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25 March 2022
Former IRS Employee Arrested for Assisting in Preparation of False Tax Returns, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Cincinnati – Frederick Louis, 57, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was indicted on 16 counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, 4 counts of wire fraud, and 4 counts of aggravated identity theft. On March 18, 2022, Louis was arrested by IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents.
The indictment alleges that Louis served as a “ghost preparer,” meaning that he prepared tax returns for compensation but failed to sign or otherwise declare the tax returns he prepared for other individuals. Louis worked as a Tax Examiner for the IRS from 1985 to 1994. It is alleged that due to his prior IRS employment, Louis knew that by law individuals who are paid to prepare or assist in preparing tax returns must have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and sign and include their PTIN on the returns they prepare. Louis also held himself out to be an accountant who prepared tax returns for pay or as a favor to friends. In actuality, Louis does not have an accounting degree, is not a Certified Public Accountant, and did not have a PTIN.
It is alleged that from at least January 2016 and continuing through at least March 2021, Louis prepared tax returns that contained false Schedule C business expenses, false Schedule F farming expenses, false Schedule A itemized deductions, claimed false dependents, and/or claimed false filing statuses on certain tax returns to generate fraudulent inflated tax refunds to which the taxpayer clients were not entitled. It is further alleged that Louis allocated portions of the refunds to himself, often unbeknownst to his client by directing the fraudulently inflated refunds be direct deposited in one of the following ways: (1) the entire refund was sent to Louis or (2) some portion of the refund was sent to bank accounts owned or controlled by Louis. As a result of the scheme, the IRS issued over $191,000 in fraudulent federal income tax refunds.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo is representing the United States in the case.
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Former Employees of Beaver County Health Care Facility Indicted on Federal Hate Crime Charges Related to Alleged Assaults Against Disabled ResidentsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Two former residents of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on federal hate crime charges, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The twelve-count Indictment unsealed yesterday names Zachary Dinell, 28, formerly of Freedom, Pennsylvania, and Tyler Smith, 31, most recently of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, as defendants.
According to the Indictment, Dinell and Smith were employees of an in-patient health care facility located in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. The Indictment alleges that residents of the facility suffered from a range of severe physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities, and required assistance with all activities of daily life, including bathing, using the bathroom, oral hygiene, feeding, and dressing. As members of the facility’s Direct Care Staff, Dinell and Smith were responsible for providing this daily assistance to residents.
The Indictment further alleges that from approximately June 2016 to September 2017, Dinell and Smith engaged in a conspiracy to commit hate crimes, and did commit hate crimes, against residents of the facility because of the residents’ actual or perceived disabilities. As part of the conspiracy, the Indictment alleges that Dinell and Smith exchanged text messages in which they expressed their animus toward the disabled residents, shared pictures and videos of residents and attacks, described their attacks, and encouraged each other’s continued abuse of residents. Dinell and Smith allegedly carried out their attacks in a variety of ways, including by punching and kicking residents, jumping on residents, rubbing liquid irritants in their eyes, and by spraying liquid irritants in their eyes and mouths.
Dinell and Smith allegedly were able to avoid detection by, among other things, exploiting their one-on-one access to residents of the facility and the fact that the victims were non-verbal and could not report the defendants’ alleged abuse. Dinell and Smith are also charged with engaging in a scheme to conceal their assaults against residents at the facility.
“The defendants are charged with targeting the most vulnerable members of our community because of their disabilities,” said United States Attorney Chung. “The defendants’ alleged hate crimes involved victims who were unable to defend themselves or report what happened to them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue our work to ensure that these victims—and all victims of federal crime—have a voice and that those who would perpetrate violence against them are brought to justice.”
“The actions associated with the charges announced today are disturbing to say the least,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Our office is committed to combating hate crime, seeking justice and, most importantly, providing assistance to victims.”
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy and concealment charges is a term of imprisonment of five years and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for each of the ten hate crime charges is a term of imprisonment of ten years and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants, among other statutory sentencing factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Accounting Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Chickasaw NationRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Wallace Covington, age 41, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A). The offense is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, or both.
The Information alleged that from January 6, 2017 to May 11, 2021, the defendant, an accounting manager within the Chickasaw Nation Department of Treasury, Division of Headquarters Finance, stole and obtained by fraud more than $225,000.00 and less than $550,000.00 from the Chickasaw Nation. The defendant redirected funds from the Chickasaw Nation’s General Fund bank account to his personal Coinbase.com account. The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribal government and organization which receives federal benefits and assistance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. The defendant was released on a personal recognizance appearance bond pending formal sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Five Men Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Guns from a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer in Tazewell CountyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – The last of five defendants - Jaquon Timothy, 19, of the 1600 block of South Stanley Street in Peoria, Illinois – was sentenced on March 24, 2022, to 22 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in the theft of nine firearms during the burglary of a gun store in fall 2020.
Timothy had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee; stealing from a federal firearms licensee; and possession of a stolen firearm.
Four other defendants also pleaded guilty to charges connected to the burglary and have been sentenced.
Deondra Proctor, 20, of the 2000 block of South Friedan Street in Peoria, was sentenced on July 1, 2021, to 27 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee; stealing from a federal firearms licensee; and possession of a stolen firearm.
Tyruis Bramlett, Jr., 19, of the 6500 block of North University Street in Peoria, was sentenced on October 25, 2021, to 32 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee; stealing from a federal firearms licensee; and possession of a stolen firearm.
Devin Price, 22, of the 100 block of Walnut Court in East Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced on November 22, 2021, to a total of 66 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee; stealing from a federal firearms licensee; possession of a stolen firearm; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Zabian Hatcher, 22, of the 200 block of West Marquette Street in Peoria, was sentenced on February 10, 2022, to a total of 84 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee; stealing from a federal firearms licensee; possession of a stolen firearm; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Each of the defendants have remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrests.
At the sentencing hearings, the government presented evidence that on October 29, 2020, at approximately 2:03 AM, Creve Coeur Police Officers were dispatched to a gun store known as “Thompson Trading Company”, located in Creve Coeur, Illinois. Officers saw that the glass entry door was shattered. Security camera footage showed six individuals committing the burglary. Three individuals entered the business and three remained outside of the front doors. The individuals on the inside of the store can be seen on video stealing firearms. A subsequent inventory indicated that nine firearms were stolen from the federal firearms licensee during the burglary, including a Colt 9mm AR-15 rifle equipped with a high-capacity magazine.
The subjects then fled from an East Peoria police officer until the getaway car struck a curb and sustained damage. Six occupants fled from the car, but a seventh person, the female driver, stayed in the car and was taken into custody. Two firearms stolen from “Thompson Trading Company” were recovered and two additional firearms from the burglary were found in a nearby driveway. Several identification cards were found in the car.
The investigation revealed that the driver, along with six other individuals had traveled to Pekin, Illinois, where they broke into a car dealership and attempted to steal cars. The car theft was unsuccessful. On the drive back to Peoria from Pekin, someone told the driver to pull into “Thompson Trading Company” where the six men committed the burglary.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee are up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Stealing from a federal firearms licensee and possession of a stolen firearm each has penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to a three-year term of supervised release .
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in the Central District of Illinois are committed to enforcing federal firearms laws,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ronald L. Hanna. “Individuals who burglarize federal firearms licensees will face prosecution.”
“When firearms are stolen from a federal firearm licensee, they often end up in the hands of those who commit gun crimes in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division Kristen de Tineo. “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners and federal prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting these important cases.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with the assistance of the East Peoria and Peoria Police Departments, the Creve Coeur Police Department, and the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked in collaboration with the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The Department’s renewed commitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods establishes four fundamental principles to guide efforts to reduce violent crime: 1) build trust and legitimacy within communities; 2) invest in community-based prevention and intervention programs; 3) target enforcement and priorities to focus resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of gun violence and other violent crime; and, 4) measure results with the goal to reduce the level of violence in our communities and not to increase the number of arrests and prosecutions as if they were ends in themselves.
Federal Jury Convicts Suburban Chicago Man of Laundering Drug Proceeds on Behalf of Traffickers in MexicoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a suburban Chicago man of laundering illegal narcotics proceeds on behalf of drug traffickers in Mexico.
In the summer and fall of 2017, HUAZHI HAN schemed with an individual in Mexico to facilitate the receipt of more than $1 million in narcotics proceeds in the United States. Han picked up the drug money from others in the Chicago area and used the cash to purchase and then re-sell electronic devices. Han and another individual then caused the laundered money to be sent back to the traffickers in Mexico.
In November 2017, Han attempted to receive approximately $100,000 in narcotics money from a drug dealer. At the time, Han was in possession of approximately $200,000 in cash, a firearm, and two loaded magazines. Law enforcement then searched Han’s residence and discovered a money counter, multiple firearms, more than $1.1 million in cash concealed in cookie tins inside of a drop ceiling in the basement, and approximately $200,000 in cash in vacuum-sealed packaging in the basement closet. In June 2018, law enforcement arrested Han after he received approximately $192,000 in money that was represented to Han to be drug money. At that time, Han was again in possession of a loaded firearm.
After a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Thursday convicted Han, 43, of North Riverside, Ill., on all four charges against him, including one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of attempted concealment money laundering, one count of conducting a financial transaction with funds represented to be drug proceeds, and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. In addition to the guilty verdicts, the jury returned a special verdict as to the forfeiture of criminally derived property, finding that Han should forfeit approximately $1.5 million in cash, four handguns, a 2016 Mercedes-Benz automobile, a 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan, and an iPhone.
Each money laundering count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, while the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business count is punishable by up to five years. U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood has not yet set a sentencing date.
The conviction was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Substantial assistance was provided by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago, Chicago Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Alexandra Morgan.
Federal Jury Convicts South Charleston Man of Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After two days of trial, a federal jury convicted Timothy Wayne Dodd, 46, of South Charleston, of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Evidence at trial revealed that Dodd was part of a large volume methamphetamine conspiracy operating in and around St. Albans and South Charleston during the summer of 2021. Trial testimony revealed that Shane Kelly Fulkerson traveled to Kentucky approximately once per week to obtain 20 or more pounds of methamphetamine at a time. Dodd was one of his lower level customers who on occasion helped to divide the shipments into pound and half-pound quantities to be distributed to other local dealers.
