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11 April 2022
Former Indiana State Senator Pleads Guilty to Federal Campaign Finance Violation and Making False Statements to the FBIRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Darryl Brent Waltz, 48, of Greenwood, Indiana, pled guilty in federal court today to two felonies: making and receiving conduit contributions, and making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Waltz faces up to five years in prison for each offense. He will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II at a later date.
The announcement was made by Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Steven D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Trial for the other individual charged in the case, John S. Keeler, is scheduled to begin on April 18, 2022. Mr. Keeler is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Federal Official Sentenced to Prison for Contract Bribery Conspiracy and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A former official with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving a federal contract and committing $1.5 million in tax fraud.
Frederick J. Leavitt, 50, of Henderson, Nev., pleaded guilty in October 2019 to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon ordered Leavitt to pay restitution in the amount of $704,002.
According to court documents, Leavitt had been employed by the USBR as Director of the Financial Management Office for the Lower Colorado Region, which includes the Hoover Dam. From about February 2015 through about February 2016, Leavitt and co-conspirator Dustin M. Lewis — a certified public accountant employed by L.L. Bradford & Company, an accounting firm in Las Vegas — devised and executed a scheme to defraud the United States. Leavitt had been assigned to a selection committee that awarded government contracts to perform auditing services for USBR programs. As part of the honest services fraud conspiracy, Lewis paid more than $150,000 in bribes to Leavitt, which they agreed to conceal. In exchange, Leavitt steered an audit contract to L.L. Bradford.
In a separate tax fraud conspiracy, Leavitt and Lewis worked together to file fraudulent tax forms for tax year 2013, on behalf of six business entities that claimed over $11,000,000 collectively in false business deductions. As a result, they caused a tax loss to the IRS in excess of $1.5 million.
Co-conspirator Lewis pleaded guilty in January 2020. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Interior. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre and Tax Division Trial Attorney Patrick Burns are prosecuting the case.
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Former Department of Homeland Security Employee Convicted of Scheme to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
A former Acting Branch Chief of the Information Technology Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OIG) was convicted today by a jury of multiple federal charges stemming from the theft of proprietary software and sensitive databases from the U.S. government.
Murali Y. Venkata, 56, of Aldie, Virginia, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, theft of government property, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction. Venkata, along with co-conspirators Charles K. Edwards, who previously served as the Acting Inspector General of DHS-OIG, and Sonal Patel, another official at DHS-OIG, executed a scheme to steal confidential and proprietary software from the government along with the personally identifying information (PII) of hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Venkata worked for DHS-OIG from June 2010 until he was placed on administrative leave in October 2017 following the charges in this case, including serving for a period as an Acting Branch Chief in the Information Technology Division. Before he joined DHS-OIG, Venkata worked at the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). At both agencies, Venkata had access to software systems, including one used for case management and other systems holding PII of federal employees.
Edwards pleaded guilty in January 2022 and Patel pleaded guilty in April 2019 to stealing property from the U.S. government for the purpose of developing a commercial version of a case management system to be offered for sale to government agencies. Venkata was convicted for his role in the conspiracy, which included exfiltrating proprietary source code and sensitive databases from DHS-OIG facilities, as well as assisting Edwards in setting up three computer servers in Edwards’s residence so that software developers in India could access the servers remotely and develop the commercial version of the case management system.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS-OIG, and Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb of USPS-OIG made the announcement.
Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado and Trial Attorney Celia Choy of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine M. Macey, of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, also of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section for the District of Columbia, provided significant assistance in the investigation of this matter.
Former Department of Homeland Security Employee Convicted of Scheme to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A former Acting Branch Chief of the Information Technology Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OIG) was convicted today by a jury of multiple federal charges stemming from the theft of proprietary software and sensitive databases from the U.S. government.
Murali Y. Venkata, 56, of Aldie, Virginia, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, theft of government property, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction. Venkata, along with co-conspirators Charles K. Edwards, who previously served as the Acting Inspector General of DHS-OIG, and Sonal Patel, another official at DHS-OIG, executed a scheme to steal confidential and proprietary software from the government along with the personally identifying information (PII) of hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
Venkata worked for DHS-OIG from June 2010 until he was placed on administrative leave in October 2017 following the charges in this case, including serving for a period as an Acting Branch Chief in the Information Technology Division. Before he joined DHS-OIG, Venkata worked at the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). At both agencies, Venkata had access to software systems, including one used for case management and other systems holding PII of federal employees.
Edwards pleaded guilty in January 2022 and Patel pleaded guilty in April 2019 to stealing property from the U.S. government for the purpose of developing a commercial version of a case management system to be offered for sale to government agencies. Venkata was convicted for his role in the conspiracy, which included exfiltrating proprietary source code and sensitive databases from DHS-OIG facilities, as well as assisting Edwards in setting up three computer servers in Edwards’s residence so that software developers in India could access the servers remotely and develop the commercial version of the case management system.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS-OIG, and Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb of USPS-OIG made the announcement.
Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado and Trial Attorney Celia Choy, of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine M. Macey, of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, also of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section for the District of Columbia, provided significant assistance in the investigation of this matter.
Former Controller Charged with Stealing $2.3 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man was charged with embezzling over $2.3 million from a New York-based company where he had been the controller since 2001, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Gerard Beauzile, 61, of South Plainfield, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with 10 counts of wire fraud. He appeared by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III, and was released on $200,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2001 through February 2021, Beauzile worked as controller, heading a New York-based company’s accounting department. On a monthly basis, from 2014 through December 2020, Beauzile issued company checks to himself, and deposited those checks into his personal bank account at bank branches in New York, near his employer’s headquarters.
Over the course of the scheme, Beauzile issued approximately 140 checks to himself totaling in excess of $2.3 million, which he used for his own benefit. Beauzile hid his scheme by failing to enter some of the checks into the victim company’s accounting system; causing checks to appear as though they were made payable to vendors when, in fact, Beauzile issued them to himself; changing the vendors invoices to correspond with the accounting of those checks; and falsifying the victim company’s bank account statements.
Each count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Crouch in Newark, with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Chief Operating Officer of Davis Bio-Pesticide Company Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Wire, and Securities FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Hector Absi, 51, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced today to two years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Absi is the former head of the sales department of Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI), a company headquartered in Davis that produces “bio-based” pesticides. Absi also served as MBI’s Chief Operating Officer from January 2014 until his resignation in August 2014. MBI is a publicly traded company; its stock trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol “MBII.” As a publicly traded company, it is required to file quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In its reports, MBI stated that it recorded revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
On Oct. 17, 2019, Absi pleaded guilty conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud. According to his plea agreement, in order to increase sales, Absi sold MBI products to customers with side agreements that offered “inventory protection” under which MBI agreed to either repurchase the product from the customer or continue the date by which the customer would need to make full payment for the product. Under GAAP, revenue from sales that include such agreements cannot be recognized on the company’s books at the time of the sales. Between March 2013 and July 2014, Absi conspired with at least one other MBI employee to misrepresent to MBI’s accounting department, its external auditors, and the investing public that MBI had made no sales under such terms. By concealing the practice, Absi caused MBI to report a doubling of its revenue in 2013 in comparison to 2012. Absi also conspired to backdate the delivery of certain shipments of MBI’s products to enhance MBI’s reported revenues for the quarter. Absi received a performance-based bonus and exercised stock options during a time when MBI’s inflated revenue figures were being reported.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee S. Bickley prosecuted the case.
A restitution hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2022.
Former Caltrans Contract Manager Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging and BriberyRead the Press Release
A former contract manager for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) pleaded guilty today for his role in a bid-rigging and bribery scheme involving Caltrans improvement and repair contracts.
According to a plea agreement filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, Choon Foo “Keith” Yong and his co-conspirators engaged in a conspiracy, from early 2015 through late 2019, to thwart the competitive bidding process for Caltrans contracts to ensure that companies controlled by Yong’s co-conspirators submitted the winning bid and would be awarded the contract. Yong is also charged with accepting bribes while working for Caltrans, a California state agency that receives significant federal funding. Yong received the bribes in the form of cash payments, wine, furniture and remodeling services on his home. The total value of the payments and benefits Yong received exceeded $800,000. In addition to his guilty plea, Yong agreed to pay restitution and cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
“Today’s guilty plea is the first in the Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation into bribery and bid rigging at Caltrans,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Given the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $1.2 trillion authorization and the critical role of transportation infrastructure in our nation, rooting out bid-rigging schemes that cheat the competitive bidding process remains a top priority for the division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners.”
Yong received more than $800,000 of bribes in the form of cash payments, wine, furniture, and remodeling services on his home.Yong is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22 by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. For the bid-rigging conspiracy, Yong faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross pecuniary gain or twice the gross pecuniary loss resulting from the offense. For bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, Yong faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or twice the gross pecuniary loss resulting from the offense. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Today’s guilty plea is the first to result from a joint investigation being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, and the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office as part of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF).
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. In fall 2020, the Strike Force expanded its footprint with the launch of PCSF: Global, designed to deter, detect, investigate and prosecute collusive schemes that target government spending outside of the United States. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to defense-related spending.
