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Tuesday 22 February 2022
Covid Fraudster Returned to Custody Following Discovery of Las Vegas Casino ActivitiesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Greenville man was returned to custody after violating the terms of release pending service of his prison sentence.
In May of 2021, Shawn Allen Farmer, 53, of Greenville, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining Covid-19 disaster loans, and for engaging in bank fraud using stolen Social Security numbers. Although initially held in custody, Farmer was released to seek medical care before reporting to prison. While on release, Farmer was under the supervision of the United States Probation Office and was not permitted to travel.
In January of 2022, members of the Covid Fraud Benefits Task Force discovered that Farmer had travelled to Hawaii without permission and obtained a Hawaii driver’s license. Agents further learned that Farmer had cashed out as much as $92,000 at casinos in Las Vegas. Significantly, when identifying himself for tax purposes, Farmer utilized a Social Security number that did not belong to him. At the time of these events, Farmer still owed more than $42,000 on his federal criminal judgment.
Farmer was arrested following the discovery of these events. Last Friday in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle revoked Farmer’s release and directed that he be sent to prison to serve his sentence.
The defendant previously pled guilty to False, Fictitious, and Fraudulent Claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287; and Bank Fraud and Aiding and Abetting, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344 and 2.
The Covid Fraud Benefits Task Force is a collection of law enforcement agencies assembled by the United States Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies that defrauded government programs providing financial relief in the midst of the Covid crisis.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the defendant’s release was revoked. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore served as the prosecutor.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-526-BO.
Construction Company Owner Sentenced to Prison for Not Filing Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Texas man was sentenced today to one year in prison for willfully failing to file tax returns.
According to court documents, Arturo Alejandro Cruz, of Houston, did not file tax returns with the IRS from 2011 through 2017 despite earning more than the minimum filing threshold each year. In 2012, for example, Cruz earned more than $460,000 from his co-ownership of a commercial construction business and the sale of that business. Cruz deposited some of this income into a bank account he held in the name of a shell company. Cruz spent the funds on personal items such as real estate and gambling.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt ordered Cruz to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $164,032 in restitution to the IRS.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys William Montague and Parker Tobin of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Columbia Gorge Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A drug trafficker known to frequent Hood River, Oregon, and other communities in the Columbia River Gorge, was sentenced to federal prison today after fleeing a traffic stop at nearly 120 mph, crashing his vehicle, and being found in possession of methamphetamine, heroin, and two firearms.
Jonathen Michael Martinez, 42, most recently a Portland resident, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on January 25, 2019, a Hood River Police Department officer observed Martinez driving an Audi sedan in Hood River. The officer recognized Martinez from previous contacts and was aware he had an outstanding arrest warrant. When the officer initiated a traffic stop, Martinez fled eastbound on Interstate 84 at nearly 120 mph. Martinez exited the highway, lost control of his vehicle, crashed, and briefly fled on foot before surrendering. His vehicle was found to contain more than 600 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of heroin, and two firearms.
At the time of his arrest, Martinez was on probation for a state drug trafficking conviction. He has 23 prior criminal convictions for various drug, weapon, theft, and assault offenses as well as several for resisting, eluding, and obstructing officers during previous encounters with law enforcement.
On June 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Martinez with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. On November 15, 2021, he pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Hood River Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Thomas H. Edmonds and Byron Chatfield, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Colorado Man Sentenced to Life in Prison on Murder ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Denver, Colorado, man convicted of First Degree Premeditated Murder, First Degree Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Assault, Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on February 18, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Adan Corona, a/k/a “Ace Boogie,” age 35, was sentenced to life in federal prison for the murder and an additional ten years on the firearm charge, to run consecutively, and ordered to pay a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Corona was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 22, 2017, and was convicted of the charges by a federal jury following a two-week long trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, in September 2021.
The conviction stems from the October 16, 2016, shooting death of Vincent Von Brewer III in front of the SuAnne Big Crow Center in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Corona, along with Francisco Villanueva, shot Brewer 15 times with an assault rifle and a 9mm handgun, as Brewer attempted to flee from the defendants. Villanueva was previously sentenced on November 5, 2021, to two consecutive life sentences in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations, and the Denver and Aurora, Colorado, Police Departments. The investigation was also supported by numerous other state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Collins and Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Corona was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to four counts of distribution of cocaine.
According to statements made in court, Jason Edward D’Arco, 40, sold a total of almost three-quarters of a pound of cocaine to a confidential informant on four occasions in January and February 2020. The drug sales occurred at Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in Charleston and D’Arco’s residence.
D’Arco faces up to 80 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 25, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Charleston Police Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provided assistance during the investigation.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nowles Heinrich 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-00263.
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Central Florida Man Charged with Almost $20 Million in FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Nikesh Ajay Patel (38, formerly from Orlando) has been arraigned on charges related to almost $20 million in fraud that he perpetrated while on federal pretrial release. Patel has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and eight counts of money laundering. Patel faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy and wire fraud and up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of money laundering. His trial is currently scheduled for the April 2022 trial term.
According to court documents, in 2014, Patel, a Central Florida resident, was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for a $179 million fraud scheme. He was arrested and released on bond. For the next several years, Patel claimed that he was cooperating with authorities and using his business skills to get funds to repay some of what he owed. In fact, Patel had devised a new scheme that netted him almost $20 million.
Patel’s new fraud scheme involved three parts. First, Patel fabricated fraudulent loan documents that falsely represented that a bank in Miami had authorized loans to be made to convert hotels in rural areas into assisted living facilities. Although the bank in Miami exists, it had never made any of the loans. The person who was listed as signing the loans (“Ron Elias”) does not exist, but was a fictitious identity used by Patel to perpetrate his conspiracy and scheme. Second, Patel applied to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to guarantee the fake loans pursuant to its Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. Third, after the USDA agreed to guarantee the fake loans, Patel sold the guaranteed portion of the fake loans to the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, also known as Farmer Mac.
Patel executed the scheme on three occasions, receiving almost $20 million in proceeds. Patel used a portion of the funds from that scheme to pay some of his restitution, but he was saving much of it to flee the United States.
Patel’s sentencing in the Northern District of Illinois was set for January 9, 2018. Three days before that, Patel was arrested at the airport in Kissimmee. Patel had chartered a flight to Ecuador where he was going to request political asylum and live off the proceeds that he obtained from his new scheme. Instead, Patel’s bond was revoked and the U.S. Marshals Service transported him to the Northern District of Illinois. On March 6, 2018, Patel was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his case in the Northern District of Illinois.
Patel’s indictment in the Middle District of Florida relates to the conspiracy and fraud scheme that he executed while on he was pretrial release.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.
Carthage Man Indicted for Child Pornography on Workplace ComputerRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Carthage, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today after child pornography was found on his workplace computer.
Shane Tyler Barton, 55, was charged with receiving and distributing child pornography in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Barton on Feb. 14, 2022.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the director of information technology for H.E. Williams, Barton’s employer, was alerted to a suspected virus on Barton’s company-issued computer that was in Barton’s office and connected to the business network. On Jan. 5, 2022, he observed an unauthorized anti-virus program on the computer and discovered numerous files that contained adult and child pornography. He notified management of the violation of company policy. While doing so, he noticed the files were being deleted. Fearing that Barton was possibly tampering with evidence, he locked Barton out of the network and his company-issued computer.
Barton was placed on leave, the affidavit says, pending the resolution of an internal investigation. He was instructed to turn over his company-issued iPhone. A forensic examination of the computer identified approximately 10,000 images and approximately 100 video files of suspected child pornography, the affidavit says, as well as additional video files of suspected child pornography on the iPhone.
Barton resigned from his position with the company a couple of weeks later.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Sarff. It was investigated by the FBI and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Carjacking Prevention CampaignRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –The United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Joseph González, announced today the launch of a carjacking education and prevention campaign with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s Stolen Vehicles Section and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice.
The public service campaign aims to raise awareness about the different safety measures that the public can adopt to prevent and protect themselves from a carjacking.
“In 2019, Puerto Rico reported more than 500 carjackings and more than 3,000 stolen vehicles. Although these numbers have decreased during the past two years, law enforcement agencies continue investigating hundreds of carjackings and thousands of vehicle thefts per year,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our federal and state partners, have developed this awareness campaign to protect the public from these crimes. The tips we are sharing will contribute to your safety and wellbeing.”
“Carjackings are crimes of opportunity and our main objective with this campaign is to make people aware of behaviors which may create opportunities for these criminals to attack,” said Joseph González, FBI Special Agent in Charge. “The best approach to violent crime is prevention and the first step in prevention is education. We hope the people will heed our advice to stay alert and thus safe. A car can be replaced, your life is irreplaceable.”
“The Puerto Rico Department of Justice works strategically alongside the federal authorities to process carjacking or stolen vehicle incidents in the most effective manner. We are united by the commitment to remove criminals from the streets of our island and process them for their crimes,” said Domingo Emanuelli, Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Justice. “In this instance, we joined efforts to educate citizens on how to protect themselves and avoid becoming victims of this type of crime. The protection and wellbeing of our people are our priorities.”
“To be a victim of a carjacking is one of the worst experiences a citizen can go through. However, knowing how to handle a situation of this nature can be the best weapon to face such an event and come out unscathed,” said Inspector Carlos Nazario, Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation Centers (CIC, for its acronym in Spanish) of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. “Therefore, in coordination with our colleagues at the federal level, we will be providing guidance to communities as well as through the media. By doing this, we can further expand the message and reach a greater number of citizens.”
The campaign focuses on the following tips to prevent carjackings:
- Park in well-lit areas and don’t leave valuable items in your vehicle
- Always be aware of your surroundings, particularly in gas stations, when arriving at your residence, and near ATMs.
- Equip your car with a GPS tracker
- Lock your doors while driving
- Don’t stop for stranded strangers along the road. Note their location and pull over in a safe place to call for help.
Carjackers look for opportunities to attack distracted victims. Some of these opportunities are at: self-serve gas stations, ATM machines, parking garages, residential driveways, desolate intersections with stop lights, and highway exit ramps.
A carjacking can happen at any time. Never confront the carjacker, your life is more important and valuable. If you are a victim or witness of a crime, please report to tips.fbi.gov or call (787) 987-6500.
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Campaña de prevención de CarjackingsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – El Fiscal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, y el Agente Especial a Cargo del Negociado Federal de Investigaciones (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés), Joseph González, anunciaron hoy el lanzamiento de una campaña de educación y prevención de carjackings con la colaboración de la Sección de Vehículos Hurtados del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico y el Departamento de Justicia de Puerto Rico.
La campaña de servicio público tiene como objetivo concienciar sobre las diferentes medidas de seguridad que la ciudadanía puede adoptar para prevenir y protegerse de un carjacking.
“En el 2019, en Puerto Rico se reportó más de 500 carjackings y más de 3,000 vehículos robados. Aunque estos números han disminuido durante los últimos dos años, las agencias de ley y orden continúan investigando cientos de carjackings y miles de robos de vehículos por año”, dijo el fiscal federal Muldrow. “La Fiscalía Federal, junto con el FBI y el Negociado de la Policía hemos desarrollado esta campaña de concientización para proteger al público de estos delitos. Los consejos que compartimos contribuirán a su seguridad y bienestar”.