Fulkerson was arrested on August 11, 2021 in Putnam County after leading deputy sheriffs on a high-speed motorcycle chase. Upon being arrested, the deputies found 95 grams of methamphetamine, a pistol, and more than $70,000 in a backpack Fulkerson had strapped to the motorcycle. The FBI, along with local drug task force officers and the ATF, executed a search warrant at Fulkerson’s residence on August 12, 2021 and seized in excess of eight pounds of methamphetamine and more than 20 firearms.
Fulkerson pleaded guilty last Tuesday to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on June 16, 2022.
Dodd had previously been convicted in federal court in 2002 of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine for which he was sentenced to 151 months imprisonment. In 2014, Dodd was convicted in Roane County Circuit Court of attempted possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine for which he was sentenced to one to three years imprisonment. In 2018, he was convicted in Kanawha County Circuit Court of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and was sentenced to one to five years imprisonment. Dodd was also convicted in Kanawha County Circuit Court later in 2018 of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Dodd was on parole at the time he committed the offense of conviction in this case.
“I commend the FBI, the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha and Putnam County Sheriffs’ Departments, ATF, and MDENT for their excellent work in this case and for their steadfast commitment to keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson. “I congratulate Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hanks and Alex Hamner, and the rest of the trial team for bringing this repeat offender to justice.”
Dodd faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on June 16, 2022.
This case is part of a long-term investigation of a methamphetamine distribution network that resulted in 17 individuals being charged with various drug and firearms offenses in three separate indictments in 2021.
James Edward Bennett, III, Denise Marie Cottrill, Angie Lane Harbour, Michael Antonio Smith, and Jason Robert Oxley have already pleaded guilty. The remaining defendants are scheduled for trial on May 3, 2022.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the trial.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00172, 2:21-cr-00171, and 2:21-cr-00211.
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East Peoria Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – An East Peoria, Illinois, man, Noah Joseph Smith, 37, of the 100 block of Regent Court, was sentenced on March 23, 2022, to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child pornography, to be followed by a life term of supervised release. No fine was imposed, but Smith is required to pay $23,000 in restitution.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that a U.S. Probation Officer discovered an LG smart phone on Smith’s bed during a March 2021 visit to his home. The phone had not been reported as was required under the conditions of supervised release that Smith was required to abide by following a prior conviction for receipt of child pornography. An investigation subsequently revealed that Smith possessed numerous videos and images of child pornography.
Also at the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid emphasized that the possession and distribution of images of child pornography cause the children depicted in the images to experience long-lasting negative effects. He explained that “those who think these are victimless crimes could not be farther from the truth.”
Judge Shadid found that Smith had a history of committing crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. In 2007, Smith was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse after he placed a cloth soaked in ether over a child’s mouth and then sexually abused the child. Judge Shadid also noted that Smith’s 2008 conviction for receipt of child pornography and that Smith had begun supervised release in that case only months before he was again arrested in 2021 for possession of child pornography.
Smith was indicted for possession of child pornography in April 2021 and pleaded guilty in September 2021.
Smith also admitted to violations pertaining to his supervised release. He was sentenced to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 24 months, to run concurrent with his sentence in the instant case.
“We will vigorously prosecute those who prey upon children,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “I commend the United States Secret Service and Peoria County Sheriff’s Office for the investigation in this case, as well as the United States Probation Office for bringing the matter to the attention of law enforcement.”
The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are a mandatory 10 to 20 years imprisonment with a qualifying prior conviction; a maximum $250,000 fine; a maximum lifetime term of supervised release; a mandatory $100 special assessment or a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. §3014, if not indigent; and a $17,000 special assessment under 18 U.S.C.§2259A.
The United States Probation Office, United States Secret Service, and Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Eagle River Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ryan T. Shelton, 30, Eagle River, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson, to 8 years in prison for receiving child pornography. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
On May 26, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Shelton’s home. On a phone in Shelton’s pocket, officers found a video recording a conversation on a laptop screen. In the conversation a girl identifies herself as being 12 years old. To the left of the conversation, a girl can be seen engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Peterson noted that Shelton’s conduct had aggravating factors, including his actual engagement with a live 12-year-old victim, the fact that he actively engaged with other people who were interested in child exploitation, and his long-term involvement with child exploitative material.
The charge against Shelton was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
Drexel Man Shot at Stover Police Chief after Failed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Drexel, Missouri, man has been convicted after shooting at law enforcement officers while fleeing a failed bank robbery.
Jacob Allen Monteer, 30, was found guilty following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, March 21, of one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of being a drug user in possession of firearms. The court’s verdict was announced today. Monteer remains in federal custody without bond.
On Nov. 30, 2017, Monteer attempted to rob US Bank, 401 W. Newton in Versailles, Mo. Monteer, armed with a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic pistol, walked into the bank with a bandana across his face and demanded money at gunpoint. He jumped over the teller station and opened the teller drawer, but there was no money in the drawer. Monteer fled from the bank in a stolen pick-up truck.
As Monteer led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit, he fired several shots at the police chief of Stover, Mo., who had set up a road block. Monteer then lost control of the stolen vehicle and crashed. He attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by the sheriff of Morgan County. During their struggle, Monteer was able to fire a round from the sheriff’s AR-15 .223-caliber rifle before being subdued.
Monteer later admitted to law enforcement officers that he was a drug addict and used methamphetamine on a daily basis. Officers searched his vehicle and found drug paraphernalia.
Under federal statutes, Monteer is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 27 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the FBI, the Morgan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Stover, Mo., Police Department, and the Versailles, Mo., Police Department.
Dominican Republic National Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Kilograms of Cocaine by BoatRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A man from the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty today to transporting over 300 kilograms of cocaine in a “go-fast” boat traveling from Colombia to the Dominican Republic.
According to court documents, on or about November 20, 2021, Algelis Acosta Felix, 26, was one of three men apprehended by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on board an unflagged “go-fast” boat in the ocean south of the Dominican Republic. In an attempt to evade capture, Acosta Felix and the other individuals tried to flee, causing their boat to strike the USCG cutter. As the “go-fast” boat sank, USCG personnel recovered the defendant and the two other individuals from the water, as well as approximately 360 kilograms of cocaine on board the boat. USCG also located 36 pounds of marijuana aboard the boat.
Acosta Felix is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and William P. Hicks II, Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ben’Ary and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Brown are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-43.
District of Columbia Man Convicted in Drug Conspiracy for Trafficking over 40 Kilograms of Heroin, Fentanyl, and MarijuanaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Linwood Douglas Thorne, 50, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today by a jury of multiple counts related to large-scale drug trafficking case in which law enforcement seized five firearms and more than 44 kilograms of heroin, one of the largest seizures of heroin in D.C. history.
The verdict, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Thorne was found guilty of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and a firearms charge.
“This case demonstrates our resolve to protect our community from the dual threats of illegal guns and drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Fentanyl has had an especially devastating impact on neighborhoods here and across the nation. With the support of the FBI, ATF and other partners, we will continue to target these activities and get illegal guns and drugs off our streets.”
“The impact of this investigation will be far-reaching as due to the actions of the defendant, a devastating amount of heroin laced with fentanyl was introduced onto the streets, which fanned the flames of a growing epidemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacobs of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “We will continue in our unyielding pursuit of those who traffic in guns and drugs and the resulting harm they bring to our communities. This investigation is yet another great example of the dedicated work the FBI and its partners undertake to hold these individuals accountable for their actions.”
“The individuals that took part in the activities surrounding this investigation are who we at ATF try to keep our communities safe from,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Patterson. “We work diligently with all of our partners to combat violent crimes in an effort to maintain public safety.”
In 2018, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force began investigating Thorne, as a major heroin supplier. On Dec. 19, 2018, the FBI and ATF executed simultaneous search warrants on Thorne’s Maryland business and D.C. residence, finding 44 kilograms of heroin laced with fentanyl; 55 pounds of marijuana; five firearms; and significant drug paraphernalia. In addition to the search warrants, the task force’s investigation—which began in July of 2018—has led to the recovery of eight additional firearms, approximately 1.5 additional kilograms of marijuana, 260 additional grams of heroin, and several firearms magazines and accessories.
During trial, the government presented over a dozen civilian and law enforcement witnesses, along with digital and business records establishing and corroborating the defendant’s guilt. With these convictions, Thorne faces up to life imprisonment. He will be sentenced on July 8, 2022, by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Special Agent in Charge Patterson commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI and ATF, as well as those from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on the Safe Streets Task Force. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by joint law enforcement and prosecution partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Rosen and Brandon Regan, as well as Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson of the Federal Major Crimes Section.
District of Columbia Couple Sentenced on Charges in Death of Woman’s Two-Year-Old SonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –A District of Columbia couple was sentenced today on charges stemming from the death of a 2-year-old boy who had suffered extensive injuries while in their care, including multiple blunt force trauma, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Antonio Turner, 29, pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2022, to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Gabriel Eason. Ta’Jeanna Eason, 32, the boy’s mother, pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2022, to three counts of second-degree cruelty to children. Turner also pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree cruelty to children for injuries suffered by another of Eason’s sons, who was 3 years old at the time. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge for attacking a woman after a traffic crash.
The pleas, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, were contingent upon the Court’s approval. They called for Turner to be sentenced to seven to 13 years in prison. Eason was to be sentenced to six years in prison with that time suspended on the condition that she have no future unsupervised contact with children and that she participate in mental health and drug treatment. The agreement also called for Eason to successfully complete a period of probation and supervised release.
The Honorable Milton C. Lee, Jr. accepted the pleas and sentenced Turner to 12 years and eight months in prison, including 11 years of that time for Gabriel’s death. Eason was sentenced to four years of probation and three years of supervised release with the agreed-upon conditions.