Former Caltrans Contract Manager Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging and BriberyRead the Press Release
A former contract manager for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) pleaded guilty today for his role in a bid-rigging and bribery scheme involving Caltrans improvement and repair contracts.
According to a plea agreement filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, Choon Foo “Keith” Yong and his co-conspirators engaged in a conspiracy, from early 2015 through late 2019, to thwart the competitive bidding process for Caltrans contracts to ensure that companies controlled by Yong’s co-conspirators submitted the winning bid and would be awarded the contract. Yong is also charged with accepting bribes while working for Caltrans, a California state agency that receives significant federal funding. Yong received the bribes in the form of cash payments, wine, furniture and remodeling services on his home. The total value of the payments and benefits Yong received exceeded $800,000. In addition to his guilty plea, Yong agreed to pay restitution and cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
“Today’s guilty plea is the first in the Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation into bribery and bid rigging at Caltrans,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Given the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $1.2 trillion authorization and the critical role of transportation infrastructure in our nation, rooting out bid-rigging schemes that cheat the competitive bidding process remains a top priority for the division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners.”
Yong received more than $800,000 of bribes in the form of cash payments, wine, furniture, and remodeling services on his home.
Yong is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22 by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. For the bid-rigging conspiracy, Yong faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross pecuniary gain or twice the gross pecuniary loss resulting from the offense. For bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, Yong faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or twice the gross pecuniary loss resulting from the offense. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Today’s guilty plea is the first to result from a joint investigation being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, and the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office as part of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF).
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. In fall 2020, the Strike Force expanded its footprint with the launch of PCSF: Global, designed to deter, detect, investigate and prosecute collusive schemes that target government spending outside of the United States. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to defense-related spending.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Sentenced for Assaulting InmatesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – The Justice Department today announced that Ulysses Oliver Jr., 47, a former Alabama Department of Corrections Sergeant, was sentenced in federal court to 30 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Oliver previously pleaded guilty to assaulting two inmates at ADOC’s Elmore Correctional Facility.
According to court documents, on Feb. 16, 2019, Oliver went to an observation room holding the two inmate victims, who were handcuffed and sitting quietly. Oliver pulled the first victim from the observation room into an adjacent hallway, where he struck the victim multiple times with his fists and feet, and then used his collapsible baton to strike the victim approximately nineteen times. After assaulting the first victim, Oliver returned to the observation room and pulled the second victim into the hallway. Oliver kicked the second victim and used his baton to strike the victim approximately ten times. During the assaults, the victims were handcuffed behind their backs, did not resist, and posed no threat. Afterward, Oliver returned to the observation room where the victims were being held and shoved the tip of his baton into the face of one of the victims, lacerating the victim’s face. Oliver assaulted the victims as punishment because he believed that the victims had brought contraband into the facility. Oliver assaulted the victims in the presence of, or within earshot of, other ADOC correctional officers, who did not intervene to prevent the assaults.
Two other former corrections officers have pleaded guilty in connection with this incident, and a third was convicted at trial. Former ADOC correctional officers Bryanna Mosley and Leon Williams pleaded guilty in May and July 2019, respectively, to failing to intervene to stop the assaults. Another officer, former ADOC correctional lieutenant Willie Burks, who was the shift commander during the Feb. 16, 2019 incident, was convicted by a federal jury on July 21, 2021, of failing to intervene to stop Oliver from assaulting the second inmate.
“The Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment, which includes malicious uses of force by correctional officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will hold to account officers who brutalize incarcerated persons.”
“The actions of Mr. Oliver and his co-defendants run completely counter to the responsibilities and trust given to correctional officers,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “Oliver knew that the use of force in this case was unnecessary and excessive, and so did the other officers involved. While I fully support the difficult and dangerous jobs that these officers undertake each day, my office remains committed to holding those that ignore their oaths accountable.”
"Corrections officers are expected to safeguard the civil rights of prisoners,” stated Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown with the FBI’s Mobile Division. “These officers ignored their duties and must be held to account for their actions. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate violations of people’s civil rights."
“The ADOC has zero tolerance for violence within its facilities, including excessive use-of-force by staff. Excessive use-of-force is not acceptable under any circumstances, and preventing these incidents is a high priority for the Department,” said Chief Law Enforcement Officer Arnaldo Mercado of the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division. “When an allegation of excessive force is made, or an incident of such nature is reported or discovered, the Department conducts a thorough investigation. Employees who are found to have violated the highest standards of law enforcement, to which the ADOC is steadfastly committed, will be referred for prosecution and the LESD will support prosecution to the full extent of the law.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney David Reese of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Scheme Involving the Sale of Stolen MacBooksRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Philip James, 35, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to transporting stolen property interstate, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from October 2015 through June 2020, James purchased almost 1,000 stolen Apple MacBooks from multiple individuals, including Cory Beck, Eric Castaneda, and Jonas Jarut. After purchasing the MacBooks, James generally resold and shipped them from Folsom to buyers located outside California.
Beck worked in the information technology department at an electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, “Company 1.” Beginning in October 2015, Beck stole new MacBooks from Company 1 and sold them to James. In total, James purchased at least 100 MacBooks that Beck stole from Company 1.
Eric Castaneda’s sister, Patricia Castaneda, worked in the School of Humanities and Sciences at a private university in Stanford, California, “University 1.” Beginning in February 2016, Patricia Castaneda stole new MacBooks from University 1 and gave them to Eric Castaneda to sell to James. In total, James purchased from Eric Castaneda at least 800 MacBooks that Patricia Castaneda stole from University 1.
Jarut worked as a database administrator in the Graduate School of Education at a public university in Berkeley, “University 2.” Beginning in March 2019, Jarut stole new MacBooks from University 2 and sold them to James. In total, James purchased at least 90 MacBooks Jarut stole from University 2.
As part of his plea agreement, James agreed to pay restitution as follows: $2,283,155 to University 1; $256,485 to Company 1; and $209,057 to University 2.
This case is a product of an investigation by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
Chief U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller is scheduled to sentence James on July 25, 2022. Jarut faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the court’s discretion after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
In separate cases, Eric Castaneda, Patricia Castaneda, Beck, and Jarut pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.
Federal Officials Unveil Two Indictments Charging 14 People with Illegally Trafficking 400 Firearms into PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in charge Matt Varisco announced federal charges in two separate interstate firearms trafficking cases at a press conference held at Philadelphia ATF Headquarters today. Both cases involve individuals illegally trafficking firearms from states in the southern United States into Philadelphia, a large northeastern city, a fact pattern which is known as the ‘iron pipeline.’ Taken together, both trafficking conspiracies are alleged to be responsible for illegally putting approximately 400 firearms on the streets.
In the first case, captioned United States v. Norman, et al, the following 11 defendants have been charged by Indictment with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and to make a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer:
- Fredrick Norman, 25, of Atlanta, GA;
- Brianna Walker a/k/a “Mars, 23, of Atlanta, GA;
- Charles O’Bannon a/k/a “Chizzy,” 24, of Villa Rica, GA;
- Stephen Norman, 23, of Villa Rica, GA;
- Devin Church a/k/a “Lant,” 24, of Villa Rica, GA;
- Kenneth Burgos a/k/a “Peppito,” 23, of Philadelphia, PA;
- Edwin Burgos a/k/a “Rock,” 29, of Philadelphia, PA;
- Roger Millington, 25, of Philadelphia, PA;
- Ernest Payton, 30, of Philadelphia, PA;
- Roselmy Rodriguez, 22, of Philadelphia, PA; and
- Brianna Reed, 21, of Shippensburg, PA.
Additionally, defendants Edwin Burgos and Kenneth Burgos were each charged with dealing firearms without a license.
In the second case, captioned United States v. Ware, et al, the following three people have been charged by Indictment with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and to make a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer:
- Muhammad Ware a/k/a “Moo,” 26, of Myrtle Beach, SC;
- Haneef Vaughn a/k/a “Neef,” 25, of Philadelphia, PA; and
- Jabreel Vaughn a/k/a “Breely,” 20, of Elkins Park, PA.
Additionally, defendant Muhammad Ware is charged with dealing firearms without a license.
United States v. Norman, et al:
Beginning in October 2020, ATF Special Agents identified multiple firearms which were recovered in the Philadelphia area as having been originally purchased in Georgia. The short time frame between the firearms’ purchase in Georgia and subsequent recovery in Philadelphia (known as a short “time to crime” period) indicated that the weapons may have been trafficked into the city.
According to the Indictment, subsequent investigation showed that over the course of six months, the conspiracy led by defendant Norman allegedly purchased nearly 300 firearms from dealers in and around Atlanta, and transported the firearms to Philadelphia for distribution and sale on the black market in exchange for approximately $116,000.
United States v. Ware, et al:
Beginning in March 2020, ATF Special Agents identified multiple firearms which were recovered in Philadelphia as having been originally purchased in South Carolina. Agents subsequently learned about a number of additional firearms recovered in Philadelphia with short “time to crime” periods that indicated they may have been trafficked into the city, just as in Norman, et al.