“Los carjackings son crímenes de oportunidad y nuestro objetivo primario con esta campaña es crear conciencia en el pueblo sobre comportamientos que podrían crear la oportunidad para que estos criminales ataquen”, dijo Joseph González, Agente Especial a Cargo del FBI. “La mejor estrategia contra el crimen violento es la prevención y la prevención comienza con la educación. Esperamos que el público tome nuestro consejo de mantenerse alerta y seguro. Un carro se puede remplazar, su vida es irremplazable”.
“El Departamento de Justicia trabaja estratégicamente con las autoridades federales para procesar el robo de vehículos o carjackings de la manera más efectiva”, dijo Domingo Emanuelli, Secretario de Justicia. “En esta ocasión, unimos esfuerzos para aconsejar a los ciudadanos sobre cómo pueden protegerse y evitar convertirse en víctimas de este tipo de crimen. El bienestar y la protección del pueblo es nuestra prioridad”.
“Ser víctima de carjacking es una de las peores experiencias que puede atravesar un ciudadano. El saber cómo manejar una situación de esta naturaleza, puede ser la mejor arma para enfrentar ese evento y salir ileso del mismo”, dijo el Inspector Carlos Nazario, Coordinador de los Centros de Investigación Criminales (CIC) del Negociado de la Policía la Policía de Puerto Rico. “Por ello, en coordinación con nuestros colegas a nivel federal estaremos brindando orientación en las comunidades y a través de los medios. De este modo, podremos multiplicar el mensaje y llegar a una mayor cantidad de ciudadanos”.
La campaña se concentra en los siguientes consejos para prevenir los carjackings:
- Estacione en áreas bien alumbradas y no deje artículos valiosos en su vehículo.
- Esté siempre atento a su entorno, particularmente en las gasolineras, al llegar a su residencia y cerca de los cajeros automáticos.
- Equipe su vehículo con un rastreador GPS.
- Cierre las puertas y ventanas mientras conduce.
- No se detenga por extraños varados a lo largo del camino. Anote su ubicación y deténgase en un lugar seguro para pedir ayuda.
Los asaltantes buscan oportunidades para atacar a las víctimas distraídas. Algunas de las oportunidades son: en estaciones de gasolina, cajeros automáticos, garajes de estacionamiento (multi pisos), en la entrada de las residencias, intersecciones desoladas con semáforos, y rampas de salida de autopistas.
Un carjacking puede ocurrir en cualquier momento. Nunca confronte a los asaltantes, su vida es más importante y valiosa. Si es víctima o testigo de un carjacking, repórtelo a tips.fbi.gov o llame al (787) 987-6500.
Bucks County Construction Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Nearly $1.3 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Samuel Bullock, 72, of Langhorne, PA, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson for his orchestration of a tax fraud scheme to avoid paying nearly $1.3 million in federal income taxes for his general contracting business, Bullock Construction.
In September 2020, the defendant was charged with multiple tax charges, including one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false federal tax return, and one count of willful failure to file a federal tax return, all relating to his efforts to avoid paying taxes for his construction business. In 2009, after the defendant had failed to file federal income tax returns for nearly a decade, the Internal Revenue Service secured liens for more than $1.2 million assessed in taxes, plus more in interest and penalties. The defendant responded by taking steps to avoid collection by arranging to have his business income paid over to a sole proprietorship that he had set up in the name of his spouse, including providing his clients with new Forms W-9 with his spouse’s Social Security number and opening a new business checking account in his spouse’s name and the alleged sole proprietorship. The defendant then reported his own income on the tax return of his spouse, using the filing status “Married filing separately.” Although he was aware that he had earned income and was obliged to file a federal income tax return, Bullock failed to do so.
“Samuel Bullock’s scheme to enrich himself and avoid paying his fair share of income taxes victimized honest American taxpayers and business owners who do pay their tax obligations,” U.S. Attorney Williams said. “By ignoring the IRS and its legitimate demands for information from him, the defendant magnified his own tax liabilities. This type of fraud will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted by this Office.”
“For years, Mr. Bullock cheated and stole from the American people and the Government,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. “He went through great lengths to hide his earnings and evade his tax liability. His admission of guilt today is a reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to vigorously pursue those to seek to violate their known duty to file accurate tax returns and pay their fair share.”
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.
Bradenton Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Honest Services Fraud and Distribution of A Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Joseph Ellicott (43, Bradenton) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Ellicott faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing is scheduled for April 26, 2022, before Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell.
According to court documents, in January 2017, Ellicott was hired by a government agency in Seminole County (Governmental Agency) as a Special Projects Manager. The elected head of the Governmental Agency was a public official and Ellicott’s friend (Public Official). Beginning at least by January 2017, and continuing through 2019, Ellicott, the Public Official, and a contractor with the Governmental Agency (Contractor Conspirator) conspired with each other to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud.
The conspiracy involved the Contractor Conspirator and the Contractor Conspirator’s company entering into a contract with the Governmental Agency to provide goods and services to the Governmental Agency. The Contractor Conspirator and the Contractor Conspirator’s company submitted inflated invoices for payment. The Public Official agreed to use his official position to provide favorable official action on behalf of the Contractor Conspirator and the Contractor Conspirator’s company, including by continuing to employ the Contractor Conspirator and the Contractor Conspirator’s company and by causing the Contractor Conspirator and the Contractor Conspirator’s company to be paid, including for the inflated invoices. In exchange for the Public Official providing such favorable official action, the Contractor Conspirator agreed to pay bribes and kickbacks to the Public Official. Ellicott’s role in the conspiracy was to serve as the intermediary for the payment of a bribe and kickback of $6,000 that was made on September 25, 2017.
Further, for at least two years, Ellicott illegally sold Adderall to others. Over the course of at least two years, one of Ellicott’s customers paid him more than $5,000 for hundreds of Adderall pills.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer M. Harrington and Amanda S. Daniels and United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.
Box Elder Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Enticement of MinorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Enticement of Minors Using the Internet was sentenced on February 17, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
Francis James Kistler, age 61, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kistler was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $700 in restitution. Kistler will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Kistler was federally indicted and arrested after sexually exploiting two underage females between January 2019 and July 2019, while he was employed as a deputy sheriff for the Fall River County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Kistler was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Authorities seek victims in child exploitation investigationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 37-year-old resident of Cypress remains in custody pending trial on charges of sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery and acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard A. Collodi.
A federal grand jury has returned a six-count superseding indictment against Patrick Tran, charging him with production and possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement of multiple victims. He is set for his arraignment today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan.
The charges allege he used a fabricated online persona to entice hundreds of underage females for more than 10 years. He then coerced them to produce and transmit sexually-explicit videos of themselves, according to the allegations.
Authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying potential underage victims. Law enforcement believes Tran may have asked numerous individuals under the age of 18 to produce such videos and/or engage in sexual conduct while online. Possible contact could have been with his alias – Reggie Smith – or through SnapChat with username Travis_Story20 or via Omegle, according to court records.
If you believe you are a victim or have any information regarding any such potential victims, please fill out the brief secure questionnaire available at www.fbi.gov/patricktran.
Tran was originally charged March 24, 2021, and soon taken into custody. At the time of the detention hearing, the court heard how the case came to the attention of law enforcement. A mother of one of the alleged victims allegedly found her 10-year-old daughter standing naked in front of her iPad. According to testimony, chat communications appeared to show Tran was coercing her daughter into engaging in sexually-explicit conduct.
The court also heard about approximately 4,000 video files containing webcam-based videos of young females engaging in sexually-explicit conduct, many of females under the age of 18. All are allegedly attributable to Tran.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison found Tran to be a danger to the community and ordered Tran into custody pending further criminal proceedings.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
The FBI is conducting the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Luis Batarse are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Accountant Charged with Defrauding Two Marin Car Dealerships of $1.7 MillionRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Christina Markus appeared in federal court in San Francisco today to face an indictment charging her with four counts of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
According to the indictment, from 2010 to 2018 two Marin County car dealerships employed Markus, age 54 and formerly of Martinez, to perform bookkeeping. She held various titles during her years of employment, including Office Accountant, Payroll Administrator, Payroll Clerk, and Office Manager. Markus’s responsibilities included payroll processing, bank reconciliations, and posting ledgers for the dealerships using their “dealer management system” (DMS). DMS is a software program that performs inventory management, bank reconciliation, finance, and payment and payroll processing.
The indictment alleges that starting in January 2014 and continuing through October 2018, Markus created special payrolls for herself. The indictment charges that Markus, using the DMS software, wrote unauthorized checks to herself and created unauthorized bonuses and vacation pay and then caused these funds to be moved from the dealerships’ bank accounts to personal accounts that she controlled. Markus hid her fraud, according to the indictment, by deleting the record of fraudulent checks, bonuses, vacation pay, and payroll direct deposits within DMS and by manipulating bank reconciliations and ledgers and clearing entries from payroll records.
During the nearly five-year period, the indictment alleges, Markus embezzled more than $1.7 million by causing funds to be moved from her employer’s accounts to her personal bank accounts.
Markus made her initial appearance in San Francisco federal court today before United States Magistrate Laurel Beeler. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 20 before United States District Judge Charles R. Breyer. She remains out of custody.
The indictment charges Markus with four counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The maximum statutory sentence for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 is 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss amount, a three year period of supervised release following prison, and the payment of restitution for losses caused. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The charges contained in the criminal indictment are only allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Tartakovsky and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James and Mimi Lam. The prosecution was the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Monday 21 February 2022
Mission Man Charged with Failure to AppearRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Appear.
Blade Marshall, age 24, was indicted on February 8, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 18, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on January 24, 2022, Marshall failed to appear for his jury trial for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
The charge is merely an accusation and Marshall is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Marshall was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Failure to AppearRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Appear.
Cheyene Michael Thompson, age 30, was indicted on July 16, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 16, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on January 13, 2020, Thompson failed to appear for his sentencing hearing for violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release.
The charge is merely an accusation and Thompson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Thompson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Brothers Sentenced in Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, Kentucky – Two Louisville men were sentenced on Friday, February 18, 2022, for conspiring to distribute over three-quarters of a kilogram of heroin in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Marcus Bennett, 44, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiring to distribute over 700 grams of heroin. Eric Bennett, 43, was sentenced to 11 ½ years in prison for his role in the heroin trafficking conspiracy, as well as an additional 5 years to be served consecutively, for a total sentence of 200 months, for carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The Bennett brothers had been charged in connection with the drive-by shooting of a U.S. Postal carrier that took place on February 10, 2016. The mail carrier survived the shooting, and the case went to trial in late June 2021. The Defendants were acquitted of charges related to the shooting but convicted of possessing and selling a significant quantity of heroin during the same time period.
“I commend the work of the prosecution team and the Postal Inspectors who investigated this case,” stated United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky. “Those who conspire to distribute illegal drugs in our communities should note that such activity will end with a lengthy stay in a federal prison – where parole is not an option.”
“The United States Postal Inspection Service diligently conducts investigations such as these to protect the mail system from being used for criminal purposes, such as drug transportation,” stated Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division. “These efforts continue to keep our communities safe from illegal drugs.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Ford prosecuted the case.
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Friday 18 February 2022
Wisconsin Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Adult and Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin, today announced the conviction of Cory Hereford, 50, of Beloit, Wisconsin, on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a property for the purposes of distributing and using controlled substances, and of having committed sex trafficking of a minor while being a person previously convicted of a crime that required registering as a sex offender. The jury reached a verdict yesterday evening after five hours of deliberation following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison.