According to court documents, Turner and Eason had a romantic relationship and resided in the 900 block of Division Avenue NE. Turner was not the biological father of Eason’s three children. On April 1, 2020, at approximately 8:25 a.m., the Metropolitan Police Department responded to the residence to investigate a report of an unconscious person. When police arrived, Gabriel was deceased. Officers also observed a bump on the center of the 3-year-old’s forehead and noted that the child seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness.
Later on April 1, 2020, both of Eason’s surviving sons were taken to Children’s National Medical Center for a medical evaluation. It was discovered that both had sustained apparent trauma to their bodies. The three-year-old had several different injuries, including bruises behind his ears and scalp, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver.
On April 2, 2020, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy of Gabriel. The examination found abrasions and contusions to the head, face, and torso, multiple rib fractures and healing fractured ribs, and other injuries, including to the heart and brain. The cause of death was ruled to be multiple blunt force injuries.
The charges against Eason involved her failure to seek immediate medical attention for Gabriel and his three-year-old brother, as well as for slapping and striking her other son.
Both defendants were arrested on Nov. 3, 2020, following an investigation. They were released pending further proceedings. On the morning of Nov. 29, 2021, Turner caused a woman’s car to crash in the 1800 block of New York Avenue NE. He then dragged her from the car and punched her multiple times in the face, causing her to fall and lose consciousness. Turner was arrested following this assault and has been detained ever since.
U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert, Grazy Rivera, and Meridith McGarrity, former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Victim/Witness Program Specialist Amy Trotto. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gorman and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who prosecuted the case.
Cybercriminal Connected to Multimillion Dollar Ransomware Attacks Sentenced for Online Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Estonian man was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for his years-long role in furthering and facilitating computer intrusions, the movement of fraudulently obtained goods and funds, and the monetization of stolen financial account information. He also participated in ransomware attacks causing over $53 million in losses and was ordered to pay over $36 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Maksim Berezan, 37, who was apprehended in Latvia and extradited to the United States, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and conspiracy to commit access device fraud and computer intrusions. Berezan was an active member of an exclusive online forum designed for Russian-speaking cybercriminals to gather safely and exchange their criminal knowledge, tools, and services. From 2009 through 2015, Berezan not only furthered the criminal aims of the forum, but he also worked closely with forum members and other cybercriminals for purposes of obtaining and exploiting stolen financial account information.
According to court documents, following Berezan’s arrest, investigators uncovered within his electronic devices evidence of his involvement in ransomware activities. The post-extradition investigation determined that Berezan had participated in at least 13 ransomware attacks, 7 of which were against U.S. victims, and that approximately $11 million in ransom payments flowed into cryptocurrency wallets that he controlled.
As reflected in court documents, Berezan used his ill-gotten gains to purchase two Porsches, a Ducati motorcycle, and an assortment of jewelry. In addition, authorities recovered from Berezan’s residence currency worth more than $200,000 and electronic devices storing passphrases to bitcoin wallets that contained bitcoin worth approximately $1.7 million, which has been forfeited.
“Cybercrime has become increasingly more sophisticated, but so have our methods for combatting it,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Ransomware attacks are devastating to people and organizations alike, and we have honed our strategies and techniques to target both the individual actors who perpetrate these attacks and the networks that support them. This case is just one example of how EDVA and the Justice Department are tackling this threat.”
“This case is a prime example of how the Department of Justice can leverage its traditional tools – criminal investigations and prosecutions – to combat ransomware,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Many of the world’s ransomware players began as fraudsters engaged in other types of online crimes, and this case demonstrates that their crimes will catch up to them. The United States is committed to working with its international partners to hold cybercriminals accountable.”
“The Secret Service remains committed to ensuring that modern conveniences of today that facilitate our lawful transactions and economic health are not leveraged by criminals for illicit activity and personal gain. While we have long been in the business of protecting money, from the earliest days of coins and paper, to plastic, and today’s more accessible and commonplace digital currencies, we also remain in parallel footprint to the evolution of criminal behavior into cyberspace,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stohler. “Ransomware thieves are not safe in any dark corner of the internet in which they may think they can hide from our highly trained investigators and law enforcement partners worldwide. Together with our critical partners we are dedicated to protecting the public, and securing every iteration of our money and every part of our national financial infrastructure.”
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Polite Jr., Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stohler of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service; and Special Agent in Charge Jason Kane of the Criminal Investigative Division of the U.S. Secret Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang, Jonathan Keim, and Zoe Bedell and Senior Trial Attorney Laura Fong and Trial Attorney Alison Zitron of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided vital assistance.
The Department of Justice extends its gratitude to authorities in Estonia and Latvia for their significant cooperation and assistance, in particular, the Latvian State Police and Estonian Police Border Guard.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-145.
Cybercriminal Connected to Multimillion Dollar Ransomware Attacks Sentenced for Online Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
An Estonian man was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for his years-long role in furthering and facilitating computer intrusions, the movement of fraudulently obtained goods and funds, and the monetization of stolen financial account information. He also participated in ransomware attacks causing over $53 million in losses and was ordered to pay over $36 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Maksim Berezan, 37, of Estonia, who was apprehended in Latvia and extradited to the United States, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and conspiracy to commit access device fraud and computer intrusions. Berezan was an active member of an exclusive online forum designed for Russian-speaking cybercriminals to gather safely and exchange their criminal knowledge, tools, and services. From 2009 through 2015, Berezan not only furthered the criminal aims of the forum, but he also worked closely with forum members and other cybercriminals for purposes of obtaining and exploiting stolen financial account information.
“This case is a prime example of how the Department of Justice can leverage its traditional tools – criminal investigations and prosecutions – to combat ransomware,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Many of the world’s ransomware players began as fraudsters engaged in other types of online crimes, and this case demonstrates that their crimes will catch up to them. The United States is committed to working with its international partners to hold cybercriminals accountable.”
“Cybercrime has become increasingly more sophisticated, but so have our methods for combatting it,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Ransomware attacks are devastating to people and organizations alike, and we have honed our strategies and techniques to target both the individual actors who perpetrate these attacks and the networks that support them. This case is just one example of how EDVA and the Justice Department are tackling this threat.”
“The Secret Service remains committed to ensuring that modern conveniences of today that facilitate our lawful transactions and economic health are not leveraged by criminals for illicit activity and personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stohler of the U.S. Secret Service. “While we have long been in the business of protecting money, from the earliest days of coins and paper, to plastic, and today’s more accessible and commonplace digital currencies, we also remain in parallel footprint to the evolution of criminal behavior into cyberspace. Ransomware thieves are not safe in any dark corner of the internet in which they may think they can hide from our highly trained investigators and law enforcement partners worldwide. Together with our critical partners we are dedicated to protecting the public and securing every iteration of our money and every part of our national financial infrastructure.”
According to court documents, following Berezan’s arrest, investigators uncovered within his electronic devices evidence of his involvement in ransomware activities. The post-extradition investigation determined that Berezan had participated in at least 13 ransomware attacks, seven of which were against U.S. victims, and that approximately $11 million in ransom payments flowed into cryptocurrency wallets that he controlled. Berezan used his ill-gotten gains to purchase two Porsches, a Ducati motorcycle, and an assortment of jewelry. In addition, authorities recovered from Berezan’s residence currency worth more than $200,000 and electronic devices storing passphrases to bitcoin wallets that contained bitcoin worth approximately $1.7 million, which has been forfeited.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stohler of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service and Special Agent in Charge Jason Kane of the Criminal Investigative Division of the U.S. Secret Service made the announcement.
Senior Trial Attorney Laura Fong and Trial Attorney Alison Zitron of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang, Jonathan Keim, and Zoe Bedell of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided vital assistance. The Department of Justice extends its gratitude to authorities in Estonia and Latvia for their significant cooperation and assistance, in particular, the Latvian State Police and Estonian Police.
Credit Union President Sentenced to Prison for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Susan Irene Romero, 64, of Gilbert, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 26 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,360,000 in restitution. Romero pleaded guilty in May 2021 to embezzlement of credit union funds.
Romero worked for the Winslow Santa Fe Credit Union for more than 30 years, mostly in leadership roles, including as manager, president, and chief executive officer. During a routine audit, the credit union found discrepancies in the financial records. A subsequent investigation showed that, over the course of many years, Romero embezzled more than $2.2 million from the credit union. In her plea agreement, Romero admitted that she stole the money through unauthorized cash withdrawals, checks issued with forged signatures of other employees, and transfers from the credit union account to her family members’ accounts. She covered her tracks through false entries in the financial statements, such as falsifying the amount of cash stored in the vault and offsetting the stolen money with fictitious assets.
The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation in this case. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-08057-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 033_Romero# # #
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.Citrus County Felon Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Robert Joseph Miller (46, Homosassa) to 10 years in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms – sawed-off shotguns. The Court also ordered Miller to forfeit approximately 50 firearms and more than 8,400 rounds of ammunition linked to the offenses. Miller had been indicted on May 4, 2021. He entered guilty pleas to the charges on November 19, 2021.
According to the evidence presented in court, Miller is a three-time convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. On March 10, 2021, agents arrested Miller on a felony theft warrant after finding him in possession of several spools and barrels of industrial metals (nickel, cobalt, etc.). Agents then executed a search warrant at Miller’s Citrus County residence that resulted in the recovery of more than $50,000 worth of stolen property, approximately 50 firearms, and over 8,400 rounds of assorted ammunition. The firearms consisted of rifles, shotguns, and handguns, including at least three stolen weapons and an AK-47 rifle equipped with a bump stock. Two of the firearms (sawed-off shotguns) were not registered to Miller in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required under federal law.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Cincinnati man who sex trafficked teen sentenced to more than 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man who sex trafficked a minor female with his half-brother was sentenced in federal court here today to 188 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release. As part of his sentence, the defendant was also ordered to pay $194,000 in restitution to the minor victim.
William Pierce Washington, Jr., 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2017 with co-defendant William Pierce Washington, 40, also of Cincinnati.
According to court documents, Washington, Jr., also known as “Man,” participated in the sex trafficking of a minor female for at least four months. Washington, Jr. often transported the victim and the victim resided at his home during the majority of the events.