According to the Indictment, the recovered firearms were concentrated in a particular area of Philadelphia and were originally purchased near Myrtle Beach, SC. Subsequent investigation showed that defendant Ware had allegedly purchased several of the recovered firearms, and conspired and communicated with defendants Haneef Vaughn and Jabreel Vaughn, and others about the purchase, transportation and sale on the black market of over 100 illegal firearms.
“When I announced the All Hands On Deck initiative in April 2021, I vowed that our Office would do all we could to stop the violence ravaging our city and support the Philadelphia Police Department in its work,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Earlier this year, the Justice Department announced strategies to fight violent crime, including cracking down on firearms trafficking and the ‘iron pipeline’ – the illegal flow of guns sold in mostly southern states, transported up the East Coast, and found at crime scenes in northeastern cities like ours. The two indictments announced today, charging fourteen people with iron pipeline firearms trafficking conspiracies, show that we are aggressively focused on this work.”
“Preventing the illegal use and trafficking of firearms is a central focus of ATF's strategy to combat violent crime and protect our communities,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Illegally purchased firearms often end up in the hands of violent offenders and affect communities near and far. Ensuring firearms traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice will remain a top priority for our firearms trafficking task force. And this collaborative effort between all of our law enforcement counterparts is a prime example of such.”
In Norman, et al: If convicted of all charges, Edwin Burgos and Kenneth Burgos face a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All other defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
In Ware, et al: If convicted of all charges, defendant Ware faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Defendants Haneef Vaughn and Jabreel Vaughn each face a statutory maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Norman, et al case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Harrisburg Field Offices, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya T. De Souza.
The Ware, et al case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Miller and Special Assistant United States Attorney Martin Howley.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Jury Convicts Stearns County Man for his Role in Meth Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted a Stearns County man of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while incarcerated, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a five-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Doty, Robert Edward Maloney, Jr., 39, was convicted on April 8, 2022, of a single count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in spring 2019, Maloney, while incarcerated in a Minnesota state prison, coordinated with others outside the prison to sell methamphetamine. While Maloney was incarcerated, he communicated with his co-conspirators via jail calls. Law enforcement agents obtained recordings of Maloney’s jail calls, which revealed Maloney’s direction and coordination, including arranging meetings and discussing methamphetamine prices and quantities.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Cannon River Drug & Violent Offender Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Joseph S. Teirab.
Federal Indictment Charges Suburban Chicago Man with Trafficking Cocaine and Illegally Possessing Loaded GunRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a suburban Chicago man for allegedly trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing a loaded handgun.
An indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges GILBERTO ALMANZA, 44, of North Chicago, Ill., with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking activities.
The charges in the indictment carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life. Almanza is currently detained in federal custody. Arraignment is set for Friday at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan DeMarco and A.J. Dixon.
According to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case, Almanza distributed approximately 46 kilograms of cocaine on Sept. 2, 2021. The delivery occurred in a restaurant parking lot in Bolingbrook, Ill., the charges allege. Unbeknownst to Almanza, the individual to whom Almanza delivered the cocaine was cooperating with law enforcement, the charges allege.
A second drug deal allegedly occurred last month at Almanza’s residence. Another individual surreptitiously cooperating with law enforcement bought approximately half a kilogram of cocaine from Almanza, the charges allege. Law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Almanza’s residence on March 17, 2022, and discovered approximately two kilograms of cocaine and the loaded handgun, the charges allege.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Eugene Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Eugene man on supervised release for a drug trafficking conviction was again sentenced to federal prison today after threatening to shoot at an apartment and then driving to the apartment with a loaded assault rifle.
Billy Lynn Brosowske, 48, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on February 11, 2020, Brosowske sent a series of threatening messages to a person he knew. Brosowske threatened to shoot at the person’s apartment if Brosowske’s ex-girlfriend was found to be inside. In one message, Brosowske admitted to knowing there were young children in the apartment who could be placed in “harms (sic) way.”
Officers from the Eugene Police Department responded immediately and located Brosowske’s truck near the apartment. Officers searched the truck pursuant to a state search warrant and located a loaded assault rifle with a chambered round and its safety turned off. Law enforcement arrested Brosowske two weeks later in The Dalles, Oregon, and he was taken into federal custody for violating his federal supervised release after a previous drug trafficking conviction.
On August 20, 2020, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Brosowske with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On November 10, 2021, he pleaded guilty to the single charge.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Eugene Police Department. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey Sweet and Will McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, in close coordination with Erik Hasselman, Senior Prosecutor for the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, who is prosecuting Brosowske for state crimes arising from this incident.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Martin Cooper, 31, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 210 months in prison on Thursday, April 7, 2022, for his role in a Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and
Money Laundering. The offenses occurred in St. Clair County and throughout the Southern District of
Illinois. Cooper pleaded guilty to both charges in October 2021. The United States Postal
Inspection Service initiated an investigation in January 2019, after noticing numerous suspicious packages being sent to and from addresses in East St. Louis, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona. During the investigation, agents learned that Jose Angulo shipped packages containing methamphetamine to the East St. Louis area to Martin Cooper.According to court documents, Cooper admitted to receiving narcotics from Jose and
Steven Angulo in 2019 and acknowledged a package containing over two kilograms of methamphetamine destined for an address in East St. Louis was for him. Cooper also admitted to transferring money to the Angulos via Walmart, and by mailing currency and money orders to them.Jose Angulo was sentenced on March 24, 2022, to 30 years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute
Methamphetamine, Money Laundering and Distribution of Methamphetamine.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the
Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Reppert.EOIR Announces Appointment of Mary Cheng as Deputy DirectorRead the Press Release
FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the appointment of Mary Cheng as the agency’s Deputy Director. Judge Cheng has served EOIR since 2009, including as a Deputy Chief Immigration Judge for the past five years.
“Judge Cheng brings a welcome combination of experience and expertise, preparing her for certain success as EOIR’s deputy director,” EOIR Director David L. Neal said. “Her experience on the immigration bench, her expertise as a managing judge, and her appreciation for the view from both counsels’ tables perfectly position her to help lead the agency to a reinvigorated commitment to our mission and to public service.”
As Deputy Director, Judge Cheng will assist Director Neal in supervising and managing all EOIR components, and developing and implementing agency policies and short- and long-term strategies.
Since April 2021, Judge Cheng has served as the Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judge for the Eastern Region at EOIR. She previously served as a Deputy Chief Immigration Judge from 2017 to 2021, and she was the Acting Principal Deputy Chief Immigration Judge from August 2020 to February 2021. Judge Cheng has also served in the New York Immigration Court both as an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge from 2015 to 2017, and as an Immigration Judge from 2009 to 2015. Before joining EOIR, she served as Assistant Chief Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from 2002 to 2009; and before that, she practiced immigration law in New York from 2000 to 2002. Judge Cheng received her Bachelor of Arts from New York University and a Juris Doctor from the New York Law School. She is a member of the New York State Bar.
Drug Dealing Trio Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Keson Viason Evans, Jr. (30, Eustis) to 11 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On December 17, 2021, Judge Antoon sentenced co-defendant George Randolph Morris, Jr. (31, Umatilla) to 10 years of imprisonment and co-defendant Demitric Jovante Blue (25, Ocala) to 7 years and 3 months of imprisonment. All three were convicted following their guilty pleas for the same offense.
According to court documents, Evans, Morris, and Blue conspired with one another between May 11 and 20, 2021, to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. An informant, working with the Drug Enforcement Administration placed an order to purchase 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of fentanyl from Morris. Evans was the source of supply for the fentanyl and Blue was the source of supply for the methamphetamine. When all three men showed up on May 20, 2021, to deliver the drugs to the informant in Leesburg, DEA agents arrested them and seized the drugs.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced today to one year and three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for the distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Martez D. Foy, 29, admitted he sold approximately 5.2 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on March 10, 2021. He also admitted to selling approximately 5.1 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on April 13, 2021. Both sales occurred in Huntington.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office for conducting the investigation.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00222.
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Declaración del Fiscal de los Estados Unidos Breon Peace sobre United States v. Leniz EscobarRead the Press Release
“Soy Breon Peace, el Fiscal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Este de Nueva York.
Hoy hace cinco años, el 11 de abril de 2017, la acusada, Leniz Escobar, atrajo a cinco jóvenes a un parque no muy lejos de la corte federal en Central Islip, Long Island.
Esos cinco jóvenes, en la plenitud de la vida, no tenían idea de que Escobar los estaba llevando a la muerte—a un campo de exterminio donde miembros de la pandilla MS-13 esperaban al acecho, armados con machetes, un hacha, cuchillos, ramas y un cincel.
Uno de los jóvenes se las arregló para escapar y vivió para contar su historia a un jurado federal. Sus cuatro amigos no fueron tan afortunados. Los secuaces de Escobar los machetearon y golpearon hasta matarlos. Una de las víctimas del asesinato quedó tan desfigurado que solo pudo ser identificado a través de registros dentales.
Hoy, en el quinto aniversario de ese trágico asesinato en masa, un jurado federal ha hecho justicia con Escobar.
