstrates HHS-OIG’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable bad actors who abuse their status as health care providers and exploit the opioid epidemic for personal gain.”
“Doctors and health care professionals are entrusted with prescribing medicine responsibly and in the best interests of their patients. Today’s takedown targets medical providers across the country whose greed drove them to abandon this responsibility in favor of criminal profits,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “DEA will use every tool at our disposal to stop drug diversion and fraud. And we are working tirelessly each day to make our communities safer and healthier.”
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Program Integrity has taken six administrative actions against providers for their alleged involvement in these offenses.
“Patient care and safety are top priorities for us, and CMS has taken administrative action against six providers to protect critical resources entrusted to Medicare while also safeguarding people with Medicare,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “These actions to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in our federal programs would not be possible without the close and successful partnership of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.”
U.S. Attorneys William S. Thompson for Southern District of West Virginia, Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee joined the announcement today.
Today’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by Principal Deputy Chief Kilby Macfadden and ARPO Assistant Chiefs Alexis Gregorian and Jillian Willis. The Fraud Section’s ARPO Strike Force and the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Strike Forces in Miami and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern District of Alabama, Eastern District of Kentucky, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of Tennessee, and Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting these cases. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the department’s website at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/opioid-enforcement-action-2022.
In addition to the DEA, FBI, and HHS-OIG, the Kentucky and Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Units; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and other federal and local law enforcement agencies participated in the law enforcement action.
An indictment, complaint, or information is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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For any patients impacted by the law enforcement operations, information regarding available treatment programs and where patients can turn for assistance is available as follows:
Alabama: The Alabama Department of Mental Health has a dedicated telephone number to connect those affected by the closure. The toll-free substance abuse number is 1-844-307-1760. Information about substance abuse and opioids is available at the following websites:
http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/pharmacy/opioid-and-heroin.html
https://mh.alabama.gov/understanding-the-opioid-crisis/
Florida: If you are in Florida and are suffering with addition you can find help by calling 1-800-662-4357 or by finding local services at https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/samh/get-help.shtml.
Kentucky: If you are in Kentucky and are suffering with addiction you can find help by calling 833-8KY-HELP or logging in at Findhelpnowky.org.
Ohio: If you are seeking help in Ohio, please call the OhioMHAS patient helpline, at 1-877-275-6364
Tennessee: If you are seeking help in Tennessee:
- For a referral to addiction treatment services, call the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789.
- In a mental health crisis, call the Statewide Crisis Line: 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).
- For help accessing substance abuse or mental health services call the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Helpline: 800-560-5767 or 615-532-6700. This line is staffed Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT.
New Jersey: If you are seeking help in New Jersey, please call the REACH Helpline at 1-844-732-2465.
West Virginia: If you are in West Virginia and are suffering with addiction you can find help by calling 1-844-HELP-4WV or logging in at https://HelpandHopeWV.org.
For individuals seeking help in other states, please call 1-800-662-HELP
The Fraud Section uses the Victim Notification System (VNS) to provide victims with case information and updates related to this case. Victims with questions may contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Assistance Unit by calling the Victim Assistance phone line at 1-888-549-3945 or by emailing [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas. If you believe you are a victim of the conduct described in any of these cases, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/ARPO.
Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Narcotics ConspiracyRead 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 Kevin Hughes, 60, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to narcotics conspiracy. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Misha Coulson, who are handling the case, stated that Hughes assisted co-defendant Jun Martinez in his drug trafficking operation, receiving drug packages via mail at his residence, frequently driving Martinez in and around Jamestown for drug trafficking activities, assisting with retrieving money from customers, vacuum sealing the money, and subsequently mailing the money to the source of supply. In September 2020, during a trip out of New York State to acquire narcotics from a source of supply, an Illinois State Police Trooper stopped Hughes and Martinez around Frankfort, Illinois. A search of their vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 9,589 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products.
Jun Martinez was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 1, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Hospital Employee Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Exploitive Images of an Unconscious Victim PatientRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Donald Benson, Jr., age 42, of Nottingham, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to production of child pornography.
The plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Selwyn Smith of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on September 18, 2016, while working at a Maryland hospital as a patient sitter, Benson sexually assaulted a 15-year-old female (Victim 1) while she was unconscious. Additionally, Benson took 13 pictures of the sexual assault on Victim 1 and emailed those pictures to his personal email account. Benson used Victim 1’s birthdate as the subject of the email which was also visible in the pictures that Benson produced.
As stated in is plea agreement, in December 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report regarding child pornography activity on Benson’s email account. Between August 2015 to December 2019, Benson uploaded 337 files of possible child pornography.
During the investigation into Benson’s criminal conduct, investigators determined that several of the images Benson had emailed himself depicted images of minors being sexually assaulted including the images that Benson captured of Victim 1 while she was in an unconscious state.
On February 6, 2020, investigators executed search warrants at Benson’s residence and seized various electronic devices. On Benson’s electronic devices, investigators located several images and files of child pornography and a CD that depicted a naked prepubescent female with her legs spread and genitals exposed. This CD contained images of child pornography from 1999 to 2013.
In an interview with law enforcement, Benson informed investigators that he took pictures of Victim 1 while working in an official capacity and while Victim 1 was unconscious. He also informed law enforcement that he took the exploitive pictures of Victim 1 when her father stepped out of the room to take a phone call.
Benson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release for production of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2022, at 9:15 a.m.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, HSI, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Paul E. Budlow, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Harrisburg Man Charged with Failing to Pay over $700,000 Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Sam Duong, age 48, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with failing to withhold and pay employment taxes.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the information alleges that between March 2015 and June 2018, Duong failed to pay approximately $784,475 in employment taxes for his company ETS, Inc. The company was located in Harrisburg and provided temporary staffing.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Grant County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Austin Blake Conrad, of Petersburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a methamphetamine charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Conrad, 23, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Conrad admitted to selling methamphetamine in August 2021 in Grant County.
Conrad faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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 Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Fulton County Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Mail in AlbanyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Otilio Millan III, age 33, of Broadalbin, New York, pled guilty today to stealing gift cards and cash from mailed packages while employed as a clerk for the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area for the USPS Office of the Inspector General.