Co-defendant Washington, also known as “Bam,” primarily orchestrated the exploitation. Washington would routinely get the victim high on drugs, including forcibly injecting the victim with heroin on at least one occasion.
Washington would then traffic the teenager to engage in sexual conduct for money. He beat and raped the victim.
Court documents in this case detail that Sharonville Police Department officers responded to a motel in Sharonville on April 18, 2017, following the report of a distraught female in the business’s parking lot. The female, a 16-year-old, told officers she had spent several hours in a motel room smoking crack cocaine and engaged in oral sex with an adult male who physically assaulted her.
Contact with the adult male and search of his cell phone revealed sexually explicit photos with the victim and text conversations with Washington about arrangements to coordinate the sexual activity for payment to Washington.
Washington was sentenced in December 2021 to more than 15 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Sharonville Police Chief James C. Nesbitt II and other members of the FBI’s child exploitation task force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Black. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
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Bushkill Man Charged with Aggravated Assault by Vehicle Following Serious Motor Vehicle Collision on Federal LandRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 24, 2022, Fitzgerald C. Providence, age 49, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for aggravated assault by vehicle and other related motor vehicle offenses stemming from a serious motor vehicle collision that occurred on federal land.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on September 24, 2021, on Bushkill Falls Road, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Pike County, PA, Providence operated a motor vehicle in a reckless and grossly negligent manner and as a result caused a motor vehicle collision that resulted in serious bodily injury to another person.
The matter was investigated by the National Park Service Park Police and by the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is nine years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Brothers from Chicago Charged in Labor Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two brothers from Chicago have been arrested on a labor trafficking charge for allegedly forcing undocumented Mexican immigrants to work in the construction trade.
AGUSTIN ARIAS LOPEZ, 30, and JUAN ARIAS LOPEZ, 32, conspired to illegally bring two individuals from Mexico to the United States on the condition that they work for the brothers’ construction business and repay the purported costs of their transport into the U.S., according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. After they arrived in Chicago, the undocumented immigrants worked 12-15 hours per day, seven days per week, in exchange for weekly payments from the Arias Lopez brothers of $800 to $1,000, the complaint states. From that sum, the immigrants were required to pay the Arias Lopez brothers $500 per week, which the brothers claimed went towards not only the costs of the transport but also rent, as the immigrants resided in Agustin Arias Lopez’s unfinished basement in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, the complaint states.
The complaint alleges that the Arias Lopez brothers threatened the immigrants with violence if they did not pay the money. On one occasion in November 2021, Agustin Arias Lopez allegedly pointed a handgun at one of the immigrants.
The complaint charges the Arias Lopez brothers with conspiracy to knowingly bring, transport, harbor, and induce aliens to come to, enter, remain in, and reside in the U.S. The brothers were arrested Thursday. A detention hearing in federal court in Chicago is set for March 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
The complaint and arrests were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General in Chicago; and Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Mulaney.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge in the complaint is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing over 200 Pressed Fentanyl Pills Disguised as OxycodoneRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to drug trafficking activities involving over 200 pressed fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone.
Diamondez Pierre, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2022. Pierre was indicted in October 2020 and subsequently charged by a superseding Information on March 8, 2022.
On Aug. 8, 2020, law enforcement stopped Pierre in his vehicle on Pleasant Street in Brockton. A search of Pierre’s vehicle recovered a backpack that contained 204 blue pressed fentanyl pills, disguised as “Perc 30” oxycodone pills, intended for distribution. A loaded firearm was also located in the motor vehicle.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Brockton Police Acting Chief Steve Williamson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley Jr. of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Benton City Drug Trafficker with Ties to Sinaloa Cartel Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Chief U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian has sentenced Julio Leal Parra, 47, of Benton City, Washington, to 191 months in federal prison for leading and organizing a drug trafficking conspiracy with ties to the Sinaloa cartel. Chief Judge Bastian also ordered Parra to pay a $50,000 money judgement in lieu of forfeiture of assets and to serve five years on federal supervision if he is allowed to remain in the United States. Parra’s drug trafficking organization operated out of the Tri-Cities, Washington, area.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force identified a transnational drug trafficking organization operating in and around the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, Washington). Task Force Officers identified Parra as the head of a cell who worked directly with leaders of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. Parra facilitated and organized large drug shipments of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin into the communities that make up the Eastern District of Washington. While running his drug operation, Parra operated “Perfect Design,” an upholstery business, and “SuKarne,” a meat market, in Kennewick. Law enforcement officers identified each of these businesses as locations in which Parra and his coconspirators stored drug shipments and laundered large amounts of cash. Working closely with local law enforcement, the FBI was able to identify several members of Parra’s organization, who worked as drug transporters and distributors reaching from Arizona and California all the way to Kennewick, Spokane, Idaho, and Montana. To date, ten members of the conspiracy have been convicted.
Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 60 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, including a single shipment of 33 pounds of methamphetamine. Parra admitted to being directly responsible for bringing 20 to 50 pound shipments of drugs into the Tri-Cities every few weeks from December 2016 through October 2019. Even using conservative estimates, it appears that Parra was directly responsible for bringing more than a thousand pounds of drugs into Eastern Washington.
At the sentencing proceedings in the case, Chief Judge Bastian noted Parra’s leadership role in his organization and the stunning amount of narcotics and drug proceeds involved. He acknowledged that this was Parra’s first felony offense, but given the seriousness of the case, imposed a sentence of 191 months in federal custody.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref commended the seamless collaboration between the FBI, the Safe Streets Task Force, and local and state law enforcement in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of a high-level drug distributor and stated: “To ensure a safe and strong Eastern Washington community, investigations like this one require the combined efforts of federal, state, and local agencies. I am incredibly grateful to all of the dedicated law enforcement officers, support staff, and their families, who prioritized the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of Mr. Parra and his criminal coconspirators.” U.S. Attorney Waldref continued: “For years, Mr. Parra peddled life ravaging narcotics throughout our region with no regard for the communities, families, and individuals he was destroying. The lengthy sentence imposed reflects the need to hold drug traffickers accountable for the serious harm they cause our communities and the need to deter like-minded individuals from engaging in similar crimes.”
“Over several years, this high-level drug dealer was responsible for huge quantities of drugs being transported frequently through Eastern Washington and multiple other states,” said Donald M. Voiret, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “I want to thank all the partners involved in the FBI Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force for their commitment to this case. This sentence will remove Mr. Parra from our community for more than 15 years.”
This case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes. This OCDETF investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in Tri-Cities Washington, Kennewick Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced today to two and a half years in prison for distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents, Rashad Lewis Morris, 30, admitted to selling fentanyl to an undercover informant on four occasions in June 2021. On June 24, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Morris’ residence on Foster Avenue in Beckley. Morris admitted to possessing $2,900 in drug proceeds and a loaded firearm that was recovered from his bedroom. Morris previously pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00238.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Beckley man pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zachary Ryan Allen, 28, admitted to using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Allen admitted that on July 22, 2020, he was stopped by a police officer while driving on Robert C. Byrd Drive in Beckley. During the traffic stop, Allen admitted that he had a quantity of heroin and a firearm in his car. Police officers then recovered a quantity of heroin and fentanyl, a set of digital scales which are frequently used during drug trafficking, a small amount of money, and a Springfield Armory, model 911, 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Allen further admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs found in his car and that the money consisted of the proceeds of drug trafficking activity.
Allen pleaded guilty to using and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking activity and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on July 8, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit is comprised of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.
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. 5:21-cr-00209.
Barbour County man admits to meth chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jonathan Andrew Swiger, of Belington, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Swiger, 33, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine.” Swiger admitted to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” in February 2021 in Taylor County.
Swiger faces at least 10 years and up to life incarceration and fine of up to $10,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Jose Angulo, 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on Thursday, March 24, 2022, to
30 years imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Money Laundering, and
Distribution of Methamphetamine. Evidence established during the sentencing hearing demonstrated that from between 2018 through November of 2019, Angulo had been responsible for shipping over 50 pounds of methamphetamine to the Southern District of Illinois and laundered drug proceeds to conceal his drug distribution operation. During the investigation, the United States Postal
Inspection Service intercepted three packages of methamphetamine that Angulo had mailed to addresses in East St. Louis and Swansea, Illinois, totaling nine pounds of methamphetamine.Angulo had previously been convicted in the State of Arizona for participating in a drug trafficking organization and engaging in money laundering.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Reppert.
24 March 2022
Wheeling man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Shawn Brookins, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Brookins, 37, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Possession of a Stolen Firearm.” Brookins admitted to having a 9mm Smith and Wesson firearm that had been stolen in June 2019 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer T. Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Wapello Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to File Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On March 24, 2022, Bradley Earl Ewart, age 50, of Wapello, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to two counts of failure to file federal income tax returns for the calendar years 2016 and 2018. Ewart is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022, by United States District Court Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose. Each count of failure to file a tax return has a maximum sentence of one year in prison; a maximum fine of $25,000; or both. Ewart is responsible for paying his tax liability in full and must pay a $25 per count special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
Bradley Ewart has been the owner and operator of Louisa County Millwright, LLC since approximately 2004. Ewart acknowledged he received taxable income from this business during each of calendar years 2015 through 2018 in amounts that far exceeded the minimum amount that requires the filing of a federal income tax return. At the plea hearing, Ewart admitted he knew he was required to file federal income tax returns for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 and he willfully failed to do so. He additionally admitted he did not file federal income tax returns for the years 2004 through 2014.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
United States Attorney’s Office for Western District of Virginia to Partner with Project Imagine in DanvilleRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia is partnering with Danville’s Project Imagine, a life skills instruction and work-readiness program that provides at-risk and gang-affiliated individuals with education, intervention, and training.
The two organizations will team-up on the evening of March 30, 2022, at Averett University in Danville for a youth training event.
“The work of Project Imagine aligns perfectly with the Department of Justice’s emphasis on community outreach, and our Project Safe Neighborhoods' initiative,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said. “While the Department will, of course, prioritize prosecution of the most violent offenders in a community, we also recognize the role we play in partnering with community groups that are preventing young people from ever getting involved in criminal activity in the first place. For me, preventing crime is just as important as a prosecution.”