Nuestros sentimientos están con las familias de las víctimas. Sabemos que el veredicto no borra el dolor con el que despiertan cada mañana y que siempre llevarán con ustedes. Pero esperamos que este día les provea un poco de consuelo.
Mi oficina (la fiscalía de los Estados Unidos) y todos nuestros colegas agentes del orden en la fuerza de tarea contra pandillas del FBI en Long Island, no descansaremos hasta que cada uno de los miembros y asociados de la pandilla MS-13 responsables por este horrendo crimen respondan por él.
Estoy muy agradecido por mi asombroso equipo - fiscales Paul Scotti, Justina Geraci y Megan Farrell, paralegal Shernita Moore-Glasgow, junto a los agentes especiales del FBI y a los detectives del condado de Suffolk, quienes hicieron un gran trabajo en este importante caso.
Finalmente, quiero agradecer al jurado. Vinieron de todas partes de nuestro distrito al tribunal por tres semanas durante una pandemia. Estaban comprometidos a servir, a hacer justicia, y eso es exactamente lo que hicieron.”
El video de la declaración esta aquí.
Decatur Woman Sentenced to Probation for Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Decatur, Illinois, woman, Deborah G. Lake, also known as Deborah G. Mitchell and Deborah O’Neill, 70, of the 4800 block of Evergreen Court, has been sentenced to 12 months of probation for theft of government property. Lake was formerly of Kankakee County, Illinois.
According to the plea agreement, Lake worked as a bookkeeper for the Grundy, Livingston, and Kankakee County Workforce Board, which oversees and sets policy for workforce development and training programs for those counties. Lake created checks payable to herself for fraudulent invoices and embezzled over $33,000 from the Workforce Board. Lake pleaded guilty to the four-count indictment in November 2021.
At the hearing, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Mihm found that Lake abused a position of public trust in committing these crimes. Lake was also ordered to pay $33,302.44 in restitution to the Workforce Board.
The statutory penalties for theft of government property are up to ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised released, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson represented the government in the prosecution.
DOJ and Skagit County health clinic resolve False Claims Act investigation over the use of imported birth control medicationsRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice today reached a settlement with Skagit Family Health Clinic of Mount Vernon, Washington, over the importation of birth control medications that were unlawfully imported from a foreign source and not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Under the terms of the settlement, the clinic will pay a total of $120,000 to the state and federal governments for false claims the clinic filed with state or federal medical programs.
“FDA approval is a critical way for government medical programs to ensure patients get appropriate medicines and devices,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “We don’t have evidence that any patients were harmed from these unapproved medications, but government programs cannot pay for clients to take such a risk.”
The prelitigation settlement, claims the clinic imported and billed for the medications between 2015 and 2020. The clinic submitted claims for the birth control medications to the Washington State Medicaid Program. Of the $120,000 settlement paid by the clinic, nearly $72,000 will go to Washington State, while just over $48,000 will to the federal government for its share of the medical costs.
DOJ settled the matter on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington State Health Care Authority.
Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lettia Harris, 30, admitted to selling a firearm and approximately 0.6 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” to a confidential informant at her Charleston residence on November 14, 2018.
Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department for their investigation.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-117.
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Charleston Man on Federal Supervised Release Sentenced for Drug Crime Involving FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to a total of three years and 11 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and supervised release violations.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Charleston residence of Donavan Hardison, 31, on January 4, 2021. During the search, officers found approximately 2.826 grams of fentanyl on Hardison and approximately 3.672 grams of crack cocaine in his vehicle. Hardison admitted that he intended to distribute both controlled substances. Hardison was on supervised release at the time as the result of two prior federal convictions.
Hardison was sentenced to two years and nine months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. He received a consecutive sentence of one year and two months for violating the terms of his supervised release.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00130; 2:18-cr-00040; and 2:15-cr-00135.
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Cadillac Businessman Sent to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Douglas Arvin Horning, 56, of Cadillac, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for tax evasion by the Honorable Paul L. Maloney, United States District Judge. He was also ordered to pay $977,983 in restitution and to serve three years on supervised release following incarceration.
According to the plea agreement and other public records, prior to his guilty plea, Horning had not filed an individual tax return since 2008 or a corporate tax return since 2006 for his software company Perfect Professionals, Inc., doing business as Compass Technologies. He had not paid any individual or corporate taxes during that time. Horning also failed to pay all of the required “trust fund” taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks. Horning concealed income by routing it through a second company—even after that company was dissolved by the State of Michigan—failing to disclose the company’s bank account to the IRS when required to do so, and not including that income on the Forms W-2 he issued to himself through Perfect Professionals. He likewise received unreported income by paying personal expenses using Perfect Professionals’ bank account.
“As Tax Day approaches, the Court’s sentence is an important reminder of the duty we as citizens and other taxpayers owe to each other and the government to file returns and pay legally required taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “Concealing assets from the IRS or otherwise evading these obligations can and will result in criminal prosecution.”
“The license to run a business is not a license to avoid paying taxes or collecting your employees’ withholding and not paying it over to the IRS,” said Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull, IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “Horning’s misconduct, hiding income and blatant disregard of tax laws, cheats all Americans, who pay their fair share of taxes.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant.
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Butte woman admits stealing more than $600,000 from victim under her guardianshipRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Butte woman accused of embezzling more than $600,000 from a woman who was under her guardianship and using the money to buy a house on Canyon Ferry, a vehicle and other items admitted to fraud charges today, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Debra Gean Roeber, 66, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and to money laundering as charged in an information during an initial appearance hearing. Roeber faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the wire fraud count.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing date was set for Aug. 10 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other sentencing factors. Roeber was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Roeber was a guardian and had power of attorney for the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was unable to care for herself or her financial needs without assistance because she was blind. Roeber served as a fiduciary for Jane Doe. From about January 2017 until June 2020, Roeber allegedly embezzled approximately $681,549 from Jane Doe. Bank records showed that Roeber used Jane Doe’s money to purchase a home and shop on Canyon Ferry, construction costs, vehicles, furniture and a pontoon boat, none of which was authorized. When interviewed by agents, Roeber admitted she took advantage of Jane Doe “a lot,” including lying to the victim about her finances, and that she stole from Jane Doe. Jane Doe is now deceased.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
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Bristol, Tennessee Woman Sentenced to 13 Years for Role in Large-Scale Meth Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Tennessee woman, who was part of a conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine from Mexico into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced last week to 156 months in federal prison.
Jessica Nicole Kent, 35, of Bristol, TN, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Kent conspired with Joshua Desorcy, the ringleader responsible for coordinating the importation of massive shipments of methamphetamine from sources of supply in Mexico to accomplices in Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas. Desorcy directed Kent and other co-conspirators to make numerous trips to Atlanta and Houston to bring back the methamphetamine for further distribution in Southwest Virginia.
In pleading guilty, Kent admitted to not only making those trips to Atlanta to pick up the drugs, but also routinely selling various amounts of both methamphetamine and heroin throughout Southwest Virginia.
In February 2022, Desorcy was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Manufacturing Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Anthony Wayne Smith (58, Bradenton) to 18 months in federal prison for manufacturing counterfeit currency. The Court also ordered Smith to forfeit a firearm and ammunition found during a search of his house. Smith had pleaded guilty on January 14, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Smith manufactured U.S. Federal Reserve notes at his home in Bradenton. During the execution of a search warrant at Smith’s residence, law enforcement officers recovered, among other things, a large quantity of counterfeit notes hidden throughout the residence, texturized printing paper, and printers. Additionally, Smith’s laptop computer contained digital images of U.S. Federal Reserve notes that had been used in the production and manufacture of counterfeit currency.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Billings man admits attempted coercion, enticement of minor for sex in undercover investigationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of trying to coerce and entice a girl he believed to be a minor into engaging in sexual activity during an undercover investigation admitted to charges on April 7, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.
Jason Robert Kroepelin, 32, pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement. Kroepelin faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters set sentencing for Aug. 17. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other sentencing factors. Kroepelin was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in late October 2021, Kroepelin posted an advertisement on the internet seeking a young female for sexual purpose. In response, an undercover FBI employee, using a fictitious persona, contacted Kroepelin about a young girl, also fictitious, who was available.
Kroepelin and the undercover employee exchanged messages, engaged in sexually explicit conversation about the fictitious girl and agreed to meet at a property in Billings. Kroepelin also contacted a social media account purportedly belonging to the fictitious girl and sent a picture of himself. On Oct. 28, Kroepelin was arrested when he arrived at an agreed upon location in Billings. Kroepelin had condoms and lubricant in his pocket and a cellular phone showing his communication with the undercover employee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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Berkeley County man sentenced for role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brandon Eugene Corbin, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 70 months of incarceration for his role in a drug conspiracy that spanned several states, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Corbin, 36, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine Base.” Corbin admitted to working with others to distribute controlled substances from January to September 2019 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and elsewhere.
Corbin was a frequent re-distributor of drugs supplied to him by another in the conspiracy. During the investigation, he sold heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base, and PCP to his own customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. During a traffic stop that occurred in September 2019, he was found with more than 18 grams of fentanyl.
