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Friday 28 January 2022
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to International Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Honduran national Fredy Donaldo Marmol Vallejo, 40, pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Miami to one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine, with the intent to import it into the United States.
In October 2021, Marmol was extradited from Honduras to the United States to face charges in the Southern District of Florida. Marmol’s sentencing hearing is set for April 12, at 10:00 a.m., in Miami, before U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.
U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of FBI Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami and DEA Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, Miami. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Hernandez and Walter Norkin are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture.
This prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20277.
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Guilford Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Guilford man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records, between about October 6, 2020, and about April 1, 2021, Scott Tarr, 56, possessed child pornography on his cellphone which he had used to download the material from the internet. Some of the images depicted children under the age of 12.
Tarr faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt, or production of child pornography, file a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-843-5678. Your report will be forwarded to a law enforcement agency for investigation and action. If you have an emergency that requires an immediate law enforcement response, please call 911 or contact your local police or sheriff’s department.
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Fresno Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl to a MinorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Fabian Garcia-Palacio, 19, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to three years in prison for illegally distributing fentanyl to a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in March 2020, Garcia-Palacio distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to a juvenile student at Bullard High School. That juvenile used one of the pills, overdosed, but survived after receiving life-saving medical treatment. As part of the investigation into the case, investigators searched Garcia-Palacio’s residence and found additional fentanyl pills. He was charged with distributing fentanyl to a person under 21 years of age, and pleaded guilty on May 14, 2021.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a multi-agency team composed of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Homeland Security Investigations, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Four Individuals Indicted on Wage Fixing and Labor Market Allocation ChargesRead the Press Release
Note: The defendants in this case, Faysal Kalayaf Manahe, Yaser Aali, Ammar Alkinani, and Quasim Saesah, were acquitted by a jury of the charges alleged in the indictment described in the press release below.
A federal grand jury in Portland, Maine, returned an indictment charging four managers of home health care agencies with participating in a conspiracy to suppress the wages and restrict the job mobility of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the one-count felony indictment filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, four Portland residents: Faysal Kalayaf Manahe; Yaser Aali; Ammar Alkinani; and Quasim Saesah — all owners and/or managers of home health care agencies — conspired to eliminate competition for the services of Personal Support Specialist (PSS) workers by agreeing to fix the rates paid to these workers and by agreeing not to hire each other’s workers. This indictment is the first in this ongoing investigation into wage fixing and worker allocation schemes in the PSS industry.
“PSS workers and other essential workers risked their health caring for others at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The indictment in this case alleges that the employers of these workers colluded to deprive them of opportunities to earn better wages. The Antitrust Division and our partners will investigate and prosecute this conduct to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Early in the pandemic, Maine made additional resources available to ensure that seniors continued to receive in-home care and that essential workers would be able to afford personal protective equipment,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee for the District of Maine. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to partner with the Antitrust Division to protect essential workers from the type of conduct alleged in the indictment returned by the grand jury.”
“People in Maine have suffered real hardships because of the pandemic, especially frontline health care workers, and we will fully investigate allegations of exploitation,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI Boston Division.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to restrain trade under the Sherman Antitrust Act is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1 million for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges are the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into wage fixing and worker allocation in the home health care industry, conducted by the Antitrust Division’s New York Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, and the FBI’s Boston Division, Portland Resident Agency. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Man Sentenced to 135 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Tito Sanabria, 54 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Sanabria was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in April 2017, following a traffic stop, a search of Sanabria’s home resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, cutting agents, a hydraulic press, other drugs, and a firearm. It was also discovered that at the time of the stop, Sanabria was previously deported from the United States to his native El Salvador and was illegally in the United States.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Fishers Police Department, the Indiana State Police and the Hamilton County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller Lowery.
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Fort Wayne, Indiana Man Sentenced to 106 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Benjamin Glass, 41 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Glass was sentenced to 106 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, on three occasions in 2019, law enforcement purchased a total of 37 grams of methamphetamine from Glass. Glass also possessed a firearm in order to facilitate his drug trafficking activity during one of the buys. Glass’s possession of the firearm was also prohibited because he had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection, Indiana State Police, Allen County Police Department, and the Auburn Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Nokes.
This case was being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Contract Mail Carrier sentenced to prison for vehicle smuggling scheme and possession of images of child rape and abuseRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 48– year-old Mason County, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 30 days in custody for three federal felonies related to a smuggling scheme and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. In September 2021, Christopher M. Cox pleaded guilty to: smuggling goods into the U.S.; making false statements related to the Clean Air Act; and possession of child pornography. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan ordered Cox to register as a sex offender and placed him on five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Mr. Cox to two years in prison.