On March 30, Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Swartz, Coordinator of Project Safe Neighborhoods for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Virginia, will explain to the program’s youths the general concepts of liability under federal law, to include the concepts of conspiracy and aiding and abetting.
“The goal of both our organizations is for our youth to understand how to avoid dangerous behavior they might otherwise view as ‘just helping out’ a friend,” U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh said. “We are thrilled to partner with Project Imagine on March 30 and at similar events beyond.”
Project Imagine is a nationally-recognized violence intervention program in Danville for individuals ages 21 and under that seeks to give teens a future off the streets by giving a positive “image” in the mind of the youth so that he or she can “imagine” a life without gangs or crime.
"It's impossible to make an educated decision with erroneous information,” said Robert David, Senior, Youth Services and Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator at Project Imagine. “Our hope is that the truth overrides any myths about federal law and gang life, and a better decision will be the outcome.”
More information about the project may be found here: www.danville-va.gov/2012/Project-Imagine
Undocumented Individual Pleads Guilty to Gun and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An undocumented individual pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and U.S. Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger.
Antonio Zapata-Chairez, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, in August 2019, FBI agents executed a search warrant for Zapata-Chairez’s residence in Birmingham based on an on-going investigation related to internet communications concerning child pornography. During the execution of the search warrant, two mobile phones, a laptop, and a Walther Smith and Wesson P22 semi-auto .22 caliber handgun were seized from the residence. The FBI contacted HSI concerning Zapata-Chairez’s status in the United States and learned that he was a foreign national and citizen of Mexico. Additionally, after a forensic examination of the digital devices and an analysis of Zapata-Chairez’s online account, images and videos of child pornography were located.
FBI Birmingham's Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, along with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Assistant United States Attorneys John Camp and R. Leann White are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Undocumented Individual Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An undocumented individual pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm and drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina Berger.
Juan Luis Salas-Jimenez, 19, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge R. David Proctor to charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the plea agreement, in September 2021, officers with the Calera Police Department conducted a lawful traffic stop on Salas-Jimenez. Salas-Jimenez admitted to officers that he had some personal use cocaine in his wallet. Officers removed Salas-Jimenez from the vehicle and searched his wallet where they found two small baggies containing cocaine. During the search of Salas-Jimenez’s vehicle, officers found a small baggie containing crack cocaine under the driver's side front seat, a grocery bag containing crack cocaine inside a backpack on the passenger's side back seat, a large scale, a small digital scale, a roll of vacuum sealed bags, and a Smith and Wesson revolver.
The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute cocaine is 20 years in prison and a fine of no more than $250,000. The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person is 10 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. The minimum penalty for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime is five years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, and a fine of no more than $10,000,000.
Homeland Security Investigations along with the Calera Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Darius Greene is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Disability Discrimination Allegations with the Massachusetts Trial Court Concerning Access to Medications for Opioid Use DisorderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins announced today that an agreement has been reached with the Massachusetts Trial Court to resolve allegations that its drug court violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
The agreement resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office that the Trial Court discriminated against drug court participants taking Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). MOUDs are FDA-approved medications prescribed by licensed medical providers and include buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone and naltrexone (Vivitrol). MOUDs are evidence-based treatments for OUD, which may increase the likelihood that a person will not continue to use illegal drugs, reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings and reduce the risk of overdose death. According to the complaint, as a condition of participating in drug court, participants were ordered or pressured to stop taking their lawfully prescribed MOUD, without an individualized assessment by a medical professional. In addition, drug court personnel - with no medical training - required or pressured drug court participants to specifically and exclusively take Vivitrol as a condition of participation in drug court, without regard to whether a health professional recommended that specific treatment option over others.
“The opioid crisis has impacted nearly every household and family unit in the Commonwealth. My family is no exception. Sadly, in Massachusetts per capita rates of opioid-related deaths are above the national average. To combat this public health crisis we need to be doing everything possible to save lives. That includes ensuring access to all forms of medical treatment for OUD,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “We commend the Massachusetts Trial Court for working with us to implement a policy that sets a standard for other state courts across our country to follow. This policy helps ensure that the court system leaves MOUD treatment decisions to trained and licensed medical professionals.”
Under the terms of the agreement, all 25 of the Massachusetts drug courts will implement the Trial Court’s new policy in which only licensed prescribers or opioid treatment programs (OTP) will make decisions regarding a participant’s treatment plan, including the type of medication and dosage. Treatment plans will be developed by the licensed prescriber or OTP after conducting an individualized assessment for each participant. Drug courts and their personnel will not interfere with these individualized assessments, and will not express a preference for, or mandate, one form of MOUD over another. Drug courts and their personnel may only require that participants with OUD comply with the treatment recommendations of a licensed prescriber or OTP. Additionally, drug courts will ensure compliance with the policy, including implementing a new procedure for reviewing complaints about decisions related to MOUD, regardless of the source of the complaint.
This matter is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to enforce Title III of the ADA to eliminate discriminatory barriers to treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. It is the Office’s 14th settlement agreement since May 2018 resolving allegations of ADA violations arising from Opioid Use Disorder treatment.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dorchak of Rollins’ Civil Rights Unit.
The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2015 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-ma/civil-rights.
Two Trenton Men Indicted for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Trenton, Missouri, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Grundy County, Mo., and elsewhere.
Troy Lee Palmer, 24, and Dallas W. Hughs, 26, were charged in a six-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on March 1, 2022. That indictment has been unsealed following the arrests of Palmer and Hughs. Palmer, who was arrested yesterday, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on March 28, 2022. Hughs is not eligible for bond as he was already in state custody on separate case.
The federal indictment alleges that Palmer and Hughs participated in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl since Oct. 27, 2020.
In addition to the conspiracy, Palmer is charged with one count of possessing fentanyl to distribute in Grundy County on Dec. 8, 2020, and one count of possessing several firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. Palmer allegedly possessed a Cricket .22-caliber bolt-action rifle, a Ross .22-caliber rifle, a Ross .410-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 410-gauge shotgun, a Hiawatha 12-gauge shotgun, and a Ruger .223-caliber rifle on Dec. 8, 2020.
Hughs is also charged with three counts of distributing fentanyl in Grundy County on separate occasions between Aug. 23 and Sept. 13, 2021.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Bracket. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Grundy County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Trenton, Mo., Police Department, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Two Promoters of a Nationwide Tax Scheme Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Two men were sentenced to prison yesterday for conspiring to defraud the United States by promoting a nationwide tax fraud scheme to more than 200 participants in at least 19 states.
Iran V. Backstrom, aka Shariyf Noble, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was sentenced to 105 months in prison. His second-in-command, Mehef Bey, aka Arthur Daniels, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Backstrom was the main promoter of the scheme and Bey was one of his co-conspirators. Their scheme involved recruiting clients and preparing false tax returns on the clients’ behalf by convincing them their mortgages and other debts entitled them to tax refunds. Between 2014 and 2016, Backstrom and Bey held seminars across the county to publicize the scheme. As part of the scheme, Backstrom, Bey and their co-conspirators helped prepare and file tax returns for the participants that sought more than $64 million refunds from the IRS. These tax returns falsely claimed that banks and other financial institutions had withheld large amounts of income tax from the participants, thereby entitling the clients to a refund. In reality, the financial institutions had not paid any income to, or withheld any taxes from, these individuals. To make the refund claims appear legitimate, however, Backstrom, Bey and their co-conspirators filed fraudulent tax documents with the IRS that matched the withholding information listed on the tax returns, making them appear as if they had been issued by the banks.
As part of his plea, Backstrom admitted he gave orders to others as part of the scheme. Backstrom and Bey both admitted they and their co-conspirators concealed their roles in the scheme by, among other things, indicating the false tax returns had been “self-prepared,” submitting false IRS forms designed to appear as if they were created by the participants’ financial institutions, and coaching the participants on how to conceal the scheme from the IRS. Backstrom and Bey further admitted they and their co-conspirators charged participants approximately $10,000 to $15,000 in fees for the preparation of each tax return.
Two of Backstrom and Bey’s co-conspirators, Aaron Aqueron and Yomarie Febres, have also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
“Backstrom and Bey marketed a tax refund scheme throughout the country, costing the government millions of dollars,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “They have now received substantial sentences for their criminal conduct. Others contemplating promoting similar schemes should recognize that they too will be identified and face significant time in prison.”
“Tax fraud is a serious crime,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The defendants in this case employed a complex scheme to defraud the IRS out of millions of dollars. We encourage consumers to be vigilant in selecting legitimate tax preparers as we continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who willfully violate our nation’s tax laws.”
“With tax season in full swing, the significant sentencings of the defendants is a timely reminder of the consequences awaiting those who file fraudulent returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Dishonest return preparers use a variety of methods to cheat the government. If it seems too good to be true, it is very likely too good to be true. Remember, it is your responsibility to know what is on your income tax return. Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the IRS.gov website for tips on selecting a reputable return preparer.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment, the district judge also ordered both defendants to serve three years of supervised release and pay approximately $26,350,630 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Handberg made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind, Kavitha Bondada and Isaiah Boyd III of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.
Two Promoters of Nationwide Tax Scheme Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Two men were sentenced to prison yesterday for conspiring to defraud the United States by promoting a nationwide tax fraud scheme to more than 200 participants in at least 19 states.
Iran V. Backstrom, aka Shariyf Noble, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was sentenced to 105 months in prison. His second-in-command, Mehef Bey, aka Arthur Daniels, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Backstrom was the main promoter of the scheme and Bey was one of his co-conspirators. Their scheme involved recruiting clients and preparing false tax returns on the clients’ behalf by convincing them their mortgages and other debts entitled them to tax refunds. Between 2014 and 2016, Backstrom and Bey held seminars across the county to publicize the scheme. As part of the scheme, Backstrom, Bey and their co-conspirators helped prepare and file tax returns for the participants that sought more than $64 million refunds from the IRS. These tax returns falsely claimed that banks and other financial institutions had withheld large amounts of income tax from the participants, thereby entitling the clients to a refund. In reality, the financial institutions had not paid any income to, or withheld any taxes from, these individuals. To make the refund claims appear legitimate, however, Backstrom, Bey and their co-conspirators filed fraudulent tax documents with the IRS that matched the withholding information listed on the tax returns, making them appear as if they had been issued by the banks.