In pleading guilty, Millan admitted that from December 2020 to November 2021, he opened mailed packages in order to steal gift cards and cash, while working at several Post Offices in Albany, including the Terminal Street Station and the Stuyvesant Plaza Station.
Millan, who pled guilty to mail theft, faces up to 5 years in prison when Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn sentences him on September 8, 2022. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Millan has also agreed to pay restitution.
This case was investigated by the USPS Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Fugitive Wanted in the District of Oregon Returned to the U.S. After Two Decades on the RunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—An international fugitive and former resident of San Diego who is wanted in the District of Oregon for perpetrating a real estate scam was apprehended in and returned to the U.S. from Costa Rica after more than two decades on the run.
Robin James McPherson, who faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering in the District of Oregon, made a federal court appearance this week in Houston en route to the Southern District of California where he will soon be sentenced for tax crimes.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed today in Oregon, in early August 2019, the FBI began investigating McPherson after several individuals reported being the victims of a real estate scheme operating out of Springfield, Oregon and Costa Rica. McPherson is alleged to have used a variety of marketing techniques, including cold calls, promotional websites, and Facebook advertisements, to find potential investors in an alleged Costa Rican real estate development opportunity called the Carara Parque Resort Corporation. After victims showed interest in the faux investment opportunity, McPherson would conduct sales calls, from Costa Rica, to explain the project.
Over a period of months, McPherson directed victims to wire investment funds to a bank account in Oregon. He then transferred the funds to Costa Rica. Between December 2015 and August 2019, approximately $1.2 million dollars were transmitted to the Oregon bank account. McPherson used many different excuses to explain to his investors why no resort villas had been constructed. McPherson did not disclose to investors that their contracts had not been honored and no villas were slated for construction. McPherson used investors’ funds to pay for various personal expenses including his own mortgage.
In December 2000, McPherson and two co-conspirators were found guilty at trial in the Southern District of California of conspiring to defraud the IRS and tax evasion. Prior to being sentenced in March 2001, McPherson fled the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of the Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fugitive Deported to the United States for Sentencing After More Than 21 YearsRead the Press Release
A former California man made a court appearance earlier this week after being apprehended and deported from Costa Rica, so that he could be sentenced by a federal judge on his U.S. conviction for tax crimes.
In December 2000, Robin J. McPherson, formerly of San Diego, and two co-conspirators were found guilty at trial of conspiring to defraud the IRS and tax evasion. According to evidence presented at trial, McPherson was the President, Chief Operating Officer and co-owner of Continental Wireless Cable Inc., a telemarketing company that sold more than $30 million in purported partnership interests in wireless cable systems before being shut down by the Securities and Exchange Commission. McPherson and his co-conspirators took steps to evade paying taxes on profits earned by Continental Wireless Cable Inc., causing a tax loss to the IRS of more than $1 million in taxes.
Following McPherson’s trial conviction in 2000, the district court ordered him and his co-defendants to appear for sentencing in March 2001. Instead, McPherson fled the United States and did not return for the sentencing hearing.
“It is fitting that Robin McPherson was arrested and returned to the United States to be sentenced on his tax crime convictions,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “While honest Americans are paying their fair share this filing season, they will be reminded that the department and IRS will ensure that those who have defrauded the IRSs are held fully accountable, no matter how long it takes.”
“This defendant dodged both his taxes and his sentencing hearing,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman for the Southern District of California. “Thanks to the FBI and Costa Rican authorities, he’ll now be held responsible for both.”
“The defendant was convicted for his role in a complex financial fraud scheme in 2000 and fled the U.S. before he was sentenced,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “This international arrest and deportation, more than two decades later, should serve as notice to FBI fugitives worldwide - neither time nor distance will deter the FBI from tracking down wanted fugitives and holding them accountable in U.S. courts. The FBI is proud to work alongside IRS-Criminal Investigation, and I specifically want to thank the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Panama City for their outstanding work in coordinating with local authorities in Costa Rica to locate and arrest the defendant.”
“It has been more than 20 years since the defendant was convicted in federal court for tax crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “After eluding the authorities as a fugitive, McPherson was finally caught and is now being brought back to the United States to face his crimes. Criminals may think that they can run and evade justice, but we as a law enforcement agency will continue to hold them accountable.”
McPherson is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. McPherson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the conspiracy and tax evasion counts. 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.
McPherson is also wanted to stand trial in the District of Oregon for fraud and money laundering charges. In October 2020, McPherson was charged by criminal complaint in the District of Oregon for his role in a fraud scheme in which he allegedly solicited $1.2 million in investments from victims in a fake Costa Rican real estate development opportunity. McPherson allegedly used investor funds to pay for various personal expenses including his own mortgage.
The United States is grateful to the Government of Costa Rica for its cooperation and support in apprehending McPherson, as well as the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI Legat Panama City.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California provided significant assistance.
Former Tax Division trial attorneys Danny N. Roetzel and Lori A. Hendrickson prosecuted the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Defendants Sentenced for Involvement in Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Monroe, LouisianaRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – John Henry Butler, Jr., 44, of Providence Village, Texas, has been sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana on drug conspiracy charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Butler to 240 months (20 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Butler pleaded guilty December 16, 2021 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Butler, along with three others, were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2021 and charged with a methamphetamine conspiracy in connection with their drug trafficking activities in the Monroe, Louisiana area. Evidence presented in court established that from February through November of 2019, agents conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from one of Butler’s co-defendants. In November 2019, agents were able to obtain approval from the court to monitor calls on the phone of Darryl Andrea Williams, one of Butler’s co-defendants. Agents were able to intercept phone calls between Williams and Butler concerning the distribution of methamphetamine, along with calls between Williams and the other co-defendants. The other defendants charged in this case and their sentences are as follows:
Darryl Andrea Williams, 60, of Monroe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Travis Dishun Little, 36, of Monroe, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Jeremy Michael Davis, 37, of Monroe, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 196 months (16 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the DEA and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian C. Flanagan and J. Aaron Crawford.