This case is the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep. This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/25-charged-six-state-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-cocaine
Berkeley County man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James T. Cogle, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Cogle, 53, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine Base and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Cogle admitted to working with others to distribute drugs from July 2018 to June 2021 in Jefferson County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police, the DEA Task Force Montgomery County, Maryland; and the Frederick, Maryland, HIDTA group investigated. The EPDTF consists of the West Virginia State Police; Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Ranson Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department; and the Martinsburg Police Department.
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.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Belgrade construction company co-owner admits failing to pay $2.8 million in employee, employer taxesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — The co-owner of H & H Earthworks, Inc., a Belgrade-based construction company that does commercial site-development work in four states, admitted to failing to pay the IRS approximately $2.8 million in employee and employer taxes, and instead, spent some of the money on personal expenses, including recreational and motorsport vehicles, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.
Melissa Lynne Horner, 42, of Bozeman, pleaded guilty on April 8 to one count of failure to truthfully account for and pay over withholding and F.I.C.A. taxes, a felony, and one count of failure to file employer’s quarterly return and pay tax, a misdemeanor, during an arraignment and plea change hearing. Horner faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the felony charge. Horner was charged in a 34-count information.
A plea agreement reached by the parties calls for the government to seek the dismissal of 32 remaining counts and for Horner to be responsible for total restitution of $2,878,522 if the court accepts the agreement at sentencing.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Aug. 10 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. Horner was released pending further proceedings.
“As the financial executive for Earthworks, Horner withheld nearly $3 million from employee wages to cover payroll, Medicare and Social Security taxes. Rather than pay over those amounts to the IRS as required by law, Horner spent the money on personal expenses like motorcycles, a motor home, and home renovations. As the deadline for filing tax returns approaches, the public should be aware that people like Horner who willfully violate the tax laws will be investigated and charged with felony tax crimes that can result in significant penalties including prison time, fines, and restitution,” U.S. Attorney Johnson said.
“Payroll tax evasion is not just a crime against the United States Government, but also a crime impacting the employees of Earthworks as it results in the reduction of their benefits.” said Andy Tsui, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation will vigorously pursue anyone who collects these taxes and uses these funds for their own personal gain."
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that H & H Earthworks, Inc., is a Belgrade-based family business co-founded in 2004 by Horner, who is responsible for the financial portion of the business. Earthworks is a full-service commercial site-development firm whose projects include schools, shopping centers, hospitals and residential subdivisions in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho. The company employed between 20 and 60 employees during 2014 through 2019.
For approximately five years, beginning in March 2014 through 2019, Horner had Earthworks pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenditures for her personal benefit while, at the same time, it failed to pay over to the IRS payroll tax required to be withheld from Earthworks’ employees’ paychecks. Horner spent more than $100,000 to purchase and maintain personal motorsport vehicles, including dirt bikes and snowmobiles, $90,000 to a real estate title company in Bozeman, at least $50,000 on personal home renovations and $20,000 for a motorhome.
The government further alleged that Horner withdrew Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes from the wages paid to Earthworks employees and failed to pay over the trust fund taxes to the IRS. Horner also failed to pay over Earthworks’ portion of the FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare taxes). In addition, Horner failed to file quarterly Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly federal tax returns, prior to being notified of the criminal investigation. Horner subsequently filed the delinquent forms; however, she has not paid any of the outstanding tax liability for them. Horner knew she was required to account for and pay over the employment taxes and file the quarterly Forms 941 and willfully chose to violate this obligation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation.
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Baltimore Police Detective Convicted on Federal Charges of Conspiracy to Deprive Civil RightsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Robert Hankard, age 45, of Baltimore, Maryland, of multiple federal crimes for providing a BB gun that he knew would be planted on a suspect, falsely testifying to a federal grand jury about his role in the BB gun planting, falsifying an application for a search warrant and an arrest report in a second incident where drugs were planted on a suspect, that he falsely testified to a federal grand jury in a federal investigation, and falsifying an application for a search warrant and subsequent police report related to the search of an apartment.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“Today’s conviction further demonstrates this office’s continuing commitment to protect the civil rights of all Marylanders, including from egregious instances of police misconduct,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “I commend the outstanding work of Assistant United States Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Christopher M. Rigali, in obtaining this guilty verdict and recognize the FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers who conducted this investigation. Criminals who work in police agencies violate the faith of the community and they unfairly tarnish the reputations of the many honorable officers who work to protect us every day.”
“As evidenced by the jury's guilty verdict, the actions of Mr. Hankard were not only harmful to the individuals he swore under oath to protect, but they also undermined public trust and confidence in law enforcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski. “The FBI will not tolerate those who abuse their positions of authority and is committed to rooting out public corruption and civil rights violations at all levels. We appreciate all our law enforcement partners who have assisted on this case.”
According to the trial evidence, Hankard has been a member of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) since 2007 and was promoted to detective on March 20, 2014. In 2014 and 2015, Hankard served on a Special Enforcement Section (SES) unit assigned to the BPD’s Western District. On the evening of March 26, 2014, Hankard, who was not on duty that day, received a call from his partner, who advised him that Sergeant W.J. had been “hemmed up” in something and asked Hankard if he had any “toys” or “replicas.” Hankard understood that his partner was asking for a BB gun or air soft gun so that it could be planted on a suspect. Hankard advised that he did have a BB gun. Hankard’s partner came to Hankard’s house and Hankard provided him with the BB gun, which was subsequently planted at the scene of the arrest of D.S., whom Sergeant W.J. had run over after chasing D.S. No guns or drugs were recovered from D.S. at the time of his arrest, but drugs were recovered from D.S. at the hospital, where he had been taken in the custody of the Baltimore Police officers. D.S. was charged with possession, use, and discharge of a gas or pellet gun, for the BB gun that was planted at the scene of D.S.’s arrest, and a number of drug offenses. D.S. was detained on those charges until at least April 2, 2014, and the charges were dismissed on January 16, 2015.
The trial evidence showed that on March 2, 2015, Hankard and other officers arrested I.R. in the 5100 block of Falls Road in Baltimore City. Hankard and other officers took I.R.’s keys and went to Apartment A at 15 Cross Keys Road, which I.R. had been seen leaving earlier that day. I.C. lived in Apartment A with her daughter. Hankard used one of the keys that had been taken from I.R. to open the door to Apartment A and Hankard and other officers entered the apartment, which was not occupied at that time. Once inside, Hankard searched a bag that he found inside a closet, which contained gel caps of heroin, two digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. Hankard had not obtained a search warrant prior to entering the apartment or searching the bag. Hankard then left the apartment and returned to BPD to prepare a search warrant for Apartment A. Several BPD officers remained inside Apartment A and one of those officers called I.C. and asked her to return, which she voluntarily did. I.C. then waited inside the apartment with the officers.
On the evening of March 2, 2015, Hankard appeared before a judge in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and swore out the search warrant that he had prepared after entering Apartment A, in which Hankard allegedly falsely claimed that the “exterior” of Apartment A was secured, not disclosing that he and other detectives had entered Apartment A prior to obtaining a search warrant. Nor did Hankard disclose that he had opened a bag containing gel caps with heroin, scales, and other paraphernalia prior to preparing a search warrant. After obtaining the warrant, Hankard returned to the apartment where the other officers were waiting with I.C. During the execution of the search warrant, the bag that Hankard had previously searched was seized along with its contents and I.C. was arrested. I.R. was ultimately charged with drug offenses related to their seizure. Following the execution of the search warrant, the evidence showed that Hankard authored official BPD reports which contained similar false statements.
Witnesses testified that on September 24, 2015, Hankard arrested D.B., a target in a drug investigation, as he sat in his pick-up truck in a motel parking lot. According to trial testimony, after removing D.B. from the vehicle, Hankard and his partner searched the vehicle, but no drugs were found. Other officers on the scene then went into the room where D.B. had been staying and found a woman, B.J., a large quantity of heroin that had not yet been packaged for distribution, and a small quantity of cocaine that had already been packaged for distribution. The officers had not obtained a search warrant before entering the room. After learning that no drugs had been found in the truck, another officer, with Hankard’s permission, planted some of the cocaine found in the motel room in D.B.’s truck, in order to justify the arrest of D.B. and B.J. and the entry into the motel room.
According to the evidence, Hankard subsequently wrote a search warrant for the motel room, which contained several false statements, including that his partner had “observed in plain view, a clear tied bag, that contained small zip lock bags (with red dice logo) of suspected cocaine (after opening the clear bag, it revealed 10 ziplock bags total)” in D.B.’s truck; that D.B. was seen throwing the package of suspected cocaine to the floor of the vehicle; that after making sure the motel room card key worked, detectives had secured the room pending a search warrant; and that Hankard “believes there is addition suspected controlled dangerous substances (CDS)” in the motel room.
As detailed in trial testimony, after the search warrant was obtained and executed at the motel room, Hankard prepared a false incident report, which was approved by his partner as the “officer-in-charge” at the time of the arrests, even though the SES unit’s Sergeant was on the scene at the time.