The government presented evidence at trial that Hereford targeted vulnerable young women struggling with drug addition, one of whom was a minor – 16 years old at the time – to engage in commercial sex. He enticed the victims with access to heroin, and in some instances threatened to withhold the heroin to induce withdrawal sickness as a means of compelling the victims to engage in prostitution for his profit. In other instances, Hereford threatened physical violence to achieve his criminal ends.
The evidence demonstrated that Hereford conspired with his co-defendant, Tonyiel Partee, 30, of Janesville, Wisconsin, to recruit victims and compel their commercial sex work. Partee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in July 2021. Other evidence at trial showed that Hereford maintained a home on S. Franklin Street in Janesville, for the purposes of distributing and using controlled substances, specifically heroin and cocaine. Hereford was previously convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child in the State of Wisconsin, which required him to register as a sex offender.
“This defendant preyed on vulnerable members of our society – young women and girls addicted to drugs,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Using their addictions to lure them deeper into the world of drugs and prostitution, he trafficked these victims for his own greed, without regard to their age, their pain, or their safety. We will continue to enforce our human trafficking laws to restore freedom and dignity to victims of this crime.”
“Mr. Hereford targeted and exploited young and vulnerable women, forcing them into commercial sex to generate income for him,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin. “I commend the trial team, investigators, and victim advocates for their commitment and diligence. These guilty verdicts show that my office and Wisconsin law enforcement are united against sex trafficking.”
“The Janesville Police Department appreciates the assistance of our federal partners on this important and complex case,” said Chief David J. Moore of the Janesville Police Department. “This investigation illustrates the methods that human traffickers use by exploiting our most vulnerable children. Contrary to the beliefs of many, these criminals do not abduct these victims on a street corner but cultivate the victims over a lengthy period of time. As a community, we need to understand these appalling methods and look out for those in our community that may fall prey to these criminals. We need to learn that when we see suspicious activity, report it to a responsible authority.”
The court will sentence Hereford on May 12. The sex trafficking charge involving a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. The charge of committing a crime involving a minor while a committed felon required to register as a sex offender has a mandatory 10-year penalty that federal law requires be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the sex trafficking of a minor. The charge of maintaining a drug house has a maximum penalty of 20 years.
The case was investigated by Janesville Police Department, with the assistance of Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger of the Western District of Wisconsin, and Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related OffenseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Her husband pleaded guilty to the same offense on Monday, Feb. 14.
Diana Toebbe, 46, of Annapolis, Maryland, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for knowingly and voluntarily joining a conspiracy with her husband, Jonathan Toebbe, to communicate Restricted Data to a foreign nation. During the course of the conspiracy, Diana Toebbe served as a lookout while her husband serviced three “dead-drops.”
According to court documents, at the time of his arrest, Jonathan Toebbe was an employee of the Department of the Navy who served as a nuclear engineer and was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors. He held an active national security clearance through the Department of Defense, giving him access to “Restricted Data” within the meaning of the Atomic Energy Act. Restricted Data concerns design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, or production of Special Nuclear Material (SNM), or use of SNM in the production of energy – such as naval reactors. Jonathan Toebbe worked with and had access to information concerning naval nuclear propulsion including information related to military sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of the reactors for nuclear powered warships.
According to court documents, Jonathan Toebbe sent a package to a foreign government, listing a return address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, containing a sample of Restricted Data and instructions for establishing a covert relationship to purchase additional Restricted Data. Jonathan Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. The individual was really an undercover FBI agent. Jonathan Toebbe continued this correspondence for several months, which led to an agreement to sell Restricted Data in exchange for thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency.
On June 8, 2021, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan Toebbe as “good faith” payment. Shortly afterwards, on June 26, Jonathan Toebbe serviced a dead drop by placing an SD card, which was concealed within half a peanut butter sandwich and contained military sensitive design elements relating to submarine nuclear reactors, at a pre-arranged location. After retrieving the SD card, the undercover agent sent Jonathan Toebbe a $20,000 cryptocurrency payment. In return, Jonathan Toebbe emailed the undercover agent a decryption key for the SD Card. A review of the SD card revealed that it contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. On Aug. 28, Jonathan Toebbe made another “dead drop” of an SD card in eastern Virginia, this time concealing the card in a chewing gum package. After making a payment to Jonathan Toebbe of $70,000 in cryptocurrency, the FBI received a decryption key for the card. It, too, contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. The FBI arrested Jonathan Toebbe and his wife on Oct. 9, after he placed yet another SD card at a pre-arranged “dead drop” at a second location in West Virginia.
Diana Toebbe pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment charging her with conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data which carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to life in prison, a fine up to $100,000, and term of supervised release not more than five years. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Diana Toebbe will serve a sentence of not more than 36 months of imprisonment in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and NCIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Matthew J. McKenzie and S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Lara Omps-Botteicher of the Northern District of West Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related OffenseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Her husband pleaded guilty to the same offense on Monday, Feb. 14.
Diana Toebbe, 46, of Annapolis, Maryland, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, , for knowingly and voluntarily joining a conspiracy with her husband, Jonathan Toebbe, to communicate Restricted Data to a foreign nation. During the course of the conspiracy, Diana Toebbe served as a lookout while her husband serviced three “dead-drops.”
Diana Toebbe, 46, of Annapolis, Maryland, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, , for knowingly and voluntarily joining a conspiracy with her husband, Jonathan Toebbe, to communicate Restricted Data to a foreign nation. During the course of the conspiracy, Diana Toebbe served as a lookout while her husband serviced three “dead-drops.”
According to court documents, at the time of his arrest, Jonathan Toebbe was an employee of the Department of the Navy who served as a nuclear engineer and was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors. He held an active national security clearance through the Department of Defense, giving him access to “Restricted Data” within the meaning of the Atomic Energy Act. Restricted Data concerns design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, or production of Special Nuclear Material (SNM), or use of SNM in the production of energy – such as naval reactors. Jonathan Toebbe worked with and had access to information concerning naval nuclear propulsion including information related to military sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of the reactors for nuclear powered warships.
According to court documents, Jonathan Toebbe sent a package to a foreign government, listing a return address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, containing a sample of Restricted Data and instructions for establishing a covert relationship to purchase additional Restricted Data. Jonathan Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. The individual was really an undercover FBI agent. Jonathan Toebbe continued this correspondence for several months, which led to an agreement to sell Restricted Data in exchange for thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency.
On June 8, 2021, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan Toebbe as “good faith” payment. Shortly afterwards, on June 26, Jonathan Toebbe serviced a dead drop by placing an SD card, which was concealed within half a peanut butter sandwich and contained military sensitive design elements relating to submarine nuclear reactors, at a pre-arranged location. After retrieving the SD card, the undercover agent sent Jonathan Toebbe a $20,000 cryptocurrency payment. In return, Jonathan Toebbe emailed the undercover agent a decryption key for the SD Card. A review of the SD card revealed that it contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. On Aug. 28, Jonathan Toebbe made another “dead drop” of an SD card in eastern Virginia, this time concealing the card in a chewing gum package. After making a payment to Jonathan Toebbe of $70,000 in cryptocurrency, the FBI received a decryption key for the card. It, too, contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. The FBI arrested Jonathan Toebbe and his wife on Oct. 9, after he placed yet another SD card at a pre-arranged “dead drop” at a second location in West Virginia.
Diana Toebbe pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment charging her with conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data which carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to life in prison, a fine up to $100,000, and term of supervised release not more than five years. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Diana Toebbe will serve sentence of not more than 36 months of imprisonment in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and NCIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Matthew J. McKenzie and S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Lara Omps-Botteicher of the Northern District of West Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related OffenseRead the Press Release
A Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Her husband pleaded guilty to the same offense on Monday, Feb. 14.
Diana Toebbe, 46, of Annapolis, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for knowingly and voluntarily joining a conspiracy with her husband, Jonathan Toebbe, to communicate Restricted Data to a foreign nation. During the course of the conspiracy, Diana Toebbe served as a lookout while her husband serviced three “dead-drops.”
According to court documents, at the time of his arrest, Jonathan Toebbe was an employee of the Department of the Navy who served as a nuclear engineer and was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors. He held an active national security clearance through the Department of Defense, giving him access to “Restricted Data” within the meaning of the Atomic Energy Act. Restricted Data concerns design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, or production of Special Nuclear Material (SNM), or use of SNM in the production of energy – such as naval reactors. Jonathan Toebbe worked with and had access to information concerning naval nuclear propulsion including information related to military sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of the reactors for nuclear powered warships.
According to court documents, Jonathan Toebbe sent a package to a foreign government, listing a return address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, containing a sample of Restricted Data and instructions for establishing a covert relationship to purchase additional Restricted Data. Jonathan Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. The individual was really an undercover FBI agent. Jonathan Toebbe continued this correspondence for several months, which led to an agreement to sell Restricted Data in exchange for thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency.
On June 8, 2021, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan Toebbe as “good faith” payment. Shortly afterwards, on June 26, Dianna Toebbe acted as a lookout while Jonathan Toebbe serviced a dead drop by placing an SD card, which was concealed within half a peanut butter sandwich and contained military sensitive design elements relating to submarine nuclear reactors, at a pre-arranged location. After retrieving the SD card, the undercover agent sent Jonathan Toebbe a $20,000 cryptocurrency payment. In return, Jonathan Toebbe emailed the undercover agent a decryption key for the SD Card. A review of the SD card revealed that it contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. On Aug. 28, Jonathan Toebbe made another “dead drop” of an SD card in eastern Virginia, this time concealing the card in a chewing gum package. After making a payment to Jonathan Toebbe of $70,000 in cryptocurrency, the FBI received a decryption key for the card. It, too, contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. The FBI arrested Diana Toebbe and her husband on Oct. 9, after she acted as a lookout while Jonathan Toebbe placed yet another SD card at a pre-arranged “dead drop” at a second location in West Virginia.
Diana Toebbe pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment charging her with conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data which carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to life in prison, a fine up to $100,000, and term of supervised release not more than five years. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Diana Toebbe will serve a sentence of not more than 36 months of imprisonment in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Matthew J. McKenzie and S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Lara Omps-Botteicher of the Northern District of West Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
Whitakers Man Sentenced for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Whitakers, North Carolina man was sentenced today to 150 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Tony Darrel Pittman, 42, was named in an Indictment filed on June 23, 2021 charging him with Distribution of a Quantity of Fentanyl and a Quantity of Cocaine Base (Crack) (Count One); Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin (Counts Two and Three); and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count Four). On September 21, 2020, Pittman entered a plea of guilty to Counts Three and Four.
In May 2020, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office received information that Pittman was distributing various controlled substances in the area of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Over the next several months, agents investigated the Defendant, and from May through September 2020, a confidential source conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base (crack) from the Defendant. The Defendant also sold a .22 caliber revolver to the confidential source.
On July 13, 2021, when officers attempted to arrest the Defendant, he attempted to flee and attempted to assault the officer with a broom handle.
Based on information from various sources, the Defendant was held responsible for distributing a quantity of fentanyl, almost two kilograms of heroin, more than two kilograms of cocaine, and more than 700 grams of cocaine base (crack).
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:21-CR-00274-M-1.
Washington, D.C. Man Admits to Participating in the Kidnapping of a Victim at Maryland Hotel and CasinoRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Christopher Allen Young, a/k/a “40,” age 26, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, in connection with the kidnapping of a victim from a Maryland hotel and casino.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to Young’s guilty plea, on February 3, 2021, co-conspirators 1 and 2 met Victim A at a Maryland casino and hotel, and falsely promised Victim A that they would get women for Victim A if Victim A accompanied them to Southeast Washington, D.C. At approximately 7:30 a.m., Victim A agreed to get into co-conspirator 1’s vehicle with co-conspirators 1 and 2 and they drove from the casino and hotel to Washington, D.C.