This effort is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Former Mercyhealth Executive Sentenced to 3 1/2 Years for Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Barbara Bortner, 57, Milton, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 ½ years in prison for wire fraud and tax evasion. Bortner, the former Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at Mercyhealth in Janesville, pleaded guilty to these charges on October 14, 2021.
The government’s investigation revealed that between 2015 and 2020, Bortner and co-defendant Ryan Weckerly engaged in a kickback scheme in which Weckerly submitted inflated invoices to Bortner for his marketing work for Mercyhealth. Once Bortner approved his marketing invoices, Weckerly received payments from Mercyhealth and provided money to Bortner using either cash or checks. In return for the payments, Bortner agreed to use Weckerly’s business, Morningstar Media Group, as the primary marketing agency for Mercyhealth.
In order to disguise the true nature of the kickback payments, Bortner created a fictitious company named WeInspire LLC. During the timeframe of the kickback scheme, Weckerly wrote over 103 checks to WeInspire LLC from one of his business accounts. The cumulative total of these checks was $2,051,975. In addition, bank records show that Weckerly provided Bortner with over $1,000,000 in cash kickback payments. Based on the government’s financial analysis of Weckerly’s accounting and bank records, the total monetary amount of the fraud was $3,136,200.72.
The Internal Revenue Service initiated an audit of Bortner’s individual tax returns in May 2019. During the audit, Bortner represented to an IRS Revenue Agent during an interview that WeInspire was a legitimate company that performed marketing work for one of Weckerly’s businesses. In the months following the interview with the IRS Revenue Agent, Bortner continued to receive kickback payments from Weckerly.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley stated that the kickback scheme was a “very substantial crime” that was motivated entirely by Bortner’s greed. Judge Conley also stated that Bortner earned a very generous salary at Mercyhealth and had no pressing need for the money she stole. Judge Conley also noted that rather than stop the scheme after she became aware of the IRS investigation, Bortner essentially “doubled down” and continued to receive payments from Weckerly.
Weckerly pleaded guilty on November 4, 2021 to wire fraud and aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return and will be sentenced by Judge Conley on May 17, 2022. Judge Conley also scheduled a restitution hearing for Bortner and Weckerly on July 21, 2022.
The charges against Bortner were a result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Former Buffalo Public School Teacher Going to Prison for Selling Marijuana and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of His Drug Trafficking ActivitiesRead 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 Michael Masecchia, 57, of Williamsville, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi and Brendan T. Cullinane, who handled the case, stated that since at least 1999 through his arrest on August 23, 2019, Masecchia was involved in the sale of marijuana in the Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs. Masecchia and others also participated in marijuana grow operations in Ellicottville and Franklinville, in Cattaraugus County, NY. The marijuana grown at those operations was harvested and distributed to resellers and users. In addition, the defendant possessed firearms to protect himself, his proceeds, and property where he stored marijuana and currency.
As part of his plea agreement, Masecchia admitted that he received sensitive law enforcement information from his co-defendant Joseph Bongiovanni, who worked as a Special Agent of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in Buffalo. The information included the names of potential cooperators and whether or not Masecchia and others were under federal investigation, and such information helped Masecchia and others to continue selling marijuana undetected by other members of law enforcement.
On August 23, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the Masecchia’s Main Street residence and seized $27,950.00 in U.S. currency; Two rifles, five shotguns, and a pistol; ammunition; marijuana and suspected cocaine; steroids; hypodermic needles; THC edibles; cannabis syrup; drug paraphernalia; and four cell phones.
Charges remain pending against co-defendant Joseph Bongiovanni.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Erie County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of John B. Devito.
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Former Bank Branch Manager Sentenced to Prison for Tech Support Fraud Scheme That Exploited the ElderlyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendant ARIFUL HAQUE was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for participating in a technical support fraud scheme. This conspiracy exploited victims, including elderly victims, by remotely accessing their computers and convincing victims to pay for computer support services that they did not need, and which were never actually provided. As part of this scheme, HAQUE registered a purported technical support company, which defrauded more than 100 victims located across the United States and Canada. HAQUE previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Ariful Haque participated in a conspiracy that caused pop-up windows to appear on victims’ computers—pop-up windows that claimed, falsely, that a virus had infected the victim’s computer. Through this and other misrepresentations, this fraud scheme deceived scores of victims across the country into paying hundreds or thousands of dollars to the perpetrators for computer support services they did not need. Thanks to our partners at Homeland Security Investigations, this scheme has been dismantled and another participant has been sentenced to prison.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information, court filings, and statements made in court:
From approximately November 2017 through June 2019, HAQUE was a member of a criminal fraud ring (the “Fraud Ring”) based in the United States and India that committed a technical support fraud scheme that exploited score of victims located across the United States and Canada, including in the Southern District of New York. The Fraud Ring’s primary objective was to trick victims into believing that their computers were infected with malware, in order to deceive them into paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for phony computer repair services.
The scheme generally worked as follows. First, the Fraud Ring caused pop-up windows to appear on victims’ computers. The pop-up windows claimed, falsely, that a virus had infected the victim’s computer. The pop-up window directed the victim to call a particular telephone number to obtain technical support. In at least some instances, the pop-up window threatened victims that, if they restarted or shut down their computer, it could “cause serious damage to the system,” including “complete data loss.” In an attempt to give the false appearance of legitimacy, in some instances the pop-up window included, without authorization, the corporate logo of a well-known, legitimate technology company. In fact, no virus had infected victims’ computers, and the technical support phone numbers were not associated with the legitimate technology company. Rather, these representations were false and were designed to trick victims into paying the Fraud Ring to “fix” a problem that did not exist. And while the purported “virus” was a hoax, the pop-up window itself did cause various victims’ computers to completely “freeze,” thereby preventing these victims from accessing the data and files in their computer—which caused some victims to call the phone number listed on the pop-up window. In exchange for victims’ payment of several hundred or thousand dollars (depending on the precise “service” victims purchased), the purported technician remotely accessed the victim’s computer and ran an anti-virus tool, which is free and available on the Internet. The Fraud Ring also re-victimized various victims, after they had made payments to purportedly “fix” their tech problems.