As part of his plea, Backstrom admitted he gave orders to others as part of the scheme. Backstrom and Bey both admitted they and their co-conspirators concealed their roles in the scheme by, among other things, indicating the false tax returns had been “self-prepared,” submitting false IRS forms designed to appear as if they were created by the participants’ financial institutions, and coaching the participants on how to conceal the scheme from the IRS. Backstrom and Bey further admitted they and their co-conspirators charged participants approximately $10,000 to $15,000 in fees for the preparation of each tax return.
Two of Backstrom and Bey’s co-conspirators, Aaron Aqueron and Yomarie Febres, have also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
“Backstrom and Bey marketed a tax refund scheme throughout the country, costing the government millions of dollars,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “They have now received substantial sentences for their criminal conduct. Others contemplating promoting similar schemes should recognize that they too will be identified and face significant time in prison.”
“Tax fraud is a serious crime,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The defendants in this case employed a complex scheme to defraud the IRS out of millions of dollars. We encourage consumers to be vigilant in selecting legitimate tax preparers as we continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who willfully violate our nation’s tax laws.”
“With tax season in full swing, the significant sentencings of the defendants is a timely reminder of the consequences awaiting those who file fraudulent returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Dishonest return preparers use a variety of methods to cheat the government. If it seems too good to be true, it is very likely too good to be true. Remember, it is your responsibility to know what is on your income tax return. Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the IRS.gov website for tips on selecting a reputable return preparer.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment, the district judge also ordered both defendants to serve three years of supervised release and pay approximately $26,350,630 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Handberg made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind, Kavitha Bondada and Isaiah Boyd III of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.
Two Defendants Charged in Non-Fungible Token (“NFT”) Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Ricky J. Patel, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security (“HSI”), and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced that ETHAN NGUYEN, a/k/a “Frostie,” a/k/a “Jakefiftyeight,” a/k/a “Jobo,” a/k/a “Joboethan,” a/k/a “Meltfrost,” and ANDRE LLACUNA, a/k/a “heyandre,” were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with a million-dollar scheme to defraud purchasers of NFTs advertised as “Frosties.” Rather than providing the benefits advertised to Frosties NFT purchasers, NGUYEN and LLACUNA transferred the cryptocurrency proceeds of the scheme to various cryptocurrency wallets under their control. Prior to their arrests in Los Angeles, California, NGUYEN and LLACUNA were preparing to launch the sale of a second set of NFTs advertised as “Embers,” which was anticipated to generate approximately $1.5 million in cryptocurrency proceeds.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “NFTs have been around for several years, but recently mainstream interest has skyrocketed. Where there is money to be made, fraudsters will look for ways to steal it. As we allege, Mr. Nguyen and Mr. Llacuna promised investors the benefits of the Frosties NFTs, but when it sold out, they pulled the rug out from under the victims, almost immediately shutting down the website and transferring the money. Our job as prosecutors and law enforcement is to protect investors from swindlers looking for a payday.”
IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “NFTs represent a new era for financial investments, but the same rules apply to an investment in an NFT or a real estate development. You can’t solicit funds for a business opportunity, abandon that business and abscond with money investors provided you. Our team here at IRS-CI and our partners at HSI closely track cryptocurrency transactions in an effort to uncover alleged schemes like this one.”
HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ricky J. Patel said: “The trending market and demand for NFT investments has not only drawn the attention of real artists, but scam artists as well. The arrested thieves allegedly hid behind online identities where they promised investors rewards, giveaways, and exclusive opportunities before implementing their ‘rug pull’ scheme – leaving investors with empty pockets and no legitimate investment. HSI New York’s Dark Web & Cryptocurrency Task Force worked closely with our IRS-CI partners to identify and shut down these fraudsters as they prepared to launch the sale of yet another NFT project that would have likely scammed countless others.”
USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said: “The rise and popularity of various cryptocurrencies have changed the landscape of buying and selling investments, leading to ample opportunities for new fraud schemes. Today’s arrests involved Non-Fungible Tokens (“NFTs"), opening the door to alternative investment options and substantial risk. These assets may seem like a good deal or a way to become wealthy, but in many cases, as in this situation, only lead to the loss of your money. Postal Inspectors will pursue fraudsters with our law enforcement partners in any consumer market and advise consumers to pursue emerging investment trends with diligence and skepticism."
As alleged in the Complaint[1]:
Since in or about January 2022, IRS-CI and HSI have been investigating a NFT fraud scheme based on reports from purchasers of Frosties utility NFTs[2] that they had been defrauded in what is colloquially referred to as a “rug pull.” As the term suggests, a “rug pull” refers to a scenario where the creator of an NFT and/or gaming project solicits investments and then abruptly abandons a project and fraudulently retains the project investors’ funds. According to the official Frosties website, Frosties purchasers would be eligible for holder rewards, such as, inter alia, giveaways, early access to a metaverse game, and exclusive mint passes to upcoming Frosties seasons. In reality, on or about January 9, 2022, NGUYEN and LLACUNA, whose legal identities were disguised to Frosties NFT purchasers, abruptly abandoned the Frosties NFT project within hours after selling out of Frosties NFTs, deactivated the Frosties website, and transferred approximately $1.1 million in cryptocurrency proceeds from the scheme to various cryptocurrency wallets under their control in multiple transactions designed to obfuscate the original source of funds. A screenshot taken from the Frosties website is shown below:
Prior to their arrests, NGUYEN and LLACUNA were advertising a second NFT project under the name “Embers,” which, based on similarities to the Frosties NFT project, is believed to be another fraud scheme that was expected to launch on or around March 26, 2022. A screenshot taken from the Embers website is shown below:
* * *
ETHAN VINH NGUYEN, 20, and ANDRE MARCUS QUIDDAOEN LLACUNA, 20, are each charged with one count of commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences described above are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the assigned judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, IRS-CI, and USPIS.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle M. Kudla is in charge of the prosecution.
If you believe that you have been a victim of this crime, please contact HSI Special Agent Paul Nugent at [email protected].
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation as to the defendants charged in the Complaint.
[2] A “utility” NFT offers holders added benefits, such as reward programs, giveaways, and early access to events for NFT holders.
Texas Man Charged with Civil Rights Violations for Setting Fire to SynagogueRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Austin, Texas, yesterday returned a three-count indictment charging Franklin Barrett Sechriest with crimes relating to the intentional fire set at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Austin on Oct. 31, 2021.
According to a federal criminal complaint previously filed in this case and evidence presented at a detention hearing, on Oct. 31, 2021, at around 9:00 p.m., Sechriest set fire to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. He was seen on surveillance video carrying a five-gallon container and toilet paper toward the synagogue’s sanctuary. Moments later, multiple surveillance videos captured the distinct glow of a fire ignition appearing to come from the direction of the sanctuary. A security camera captured Sechriest jogging away from the direction of the fire and towards the open driver’s side door of a vehicle. A concerned citizen reported the fire, and the Austin Fire Department responded quickly to extinguish it. No one was injured, but the fire caused over $200,000 in damage.
The vehicle seen in the surveillance video was later traced to Sechriest’s residence, in part based on surveillance video from Oct. 28, 2021, showing a similar vehicle parked near the synagogue’s sanctuary with the license plate visible. On Nov. 10, 2021, the FBI searched Sechriest’s residence under authority of a court-ordered search warrant. During the search, agents found items similar to those seen on the Oct. 31 surveillance videos, including similar clothing worn by Sechriest and a receipt for a five-gallon container similar to the one seen on video. Also found were various handwritten journals appearing to be written by Sechriest. The journals contained statements related to the synagogue fire and statements demonstrating hatred of and contempt for persons of the Jewish faith.
The indictment charges Sechriest with one count each of damage to religious property, use of fire to commit a federal crime, and arson. If convicted of all charges, Sechriest faces a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 60 years of imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 or twice the loss suffered by the victim, and restitution for the amount of damage caused. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sechriest remains in federal custody since his arrest on Nov. 12, 2021.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin of the Western District of Texas and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
The FBI and Austin Fire Department are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Side Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in DS44 Gang’s Drug ActivityRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months’ imprisonment followed by a six-year term of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman imposed the sentence on Henry Johnson, age 31, formerly of the City’s South Side Flats neighborhood.
According to information presented to the court, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and drug-trafficking activity in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of these large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, from approximately February 2019 through June 2019, the United States received authorization to intercept communications on nine telephones as part of the investigation, including the phone belonging to lead defendant Christopher Highsmith. During the investigation, the United States intercepted Henry Johnson over the tapped phone line of Christopher Highsmith.
Between March and April 2019, physical surveillance and intercepted communications revealed that Highsmith supplied Johnson with controlled substances for distribution. Additionally, on December 6, 2018, law enforcement responded to reports of drug trafficking at a hotel in West Homestead. Upon arrival, law enforcement observed the defendant throw two bags from his hotel balcony onto the parking lot. The bags contained 17 bricks of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, approximately 12 grams of cocaine base, and approximately six grams of cocaine. Some of the bricks bore the same stamp as other bricks seized in the investigation into the defendant’s co-conspirators. A search of the defendant incident to his arrest resulted in the seizure of $693.00 and a cellular phone. The phone contained texts indicative of drug trafficking.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman stated “The Court cannot highlight enough the impact that the trafficking of these substances has upon our community.”
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna and Carolyn Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Chung commended the agencies for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.
South African woman arrested at local airport for mailing controlled substances to Ohio inmatesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Federal agents arrested a South African woman this morning at John Glenn International Airport on federal charges alleging she mailed large amounts of K2 and Suboxone via mail into the United States. Inmates in Ohio jails were the end recipients of the packages.
Tanya Baird, 46, of South Africa, appeared in federal court at 3pm today.
According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, Baird obtained K2 from China and saturated legal documents with the substance in South Africa before mailing the papers to the United States.