As detailed in the plea agreement, at 8:12 a.m., Young received a call from co-conspirator 2. A minute later, Young called co-conspirator 3 to report that co-conspirators 1 and 2 had “snatched” Victim A and all Young and co-conspirator 3 had to do was sit in the car with Victim A while co-conspirators 1 and 2 robbed Victim A. Young advised co-conspirator 3 that he was going to split the proceeds of the robbery with co-conspirators 1 and 2, and would pay co-conspirator 3 from his share. Young added that, if Victim A “gets feisty, I don’t want to have to crush him.”
A short time later, co-conspirators 1 and 2 arrived in Southeast D.C. with Victim A, and Young and co-conspirator 3 got in the car. Co-conspirator 2 pointed a gun at Victim A, and Young and the co-conspirators took Victim A’s personal items, including Victim A’s wallet, cellphone, and watch (which had been purchased for approximately $500), and the key to Victim A’s hotel room. Young and the co-conspirators then demanded the code to the safe in Victim A’s hotel room. After Victim A refused to provide the code to the safe, co-conspirator 2 struck Victim A in the forehead with the gun, and Victim A gave up the code to his safe. Co-conspirator 2 then forced Victim A out of the vehicle.
Young and co-conspirator 3 then exited the vehicle with Victim A, while co-conspirators 1 and 2 drove back to the casino and hotel. Young and co-conspirator 3 then led Victim A, at gunpoint, to a boiler room inside an apartment building in Southeast D.C., and co-conspirator 3 called co-conspirator 4 to ask him to look out for police or anyone else who might be near enough to hear or see Young and co-conspirator 3 with Victim A.
Inside the boiler room, Young and co-conspirator 3 physically assaulted Victim A and threatened his life. Young and co-conspirator 3 also demanded that Victim A disclose the PIN number for his ATM card, which was in Victim A’s wallet that they had taken, and to provide details about Victim A’s hotel room, including what was in the safe.
According to the plea agreement, co-conspirators 1 and 2 were seen on surveillance footage leaving Victim A’s hotel room with a backpack and roller suitcase, which contained items they had stolen from the room, including an Xbox, at least $1,500 in MGM Casino chips, and approximately $6,000 in cash. The total value of the property stolen from Victim A during the kidnapping was at least $8,000.
When Young and co-conspirator 3 learned that co-conspirators 1 and 2 had finished stealing property from Victim A’s hotel room, they left the boiler room, leaving Victim A. They were seen by law enforcement at approximately 10:57 a.m. walking away from the area of the boiler room, getting into Young’s vehicle, and driving away. Just a few moments later, law enforcement located Victim A near the apartment building, with blood running down his face and a wound on his forehead. Victim A also appeared to have suffered cuts on his mouth and eye, and a broken nose. At about that same time, Young and his co-conspirators discussed the kidnapping and robbery during a phone call. Young told the co-conspirators that he was not worried about Victim A talking to law enforcement because Victim A was too afraid after Young and co-conspirator 3 had threatened him. Young said he told Victim A, “If the police come, or anything come, I got your address. Mom…your little brother, all them is gone!”
Young and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Young will be sentenced to 126 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2022 at 2 p.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI Washington and Baltimore Field Offices for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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United States Postal Service Letter Carrier Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Bank and Mail Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Johnson B. Ogunlana, age 25, of Edgewood, Maryland, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of mail by a postal employee. As part of his sentencing, Ogunlana has been ordered to pay $232,588 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and Postal Inspector in Charge Greg Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.
According to his plea agreement, Ogunlana was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in Brooklyn, Maryland. Ogunlana knew that his duties and responsibilities as a letter carrier included handling, sorting, collecting, and delivering letter and parcel mail to postal customers residing and conducting business on his assigned postal delivery routes, and preserving and protecting the security of all mail in his custody.
Between July 25, 2016 and February 5, 2019, Ogunlana, and his co-conspirator Samson A. Oguntuyi, age 29, of Atlanta, Georgia conspired with others to steal bank checks and credit and debit cards from the mail, open fraudulent business banking accounts using the names of victim businesses and the stolen identities of victim postal customers to negotiate the stolen checks by depositing them into the fraudulent bank accounts, and then conduct transactions with stolen payment cards and with money derived from the stolen checks.
As detailed in the plea agreement, Ogunlana intercepted and stole mail pieces containing credit cards addressed to individual victims and sent photos of the stolen mail pieces and credit cards through a messaging application to Oguntuyi and other conspirators. Oguntuyi then used the victims’ personal identifying information (“PII”) to activate the stolen credit cards and to obtain new credit cards the victims never requested or applied for. Once the stolen credit cards were activated, members of the conspiracy used the credit cards to make retail purchases.
Members of the conspiracy also registered fraudulent businesses with state government agencies in similar names as the victim businesses. Conspiracy members also used the fraudulent businesses to cash stolen checks. Conspiracy members also used the names and identifying information of postal customer identity theft victims as the agents and/or incorporators of the fraudulent businesses and used stolen payment cards issued to identity theft victims to pay fees to register some of the fraudulent businesses. Ogunlana stole checks payable to victim businesses, whose mail was serviced out of the USPS facility where Ogunlana worked, by intercepting their mail. Oguntuyi and Ogunlana then endorsed some of the checks by forging the signatures of identity theft victims and depositing the checks into the fraudulent business bank accounts the conspirators opened in the names of the victim businesses. The conspirators then withdrew the money from the accounts through cash withdrawals, debit card purchases and cash back transactions at retail merchants, wire transfers, and by writing checks drawn on the accounts.
As detailed in his plea agreement, at least $565,000 in checks was stolen from two victim businesses and at least eight postal customers were victims of identity theft.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation and thanked the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. For more information about resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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United States Obtains Consent Judgment and Permanent Injunction in Civil Case Against Two Clay County PharmacistsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – In a settlement reached this week, two former Clay County, Tennessee, pharmacists have been barred from dispensing controlled substances for the better part of the next two decades, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
John Polston, of Tomkinsville, Kentucky, and the former Pharmacist-in-charge of Oakley Pharmacy, Inc., d/b/a Dale Hollow Pharmacy, in Celina, Tennessee, has relinquished his licenses to practice pharmacy from the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy and the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and is prohibited from applying for or seeking the renewal or reinstatement of a license or certificate to practice pharmacy anywhere in the United States until at least March 1, 2040. In addition, Polston must pay a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000.00.
Michael Griffith, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and the former Pharmacist-in-Charge of Xpress Pharmacy of Clay County, LLC, must relinquish his license to practice pharmacy from the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and is prohibited from applying for or seeking the renewal or reinstatement of a license or certificate to practice pharmacy anywhere in the United States until at least March 1, 2038. Griffith must also pay a civil penalty in the amount of $2,000.00
In February 2019, the Justice Department filed a civil complaint, alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act, against Dale Hollow Pharmacy and Xpress Pharmacy, including pharmacists John Polston, Michael Griffith, and others. The government sought and received a Temporary Restraining Order and a Preliminary Injunction, which has remained in place, and which prevented the pharmacies and pharmacists from dispensing controlled substances.
In addition to the civil actions, and in separate criminal cases, on March 23, 2021, John Polston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, illegal distribution of controlled substances, and conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit an offense through the payment of illegal kickbacks, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. He is currently awaiting sentencing. Michael Griffith pleaded guilty on August 26, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and to two counts of health care fraud. Griffith is also awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Bowden McIntyre is handling the civil investigation and litigation with the support of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
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United States Attorney Announces the Appointment of Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Maddox to Serve as a Federal Magistrate Judge in MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox has been appointed to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. He will sit in Baltimore, Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron said, “Matthew’s appointment is a reflection of his tremendous service to the United States Attorney’s Office and I am excited that he will be continuing in public service as a federal judge. Matthew is a uniquely talented and dedicated public servant, whose intellect and commitment to helping others are no doubt why he was selected for the federal bench. Matthew joins a distinguished group of Maryland United States Attorney’s Office alumni who have gone on to serve as judges at both the state and federal level.”
Mr. Maddox has served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland as an Assistant U.S. Attorney since 2015. In this capacity, Mr. Maddox prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases, including human trafficking, child exploitation, identity theft, financial fraud, bank robbery, and a variety of other federal offenses. In 2017, Mr. Maddox received an award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Outstanding Contribution to a Law Enforcement Initiative. Mr. Maddox has served as the Office’s Identity Theft Coordinator since 2018 and Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Section since 2020.
Mr. Maddox was born and raised in Maryland. He graduated summa cum laude from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he majored in philosophy and religious studies. After receiving his B.A. degree, Mr. Maddox was a Fulbright Scholar and taught high school through the Teach for America program. Mr. Maddox received his J.D. degree from the Yale Law School in 2011.
Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Maddox served as law clerk to the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. From October 2012 to August 2014, Mr. Maddox worked as a litigation associate at the law firm of Holland & Knight in Washington, D.C. From August 2014 to August 2015, Mr. Maddox served as law clerk to the Honorable André M. Davis, United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Sponsors 19th Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Logo ContestRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — The U.S. Attorney's Office is sponsoring the 19th Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Logo Contest. The statewide contest invites students to illustrate how we can help prevent gun violence in our schools by designing a logo for use on upcoming PSN publications.
The contest is open to all South Carolina grade school students and entries will be categorized into four grade divisions: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. A winner will be selected from each of the four divisions, and each division winner will receive $50. An overall winning logo will be chosen from the four division winners and will receive an additional $50 prize for a total of $100.
The winning entries will be selected by “The Insiders,” a select group of students from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, who travel throughout the state encouraging children and promoting community awareness of the consequences of juvenile crime. In addition to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office is proud to partner with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association and the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association for this year’s contest.
Entries should be consistent with the theme “Preventing Gun Violence in Our Schools.” The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2022. If your student is interested in participating, contact your local school as contest information has been sent to all South Carolina schools. Applications and contest rules may also be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/programs/ceasefire/project-sentry/contest-winners/contest-rules.
PSN focuses on reducing violent crime in our communities through enforcement, reentry, and prevention initiatives. The annual logo contest is an important prevention initiative that has proven to be an effective way to engage our students in meaningful conversation about preventing gun crimes amongst our young people and ensuring a safe learning atmosphere for our children. For more information on the contest and to view winning logos from previous years, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/sc/programs/logowinners.html.
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Two Swanton Men Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that yesterday the Grand Jury in Burlington returned indictments charging Jesse Sweet, 26, and Eric Raymond, 31, both of Swanton, with unlawful possession of firearms. The investigation is being led by Vermont State Police, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, as well as the Swanton Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.
Sweet is charged with possessing a Ruger .308 rifle while he was an unlawful user of controlled substances and after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Court records explain that in or about December 2021, Sweet traded a snowmobile for that rifle.
Raymond is charged with possession of an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 rifle after having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Court records explain that on February 2, 2022, police observed Raymond driving an ATV toward the back portions of his Swanton residence. Police followed those tracks, which led to footprints, which led to the firearm below an abandoned vehicle.
The indictments are accusations only, and both men are presumed innocent until and unless they are convicted beyond a reasonable doubt.
Both men were arrested last Friday, February 11. United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle has ordered that both men be detained pending trial.