The Fraud Ring operated through at least 15 fraudulent entities. In November 2017, HAQUE registered one of these fraudulent entities in New York State. HAQUE’s entity defrauded more than approximately 100 victims as part of this scheme. As part of his involvement in the fraud, HAQUE opened U.S. bank accounts to receive funds from victims, deposited victim checks, received a victim complaint, and repeatedly provided a co-conspirator in India (“CC-1”) with authentication codes so that CC-1 could wire funds out of these bank accounts. HAQUE, a former bank branch manager in New York City, also tried to use his banking experience to further the scheme, including by advising CC-1 that it was “[n]ot a good idea to deposit” certain checks, some of which would risk the involvement of “the Feds.” Moreover, on occasion, HAQUE also assisted another co-conspirator (“CC-2”), who had registered a different fraudulent entity that was part of the Fraud Ring, as well. In total, as he admitted in his plea agreement, HAQUE is responsible for losses exceeding $600,000.
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In addition to his prison term, HAQUE, 36, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, forfeiture of $38,886.32, and restitution of $470,672.16.
HAQUE’s co-defendant, Romana Leyva, was previously sentenced to 100 months in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture of $4,679,586.93, and restitution of $2,707,882.91.
Mr. Williams praised the New York Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”)’s El Dorado Task Force, Cyber Intrusion/Cyber Fraud Group for its outstanding work on the investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department for its assistance on this case.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Neff and Jilan J. Kamal are in charge of the prosecution.
Felon in Mansfield Found Guilty of Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, against Defendant Terry A. Melton Jr., 31, of Mansfield, Ohio, following a two-day trial before Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr in Cleveland.
Melton was convicted of possession of a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents, on August 14, 2020, law enforcement investigators approached a vehicle and occupant suspected of having been involved in drug trafficking activity in the Mansfield area. Authorities detained the occupant as they believed the individual to have an active arrest warrant. Inside the vehicle, investigators observed a 9mm semiautomatic pistol on the driver-side floorboard. The firearm was loaded and bore an obliterated serial number.
Melton is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of distribution of cocaine and cocaine base, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, all in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Melton is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2022, and faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Mansfield Police Department, Richland County METRICH Drug Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter E. Daly.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm After Being Shot in a Violent Interaction in BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Tony Oliver, age 42, of Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on June 28, 2019, Oliver and Oliver’s friend (Victim 1) were shot on the 1400 block of Ward Street in Baltimore. Based on CCTV cameras, statements, and jail calls, investigators learned that two male suspects first approached Victim 1 and shot him in the head and chest on the 1400 block of Ward Street. As Oliver approached the area in his vehicle, the male suspects shot at Oliver, hitting him in his hand and arm. Investigators later recovered multiple pieces of evidence at the scene including a trail of blood, a 9mm firearm, and 9mm shell casings from inside Oliver’s car.
As part of the investigation, officers located the 9mm firearm under a bush at the scene. In a video viewed by law enforcement, officers saw Oliver near the bush in which the 9mm firearm was located. BPD homicide detectives subsequently recovered the firearm, tested the firearm for Oliver’s DNA, and discovered Oliver’s DNA on the firearm. Oliver knew that he had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Additionally, as detailed in his guilty plea, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) requested Oliver’s cellphone pending a search and seizure warrant. However, before giving the phone to the detectives, Oliver purposely threw it on the ground and broke it. Due to the damage to the phone, investigators were unable to retrieve information from the cellphone. The phone was believed to contain information regarding Victim 1’s murder.
Investigators subsequently captured several conversations between Oliver and an incarcerated individual (Individual 1) in which Oliver and Individual 1 discussed the shooting. For example, on July 11, 2019, in a conversation between Oliver and Individual 1, investigators believed that Oliver described the circumstances leading to the shooting, including how Oliver was driving the vehicle, parked next to a corner store, and tossed his firearm immediately after the shooting, and that Oliver believed that another individual recovered the firearm from the scene because an associate of Oliver’s could not locate the firearm when Oliver sent the associate to retrieve it. Based on the call, Oliver did not believe that law enforcement recovered the firearm.
Oliver faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled sentencing for August 19, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) 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.
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. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. 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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl and Heroin and Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTBURGH, PA -- A resident of Rankin, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearm and narcotic laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Royal Lee Griffin, age 32, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman in connection with two instances.
In the first matter, the court was advised that on August 24, 2018, Griffin possessed two firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Also on August 24, 2018, Griffin possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Those offenses were uncovered after a search of his person and the vehicle he occupied by the White Oak Police Department.
In the second matter, the Court was advised that Allegheny County Police detectives working on a violence suppression detail observed Griffin in the Mon View Heights housing complex concealing a firearm. When the detectives approached Griffin, they found the firearm on Griffin’s person. Griffin has multiple felony convictions, including Aggravated Assault, Robbery, Carrying Firearms Without a License, and escape, and he is therefore precluded from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for September 15, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a term of imprisonment not more than ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police, White Oak Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Griffin.
Federal Jury Finds Convicted Child Molester Guilty of Naturalization FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict late yesterday against Kheungkham Vongphakdy, 47, of Charlotte, for unlawful procurement of citizenship, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell presided over the trial.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Jarvis McMillar, Acting Field Office Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO).
Vongphakdy was a native and citizen of Laos, but on August 3, 2011, he became a naturalized U.S. Citizen. According to filed documents, evidence presented at trial, and witness testimony, Vongphakdy obtained his U.S. citizenship fraudulently, by providing materially false information on his citizenship application. Trial evidence established that, during the naturalization process, Vongphakdy lied about his criminal history, and failed to admit that, on numerous occasions in November 2008 and October 2009, he had committed criminal sexual acts with a child victim under the age of 13.
Specifically, on March 7, 2011, Vongphakdy submitted an Application for Naturalization (form N-400) to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). He answered “No” to Question 15, “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?” On August 3, 2011, Vongphakdy appeared in person at the CIS office in Charlotte and participated in a naturalization ceremony. He was granted U.S. citizenship and received a Certificate of Naturalization. This occurred approximately three years after he sexually molested a child victim. At the time Vongphakdy was going through the naturalization process immigration officials were not aware of his crimes. Vongphakdy admitted to this criminal conduct on April 4, 2014, when he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual offense in the Superior Court of North Carolina in Mecklenburg County. He was ordered to serve 116 to 158 months in prison and to register as a sex offender.