Further, the evidence showed that on February 13, 2019, Hankard falsely testified before a federal grand jury by stating that he had not provided the BB gun to his partner on March 26, 2014.
Hankard faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to deprive civil rights; a maximum of 20 year in federal prison for each of two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for false declarations before a grand jury. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not scheduled a date for sentencing. Hankard remains released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Christopher M. Rigali, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report civil rights violations, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/civil-rights.
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Army Soldier Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography and Threatening Pretrial Services OfficerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jahara William Byfield, 23, of Sunrise, Florida, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison. Byfield previously pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography and Threatening to Assault or Murder a Federal Employee.
Byfield was a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona for training when he was arrested on August 28, 2020, after an investigation revealed he had used his cellphones to obtain images and videos depicting children, including pre-pubescent minors, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. After his arrest, Byfield was placed on pretrial release with conditions that included computer monitoring. On December 3, 2020, Byfield pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
On April 15, 2021, while on release pending sentencing, Byfield threatened to kill everyone involved with the computer monitoring program. His pretrial release was subsequently revoked, and on June 23, 2021, Byfield was charged in an indictment for the threats he made towards those supervising him. On December 20, 2021, Byfield pleaded guilty to a charge of Threatening to Assault or Murder a Federal Employee.
Upon release from prison, Byfield will be placed on lifetime supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations, Sierra Vista Police Department, Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigations in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Brian E. Kasprzyk, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-02748-TUC-JGZ; CR-21-01461-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 040_Byfield# # #
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 new
10 April 2022
Florida Man Arrested for Lewd Behavior on a Flight from Newark to BostonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was arrested today for allegedly performing a lewd act aboard an aircraft in flight from Newark to Boston on Friday, April 8, 2022.
Donald Edward Robinson, 76, of Bonita Springs, Fla., was charged by criminal complaint with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Robinson was arrested this morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, on or about April 8, 2022, Robinson allegedly engaged in masturbation and exposed his penis to a 21-year-old female passenger seated next to him while onboard a flight from Newark to Boston. Robinson then placed his hand on top of the victim’s thigh without her consent.
Shortly after departure, the victim recorded a 24-second video of Robinson allegedly fondling and manipulating his penis through his pants. A short time later, it is alleged that the victim looked over and saw that Robinson had exposed his penis. Approximately five minutes before landing, Robinson allegedly placed his hand on the victim’s thigh, prompting the victim to ask why he was touching her, to which Robinson withdrew his hand and looked out the window. It is alleged that the victim then got the attention of another passenger and displayed a message on her phone, “Hi, this man assaulted me and touched my leg and is masturbating.”
During the deplaning process, the victim approached a flight attendant about the incident but was unable to point Robinson out due to the volume of passengers deplaning. It is alleged that security footage captured Robinson, upon exiting the secure area of the terminal, repeatedly looking back in the direction from which he came while proceeding to the baggage carousel level.
The charge of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 90 days in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
9 April 2022
South Bend Man Sentenced to 108 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Saul Leal, 25 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced, on April 8, 2022, by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty on his plea of guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Leal was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Leal conspired to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Leal and his co-defendants had taken trips to California to obtain drugs for distribution. During the final trip in December 2017, Leal and two other individuals flew to California, obtained 11 kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine which were loaded into a vehicle headed for the Midwest. The drugs were discovered when the vehicle was stopped by police.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
This case was 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.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 420 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Torrence Larry, 44, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced, on April 8, 2022, by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, after being convicted of federal gun and drug charges following a three-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Larry was sentenced to 420 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, while under investigation, Larry sold cocaine and heroin from his residence in May and June of 2017. Law enforcement recovered quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine when a search warrant was executed at his residence. Officers also found additional evidence of drug distribution as well as a firearm he possessed to facilitate and protect his drug trafficking activities. At this time, Larry had previously been convicted of a felony based on an armed bank robbery conviction in federal court and a state court drug dealing conviction.
At his December 2021 trial, Larry was convicted on all three distribution counts, as well as a single count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances. Larry was also convicted of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and for possessing a firearm during and in relation to his drug trafficking activities.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory, and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was 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.
8 April 2022
“Midnite Da Nitemare” Convicted of Dealing Deadly Fentanyl after Federal Firearms ConvictionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
David Anthony Somerville, a/k/a “Midnite Da Nitemare,” 33, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Two of the Indictment at Criminal No. 17-222 before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Mr. Somerville, on January 9, 2016, was found in possession of eleven bundles of heroin and fentanyl, along with multiple cellular telephones, and $1,200.00 in United States currency.
Mr. Somerville was already on court supervision after serving a previous sentence of 70 months of incarceration after his previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. A jury had been selected and the prosecution had presented all of its witnesses and evidence before Mr. Somerville made the decision to plead guilty.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for July 7, 2022. The law provides for a total sentence at each count of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of not more than $2,000,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Mr. Somerville’s release on electronic monitoring.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ross L. Lenhardt and Benjamin J. Risacher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Scott Township Police Department (K9 Unit), Robinson Township Police Department, Kennedy Township Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, and the Allegheny County Office of Medical Examiner conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mr. Somerville.
Wolfe County Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Compton, Ky., man, Justin Clay Spencer, 37, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking activity.
Spencer was indicted after law enforcement found him in possession of 259 grams of methamphetamine. Spencer admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine. Additionally, Spencer was in possession of a firearm, which he used for protection in furtherance of his methamphetamine trafficking.
Spencer pleaded guilty to the charges in the indictment in December 2021.
Under federal law, Spencer must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
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Williamsville Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargeRead 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 Christopher D. Robbins, 61, of Williamsville, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2020, Robbins was identified as a member of a group on Kik used to exchange images and videos of child pornography. Subsequently, on July 2, 2020, the FBI executed a search warrant at Robbins’ residence in Williamsville, seizing several electronic items that contained child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Milwaukee Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Robert E. Hughes; the Buffalo Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belongia; and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Strassburg.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 8, 2022, before Judge Sinatra.
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William Wood Receives Life Sentence for MurdersRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William D. Wood, Jr. was sentenced today on federal charges related to the September 2018 robbery and murders he committed at the Chili’s Bar and Grill in Dewitt, New York, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen, and Chief Chase L. Bilodeau, Town of Dewitt Police Department.
As a part of his earlier guilty plea, Wood admitted that he obtained a loaded handgun to commit a robbery at the Chili’s, and that during the early morning hours of September 15, 2018, armed with that loaded handgun, he forced his way into the back door of Chili’s, where four employees remained to close the restaurant. Wood admitted that he held all four employees on the ground at gunpoint, and after obtaining the available cash from the restaurant’s safe, shot and killed Stephen Gudknecht and Kristopher Hicks. Wood further admitted that his gun malfunctioned as he attempted to shoot a third employee in the head, allowing time for her and the fourth employee to hide and flee.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby imposed consecutive sentences on each of the three federal felonies to which Wood pled guilty: 20 years for robbery, and life sentences on each of two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and murder.
“Today’s sentencing of William Wood marks the end of a horrific crime that senselessly took the lives of two innocent people. While nothing can ever make up for their loss, we hope that the life sentences imposed on Wood today represents some measure of justice and will further ensure that he never again is free to victimize anyone. Our thoughts today are with all four victims, their families, friends, and co-workers. All have suffered grievously from the robbery and murders committed by Wood,” said United States Attorney Carla Freedman.
“Today’s lengthy sentence serves to protect our communities, while sending a strong message to violent offenders like the defendant that they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. William Wood Jr. preyed upon his victims and showed no mercy. We commend the work of ATF’s Syracuse Field Office and our partners from the New York State Police, Town of DeWitt Police Department and United States Attorney’s Office for their steadfast commitment to investigating this heinous crime and for ensuring that justice was served,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.
New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, “Mr. Woods sentencing illustrates the work of a strong law enforcement partnership that has resulted in a dangerous man being taken off the streets. As we mourn for the victims and their families, we hope this sentencing brings them a sense of peace that Mr. Wood will never commit a crime like this again. State Police and our partners will continue to work in keeping our communities safe from such criminals and the purposeless violence and deaths that they cause.”
“The crimes committed by William Wood were some of the most senseless, violent and horrific crimes that our community has ever seen. Although no measure of justice can ever fully make up for those actions, I hope today’s sentencing can bring at least some measure of peace to the victims, their families and all those who were hurt by his crimes. I would like to thank all of the first responders, investigators and prosecutors involved in this case, for working so diligently to ensure that William Wood will never again be free to victimize others,” said Chief Chase Bilodeau, Town of Dewitt Police Department.
Wood is currently serving a life sentence on state charges related to the robbery and murders. In the event that New York State ever releases Wood, he will be surrendered to federal authorities to serve each of the three sentences handed down today.
The case against Wood was investigated by United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Town of Dewitt Police Department, and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa M. Fletcher and Michael D. Gadarian.
Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime and False Statement ChargesRead the Press Release
A Washington state man pleaded guilty to hate crime and false statement charges in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Jason DeSimas, 47, of Tacoma, pleaded guilty to one crime of committing a hate crime for his participation in the assault of T.S., a Black man, which occurred because of his race. DeSimas assaulted T.S. at a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, on Dec. 8, 2018. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Brown of the Western District of Washington made the announcement.