Sweet and Raymond are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictments next Friday, February 25. Sweet is represented by Steven Barth of the Federal Public Defender’s office. Raymond is represented by Robert Behrens. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Drescher is the prosecutor.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
https://www.justice.gov/psnTwo Defendants Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two defendants were sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell in two separate cases.
Gregory Leonard Jones, Jr., 46, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit his interest in the firearms seized at the time of his arrest. On June 22, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Jones resided. During the search, officers recovered firearms and ammunition that Jones was not allowed to have in his possession. Jones has previous felony convictions for possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2007), aggravated battery (2001), criminal damage and simple burglary (1996), and possession of stolen goods (1994).
The case was investigated by the ATF and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy.
In an unrelated case, Levar Washington, 42, who is a federal inmate, was sentenced to 160 months in prison, to run consecutive to any sentence he is presently serving or yet to serve, for assaulting a correctional officer. Washington was previously sentenced in 2008 in the Central District of California to 22 years in federal prison for conspiring to levy war against the United States through terrorism and using and carrying a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.
The charges in this case stem from an incident involving Washington in October 2020 at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Pollock, Louisiana. A correctional officer attempted to stop Washington as he walked through the metal detector when he was returning to the housing unit from the recreational yard. Rather than stop as he was ordered to do, Washington removed an approximately 11-inch metal prison shank that he had concealed within his waistband, quickly turned around, and attacked that correctional officer, stabbing him multiple times about his arms and chest. Several correctional officers responded to the scene with pepper spray, eventually tackling Washington and securing him in restraints.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon.
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Tulsa Man Sentenced for the Assault and Attempted Kidnapping of an Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man who assaulted and attempted to kidnap his intimate partner then tried to convince her to lie to authorities about the incident was sentenced Thursday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Derek Lee Lovell, 37, to 80 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“Derek Lovell assaulted his partner, attempted to drag her to their car against her will, then tried to manipulate her into lying to protect him from prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate domestic violence in Indian Country.”
In October, a federal jury convicted Lovell of attempted kidnapping in Indian Country; assault with intent to commit a felony; and attempting to influence, delay, and prevent testimony through corrupt persuasion.
On Jan. 28, 2021, the Tulsa Police Department responded to a Burger King near 1100 S. Harvard Ave. and 3242 E. 11th Street. Callers provided information that a man was assaulting a woman near the establishment. Callers further reported the man had a knife and fled in a silver Chrysler sedan.
Responding officers made contact with the female victim who stated that she had fled from her spouse as he chased her down the sidewalk. He eventually pinned her against a nearby concrete wall then attempted to drag her back to a vehicle. Officers observed the victim was visibly shaken. She was also concerned about cooperating with officers due to fear of reprisal.
During the assault, a driver pulled over and attempted to help the victim. Lovell then pulled out a pocketknife, approached the vehicle, stabbed the front right tire and shouted an expletive. Two other witnesses who tried to help the victim, along with camera footage, corroborated the driver’s statement to officers. The witnesses were also able to describe Lovell’s vehicle and license plate.
On Jan. 29, 2021, Tulsa Police officers executed a traffic stop on Lovell’s vehicle while on South Lewis Avenue and took the defendant into custody.
In court documents, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Childress noted the violence involved in the offense, Lovell’s attempts to thwart justice, and Lovell’s extensive criminal history, which included two domestic violence convictions within the last five years. Following those convictions, the state of Oklahoma filed revocation applications for Lovell’s failure to appear for supervision, failure to provide required residence and employment information, failure to complete batterer’s counseling, failure to obtain drug and alcohol assessments, and for new criminal charges. Childress suggested that Lovell’s criminal history demonstrated a complete failure of personal accountability.
Lovell is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, and the crimes were committed within the Muscogee Nation reservation.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Edward Snow prosecuted the case.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Attempting to Smuggle Noncitizens in Water Tanker TruckRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Sean Christopher Hale, 33, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Hale previously pleaded guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.
“This case is a stark reminder of how human smuggling organizations endanger and exploit noncitizens looking for a better life in America,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We must deter illegal transportation not only to vindicate our border laws, but also to protect the vulnerable among us, regardless of their immigration status.”
On June 19, 2021, Hale was stopped while driving a large water truck that was reported to be smuggling noncitizens in its tank. When Border Patrol Agents opened the steel tank of the vehicle, they found 26 individuals inside. While the individuals had only been in the tank for a short period of time, most were already sweating and having difficulty breathing. Some of the individuals rescued from the tank had fainted due to the heat and lack of oxygen.
The United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-02462-RM-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-015_Hale# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Toronto Man Extradited for Leadership Role in Racketeering Conspiracy, Operating Dozens of Illegal Asian Brothels in Three CountriesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Canadian man was extradited to the United States and arraigned in federal court today for his leadership role in an international sex trafficking organization operating illegal Asian brothels in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Zongtao Chen aka Mark Chen, 49, of Toronto, Canada made his first appearance in federal court today in the District of Oregon and was arraigned by U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta on charges of conspiring to use and using interstate facilities to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate a racketeering enterprise. Chen was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
According to court documents, Chen led a criminal enterprise that recruited women, primarily from China, to travel to the United States and elsewhere to engage in prostitution and other sex trafficking activities. In cities where the organization operated, a “boss” would oversee and manage a local brothel in a hotel or apartment complex. Customers seeking to engage in acts of illegal prostitution would call a number listed on www.supermatchescort.com or related websites, or send a text, email, or encrypted internet message. The organization employed dispatchers who would receive incoming requests for “dates” from potential customers. The dispatchers would coordinate and schedule dates with women working in the various brothels.
Dispatchers used a computer program to schedule and track the prostitution dates. When seized by law enforcement, this computer program contained a customer database with more than 30,000 phone numbers and records from previous dates. In Oregon, Chen promoted illegal prostitution activities brothels in Portland, Tigard and Beaverton.
On November 15, 2018, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Chen and four co-conspirators—Weixuan Zhou aka Marco Zhou, 40, of Guangzhou, China; Yan Wang aka Sarah Wang, 36, of Temecula, California; and Chaodan Wang, 35, and Ting Fu, 38, both of Beaverton—with conspiring to use and using interstate facilities to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate a racketeering enterprise.
On January 15, 2019, the FBI partnered with local law enforcement agencies in more than a dozen cities across the United States to conduct sting operations targeting Chen’s organization along with other Asian sex trafficking networks. As part of the coordinated law enforcement operation, the FBI seized www.supermatchescort.com and approximately 500 other associated domains, including 25 location-specific sub-domains.
At around the same time, Chen was arrested by the Toronto Police Service Human Trafficking Enforcement Team and Fugitive Squad at the request of the United States. On November 2, 2021, Canada’s Minister of Justice approved Chen’s extradition to the United States to face prosecution. This week, the U.S. Marshals Service transported Chen to Portland.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Omaha, Nebraska. The Toronto Police Service provided assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Canada to secure the arrest and extradition of Chen to the United States. Participating CETF member organizations include the Portland Police Bureau, Beaverton Police Department, Tigard Police Department and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Julia Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.
The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.
The National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA) assisted in the seizure of the websites related to this investigation. The NCFTA, established in 2002, is a nonprofit partnership between private industry, government and academia for the sole purpose of providing a neutral, trusted environment that enables two-way collaboration and cooperation to identify, mitigate and disrupt cybercrime.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three Men Plead Guilty in 2020 Slaying of 11-Year-Old BoyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three men, all from Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed in the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy on July 4, 2020, in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Daryle Bond, 20, Marcel Gordon, 26, and Christan Wingfield, 24, entered the guilty pleas in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. All three pleas are contingent upon the Court’s approval. Bond’s plea calls for an agreed-upon sentence of 7 ½-to-9½ years in prison, Gordon's calls for 10 years, and Wingfield’s calls for a 9 ½-year prison term The Honorable Rainey R. Brandt scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 3, 2022.
A fourth defendant is awaiting trial for first-degree murder while armed, with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy, and other offenses. He has pleaded not guilty to charges.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 4, 2020, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Bond, Gordon, Wingfield, and a fourth man were congregating at a barbeque near the cul-de-sac in front of an apartment building located in the 1400 block of Cedar Street SE. Cedar Street is a long road that ends in a cul-de-sac. The entrance of the 1400 block of Cedar Street intersects diagonally with a street that is known as the “alley.”
Near the entrance of the 1400 block of Cedar Street, Davon McNeal – 11 years old - was exiting a vehicle and walking towards a basement apartment in the Frederick Douglass Garden Apartment Complex. At a certain point, the fourth man, armed with a firearm, started running towards the entrance of the 1400 block of Cedar Street and fired his weapon towards the alley.
Gordon was running behind and fired his weapon in the same direction. Bond, armed with a firearm, too, ran towards the entrance of the 1400 block on a sidewalk on the side of the apartment building along with Wingfield, who was armed with a firearm and running on the road. Davon was struck by one of the bullets and was on the ground in front of the apartment complex. The group subsequently ran in the direction of the playground with guns drawn. Bond, Gordon, and the fourth man all fired their firearms as they were running away from the apartment building.
A review of video surveillance footage showed that Davon was struck by one of the fired bullets as he was running towards the basement apartment. An autopsy concluded that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.
Bond was arrested on July 10, 2020. Wingfield was arrested on July 11, 2020. Gordon was arrested on Sept. 1, 2020. All have been in custody since their arrests.
In announcing the pleas, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, former Victim/ Witness Specialist Marcia Rinker, Victim/ Witness Specialist Latrice Washington-Williams, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shehzad Akhtar, Stephen Rickard, and Jack Korba, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryam Adeyola, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Thomaston Man Faces Maximum 20 Years Imprisonment in Project Safe Childhood InvestigationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Thomaston, Georgia, resident pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation material of infants and toddlers resulting from a Project Safe Childhood investigation.
John Wesley Mitchem, 31, of Thomaston, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Feb. 17. Mitchem faces a maximum 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Mitchem will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 3.
“Individuals who participate in the sexual exploitation of children will face significant time in federal prison for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office—working alongside federal, state and local authorities—will pursue justice for victims against any adults who sexually entice, abuse or harm a child.”
“Thankfully we were able to prevent this predator from victimizing another innocent child,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Every time one of these horrific images is viewed it forces the victims to relive the traumatic event all over again and HSI and its partners are diligently working to find and prosecute these offenders.”
According to court documents, the Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta, Child Exploitation Investigations Group (HSI-CEIG) received information from HSI Detroit that an individual employing Kik application username “bigchevyguy0” was in contact with an undercover HSI agent and had sent the undercover agent three images that contained child pornography. Mitchem was identified as “bigchevyguy0,” and agents executed a federal search warrant at his Thomaston residence on March 13, 2020. A forensic examination of Mitchem’s digital devices found six images and one video of child sexual exploitation material depicting infants and toddlers. Mitchem admitted that he shared the three images with the undercover agent using his cellular device from his residence.
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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by HSI-CEIG Atlanta.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Indicted for Leadership Role in Multi-State Marijuana Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Houston, Texas man has been indicted for his leadership role in a conspiracy to traffic large quantities of marijuana illegally grown in Oregon for redistribution and sale in other states.