Vongphakdy is currently in federal custody. The maximum penalties for the charge of unlawful procurement of citizenship are 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked ICE-ERO for their investigation of the case and credited Operation False Haven which led to Vongphakdy’s conviction. False Haven is an initiative by ICE-ERO to identify child molesters and other egregious individuals who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Smith and Katherine Armstrong of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecution.
Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment for Possession of Handgun at Jefferson County Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, KY returned an indictment yesterday charging a Louisville man, Patrick Wesley, age 37, with the illegal possession of a firearm in a school zone.
According to court documents, Wesley was indicted for possessing a handgun at Greenwood Elementary School on March 18, 2021.
The defendant will soon be scheduled for an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Wesley faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The ATF and LMPD are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Porter is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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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.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Louisville Man in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment yesterday charging a local man, Joshua Snodgrass, 27, with conspiring with others to traffic in fentanyl.
According to court documents, beginning in March of 2021 and continuing through February of 2022, Snodgrass conspired with others to attempt to possess, with the intent to distribute, more than four hundred grams of fentanyl.
Snodgrass will soon be scheduled for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U. S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, and U. S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison made the announcement.
The U. S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- May 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May 2022 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Harold Everett Bringinggood. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. On June 17, 2020, Bringinggood, 34, of Quapaw, allegedly broke into a home while it was occupied to commit a crime. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. McWaters is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-125
Kellie Lee Crawford. First Degree Murder in Indian Country. Crawford, 54, of Grove, allegedly killed victim Richard Strade on Sept. 7, 2021. The FBI and Cherokee Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-117
Ryan James Dunham. Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Bank Robbery. Dunham, 25, of Tulsa, allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened an employee when he robbed a Tulsa Check N’ Go on March 23, 2021. Also, on March 31, 2021, Dunham used force and intimidation to rob an IBC Bank in Tulsa. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Brasher is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-120
Antonio Miguel Marquez. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Marquez, 23, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Mossberg 12-gauge pump action shot gun and 176 rounds of ammunition. He is also charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and with possessing a firearm to further his drug trafficking crime. Finally, he is charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing the drug. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-121
Tyler Dean Lewis Ross Cody. Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country (superseding indictment). Cody, 21, of Nowata, was allegedly speeding and unlawfully passed another vehicle in a no passing zone. Cody’s vehicle struck one motorist’s vehicle as he attempted to pass it and then collided head-on with a second vehicle, killing the driver. The incident occurred on May 28, 2020, in Nowata County. The FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-63
Teraneh Monique Sullivan. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Sullivan, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting a victim by swinging a pocketknife at the victim’s neck on Feb. 21, 2021. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-127
Jeremy Wayne Williams. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Williams, 45, of Shawnee, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Ruger 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-129
Federal Charges Filed Against Philadelphia Man Who Allegedly Shot PPD SWAT Officer in FebruaryRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Kristian Reyes, 35, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested today by federal agents and charged by criminal complaint with firearms and drug offenses in connection with an incident earlier this year, during which a Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) officer was shot while executing a warrant for the arrest of the defendant.
The defendant is charged with using a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. According to the publicly filed complaint, Reyes was the subject of an active arrest warrant for state probation and parole violations. On February 11, 2022, Philadelphia Police SWAT Officers went to arrest the defendant at a property on the 100 block of West Lehigh Avenue in the Fairhill section of the city. After announcing themselves and receiving no response, officers breached the front door and went up a narrow stairwell to attempt to enter the third-floor apartment. The officers once again announced themselves as they made their way up the stairs. While they waited for equipment to gain access to the apartment, the leader of the SWAT entry team heard multiple popping sounds from inside the apartment and then felt a stinging sensation in his chest. When he looked down, he realized he had been shot.
The PPD SWAT officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Law enforcement officers later determined that the ceramic plate in the SWAT officer’s ballistics vest prevented more serious injury and likely saved his life.
Ultimately, the defendant was apprehended after attempting to escape by jumping from a third-floor window onto the roof, with a gun in his hand. Investigators recovered a Glock 9mm pistol from the roof. Ballistics comparison later confirmed that the gun was used in the shooting. Investigators also obtained a search warrant for the third-floor apartment and recovered fired cartridge casings, nearly 100 additional rounds of ammunition, and an enormous inventory of alleged narcotics including over 3,500 fentanyl pills, heroin, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and nearly $3,000 cash.
“As we have said many times since launching the All Hands On Deck initiative, our Office and our federal partners are doing everything we can to support the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecute cases federally when appropriate,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Here, as alleged in the complaint, the defendant brazenly and recklessly fired a weapon through a wall at law enforcement officers in the middle of the day in busy neighborhood; an offense that certainly meets the criteria for federal prosecution. We are committed to bringing the full might of the federal justice system to this battle against criminals in our city.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison with a thirty-five year mandatory minimum sentence.
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Martin.
This case is part of the DEA’s new initiative, Operation Overdrive, aimed at combatting the rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths plauguing American communities. Operation Overdrive, which launched February 1, 2022, uses a data-driven, intelligence-led approach to identify and dismantle criminal drug networks operating in areas with the highest rates of violence and overdoses. DEA, working in partnership with its fellow federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, has mapped the threats and initiated enforcement operations against those networks in 34 locations across 23 states.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Doctor Admits to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ehab Kodsi, age 56, of Watervliet, New York, pled guilty today to filing a false tax return and admitted to deliberately underreporting his income from 2015 to 2018.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”).
Kodsi, a medical doctor, is the sole owner of a pain management clinic located in Queensbury, New York. He is also a partner in a real estate company that owns several properties, including the office building in Queensbury that houses his pain management clinic.