In his plea agreement, DeSimas admitted that, at the time of the assault, he was a prospective member of a white supremacist group. On Dec. 8, 2018, DeSimas entered a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, with others, including members of the white supremacist hate group and its support group. While in the bar, DeSimas assaulted T.S, a Black man who was serving as the disc jockey at the bar. DeSimas called T.S. a racial slur, and punched him in the face, knocking T.S. to the floor. Others punched, kicked, and/or stomped on T.S., while continuing to call T.S. racial slurs. Two bystanders attempted to intervene to help T.S. and stop the assault. Both bystanders were assaulted by members of the group, and both sustained injuries.
In addition to the hate crime charge, DeSimas pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents about circumstances surrounding the assault. Specifically, DeSimas falsely claimed to the agents that neither he nor anyone else called T.S. a racial slur during the assault. This statement was false, in that DeSimas knew he and others called T.S. a racial slur before, during, and after the assault. DeSimas made this false statement to the FBI because he wanted to cover up the motive for the assault, which was the bias that he and others had against T.S.’s race.
DeSimas will be sentenced on July 8. The hate crime charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
DeSimas was charged in an indictment that was unsealed on Dec. 18, 2020. The seven-count indictment also charged three other men, each aiding and abetting one another, with punching and kicking T.S. while making derogatory comments about his race. The indictment further charged DeSimas and the three other men with assaulting two men who intervened to protect T.S. during the attack, as well as with making false statements to the FBI during the course of their investigation. One of these three men, Daniel Dorson, previously pleaded guilty in this matter.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with the support of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Cohen for the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the two remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wakonda Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison After Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Wakonda, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on April 4, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Larry Dean Rederick, age 47, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rederick was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury on July 20, 2020. His case went before a jury on January 4, 2022, wherein Rederick was convicted of both crimes.
On or about January 9, 2020, in the District of South Dakota, Rederick knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), a Schedule II controlled substance.
Beginning at an unknown date and continuing to on or about July 20, 2020, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere, Rederick knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, with others known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Yankton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Rederick was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wyoming Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Conference to Meet in Lander May 3-4, 2022Read the Press Release
The Wyoming Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC) Conference will be held at the Inn at Lander beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3 and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 4, 2022. This conference is for law enforcement officers and provides training sessions coupled with the opportunity to meet and network with other law enforcement from local, county, state, federal and tribal agencies across Wyoming.
This year’s theme is Sharing Solutions for Stronger Law Enforcement and Safer Communities. Sessions focus on everything from seizing and forfeiting criminal assets to dealing with officer wellness and PTSD. An awards dinner will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m., May 3, 2022, at the Lander Community Center and will recognize the outstanding achievements of Wyoming’s law enforcement officers.
United States Attorney Bob Murray said, “We believe the LECC conference offers excellent training and provides an opportunity to talk about, and share, what is happening across the state—then come up with solutions to not only protect the citizens of Wyoming, but also ensure we are taking care of the men and women who serve to protect.”
The standard registration fee is $100 and includes the awards ceremony dinner. CLE and Post credits are available for some sessions. To register, email [email protected] or call Rob Gaulke at 307-772-2991.
Upland Man Arrested on Indictment Alleging He Distributed Fentanyl to Victim Who Soon Afterward Died from OverdoseRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment that alleges he sold fentanyl to a woman last year who soon afterward suffered a fatal overdose from the powerful synthetic opioid.
John Biagianti, 31, of Upland, was arrested this morning at his residence by federal and local law enforcement.
He is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death – a crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Biagianti is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.
According to an indictment filed on April 6, Biagianti on August 8, 2021 knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl to a victim, who ingested the drug and died the following day.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Division investigated this matter.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Stephen T. Merrill of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
U.S. citizen arrested in Honduras convicted of federal fraud and conspiracy chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury on April 7 returned a guilty verdict on Bruce Beckner, 59, for one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud. Beckner will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Beckner was indicted on June 24, 2015, along with co-defendant Arthur Herlihy, 73, of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2007, Beckner recruited Herlihy to join him in developing a business plan and securing financing to renovate a truck stop in Deming, New Mexico.
On July 7, 2009, Beckner and Herlihy obtained a loan for $135,165 from First New Mexico Bank. The stated purpose of the loan was to pay off a prior loan secured by a liquor license, and Beckner and Herlihy pledged the liquor license as collateral for the new loan as part of the transaction. At the time it received the loan from First New Mexico Bank, the truck stop business did not own the liquor license outright, but still owed money to the broker who financed the earlier liquor license transaction, which occurred in December 2008. Herlihy and Beckner falsely represented to the bank that the liquor license would be held free and clear of any liens or lawsuits. Beckner also signed the transaction documents using an alias, “Bill Evans,” and submitted an inaccurate personal financial statement to the bank concealing outstanding restitution debt he owed as the result of a prior criminal conviction in the late 1990s. Rather than pay off the license, Beckner and Herlihy used the loan for other expenses and the license remained encumbered to the previous loan. In 2011, the truck stop business defaulted on the loan from First New Mexico Bank.
On Oct. 2, 2009, Beckner and Herlihy obtained over $16 million in loans for Fuel4Less, LLC, through the New Mexico Finance Authority, including $12 million from Virtual Realty Enterprises and $4 million from U.S. Bank Development Corporation. Beckner signed several documents associated with the loan under the false name “Bill Evans,” representing himself as facilities and operating manager of Fuel4Less. Beckner also submitted a false résumé under the name “Bill Evans” that omitted material information and claimed experience and previous employment he did not have. These loans also went into default in 2011, after which a New Mexico state judge turned the business over to a court-appointed receiver, who filed a bankruptcy petition.
Beckner and Herlihy solicited money from various investors purportedly to be used in a “fuel factoring opportunity.” This opportunity, they told investors, would involve one component of the enterprise purchasing fuel from outside suppliers that would then be sold back to another component at a higher price, and the profits from the internal sales would be shared by the investors. Instead, there were no internal sales, and the investments, some of which were sent by wire transfers, were used to repay other investors or to cover various operational expenses, including Becker’s and Herlihy’s salaries.
Beckner and Herlihy sent investors promissory notes and other documents stating their investments were secured by truck stop assets. They did not tell investors that the pre-existing loans made the promissory notes essentially worthless.
Herlihy pled guilty in Feb. 2017, to making a false statement to a bank on a loan document, and was sentenced on Aug. 11, 2017, to three years of supervised release.
Beckner was arrested by the Honduras Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on March 7, 2019, at the San Pedro Sula airport in Honduras. At the time of his arrest, Beckner had been residing on Roatan, Honduras, for several years. Honduras approved his extradition on April 11, 2019, and he was transferred into U.S. custody on April 16, 2019.
Beckner faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud, up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to 30 years in prison for conspiracy.
HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Special Investigations Division of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan and Taylor F. Hartstein are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, HSI Honduras TCIU, and the HSI ICE Country Attaché in Honduras assisted with the extradition.
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Two Leaders of Violent Puerto Rico Drug Cartel That Committed Dozens of Murders and Bribed Police Officers Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the conviction of JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO, a/k/a “Chino,” and LUIS BLONDET for racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder while engaged in a drug crime, and murder through the use of a firearm. After less than a day of deliberations, the unanimous jury convicted MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO and BLONDET yesterday of every count presented to the jury after a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Yesterday’s verdict brings justice for the more than a dozen victims of the defendants’ years-long campaign of brutal violence. Using murder after murder and bribery of corrupt Puerto Rico police officers, the defendants profited from distributing tons of cocaine throughout Puerto Rico and other places in the United States, including drugs sold out of a children’s daycare center in the Bronx. Thanks to the tremendous work of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, the defendants’ reign of terror has ended.”
According to the Indictment and the evidence at trial:
MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO was one of the founding fathers of La Organization de Narcotraficantes Unidos, or La ONU, a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, from in or about 2004 to in or about 2016, dozens of murders, the bribery of corrupt police officers in Puerto Rico, and the distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine, including the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York. Cocaine supplied by La ONU was distributed in New York City, including out of a children’s daycare center in the Bronx. BLONDET was a member of La ONU and one of MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO’s closest allies.
On or about April 9, 2005, BLONDET murdered Crystal Martinez-Ramirez. After Martinez-Ramirez refused BLONDET’s advances, BLONDET shot Martinez-Ramirez in the head twice and dumped her body on a street corner in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On or about December 28, 2006, Israel Crespo-Cotto was murdered on the orders of MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO because Crespo-Cotto was believed to be cooperating with law enforcement. MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO’s assassins killed Crespo-Cotto, a double amputee, while he was sitting in his wheelchair in the Manuel A. Perez public housing projects in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Crespo-Cotto was shot 24 times.
On or about March 20, 2009, Carlos Barbosa was murdered on the orders of MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO because Barbosa was believed to be plotting to seize power from MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO. Barbosa was shot over a dozen times while getting his hair cut at a barbershop in Levittown, Puerto Rico.