For example, in June 2021, Baird allegedly mailed at least eight packages each containing 30 pieces of saturated paper to an inmate in an Ohio prison.
It is alleged that another individual sometimes received packages from Baird containing legal privileged documents that were saturated in K2. The individual would then send the legal documents into Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction facilities and collect proceeds from inmates. The proceeds were then allegedly sent to Baird via CashApp or PayPal.
In total, import records showed 69 packages being sent into the United States from June through August 2021, 34 of which were destined for the Southern District of Ohio. Multiple recipients of the packages from Baird had been in communication with or attended visits with current Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction inmates.
“Today’s arrest would not have happened without the cooperation and professionalism of our law enforcement partners, especially with the FBI,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Kent Kleinschmidt. “Synthetic drugs are extremely dangerous because their use can lead to very erratic behavior and even death. They absolutely have no place in our society, but are especially problematic inside a correctional facility.”
Baird is charged with importing controlled substances, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kent Kleinschmidt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and officials with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter is representing the United States in this case.
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Six Indicted in Northern New England Fentanyl Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation that spanned across northern New England.
Randell Starlin Medina Rodriguez, 26, of Andover, Mass.; Williams Colon Sanchez, 26, or Lawrence, Mass.; Douglas Morris, 31, of Bangor, Maine; Robert Rodriguez Jr., 48, of Portland, Maine; and Cortney Moulton, 37, of West Bath, Maine, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Germania Amparo, 29, of Andover, Mass., was also charged with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and six counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendants were arrested on Feb. 23, 2022.
According to court documents, beginning in mid-2021, the defendants conspired to deliver hundreds of grams of fentanyl throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Specifically, Medina Rodriguez, Colon Sanchez and others allegedly served as Massachusetts-based dealers who delivered large quantities of fentanyl to wholesale customers such as Morris, Rodriguez Jr., and Moulton, who in turn would distribute those substances in Maine and/or New Hampshire. It is alleged that from March through July 2021, Amparo regularly delivered distribution-quantities of fentanyl to an undercover officer.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hassink and Lauren Graber of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting 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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Siskiyou Man Convicted of Bribery of a Public Official, Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, and Manufacturing More than 100 Marijuana PlantsRead the Press Release
On March 18, 2022, a federal jury convicted Chi Meng Yang, 36, of Montague, of bribery of a public official, conspiracy to commit bribery, and manufacturing more than 100 marijuana plants, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, the charges arose from a four-month effort by Yang and Gaosheng Laitinen, Yang’s sister and co-defendant, to bribe Sheriff Jon Lopey, the elected sheriff of Siskiyou County, not to enforce a county ordinance banning outdoor marijuana grows.
On May 17, 2017, Yang met with Sheriff Lopey and offered a million-dollar donation to the charity of the sheriff’s choice in exchange for the sheriff’s “friendship” and help with a lobbying effort to legalize medical marijuana in Missouri. Yang, a Siskiyou County resident, also purported to represent a group of local cannabis farmers. Yang’s exact intentions were unclear, but Sheriff Lopey suspected that the mention of “friendship” implied some kind of improper law enforcement assistance. Sheriff Lopey called the FBI.
The FBI recorded the next meeting between Sheriff Lopey and Yang. In that meeting, Yang clarified that the donation could be paid to the Sheriff’s Office, or it could go to the sheriff himself—as Yang put it—“privately.” Yang added that he was growing marijuana on 10 plots of land, owned by members of his family, despite a Siskiyou County ordinance banning all outdoor grows. He offered the sheriff $5,000 per parcel for “protection,” with another $5,000 per parcel as a contribution to the sheriff’s re-election campaign. He offered to collect the money himself and to pay the sheriff in cash or a cashier’s check. Either way, he wanted it to be “private, discreet … anonymous.” He also made clear that what he wanted was “no enforcement” on the properties or the two water trucks that he used to water the grows.
Yang brought his sister, Gaosheng Laitinen, to the next meeting. Yang and Laitinen confirmed they wanted protection for their family’s marijuana grows. They offered to pay $1,000 per property up front, with the remaining $4,000 in protection fees and $5,000 in re-election money to be paid after the harvest, to guarantee the properties would not get raided before they could realize their profit.
In total, Yang met with Sheriff Lopey seven times. Together, Yang and Laitinen provided the sheriff with a list of eight properties that they wanted the sheriff not to raid. They paid $8,000—in envelopes of cash—as the initial protection payment for each of the eight properties. They also gave the sheriff cash bonuses totaling $2,500. The FBI caught all of these transactions on video.
Over time, Yang asked for favors outside the original protection scheme. He told the sheriff he wanted to add more marijuana plants to each property and to add greenhouses, which would allow him to grow throughout the year. He asked the sheriff to send his deputies to serve other growers with violation notices to get them to join the protection racket. At one point, Yang told Sheriff Lopey about a rival grower’s operation and suggested the sheriff “go out there and take care of it.” Yang also asked if the sheriff could influence other law enforcement agencies for Yang’s benefit. For example, Yang asked the sheriff if he could prevent the California Highway Patrol from enforcing the law against his water trucks, and he also asked for the sheriff’s help concerning a family member’s DUI arrest.
Eventually, FBI agents arrested Yang at a final meeting in Sheriff Lopey’s office on Aug. 31, 2017. Once Yang was in custody, the FBI gave a signal to eight teams of state and federal agents poised to search the eight “protected” properties. In total, agents eradicated 1,168 plants that were found on these eight properties.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the Siskiyou Unified Major Investigations Team, the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force, the North State Marijuana Investigation Team, and the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Conolly and Aaron Pennekamp are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Beckwith, Kevin Khasigian, and Ross Pearson assisted in the prosecution.
A week before the trial was to begin, Gaosheng Laitinen pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery and conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 23, 2022.
Yang is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on June 28, 2022. Yang faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit bribery, up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bribery of a public official, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for manufacturing more than 100 marijuana plants. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sheldon Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Clinton Kreykes, 40, from Sheldon, Iowa, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2022, to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Kreykes admitted that he was previously convicted of a felony offense, namely Burglary – 3rd degree, and was a methamphetamine user. Both prohibit a person from possessing a firearm. Evidence showed that on September 16, 2021, as part of Kreykes’ Iowa probation conditions, a compliance check was conducted at Kreykes’ camper in Sibley, Iowa. The probation officer located drug paraphernalia and Kreykes was arrested. A search warrant was then issued and executed on the camper when law enforcement located loose prescription pills, a small baggy of methamphetamine, a Mossberg 20-gauge shotgun, shotgun shells, and additional items related to drug use.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Kreykes remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Kreykes faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4078. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Serial Armed Robber Sentenced to over 25 Years in Federal Prison for Violent Robberies of Local BusinessesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Irving Gomez, a/k/a John Mendez-Rodriquez, 29, of Indianapolis, was sentenced late yesterday to 303 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to committing three commercial robberies and brandishing a firearm during those crimes of violence.
According to court documents, on January 24, 2021, Gomez entered an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store in Indianapolis, brandished a loaded rifle at the employees, and demanded money from the store’s safe and registers. After receiving the money, Gomez fled the business. The employees at the store recognized the robber as possibly being Irving Gomez, a former employee.
On February 6, 2021, Gomez entered a CVS in Indianapolis, brandished a rifle at an employee and demanded money from the cash register. Gomez hit the employee several times with the muzzle of the rifle when the employee did not immediately comply with his demands. The employee then opened the cash register drawer, and Gomez fled the store with the stolen money.
On March 1, 2021, Gomez returned to the same O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Indianapolis wearing the same clothing he wore during his previous robbery of the store. Gomez again brandished a rifle and demanded money from employees. During the robbery, an employee grabbed the rifle and pinned Gomez against a nearby wall, leading Gomez to lose control of the rifle. Gomez then grabbed a metal rod from the wall and struck the employee over the head multiple times. During the struggle Gomez brandished a pocketknife and attempted to stab the employee, but the employee was able to disarm Gomez. Gomez then threatened the employee by telling him that he would kill him and his family if he did not let him go. Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrived and took Gomez into custody.
Evidence was presented during the sentencing hearing that the defendant committed two additional robberies of CVS stores in the Indianapolis area on January 30 and February 20, 2021, and Gomez was ordered by the Court to pay restitution to those establishments.
“Mr. Gomez chose to engage in a series of violent attacks against innocent victims,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to concentrate our efforts on identifying and arresting those individuals that commit or threaten violence while engaging in this type of illegal activity. The serious sentence imposed today should send a message that violent offenders who disrupt the safety of our communities will be held accountable for their actions.”
“I would like to thank the IMPD officers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for getting Mr. Gomez off the streets of Indianapolis. A violent perpetrator is behind bars, and our community safer because of their due diligence and hard work,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor. “This case is just the latest example of the value our federal partners bring to fighting violent crime. May the affected families get the peace they deserve.”
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney II ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison and was ordered to pay $4,325.00 in restitution, reflecting losses relating to five separate robberies.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence D. Hilton who prosecuted this case.
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.
San Marcos Man Charged with Austin Synagogue FireRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – Yesterday, a federal grand jury in Austin returned a three-count indictment charging Franklin Barrett Sechriest, 19, of San Marcos with crimes for the intentional fire set at a synagogue in Austin on October 31, 2021.
According to court records, Sechriest was seen on surveillance video carrying a five-gallon container and toilet paper toward the synagogue’s sanctuary. Moments later, multiple surveillance videos captured the distinct glow of a fire that appeared to come from the sanctuary. A security camera captured Sechriest jogging away from the direction of the sanctuary and fire towards the open driver’s side door of a vehicle.
During the search of Sechriest’s residence, agents found items similar to those seen on the surveillance videos, including similar clothing and a receipt for a five-gallon container similar to the one seen on video. Also found were various handwritten journals that contained statements related to the synagogue fire.
Sechriest has remained in federal custody since his arrest on November 12, 2021.