In pleading guilty, Kodsi admitted that from 2015 to 2018, he underreported his businesses’ revenues to the IRS, and improperly deducted personal and business expenses. As a result, Kodsi failed to report a total of $822,069 in income and failed to pay $245,212 in taxes.
Kodsi did not report income received from third parties reimbursing services provided by his pain management clinic, deducted personal expenses as business expenses, deducted the same business expense multiple times, and overstated business expenses related to his and his family’s use of vehicles.
Kodsi faces up to 3 years in prison, and a maximum $250,000 fine, when Senior United District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn sentences him on September 8, 2022. He has also agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $245,212. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by IRS-CI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Discovery of Cache of Drugs, Cash, and Weapons in Pacific Grove Apartment Leads to Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking Charges Against Monterey County ResidentRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – The Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Mario Jose Villagrana with federal drug distribution and firearms charges in connection with the discovery of a cache of drugs, cash, and weapons in a Pacific Grove, Calif., apartment, announced U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon.
The criminal complaint, filed April 28, 2022, and unsealed late yesterday, describes the drugs, cash, and weapons law enforcement officers found on February 15, 2022, in Villagrana’s Pacific Grove apartment and a closet within. For example, among the weapons found were two AR-15-style and two AK-47-style rifles, four handguns, and a 30-round extended magazine. The complaint also describes additional items collected, including a duffle bag with various caliber magazines and ammunition; two milling machines and a Dremel tool, both commonly used to fabricate firearm component parts; various gun parts; a variety of drugs, and more than $20,000 in U.S. currency. The drugs found allegedly include over 13,000 counterfeit “M30” pills containing fentanyl (weighing more than 1.4 kilograms).
The complaint charges Villagrana, 27 of Monterey County, Calif,, with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(vi), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Villagrana faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, for the drug charge, as well as a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for the firearm charge. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order a maximum $5 million fine for the drug charge and a $250,000 fine for the firearm count, a term of supervised release, and forfeiture. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Villagrana made his initial court appearance in the Northern District of California before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins on May 3, 2022, and is scheduled to return to court May 10, for a detention hearing.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and, as with all defendants, Villagrana is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christoffer Lee is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Dearborn Resident Sentenced in Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Dearborn resident Ali Rameh Bazzi was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment today on charges of wire fraud and money laundering arising out of an approximately $500,000 investment fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sarah Kull, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Office of the Internal Revenue Service Office of Criminal Investigation.
Bazzi, 27, pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud approximately 30 individuals by using their investments to fund his personal lifestyle and expenses. Bazzi also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, the result of financial transactions he engaged in with the fraudulently obtained funds.
United States Attorney Ison stated “This defendant lived lavishly on funds that he stole from those who entrusted him with their investments. His lies and deceit were costly to his victims and to the community as a whole. Today’s sentence was wholly warranted and I hope it will deter anyone seeking to enrich themselves by defrauding innocent investors.”
According to Court documents, Ali Rameh Bazzi held himself out to the public as an investment manager who used a unique trading model to generate high rates of return for investors. Between March of 2018 and March of 2020, Bazzi, operating through a supposed investment management company that he formed, obtained approximately $540,000 from nearly thirty investors. Bazzi told these investors that he would be investing their funds in commodities and foreign exchange markets and would generate substantial profits for his clients. To corroborate those claims, he provided his investors with individualized account statements at regular intervals, which purported to show trading activity and the growth in the value of their investments.
In fact, according to court documents, Bazzi diverted the great bulk of the money he obtained to his own personal uses and expenses. The account statements were fictitious, as were Bazzi’s many other representations to his investors about how and where their funds would be invested. Because of Bazzi’s misrepresentations, most of his victims were left with no return on their investments.
Bazzi spent investor funds leasing exotic sports cars, acquiring jewelry, and funding the day-to-day living expenses of a comfortable lifestyle. Of the approximately $540,000 that Bazzi obtained over the course of the scheme, Bazzi returned approximately $99,000 to investors. The reminder of the funds – some $441,231 – Bazzi illegally converted to his own use.
In addition to the 33 months of imprisonment, Bazzi was ordered to pay $441,231 in restitution to his victims.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John K. Neal. The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigations Division. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission provided valuable assistance.
Correctional Officer Charged with Providing Contraband to InmatesRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Milton Williams, 27, of Austintown, Ohio, with participating in a conspiracy that sold contraband to inmates at a Federal Correctional Institute in Elkton, Ohio (FCI-Elkton).
According to the indictment, from March 2020 to January 2021, the defendant worked as a Correctional Officer at FCI-Elkton. The indictment states that during this time, Williams and others participated in a conspiracy that smuggled tobacco and cell phones into the prison and sold them to inmates. The indictment alleges that inmates made payments through a mobile phone application.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violation.
In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryson N. Gillard.
Clark County Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Samantha K. Fristoe, 30, Owen, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 5 years in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. This prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Fristoe pleaded guilty to this charge on February 4, 2022.
On June 7, 2021, West Central Drug Task Force officers purchased 55.9 grams of methamphetamine from Fristoe and co-defendant, Saige Marten, through a confidential informant in Clark County, Wisconsin.
At the time of this offense, Fristoe was on state probation for forgery and had been released on criminal bond for cases involving methamphetamine trafficking and bail jumping. Fristoe subsequently was sentenced in her state cases on August 23, 2021 to a total of 3 years and 6 months in state prison followed by 3 years and 6 months of extended supervision. Judge Conley ordered this federal sentence to run concurrently with the remainder of the state prison sentence.
At sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted the fact that Fristoe was on state supervision at the time she committed this offense.
Co-defendant Saige Marten pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison by Judge Conley on March 23, 2022.