Fayao “Paul” Rong, 51, has been charged with conspiring to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents, beginning at an unknown time and continuing until early September 2021, Rong conspired with others to illegally manufacture and possess with intent to distribute thousands of marijuana plants. As part of the conspiracy, Rong purchased numerous residential houses in Oregon using several different identities and converted them for use as indoor marijuana grows. Rong’s organization grew, harvested, and transported the marijuana to states where the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal. Investigators believe that, in a 12-month period beginning August 2020, Rong trafficked more than $13.2 million dollars in black market marijuana.
On September 8 and 9, 2021, a coordinated law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Oregon State Police (OSP) Northwest Region Marijuana Team targeted Rong’s organization. Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners executed search warrants on 25 Oregon residences and Rong’s Houston home. During the investigation and ensuing search warrants, investigators seized nearly 33,000 marijuana plants, 1,800 pounds of packaged marijuana, 23 firearms, nine vehicles, $20,000 in money orders, and more than $591,000 in cash. In the weeks following the operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon filed an action in federal court seeking to forfeit 16 properties used for the illegal manufacturing of marijuana. Together, the properties are worth approximately $6.5 million.
The Rong organization takedown followed a 14-month investigation by OSP initiated after the agency learned of excessive electricity use at the various properties, which, in several instances, resulted in transformer explosions. Multiple citizen complaints corroborated law enforcement’s belief that Rong was leading a large black market marijuana operation. With the assistance of the Columbia and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices, OSP found associated marijuana grows in Clatsop, Columbia, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, and Polk Counties.
Rong was arrested today by DEA agents in Houston and made his initial appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Texas. He was released on conditions pending his first appearance in the District of Oregon.
If convicted, Rong faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with a ten-year mandatory minimum, a $10 million fine, and five years’ supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA, OSP, and U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Oregon Department of Justice; Portland Police Bureau; the Yamhill, Clatsop, Marion, Multnomah, Columbia, and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices; Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team; and Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. 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.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty on Feb. 16, 2022, in federal court in Worcester to drug and firearm offenses.
Lavon Pemberton, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2022. Pemberton was charged by criminal complaint in June 2020 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2020.
On May 14, 2020, Pemberton was observed driving approximately 100 miles per hour on the Massachusetts Turnpike. During a subsequent traffic stop, law enforcement smelled an overwhelming odor of marijuana in the vehicle and marijuana paraphernalia was visible in the passenger compartment as well as the glove box. Pemberton was also found in possession of .8 grams of cocaine and .15 grams of methamphetamine contained in three individually wrapped baggies. When law enforcement approached Pemberton to arrest him, Pemberton ran and tried to climb over a guardrail at a nearby overpass but was immediately apprehended. A search of Pemberton’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a loaded Ruger SR9 firearm containing 17 rounds of ammunition – eight 9MM hollow point rounds and eight 9MM full metal jacket rounds with one in the firing chamber – as well as 120 grams of marijuana and $5,720 in cash. At the time of the stop, Pemberton was on supervised release due to a previous federal firearms conviction.
The charge of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, at least two years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason of Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Rollins’s Worcester office is prosecuting the case.
Southwest Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Store TheftsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident has admitted that he broke into two Cordele, Georgia, gun stores, stealing multiple firearms and weapons, then selling or distributing the firearms in the community.
Demetri Lott, 44, of Ashburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts theft of a firearm from a licensed dealer before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Feb.17. Lott faces a maximum ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine as well as the possibility of restitution to the victim. Sentencing will occur within 90 days.
“Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, law enforcement across the Middle District of Georgia is working collectively to prevent the trafficking of firearms within our communities and hold accountable those who steal and possess guns illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Reducing violent crime is a top priority for the entire Middle Georgia community, and one part of this strategy is to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of criminals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to maximize every resource at our disposal to achieve this common goal.”
“The theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and their diversion into the illegal firearms market is a crime that affects us all,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jason Stricklin. “FFL burglaries are a top priority for ATF and we will relentlessly pursue those responsible for the theft and diversion of firearms.”
“I am grateful for the cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies and the citizens of Crisp County. The anonymous tip we received was crucial in locating Lott and taking him into custody. I encourage all citizens, if they see something, to say something. We all play a role in keeping our community safe,” said Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock.
According to court documents, Lott broke into Wells Hardware & Supply in Cordele, Georgia, on Nov. 12, 2020, accessing the store through the roof. Lott stole 11 firearms. While the case was under investigation, Lott burglarized another gun store in Cordele, Evans Outdoors, on Jan. 2, 2021. A rifle was stolen as well as trail cameras, scopes and several boxes of ammunition. A concerned citizen contacted the Sheriff’s Office soon after the theft to report information about the stolen rifle. A second anonymous tip to the Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 15 helped law enforcement locate Lott. Lott was arrested at a Cordele residence, hiding inside the attic crawl space. Lott told agents he was responsible for breaking into and stealing firearms from both businesses. He also admitted to selling the stolen firearms from Wells Hardware & Supply for cash and drugs, later returning to the person’s home that same day to find that all of the firearms had been distributed to other people. Lott said he gave the Evans Outdoors rifle to an acquaintance. Lott has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for aggravated battery, robbery and burglary.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and the Cordele Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis is prosecuting the case.
South Jordan Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Producing and Distributing Child Exploitation MaterialsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Thomas Wallin, 23, of South Jordan, was sentenced to serve 18 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to the production and dissemination of child exploitation materials. Wallin will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
In the plea agreement, Wallin admitted to sexually abusing a minor in 2019, and to producing and distributing a sexually explicit depiction of the abuse using the internet.
According to a criminal complaint filed by prosecutors, in August of 2020, HSI investigators received a request for assistance from Australian law enforcement officials related to an individual located in Utah who was distributing child exploitation materials with an individual located in Australia. The suspect in Australia had been arrested earlier by Australian authorities, and after a review of the Australian’s Telegram social media account, he was found to have been exchanging child exploitation materials with a Utahn believed to be Thomas Wallin, of South Jordan, Utah. The investigation showed, that in 2019, the two used the Telegram platform to share sexually explicit videos of minors under the age of seven years old, including a video which depicted Wallin sexually abusing a three-year old boy, and a separate explicit video of the same minor. Authorities were able to confirm it was Wallin who was abusing the minor in part through a distinctive bracelet worn by Wallin in the video which was later found in his home during a search warrant. Authorities also identified the presence of a mole on Wallin’s hand, which also appeared in the same video. During an interview with an investigator from HSI, Wallin admitted to recording himself sexually abusing a minor male and that he had used Telegram to receive child exploitation materials from individuals using the internet. Digital media seized from Wallin at the time of arrest contained over 20 sexually explicit images of minor children under the age of twelve being sexually exploited.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting minor victims from violent criminals who prey on their innocence,” said U.S. Attorney Andrea T. Martinez. “The troubling facts of this case should be a reminder for parents and guardians of young children to be extremely careful of who your children are left alone with. Thanks to the investigative work by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the defendant in this case will be in federal prison for almost two decades, and the victims in this case can begin healing from the trauma caused by these crimes.”
“This lengthy sentence is a testament to the repugnant nature of child exploitation crimes which only perpetuates the lasting trauma endured by victims,” said Lucia Cabral-DeArmas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations- Las Vegas. “Our hope is that this sentence sends a message that our HSI agents will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to prey on our nation’s most vulnerable population, our children. Let today be the starting point for the healing process for the victims and their families.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
South Bay Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Creating Child Sexual Abuse Material of Young Children and Engaging in a Child Exploitation EnterpriseRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Hawthorne man was sentenced today to life without parole in federal prison for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, as well as creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of 20 young victims, some of whom were infants.
Arlan Wesley Harrell, 27, was sentenced today by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr.
Harrell pleaded guilty on July 7, 2021, to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, obtaining custody of a minor for purposes of producing child pornography, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, in 2016, Harrell joined on an online bulletin board dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children under the age of five. He used that bulletin board to distribute and advertise CSAM depicting three children.
Harrell, along with co-defendants John Brinson Jr., and Moises Martinez, was an active member of this website, which was accessed via Tor, a computer network specifically designed to facilitate anonymous communication over the internet. Harrell also secured the custody of a minor and traveled with him to Brinson’s house in Fresno to create CSAM of that minor and two other children together.
In total, Harrell created CSAM depicting himself engaging in sexual acts with or otherwise sexually exploiting 20 children, including nine children four years of age or younger. Harrell was arrested in May 2017 and has remained in custody since that time.
Co-defendant Martinez, 31, of San Jose, pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and production of child pornography in 2019, and he was sentenced in September 2021 to 55 years in prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release.
Co-defendant Brinson, 28, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and production of child pornography in July 2021, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22.
A fourth co-defendant, Keith Lawniczak, 57, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child in late 2019, and he was sentenced in August 2020 to 12 years in prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Los Angeles office, along with HSI’s Fresno and Boston offices, investigated the case. The High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) provided significant assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Devon Myers of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, along with Justice Department Trial Attorneys Lauren S. Kupersmith and Kyle P. Reynolds of CEOS, are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Justice Department initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Smyrna resident sentenced for multi-year tax fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Tamar Lee has been sentenced for conspiring to present false claims for refunds to the Internal Revenue Service.
“The defendants stole the personal identifying information of innocent victims, netting more than $1 million in fraudulent refunds,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “As we approach tax season, it is important to protect personal information from thieves who use it to further schemes like the one in this case.”
“Lee and her co-conspirators demonstrated a blatant disregard for the integrity of the United States tax system and caused immeasurable hardship to innocent victims, said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS, Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Let the sentencing today be a warning to individuals who dare to commit identity theft and refund fraud of this magnitude. They will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to pursuing identity theft and refund fraud with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: Tamar Lee and co-conspirator Don Terry obtained names and personal identifying information for individuals, without their knowledge and consent. Many of the victims lived outside of Georgia, with some residing in shelters or prison at the time the tax returns were filed.
Lee and Terry provided the victims’ information to a now deceased co-conspirator, a local tax return preparer with her own tax preparation business. The fraudulent Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns were prepared and electronically filed from the co-conspirator’s business. The tax returns included false Forms W-2 listing employers for whom the victims did not work. They also claimed refunds based on false claims of federal income tax withholdings never paid to IRS.
The same tax preparer also used a refund transfer service, Refund Advantage, which allowed the co-conspirator to print refund checks at her place of business. When the IRS paid refunds, the tax preparer accordingly printed the checks and gave them to Terry and Lee who then deposited them into bank accounts Lee opened and controlled. Lee paid the co-conspirators a portion of these proceeds.
Lee also used one of her existing companies to file fraudulent Form 1120 U.S. Corporate Income Tax Returns that falsely claimed refunds based on bogus fuel tax credits. This credit allowed companies to offset their tax liability based on certain fuel expenses incurred throughout the year. Lee’s company, however, never incurred such expenses, and therefore did not qualify for the credit. IRS subsequently paid one of the requested refunds by depositing the funds into Lee’s bank account.
Lee, Terry, and co-conspirator Jeffrey Smith were also part of a scheme to submit fraudulent corporate income tax returns that made false claims for refunds. They provided to the deceased tax preparer information for other existing companies, and for companies they created for this scheme, that was used in the preparation and filing of fraudulent Form 1120 U.S. Corporate Income Tax Returns. These returns all falsely claimed refunds based on fuel tax credits to which the companies were not entitled. IRS paid some of the requested refunds by mailing treasury checks to addresses provided by Lee, Terry, and Smith.
Overall, the tax fraud scheme resulted in false claims for refunds in excess of $2 million over a three-and-a-half-year period. IRS consequently paid more than $1 million in refunds for fraudulently filed corporate and individual income tax returns.