The indictment charges Sechriest with one count of Damage to Religious Property; one count of Use of Fire to Commit a Federal Crime; and one count of Arson. Sechriest faces a maximum 30 years in prison for the Damage to Religious Property count; a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence on the Use of Fire count; and a maximum 20 years in prison for the Arson count.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Devlin and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Austin Fire Department are investigating the case.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Roswell man faces child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ricky L. Romero, 27, of Roswell, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on March 23 where he is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and receiving child pornography. A federal grand jury indicted Romero on March 16.
According to the indictment and other court records, from March 4 to March 6, 2019, in Chaves County, New Mexico, Romero allegedly coerced a minor to produce child pornography and received videos and images of child pornography on his iPhone. Romero was a New Mexico State Police officer at the time the offenses were committed.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Romero faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.
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Real Estate Consultant Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
The district court accepted a Michigan man’s guilty plea today to filing a false individual income tax return with the IRS.
According to court documents, Steven A. Mills, formerly of East Lansing, was a real estate consultant who managed Mills Real Estate Consulting LLC. From 2012 to 2015, Mills Real Estate Consulting LLC received payments from third parties with whom Mills was conducting real estate transactions. Mills reported on his federal income tax returns only a portion of the payments he received. For example, on his 2014 federal income tax return, Mills did not report to the IRS approximately $356,100 in such payments made to Mills Real Estate Consulting LLC.
Mills is scheduled to be sentenced on June 14 and faces up to three years in prison for filing a false tax return. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge for the Western District of Michigan made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kenneth Vert and Jeffrey McLellan of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella for the Western District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
Providence Woman Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Providence woman was arrested and detained in federal custody after allegedly emerging onto her front porch to retrieve a UPS package shipped from California with more than two kilograms of fentanyl inside; she was also allegedly found to have more than a kilo of fentanyl and other indicia of drug trafficking stored in her bedroom closet.
Rosangeles Bueno, 40, is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and unlawful use of a communication facility (including the mails) to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance.
It is alleged in charging documents that, on March 16, 2022, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent was made aware by UPS security of a suspicious package addressed to a Providence residence with an addressee name that appeared to be fictious. UPS reported that, since January, six packages with similar characteristics had been shipped to the same address. All six packages were addressed to individuals not associated with the residence.
According to charging documents, the package was opened by UPS security and found to contain a brick-like object stashed inside a speaker. A Warwick Police Department K9 examined the package and alerted to the presence of narcotics. The package was removed to HSI offices and was found to contain 2.33 kilograms of fentanyl.
On March 21, 2022, after agents removed the fentanyl from the package and replaced it with a substance similar in appearance to fentanyl, a HSI agent, posing as a UPS employee, delivered the package to the front porch of Bueno’s residence. A surveillance team allegedly observed Bueno exit the residence, check the surrounding area in an apparent effort to determine if law enforcement was present, then retrieve and carry the package to the rear of the building.
HSI task force officers executed a court-authorized search of the Bueno’s residence and located the package inside an abandoned vehicle at the rear of the building. Inside the residence, agents encountered Bueno, three juvenile children, a Certified Nursing Assistant, and another adult. From within Bueno’s bedroom, agents allegedly recovered approximately 1,180.61 grams of suspected fentanyl; 61.23 grams of cocaine; 11.15 grams of butyryl fentanyl; cutting agents; two hydraulic kilo presses; and numerous items used in the preparation and distribution of drugs.
Bueno made an initial appearance on Tuesday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan and was ordered held in federal custody until a preliminary hearing scheduled to be held on Friday.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the DEA, Warwick Police Department, Newport Police Department, Central Falls Police Department, and Providence Police Department.
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Providence Man Pleads Guilty in Fraudulent Checks, Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man who participated in a scheme to use stolen banking information to create fraudulent business checks and obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in bank proceeds today pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy and bank fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Terrence Richardson, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and twelve counts of bank fraud.
Appearing in U.S. District Court in Providence, Richardson admitted that, beginning in as early as April 2020, he conspired with others to create and deposit counterfeit checks drawn on the accounts of actual businesses. The counterfeit checks were typically deposited into the accounts of individuals, many of whom were solicited through Facebook, in exchange for a cash payment. Soon after the counterfeit checks were deposited the funds were rapidly withdrawn.
According to information presented to the court, numerous fraudulent checks created by members of the conspiracy were deposited and the funds were quickly withdrawn before the checks were deemed counterfeit. Some of the checks deposited were deemed fraudulent before any money was withdrawn. According to charging documents, Richardson executed schemes to deposit and withdraw funds represented by numerous counterfeit checks for between $2,824 and $60,322.
Richardson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on June 21, 2022.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the FBI, United States Secret Service, Rhode Island State Police, and the Providence and Bethel CT, Police Departments.
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Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Roy Edward Gibbs, age 66, of Frederick, Maryland to 130 months in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Judge Hollander also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Gibbs must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith.
According to his plea agreement, in July 2006, Gibbs was convicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court on four counts involving the sexual abuse of two prepubescent girls.
After serving his sentence for the sexual abuse convictions, Gibbs began downloading and distributing images and videos of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file-sharing software. Between August 2019 and November 2019, Gibbs repeatedly distributed child pornography to undercover law enforcement officers over a file-sharing network.
For example, in August 2019, a detective from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office determined that a device using an IP address associated with Gibbs's residence made 19 different files containing child pornography available for download. The detective was also able to establish a direct connection to Gibbs's tablet IP address and download seven packages of files containing child pornography, including prepubescent minor girls. Between November 4 and November 14, 2019, an FBI Special Agent in Dallas also downloaded a number of images depicting child pornography made available by Gibbs on the same file-sharing network.
As detailed in the plea agreement, on November 15, 2019, law enforcement agents executed a series of federal search warrants on Gibbs's residence and vehicles. Forensic examination of several electronic devices, including Gibbs’s tablet and its 32 MicroSD card, revealed at least 568 images of child pornography. Additionally, at least 45 images examined during the forensic review were identical to images downloaded by investigators over the file-sharing network after making direct connections to Gibbs's tablet. The forensic review of Gibbs’s tablet also revealed data shredding/deletion applications used by Gibbs to attempt to hide evidence of his distribution and possession of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI Baltimore, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce R. King, Chief Counsel of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office cross-designated to handle this case, who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Previously Convicted Baltimore Bank Robber Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Committing Two Bank Robberies at the Same Bank Within One WeekRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Lloyd Phillip Simon, age 71, of Baltimore, Maryland to 70 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for two 2019 bank robberies. Judge Blake also ordered Simon to pay restitution in the amount of $2,034.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on August 13, 2019, Simon entered a building in Baltimore, Maryland that had a bank located in the atrium area of the building. As Simon approached the bank, he reached into a donation bin located in the atrium and took one of the donations placed there—a black backpack. Simon placed his black jacket and the backpack on a bench outside the bank. Simon then entered the bank, approached Bank Teller 1, who was in the process of counting money from the bank’s night drop, and demanded money, stating, “Give me that money. I have a gun. No dye packs.” Fearing for her safety, Bank Teller 1 gave Simon all of the money that she had been counting. Simon immediately left the bank, grabbing the black jacket and backpack. As he quickly walked away, Simon put the black jacket on to cover his white shirt. As Simon exited the facility, he took off his hat and glasses, allowing surveillance cameras to capture his face.
On August 19, 2019 Simon robbed the same bank. A video surveillance camera captured Simon entering the facility, wearing large glasses and a baseball cap to partially obscure his face. Simon went through a back corridor and did not immediately enter the bank. Instead, Simon sat on a bench outside of the bank and waited until the bank security guard left for a break. Simon then put on his glasses and entered the bank. Bank Teller 1 immediately recognized Simon from the previous robbery. She told Simon to wait in line, and then went to press the panic button. Simon approached Bank Teller 2, and stated “Give me all of your money, I want the big stuff!” Fearing for her safety, Bank Teller 2 gave him money, and Simon stated, “Hurry up, I’m not joking!” Bank Teller 2 then gave Simon more money and slipped a hidden GPS tracking device into a wad of cash. As Simon left the bank, he can be seen on surveillance video fanning through the money that he took from Bank Teller 2. Simon found the hidden GPS tracking device, removed it from the wad of cash and dropped the tracker on the floor of the bank as he left.
On August 28, 2019, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at Simon’s apartment. Law enforcement recovered clothes that matched the clothing worn by Simon during the robberies, as well as a black backpack similar to the backpack Simon took from the donation bin. In addition, investigators recovered a single round of .357 ammunition in Simon’s kitchen cabinet.
On January 29, 2013, Simon was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, after being convicted of bank robbery.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Duey and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Physician Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Florida physician was sentenced today in the Southern District of Florida to two years in prison for a health care and wire fraud scheme involving the submission of false and fraudulent claims to both Medicare and a financial services company that offered consumer loans to patients for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
According to court filings and evidence presented during court proceedings, Mark Alan Zager, 72, of Miami, conspired with Dennis Nobbe, a now-deceased chiropractor and owner of Dynamic Medical Services, located in Hialeah, Florida, to defraud Medicare, individual patients, and a financial services company. Zager opened a merchant account in his own name and allowed Nobbe to use the account in exchange for paying kickbacks and bribes to Zager. Through the account, Nobbe routinely applied for loans on patients’ behalf, purportedly for services that would be rendered months in the future but were not provided.
According to court filings and evidence presented during court proceedings, from November 2019 through July 2020, Zager and Nobbe submitted more than $193,000 in false and fraudulent loan applications to a financial services company, resulting in that company paying out approximately $165,000. Additionally, Zager allowed Nobbe to submit claims to Medicare through Zager’s National Provider Number in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. Between December 2019 and July 2020, Zager and Nobbe submitted approximately $19,000 in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Zager pleaded guilty on June 1, 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of health care fraud. Nobbe was charged with several federal crimes by criminal complaint on July 23, 2020, but he passed away on September 14, 2020, after which the complaint was dismissed, and he accordingly remains presumed innocent.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI’s Miami Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Michele Klco forthe Southern District of Florida is handling the asset forfeiture aspects of this matter. The case was previously handled by Trial Attorney Sara M. Clingan of the Fraud Section.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.