The charge against Fristoe was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force; Eau Claire Police Department; Chippewa, Clark, and Rusk County Sheriffs’ Offices, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Clark County District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Citizen of Dominican Republic Admits Role as Leader of International Money Laundering OrganizationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The leader of an international money laundering organization in the Dominican Republic today admitted his role in a conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Luis Velazquez-Cordero, aka El Pequeño, 37, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to Count One of an indictment charging him with conspiring to commit money laundering. Velazquez-Cordero was extradited to the United States after his arrest the Dominican Republic on July 28, 2020.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Velazquez-Cordero was the leader of a money laundering organization that used the United States banking system to convert over $80 million in cash from illegal drug sales into cashier’s checks and then deposit the checks into United States bank accounts so that the money could be transferred back to international drug trafficking organizations in the Dominican Republic and other countries. Velazquez-Cordero directed conspirators in New Jersey, New York, and Florida to pick up cash drug proceeds and exchange the cash for cashier’s checks at United States banks. Velazquez-Cordero provided the amount of each check, the payee, and the bank accounts into which the checks should be deposited. The checks were then deposited into the payee accounts, many of which were controlled by shell corporations and used as a means to facilitate laundering illegal drug proceeds. The cashier’s check scheme was designed to conceal the nature, source, ownership, and control of the illegal drug proceeds in order to avoid scrutiny by law enforcement and banking institutions.
As part of his plea, Velazquez-Cordero also agreed to forfeit $1.4 million in United States currency seized during the investigation, as well as five properties in the Dominican Republic and 10 vehicles, including a Ferrari.
The money laundering count to which Velazquez-Cordero pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; the DEA Special Operations Division and the Santo Domingo Country Office, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge Renita D. Foster; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Frank Russo; the Morristown, New Jersey, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Darnell Richardson; the Clifton, New Jersey, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Tom Rinaldi; the Passaic, New Jersey, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Luis A. Guzman; the New York City Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell; the New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, under the direction of Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan; the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes; the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, under the direction of Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing Velazquez-Cordero arrest and extradition. U.S. Attorney Sellinger thanked officials in the Dominican Republic for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan M. Peck of the National Security Unit in Newark.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Charlestown Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Identity Theft and Fraud Related to Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Charlestown man living under a false identity was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on charges arising from his use of the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen.
An individual referred to as “John Doe” was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Dec. 22, 2021, Doe pleaded guilty to one count of false statements on a United States passport application, one count of false representation of a Social Security number, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
On or about March 31, 2020, Doe used the name and personally identifiable information (PII) of a Puerto Rican resident to apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (MA DUA). On April 1, 2020, MA DUA approved the claim and began issuing benefits to Doe via a prepaid debit card, which he used for cash withdrawals at ATM machines and for the purchase of goods and services. As a result, from April through September 2020, Doe fraudulently received over $15,000 in UI benefits under the stolen identity.
In 2017, Doe used the victim’s Social Security number to apply for a duplicate driver’s license with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and, in 2010, used the victim’s name and PII to apply for a United States passport. Further investigation revealed that Doe had been using the victim’s name and personal identifiers since at least 2000 and, since 1992, he had provided at least four other names when he was arrested by police and to apply for and receive driver’s licenses.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Benjamin Saltzman and James Herbert of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service together with Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
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.
California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jesse Michael James, 40, of Santa Maria, California, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. James previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On December 7, 2020, James assaulted the victim with a hammer, causing the victim to sustain serious bodily injury. James is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the assault occurred on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) Indian Reservation.
The FBI and the CRIT PD conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00549-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 059_James# # #
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.Brooklyn-Based Manager of Money Laundering Operation Pleads Guilty in Connection with $5 Million Online Vehicle Sale ScamRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ricky Patel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today that NATALIA KORZHA pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with a scheme to launder money derived from an online vehicle sale scam that generated at least $5.3 million from dozens of defrauded consumers. KORZHA pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As she admitted today, Natalia Korzha managed a group of co-conspirators who opened bank accounts that were used to launder millions of dollars in criminal proceeds from an online vehicle sale scam. Without her money laundering operation, online fraudsters would not be able to profit from their illegal schemes. Korzha will now face a term of imprisonment and be required to forfeit her ill-gotten gains.”
As alleged in the Complaint and the Indictments, and based on statements made in court:
From at least March 2019 through approximately March 2021, KORZHA managed a money laundering operation based in Brooklyn that included co-defendants VLADISLAV NECEAEV, ANASHON KAMALOV, KAROL KAMINSKI, STANISLAV TUNKEVIC, and SVETLANA VAIDOTIENE, among others. With KORZHA as coordinator, NECEAEV, KAMALOV, KAMINSKI, TUNKEVIC, VAIDOTIENE, and other co-conspirators opened numerous bank accounts in the name of shell companies for the purpose of laundering money stolen from consumers who were trying to buy vehicles online. In exchange, the defendants received a cut of the victims’ money.
Other members of the conspiracy, pretending to represent car dealerships, advertised vehicles that they did not own and were not authorized to sell on fake websites with domain names that sounded like legitimate car dealerships, or through online marketplaces like Craigslist and eBay. Victims who responded to those advertisements and negotiated a purchase price were instructed by the purported sellers to wire payment to accounts that NECEAEV, KAMALOV, KAMINSKI, TUNKEVIC, VAIDOTIENE, and other co-conspirators opened. Once the payments cleared, the defendants quickly withdrew the funds before the victims realized they had been defrauded. The victims never received the vehicles they thought they had bought or any refunds from the fake sellers. In total, dozens of victims were defrauded of a total of at least $5.3 million.
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KORZHA, 49, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and agreed to forfeiture of $5,386,538 and restitution of $5,386,538. KORZHA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres on September 7, 2022.
NECEAEV, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on March 14, 2022, before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. He has agreed to forfeit $526,000. NECEAEV is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on June 8, 2022.
TUNKEVIC, 47, was extradited to the United States from Lithuania on March 25, 2022, and presented in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave on March 28, 2022.
KAMINSKI, 32, was extradited to the United States from Lithuania on April 4, 2022, and presented in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis on April 5, 2022.
VAIDOTIENE, 54, was extradited to the United States from Lithuania on April 8, 2022, and presented in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on April 11, 2022.
TUNKEVIC, KAMINSKI, and VAIDOTIENE are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges against each of them are pending. They have been ordered detained pending trial.
The offense of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. The crime of conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York Police Department. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division, the United States Marshals Service, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau for their assistance in this investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Lai is in charge of the prosecution.