In addition, evidence was presented at trial of MARRQUEZ-ALEJANDRO and BLONDET ordering, committing, or otherwise participating in more than a dozen other murders, some of which include:
On or about May 9, 2007, members of La ONU, including MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO, hired corrupt Puerto Rico police officers to participate in the murder of Anthony Castro-Carrillo in Carolina, Puerto Rico, in exchange for a cash bonus. Members of La ONU and two corrupt cops stormed Castro-Carrillo’s residence while dressed as police officers and shot and killed him.
MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO, BLONDET, and other members of La ONU arranged for the murder of Hommysan Cariño-Bruno, a leader of a rival drug organization, paying a driver to kill Cariño-Bruno and providing a firearm. Cariño-Bruno was shot and killed while inside a van on or about April 29, 2008, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On or about November 27, 2009, Emanuel Correa Romero, a/k/a “Oreo,” was murdered on the orders of MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO. Members of La ONU beat Correa Romero until he appeared dead. After the assault, members of La ONU placed Correa Romero’s body into a suitcase, and later reported back that they shot the suitcase dozens of times and then lit it on fire.
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MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO, 52, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and BLONDET, 47, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, were returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following the return of the verdict. MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO and BLONDET were convicted of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum of life in prison. With respect to the murder of Crystal Martinez-Ramirez, BLONDET was convicted of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, and murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. With respect to the murders of Israel-Crespo-Cotto and Carlos Barbosa, MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO was convicted of two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, each of which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison; two counts of murder while engaged in a drug crime, each of which carries a mandatory minimum of twenty years in prison and a maximum of life in prison; and two counts of murder through the use of a firearm, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed.
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 a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie E. Bagliebter, Peter J. Davis, Jacob R. Fiddelman, and Justin V. Rodriguez are in charge of the prosecution and represented the Government at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Estes, Andrew Thomas, Lara Pomerantz, Allison Nichols, and Dina McLeod also participated in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Two Indiana Towns Agree to Improve Sewer Systems to Stop Discharges of Raw SewageRead the Press Release
The Sanitary District of Highland, Indiana, and the Town of Griffith, Indiana, have agreed to construction projects and capital investments that will eliminate discharges of untreated sewage from their sewer systems into nearby water bodies, including the Little Calumet River.
In two separate consent decrees, Highland and Griffith have each agreed to implement plans that will significantly increase the amount of wastewater they send to the neighboring town of Hammond for treatment and eliminate points in their sewer systems that overflow when their systems become overloaded. Together, the towns will spend about $100 million to improve their sewer systems. In addition, Highland will pay a civil penalty of $175,000 and Griffith will pay a civil penalty of $33,000.
The two consent decrees would resolve the violations alleged in the underlying complaint filed by the United States and the state of Indiana. The complaint alleges that Highland’s sanitary sewage collection system overflowed on 257 days since 2012, resulting in discharges of untreated sewage into the Little Calumet River or a tributary to the river. The complaint also alleges that Griffith discharged sewage into a wetland adjacent to the Little Calumet River on 16 days since 2013. Finally, the complaint alleges that both Highland and Griffith failed to comply with previous orders by EPA to stop these illegal discharges. The defendants were joined in the same cause of action because the claims against Highland and Griffith are similar in nature and both communities rely on the Sanitary District of Hammond to treat all of their wastewater.
“Cities and towns must invest in adequate infrastructure to protect the integrity of our nation’s waters,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “These settlements require meaningful investments that will improve the health of the Little Calumet River and surrounding areas.”
“Highland and Griffith are part of an area of northwest Indiana historically overburdened by pollution,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “These infrastructure improvements will prevent untreated sewage from entering the region’s waterbodies, thereby improving water quality as well as the quality of life for the people who live here.
“These consent decrees are an excellent example of how communities can work together to provide a cleaner healthier environment for the citizens of Northwest Indiana to use and enjoy.” said Commissioner Brian Rockensuess of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Under the proposed consent decrees, Highland and Griffith will also implement plans that will improve operations and maintenance of their sewer system and ability to address and respond to any unforeseen sanitary sewer overflows in the future. Highland and Griffith will submit semi-annual progress reports to the United States and the state until all work has been completed and all of the reports and deliverables required will be available to the public on their municipal websites.
The implementation of these consent decrees will prevent hundreds of thousands of gallons of raw sewage carrying harmful pollutants, such as E. coli, from being discharged to the Little Calumet River. These reductions in pollutants will improve water quality in the Little Calumet River.
The proposed agreements are subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval after publication in the Federal Register.
To view the consent decrees or to submit a comment, visit the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
Two District Men Plead Guilty to August 2021 Armed Kidnappings Using Blindfolds and Zip TiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Taheed Ebron, 21, and Nathan Coleman, 29, both of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to kidnapping two men at gunpoint over a five-day period in August 2021 and using blindfolds and zip ties to restrain their victims.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Both defendants pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to two counts of armed kidnapping. Ebron also pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license in a separate firearm case. The guilty pleas are contingent upon the Court’s approval. Ebron’s plea calls for an agreed-upon sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison, and Coleman’s plea calls for eight to 10 years in prison. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2022.
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 24, 2021, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Ebron, Coleman, and a third perpetrator kidnapped a man at gunpoint while he was walking home in the 1300 block of Corcoran Street NW. The defendants pulled the man’s COVID face mask over his eyes as a blindfold and forced him into the rear of Ebron’s silver Nissan Rogue SUV. They demanded that he turn over his cellphone, credit and debit cards, and personal identification numbers (PINs). The defendants then drove the man to multiple ATM locations and used his financial cards to withdraw more than $1,400 from his accounts. They also used the man’s cards and cellphone to make a series of purchases and transactions, including a $1,200 PayPal transfer. Ebron, Coleman, and the third perpetrator eventually released the man from the SUV, forcing him to lay face down on the ground in an alley before driving away.
Just days later, on Aug. 28, 2021, at approximately 3:45 a.m., Ebron, Coleman, and a third perpetrator kidnapped another man at gunpoint near the intersection of 13th and E Streets NE while he was riding an electric scooter on the way to work. After seeing the man, Ebron parked his silver Nissan Rogue SUV in the intersection, and Ebron, Coleman, and the third perpetrator exited the vehicle. The defendants ran toward the man and caught and threw him to the ground. They then hooded him using a drawstring bag and restrained his hands with zip ties that Ebron and Coleman had purchased the previous day. The defendants forced the man into the SUV and demanded his wallet, cellphone, and PINs. They drove him to an ATM and withdrew more than $1,000 from his bank account. Ebron, Coleman, and the third perpetrator eventually released the man from the vehicle, instructing him to run straight ahead and not look back or else be shot. The defendants then used his debit card to make a series of purchases and withdrawals.
A joint MPD and FBI investigation led to Coleman’s arrest on Sept. 6, 2021, and Ebron’s arrest the following day. Both have been in custody since their arrests.
In announcing the pleas, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from MPD’s Special Investigation Section and the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alesha Matthews, and Victim/Witness Specialists Christina Bloodworth and Karina Hernandez. Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles R. Jones and Mary L. Dohrmann, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Twice Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Rudolph Brumfield a/k/a Rudy, 36, of Geneva, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon before Senior U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that Brumfield was the leader of a cocaine trafficking organization operating in Geneva and other areas of Ontario County. During the conspiracy, Brumfield obtained quantities of cocaine and marijuana from suppliers in California and elsewhere. In January 2020, investigators and officers from the Geneva Police Department and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at the Toledo Street residence of Brumfield’s girlfriend, which was used to store, manufacture, and sell the cocaine and marijuana, and at Brumfield’s North Genesee Street residence. During the searches, they recovered:
• 2.7 kilograms of cocaine and 69.7 grams of crack cocaine; • 18 one-pound packages of marijuana; • $161,581 in cash; • two firearms, one which was reported stolen in 2013, and a box of ammunition; • and materials commonly used to package drugs for street-level distribution.
Brumfield was previously convicted in 2006 and 2012 of felony charges in Ontario County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Philip Povero, the Geneva Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mike Passalacqua; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent In Charge John B. DeVito.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Tucson Couple Convicted for Stealing $5 Million from InvestorsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Feinberg, 73, and Betsy Feinberg, 80, both of Tucson, Arizona, were found guilty by a jury of all charges related to a scheme to defraud investors out of approximately $5 million. The charges included one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and five counts of securities fraud. The Feinbergs are scheduled for sentencing on June 15, 2022.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Michael and Betsy Feinberg operated Catharon Software Corporation as husband and wife. The Feinbergs claimed to have produced revolutionary software called VDelta that would generate enormous returns for investors and philanthropists. For almost 15 years, the couple enticed investors with false promises about the software’s completion, release date, and capabilities. Their victims included friends and associates recruited through various community organizations in Sedona, Arizona, where the Feinbergs resided at the time. In addition to paying themselves salaries, the Feinbergs used investor money for a wide variety of personal expenses, including their home mortgage.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Corporation Commission. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-01786-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-038_Feinbergs