Tamar Lee, 53, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to four years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $306,316.22. Lee was found guilty by a jury on November 4, 2021.
The following also have been sentenced for their role in the tax fraud scheme:
- Jeffrey Smith was sentenced to three years, one months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $695,191.
- Don Terry was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,332,115.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracia King and Brian Pearce prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Seventeen Charged with Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering in St. George, UtahRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, UTAH – A recently unsealed 24 count indictment issued by a grand jury in the District of Utah charges 17 individuals for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Washington County. The charges follow joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operations conducted by the Washington County Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (IRS), and the United States Marshals Service.
These charges resulted from an investigation that demonstrated extensive law-enforcement cooperation in the St. George area. Federal and state partners conducted a proactive investigation targeting drug trafficking and money laundering. Officers seized more than three kilograms of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills. Using court-authorized investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that Angel Rubio-Quintana, along with co-conspirators, allegedly ordered narcotics from individuals in Mexico, distributed the narcotics in the local community, and sent drug proceeds from Utah to Mexico.
United States Attorney for the District of Utah Andrea T. Martinez announced the charges today along with Washington County Drug Task Force Captain Jordan Minnick, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jay Tinkler, FBI Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice, and HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-Dearmas.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to federally prosecuting drug traffickers who fuel addiction and crime in Southern Utah,” said United States Attorney Andrea T. Martinez. “This prosecution highlights law enforcement’s tireless efforts to dismantle drug-trafficking organizations from suppliers in Mexico to drug dealers in St. George. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who traffic narcotics in our communities.”
The indictment charges 17 individuals with 24 federal counts, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana; conspiracy to launder money; distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine; possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and unlawful reentry of a previously removed alien.
Those charged in the indictment are:
• Angel Rubio-Quintana, 41, of St. George
• Ramon Higuera-Cota, 49, of Sinaloa, Mexico
• Presciliano Galax-Felix, aka “Chito,” 54, of Sinaloa, Mexico
• Jaime Rivera-Jauregui, aka “Charras,” 35, of St. George
• Carlos Rubio-Acosta, 19, of St. George
• Lauro Ignacio-Morales, aka “Junior,” 20, of St. George
• Llonatan Gutierrez-Ruiz, aka “Barbas,” 59, of St. George
• Alfreida Simpson, 38, of St. George
• Tanya Adame, 19, of St. George
• Raul Valdez-Chavez, 62, of Riverside County, California
• Juana Marin-Angel, 34, of West Jordan
• Daniel Tena-Villasenor, 28, of Jerome
• Tracy Eyman, 52, of Diamond Valley
• Juan Carlos Orozco, 40, of St. George
• Paul Ciriaco, 33. of St. George
• Oliver Mendez-Rojas, aka “Willy,” 21, of St. George
• Hardet Alan Valdez, aka “Moshi,” 20, of St. George, UtahAssistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Angela Reddish-Day, in the St. George Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, are prosecuting the case. Special agents, task force officers, and analysts from the DEA, FBI, IRS, and HSI investigated the case, alongside detectives and analysts from the Washington County Drug Task Force.
Indictments are not findings of guilt. Defendants charged in indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
San Diego Man Indicted for Sale of Ghost Guns, Possession of Homemade Machine Gun, and Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 18, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Gavin Michael Adcock of San Diego appeared in federal court today in connection with a grand jury indictment charging him with the sale of firearms without a license, possession of a machine gun, and distribution of fentanyl.
An affidavit in support of a warrant to search of Adcock’s residence outlined the investigation that started in July 2021 when a San Diego Police Department detective came across Adcock on the popular mobile marketplace OfferUp. Adcock was offering to sell unfinished handgun lowers, commonly referred to as “80% lowers.” According to the affidavit, Adcock told the detective, who posed as a customer, that he had completed firearms for sale as well.
According to the affidavit, Adcock and the detective began communicating about the purchase of firearms. The San Diego Police Department then partnered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to further investigate Adcock’s alleged firearms trafficking activities. Through four undercover purchases between November 2021 and January 2022, ATF purchased eight firearms, ammunition, and 61 fentanyl pills from Adcock, the affidavit said.
Of the eight firearms, seven were determined to be “privately manufactured firearms,” also known as PMFs or ghost guns. One of the PMFs was determined to be a machine gun and another was an AR-15-style firearm, both of which Adcock claimed he manufactured himself.
In addition, during Adcock’s arrest on February 17, 2022, agents seized an additional firearm and suspected fentanyl pills.
“This case is a good example of the commitment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement agency partners to combat the scourge of fentanyl and illegal firearm trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.
“Over the past few years Southern California has seen an increase in individuals making firearms and selling them without a license,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Monique Villegas. “These firearms are oftentimes being sold to individuals that are prohibited from possessing guns. This illegal activity will not be tolerated. ATF will aggressively continue to partner with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to target these traffickers.”
“I would like to thank our law enforcement partners for working with SDPD's Ghost Gun Apprehension Team," said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. "Curbing illegal gun trafficking in our neighborhoods remains a priority for our department.”
The next court date is scheduled for February 24, 2022.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF and the San Diego Police Department to investigate and prosecute the trafficking of firearms – ghost guns in particular – and the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs, such as fentanyl.
DEFENDANT Case Number 22cr0313-TWR
Gavin Michael Adcock Age: 20 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Dealing Firearms without a License – Title 18, United States Code, § 922(a)(1)(A)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Possession of a Machinegun – Title 18, United States Code, § 922(o)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
Distribution of Fentanyl – Title 21, United States Code, § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $1 million fine
AGENCIES
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
San Diego Police Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Today a San Antonio man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for child pornography charges.
According to court documents, on November 11, 2018, Francisco Govea Tristan III, 24, using a social media platform, started a chat conversation with a minor in another state. Tristan then coerced the minor into sending him photos and videos showing the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. When confronted by law enforcement, Tristan admitted he asked the minor to produce and send him pornographic images and videos. He also admitted he had other child pornography on his mobile phone.
On July 20, 2021, Tristan pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 19, 2019.
“The defendant was a child predator who inflicted significant damage on his victims, which is reflected in his sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “These types of crimes leave a wake of destruction and brokenness for both the child victims and their families. This office is committed to ensuring that this defendant and others like him are removed from society and further damaging others.”
“Those who harm children in this way may hide behind a computer or smartphone and use the internet to commit these crimes, but that does not mean that they are anonymous and can use those tools to produce child sexual abuse material,” said FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “Anytime a person uses the internet to entice a minor to produce child pornography, the FBI will use all its resources to identify and prosecute those offenders.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Rock County Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Adult & Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea today announced the conviction of Cory Hereford, age 50, of Beloit, Wisconsin, in the Western District of Wisconsin, on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a property for the purposes of distributing and using controlled substances, and of having committed sex trafficking of a minor while being a person previously convicted of a crime that required registering as a sex offender. The jury reached a verdict yesterday evening after five hours of deliberation following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison, Wisconsin.
The government presented evidence at trial that Hereford targeted vulnerable young women struggling with drug addition, one of whom was a minor – 16 years old at the time – to engage in commercial sex. He enticed the victims with access to heroin, and in some instances threatened to withhold the heroin to induce withdrawal sickness as a means of compelling the victims to engage in prostitution for his profit. In other instances, Hereford threatened physical violence to achieve his criminal ends.
The evidence demonstrated that Hereford conspired with his co-defendant, Tonyiel Partee, 30, of Janesville, Wisconsin, to recruit victims and compel their commercial sex work. Partee pled guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in July 2021. Other evidence at trial showed that Hereford maintained a home on South Franklin Street in Janesville, for the purposes of distributing and using controlled substances, specifically heroin and cocaine. Cory Hereford was previously convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child in the State of Wisconsin, which required him to register as a sex offender.
“This defendant preyed on vulnerable members of our society – young women and girls addicted to drugs,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Using their addictions to lure them deeper into the world of drugs and prostitution, he trafficked these victims for his own greed, without regard to their age, their pain, or their safety. We will continue to enforce our human trafficking laws to restore freedom and dignity to victims of this crime.”
“Mr. Hereford targeted and exploited young and vulnerable women, forcing them into commercial sex to generate income for him. I comend the trial team, investigators, and victim advocates for their commitment and diligence,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin. “These guilty verdicts show that my office and Wisconsin law enforcement are united against sex trafficking.”
“The Janesville Police Dpartment appreciates the assistance of our federal partners on this important and complex case,” said Chief David J. Moore of the Janesville Police Department. “This investigation illustrates the methods that human traffickers use by exploiting our most vulnerable children. Contrary to the beliefs of many, these criminals do not abduct these victims on a street corner but cultivate the victims over a lengthy period of time. As a community, we need to understand these appalling methods and look out for those in our community that may fall prey to these criminals. We need to learn that when we see suspicious activity, report it to a responsible authority.”
The court will sentence Hereford on May 12, 2022. The sex trafficking charge involving a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. The charge of committing a crime involving a minor while a committed felon required to register as a sex offender has a mandatory 10-year penalty that federal law requires be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the sex trafficking of a minor. The charge of maintaining a drug house has a maximum penalty of 20 years.
The case was investigated by Janesville Police Department, with the assistance of Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger of the Western District of Wisconsin, and Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, call 888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at www.HumanTraffickingHotline.org . The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously.
Recidivist Defendant Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Hyde Park man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to accessing child pornography while on federal supervised release for a similar offense.
David Ladeau, 66, pleaded guilty to access with intent to view child pornography. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2022. Ladeau was charged in Oct. 13, 2021.
Ladeau was previously convicted of federal charges in Massachusetts in 2010 for possession of child pornography. Later, in 2015, Ladeau was convicted of conspiracy to possess child pornography in the Middle District of Tennessee. While on federal supervised release for those convictions, law enforcement identified images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on Ladeau’s court-monitored computer. A subsequent investigation determined that in January and February 2021, Ladeau had been using the computer to access child pornography saved on a thumb drive.
Based on Ladeau’s prior convictions, the charge of access with intent to view child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Recidivist Defendant Charged in Connection with Fraudulent Eyewear Website for the Third TimeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Darnell D. Edwards, Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the arrest of VITALY BORKER, the operator of “EyeglassesDepot.com,” an online retailer of purported designer eyewear. BORKER was arrested pursuant to a complaint charging him with mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud customers by misrepresenting the authenticity and condition of eyeglasses sold through the website. BORKER was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Upon Vitaly Borker’s second conviction by this Office for fraud-related offenses, my predecessor posed the rhetorical question of whether ‘federal prison will impress upon this shady businessman that seeking to make money by fraud and intimidation is a path to prison...’ Apparently, it has not. As alleged, just after his release from federal prison, serial fraudster Vitaly Borker reverted back to his illegal conduct connected to online eyewear businesses.”
USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Edwards said: “Mr. Borker is allegedly up to his old tricks of bilking those looking for online eyewear. Make no mistake, each time Mr. Borker breaks the law, Postal Inspectors have no problem with bringing him to justice for his continued criminal activity.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today[1]:
Beginning in at least June 2020, after being released from federal custody and entering a Residential Reentry Center, VITALY BORKER operated an eyewear sales and repair services website called EyeglassesDepot.com. EyeglassesDepot.com claims, among other things, that it sells “brand new and 100% authentic designer eyeglasses and sunglasses” and that it has “thousands of pairs of glasses in stock…ready for shipping as early as TODAY.” In truth, however, the eyewear sold to customers of EyeglassesDepot.com was often used and/or counterfeit. Rather than carrying a large inventory of “brand new and 100% authentic eyewear,” EyeglassesDepot.com filled its customers’ orders by purchasing comparable items on a third-party online marketplace (the “Marketplace”). The eyewear purchased by EyeglassesDepot.com from the Marketplace was often used and/or counterfeit, but EyeglassesDepot.com passed off the glasses as new and authentic. In addition, while EyeglassesDepot.com claims to be a “leader in the repair of sunglasses and eyeglasses” and able to “fit any eyeglasses or sunglasses with your custom prescriptions,” customers who sent eyewear to EyeglassesDepot.com either did not have their eyewear repaired at all and/or otherwise received unsatisfactory work.
In order to conceal his role in operating EyeglassesDepot.com, BORKER – who has twice previously been convicted in this District of crimes relating to his operation of eyewear websites – assumed the identities of two other individuals in connection with the operation of EyeglassesDepot.com.
* * *
BORKER, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with mail fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a additional mandatory consecutive two year sentence. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of these defendants would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Weinberg is in charge of the prosecution.
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Reading Man Sentenced for Role in Meth Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Reading man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute meth in and around the Boston area.
Aaron Smith, 34, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. In issuing this sentence, Judge O’Toole cited Smith’s participation in the Court-run RISE (Repair, Invest, Succeed, and Emerge) Program. In May 2020, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.
In late 2018, Smith began purchasing meth from two meth dealers in Boston which evolved into a partnership in which they allowed Smith to pay wholesale cost for meth being shipped from Phoenix. In April 2019, investigators seized a two-pound package of meth from Phoenix that was being shipped to Massachusetts. Smith had contributed cash toward the purchase of this seized meth and was supposed to receive one pound.
In August 2019, Smith agreed to purchase a pound of meth from a cooperating witness, who said the meth was coming from a new supplier in California. Smith met with the cooperating witness at a coffee shop in Boston and took possession of a pound of meth he believed was from the California supplier. Smith was subsequently arrested after exiting the coffee shop.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Acting Commissioner Gregory P. Long, Boston Police Department made the announcement. The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and Arlington Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
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.
Philadelphia Woman Sentenced to over One Year in Prison for Straw Purchasing Three Firearms in Montgomery County for Her BoyfriendRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Brihany Baker, 25, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, and two years of supervised release United States District Court Chief Judge Juan R. Sánchez for illegally purchasing three semi-automatic firearms for her romantic partner.
In November 2021, the defendant was convicted after trial on charges of criminal conspiracy to knowingly make false statements to a federal firearms licensee, and making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee, following a June 2020 investigation into straw purchasers at a gun dealer in Horsham, PA. Investigators were conducting surveillance of that store when they observed the defendant and her boyfriend, Donte Maxwell, enter the store. Maxwell was prohibited from purchasing firearms at the time he entered the store with the defendant. The investigators proactively delayed any sale of firearms to the defendant and obtained video from inside the store, which showed Maxwell place a $200 deposit on three semi-automatic firearms, handle the firearms, and take pictures of the firearms. The defendant subsequently returned to the store and purchased the three semi-automatic firearms, falsely stating on a federal form 4473 that she was buying them for herself and not another person.
“Our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, are ‘All Hands On Deck’ to interrupt and prevent violent crime in Philadelphia. One important tool in our arsenal is our ability to investigate and federally prosecute straw-purchasers,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “By charging crimes like straw purchasing of firearms, we can cut off the supply of illegal weapons at the source and hopefully prevent at least one violent act. Now, this defendant will spend serious time in federal prison for her crime.”
“Far too often, guns recovered by law enforcement officers originate from straw purchaser,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Typically, straw purchased firearms are used in violent crimes, so it is important to combat the gun violence at its source, which is straw purchasing. With his sentence, the entire community is a bit safer knowing Baker will no longer be able to purchase firearms for individuals who are not allowed to possess them. This is a great outcome thanks to our partners at the U.S Attorney’s Office.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Miller.
Pennsylvania Man Charged with TortureRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Justice announced today that a Pennsylvania man was arrested yesterday on charges alleging that he tortured a victim in the Kurdistan region of Iraq in 2015.
A superseding indictment returned Tuesday in the Middle District of Pennsylvania charges Ross Roggio, 53, of Stroudsburg, with suffocating a victim with a belt, threatening to cut off one of the victim’s fingers, and directing Kurdish soldiers to inflict other severe physical and mental pain and suffering on the victim.
“These charges demonstrate that the Department of Justice will hold U.S. citizens who commit horrendous acts of violence accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to bringing human rights violators to justice.”
“The Grand Jury charges that the defendant directed and participated in the systematic torture of an employee over the course of 39 days by Kurdish soldiers in Iraq,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “The grand jury’s superseding indictment and the hard work of our law enforcement partners show that such brutality will be exposed and addressed wherever it occurs.”
“The heinous acts of violence that Ross Roggio directed and inflicted upon the victim were blatant human rights violations that will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This superseding indictment underscores that the United States stands for the rule of law and will hold accountable anyone who commits acts of torture, regardless of where it takes place.”
“This defendant leveraged his position and used foreign soldiers in order to intimidate and coerce someone who was a threat to the success of his corrupt scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Whether in the United States or on foreign soil, heinous acts like torture violate our laws. The FBI has a global reach and working in concert with our federal and international partners, will pursue justice for any victim – here or abroad – who suffers at the hands of an American citizen.”
“HSI is committed to upholding the law, both within the United States and abroad,” said Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker of the HSI Philadelphia Field Office. “Holding accountable Americans who commit human rights violations like those alleged in this superseding indictment is the chief priority of the No Safe Haven mission. This superseding indictment is the result of extraordinary collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners. This case serves as another reminder that HSI works tirelessly to investigate those who seek to escape justice from crimes they commit overseas.”
“The illegal export of firearms parts and tools from the United States is often connected to other criminal acts, to include, as set forth in the superseding indictment, allegations of torture,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office. “The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively enforce export violations in the interest of public safety in the U.S. and abroad.”
According to the superseding indictment, Roggio was managing a project in 2015 to construct a factory and produce weapons in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The superseding indictment alleges that one of Roggio’s employees raised concerns about the weapons project and, to prevent the employee from interfering with the weapons project, Roggio arranged for Kurdish soldiers to abduct the employee.
The superseding indictment alleges that, while the employee was detained at a Kurdish military compound for approximately 39 days, Roggio led multiple interrogation sessions during which he directed Kurdish soldiers to suffocate the victim with a bag, taser the victim in the groin and other areas of his body, beat the victim with fists and rubber hoses, jump violently on the victim’s chest while wearing military boots, and threaten to cut off one of the victim’s fingers while applying pressure to the finger with a large cutting tool. The superseding indictment also alleges that on at least one occasion, Roggio wrapped his belt around the victim’s neck, yanked the victim off the ground, and suspended him in the air, causing the victim to lose consciousness.
Roggio and the Roggio Consulting Company LLC were charged in a 37-count indictment in 2018 with illegally exporting firearms parts and tools from the United States to Iraq as part of the weapons project in Kurdistan. The superseding indictment adds the torture charges to the previously charged offenses.
The superseding indictment additionally charges Roggio with one count of conspiracy to commit torture and one substantive count of torture. Roggio is the second U.S. citizen – and the fourth defendant overall – to be charged with violating the torture statute since the law went into effect in 1994.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the torture charges as well as a maximum total statutory penalty of 705 years in prison for the remaining 37 counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HSI investigated the torture allegations and were joined in the investigation of the alleged arms export violations by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd Hinkley and Jenny Roberts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions (HRSP) Section, and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from HRSP Historian Dr. Nadav Samin. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Pennsylvania State Police also provided valuable assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Pennsylvania Man Charged with TortureRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man was arrested yesterday on charges alleging that he tortured a victim in the Kurdistan region of Iraq in 2015.
A superseding indictment returned Tuesday in the Middle District of Pennsylvania charges Ross Roggio, 53, of Stroudsburg, with suffocating a victim with a belt, threatening to cut off one of the victim’s fingers and directing Kurdish soldiers to inflict other severe physical and mental pain and suffering on the victim.
“These charges demonstrate that the Department of Justice will hold U.S. citizens who commit horrendous acts of violence accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to bringing human rights violators to justice.”
“The grand jury charges that the defendant directed and participated in the systematic torture of an employee over the course of 39 days by Kurdish soldiers in Iraq,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “The grand jury’s superseding indictment and the hard work of our law enforcement partners show that such brutality will be exposed and addressed wherever it occurs.”
“The heinous acts of violence that Ross Roggio directed and inflicted upon the victim were blatant human rights violations that will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This superseding indictment underscores that the United States stands for the rule of law and will hold accountable anyone who commits acts of torture, regardless of where it takes place.”
“This defendant leveraged his position and used foreign soldiers in order to intimidate and coerce someone who was a threat to the success of his corrupt scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Whether in the United States or on foreign soil, heinous acts like torture violate our laws. The FBI has a global reach and working in concert with our federal and international partners, will pursue justice for any victim – here or abroad – who suffers at the hands of an American citizen.”
“HSI is committed to upholding the law, both within the United States and abroad,” said Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia Field Office. “Holding accountable Americans who commit human rights violations like those alleged in this superseding indictment is the chief priority of the No Safe Haven mission. This superseding indictment is the result of extraordinary collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners. This case serves as another reminder that HSI works tirelessly to investigate those who seek to escape justice from crimes they commit overseas.”
“The illegal export of firearms parts and tools from the United States is often connected to other criminal acts, to include, as set forth in the superseding indictment, allegations of torture,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office. “The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively enforce export violations in the interest of public safety in the U.S. and abroad.”
According to the superseding indictment, Roggio was managing a project in 2015 to construct a factory and produce weapons in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The superseding indictment alleges that one of Roggio’s employees raised concerns about the weapons project and, to prevent the employee from interfering with the weapons project, Roggio arranged for Kurdish soldiers to abduct the employee.
The superseding indictment alleges that, while the employee was detained at a Kurdish military compound for approximately 39 days, Roggio led multiple interrogation sessions during which he directed Kurdish soldiers to suffocate the victim with a bag, taser the victim in the groin and other areas of his body, beat the victim with fists and rubber hoses, jump violently on the victim’s chest while wearing military boots, and threaten to cut off one of the victim’s fingers while applying pressure to the finger with a large cutting tool. The superseding indictment also alleges that on at least one occasion, Roggio wrapped his belt around the victim’s neck, yanked the victim off the ground, and suspended him in the air, causing the victim to lose consciousness.
Roggio and the Roggio Consulting Company LLC were charged in a 37-count indictment in 2018 with illegally exporting firearms parts and tools from the United States to Iraq as part of the weapons project in Kurdistan. The superseding indictment adds the torture charges to the previously charged offenses.
The superseding indictment additionally charges Roggio with one count of conspiracy to commit torture and one substantive count of torture. Roggio is the second U.S. citizen – and the fourth defendant overall – to be charged with violating the torture statute since the law went into effect in 1994.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the torture charges as well as a maximum total statutory penalty of 705 years in prison for the remaining 37 counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HSI investigated the torture allegations and were joined in the investigation of the alleged arms export violations by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd Hinkley and Jenny Roberts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions (HRSP) Section, and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from HRSP Historian Dr. Nadav Samin. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Pennsylvania State Police also provided valuable assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.