Belgrade woman admits embezzling from employerRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Belgrade woman on May 3 admitted to allegations that she embezzled what the government calculated to be more than $800,000 from her employer while working as an accountant and controller, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.
Renae Swanson, 59, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Swanson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Aug. 23 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Swanson was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Swanson was an accountant and controller for Williams Plumbing & Heating. Swanson’s duties included uploading electronic payroll files to the bank for funding and processing payroll transactions to the company’s employees. From about December 2012 until May 2019, Swanson fraudulently altered that process, resulting in her increasing the amount of money she received from Williams Plumbing & Heating, none of which was authorized. The government calculated that Swanson embezzled approximately $805,013.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Battery Manufacturer Ordered to Pay Civil Penalties for Alleged Violations of “Made in USA” Labeling Rule and Federal Trade Commission ActRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that the government will collect $105,319.56 in civil penalties from Lithionics Battery LLC and its general manager, Steven Tartaglia (together, Lithionics), as part of a settlement to resolve allegations that Lithionics violated the FTC’s “Made in USA” Labeling Rule and the FTC Act in connection with marketing its battery products.
In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the government alleged that Lithionics violated the rule by improperly labeling and advertising batteries, battery modules and battery management systems as “Made in USA,” even though key components of the products — including the lithium ion cells that powered the batteries — were imported. This is the first action under the FTC’s new “Made in USA” rule.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate companies who deceive customers by falsely claiming that their products were made in the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to protecting consumers from the deceptive practices of companies who hope to gain an unfair advantage through dishonesty.”
“As our country works to onshore production of lithium ion batteries, it’s critical that honest businesses have a chance to compete, and that consumers can buy American,” said Director Sam Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Falsely labeling batteries as made in the United States is against the law, and the FTC is using its new Made in USA rule to make sure this misconduct comes with a price.”
In addition to the civil penalties, the stipulated order entered by the court today prohibits Lithionics from making “Made in USA” and other unsubstantiated origin misrepresentations in the future. The stipulated order also requires Lithionics to notify affected customers and to submit compliance reports to the FTC for over a decade.
This matter is being handled by Trial Attorneys Deborah Sohn and Zachary Cowan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. Julia Ensor represented the FTC.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.
Baltimore Career Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Khary Owens, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, during September and October 2020, detectives from the Baltimore Police Department conducted covert surveillance on a residence in the 500 block of Sheridan Avenue in Baltimore, after receiving information that the residence was being used for drug trafficking. Detectives saw Owens engage in hand-to-hand drug transactions on the porch and on the sidewalk outside of the residence.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and for Owens’ person, which was executed on October 7, 2020. Owens was seen walking to the house, wearing a vest and a backpack, which he hung up on the front porch of the home. When Owens saw the detectives approaching the residence, he ran through the front door and up the stairs, where he threw a package containing 58 vials of cocaine out of the second story window and into the back yard. Detectives staged in the back yard saw the package come out the window and recovered it. Subsequent laboratory analysis revealed that the vials contained cocaine.
Owens was arrested and the backpack he left on the front porch was searched. From the backpack, detectives recovered a medicine bottle filled with a suspected cutting agent, red zip tie baggies, and a .45-caliber pistol loaded with eleven cartridges of .45-caliber ammunition.
Owens and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Owens will be sentenced to between eight and 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for October 20, 2022 at 2:30 p.m.
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. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. 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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles R. Gamper, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Artesia man sentenced to four years in prison for bank robberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Roman Andrew Poulsen, 40, of Artesia, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to four years and three months in prison for bank robbery. Poulsen pleaded guilty on Jan. 7.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on July l5, 2021, Poulsen robbed the Washington Federal Bank in Artesia. Poulsen entered the bank and provided a demand note to one of the tellers. The teller placed the money into a bank envelope and gave it to Poulsen, who immediately fled the bank. Following the robbery, Artesia Police officers located Poulsen's vehicle at a Fenn's Country Market. Officers found Poulsen and Lori Crapo, 41, of Sprinville, Utah, at the store and arrested them.
Officers observed video surveillance from the store that showed Crapo putting something onto one of the shelves on a store aisle before she was apprehended. Officers then searched that area of the store and located cash from the robbery hidden behind a box of ice cream cones.
Crapo pleaded guilty on Jan. 4 to misprision of a felony. On April 26 she was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Upon his release from prison, Poulsen will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Artesia Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy M. Castellano and Aaron O. Joran prosecuted this case.
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Armed drug dealer who sold drugs with child in house sent to prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sentenced for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute meth and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Alec Michael Garcia pleaded guilty Feb. 9.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S Morales ordered Garcia to serve 195 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
“Removing armed drug dealers from our streets has an immediate impact on the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF is absolutely committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who bring dangerous drugs and firearms into our neighborhoods are held accountable for their actions.”
Authorities executed a search warrant at a residence in Corpus Christi in August 2021. At that time, they arrested Garcia and his co-conspirators, Jesus and Anna Sustaita. During the search, they found over 50 grams of meth; nearly two kilograms of pills containing fentanyl, alprazolam and meth; LSD; approximately two kilograms of marijuana as well as numerous THC products, nine loaded firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor and U.S. currency.
At the time of search, authorities found that Anna Sustaita’s 8-year-old son was also living at the residence, which was located across the street from an elementary school.
Jesus, 26, and Anna Sustaita, 24, also of Corpus Christi, were both sentenced earlier this year to 135 months in federal prison.
Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Gang Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña prosecuted the case.
Arkansas Prisoner Guilty of Threatening Federal Judges, ProsecutorRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – An Arkansas inmate has pleaded guilty to federal violations, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Jeffrey Scott Williams pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications today before U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
According to information presented in court, in June 2017, Williams was convicted of mailing threatening communications and was sentenced to 10 years in prison based on a letter he wrote in which he threatened to kill a United States judge. After that conviction, in March 2018, Williams mailed a letter to the federal courthouse in Memphis, Tennessee, in which he threatened to kill a United States judge. Then in May 2018, February 2019, and March 2020, Williams mailed letters to the federal courthouse in Little Rock in which he threatened two United States judges and an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2020. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.
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