“Mr. Cox was a danger to the community on multiple fronts. He abused a position of trust and endangered his colleagues by selling unsafe vehicles and ignoring air pollution control efforts,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “The vehicles he imported and sold did not meet safety or air quality standards. These crimes, along with his possession of images of child rape and abuse, demonstrate he poses serious safety concerns. We advocated for a lengthier punishment for Mr. Cox to best protect the community and are disappointed by today’s sentence.”
According to records filed in the case, between approximately 2015 and January 2019, Cox falsified the required paperwork on two dozen vehicles he imported from overseas. Many of the vehicles were extremely light vehicles imported from Japan that did not meet U.S. safety standards. Cox sold some of the vehicles to contract mail carriers he knew from his job. Cox falsified the forms that claimed the vehicles met both safety standards and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air Act standards. Cox used his identification as a contract mail carrier to circumvent inspections at the Port of Tacoma and took the vehicles from the Port without proper inspections. The total value of the imported vehicles exceeds $55,000. Those who bought the vehicles were not told that they failed to meet federal safety and pollution standards.
“The defendant’s intentional disregard for the law included an attempt to deceive law enforcement” said Scot Adair, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Washington. “The American public relies on accurate information on products being imported into this country to help protect the environment and the consumer.”
When law enforcement officers served search warrants on Cox’s electronic accounts, they observed images of child pornography. Some of the images are known series of images of child rape and abuse manufactured outside the State of Washington. When officers executed search warrants on Cox’s residence and obtained his electronic devices, they located 142 images and 2 videos of child molestation, rape and abuse.
“Mr. Cox thrived through deceitful actions. He prioritized personal profit over the environment all while taking gratitude in the sexual exploitation of children,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “We’re thankful to our partners at the EPA, CBP and U.S. Attorney’s Office for investigating and prosecuting the case.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Transportation, and Homeland Security Investigations with critical assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson
Florida Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 27, 2022, Carlos Santurtan-Teran, age 61, of Miami, Florida, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. The jury returned the guilty verdict following a three-day trial before United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, DEA agents discovered an illegal marijuana trafficking conspiracy during a court authorized wiretap of a phone being utilized in furtherance of a drug trafficking scheme to import and distribute cocaine. That wiretap and the later execution of a search warrant established that Santurtan-Teran participated in the conspiracy to grow and distribute marijuana in Tecumseh, Michigan. Santurtan-Teran and his conspirators purportedly were growing the marijuana under color of Michigan’s medical marijuana law, when in truth, the Michigan grow operation was a front to distribute marijuana illegally in several other states including Pennsylvania. The federal jury deliberated two-hours before returning the guilty verdict on January 26, 2022.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s offices in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Toledo, Ohio. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd K. Hinkley and Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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.
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Federal charges filed against Chesterfield, Missouri man for crossing state lines with intent to engage in sexual conduct with a minorRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On January 27, 2022, several federal charges were filed against John K. Low. The 38-year-old Chesterfield resident is accused of coercion and enticement of a minor, transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
According to the charging documents, on January 24, 2022, the Riley County Police Department, located in Manhattan, Kansas, received a report of a missing juvenile. The investigation revealed that the missing 15-year-old child left her residence without her cell phone. Her mother provided electronic devices to Riley County Police, who analyzed the devices for any information about her disappearance. The police department was able to locate conversations belonging to the missing female on a social media messaging application. Discovered in these conversations were plans between the victim and suspect which indicated the victim was to be picked up by the suspect, unbeknownst to her parents.
On or about January 26, 2022, a search warrant was obtained from the District Court of Riley County, Kansas to obtain information pertinent to the investigation from the social
media application used by the victim. Through this information, the Riley County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were able to identify a possible suspect named John Low at a residence in Chesterfield, Missouri.
The St. Louis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified that the victim could be at John Low’s residence in Chesterfield, Missouri. Accompanied by Chesterfield Police, FBI agents knocked on door of the residence. Agents determined John Low resided at this address and discovered the victim in the house.
Charges set forth are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Riley County Police Department, Chesterfield Police Department as well as the St. Louis and Kansas Division offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Federal Complaint Charges Bloomington Man with Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Bloomington, Illinois, man, Javares L. Hudson, 21, of the 600 block of Monroe Street, was charged by federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2022, with possessing a machinegun. Hudson appeared in federal court in Peoria today in front of Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley for an initial appearance, at which the complaint against him was unsealed.
Hudson is specifically charged with possessing a device that is used to convert a conventional semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic firearm. Such devices are commonly referred to as “switches”, “auto-sears,” or “conversion devices,” among other names.
Magistrate Judge Hawley ordered that Hudson be detained. He remains in state custody pending further proceedings.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crime charged are up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
Hudson was previously arrested and charged by state authorities earlier this week. The case was brought as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement to curb possession of these illegal conversion devices. Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Bloomington Police Department; and the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Fort Washakie Man Arraigned on Sexual Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that ANNIN DAMIAN SOLDIERWOLF, 52, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2022, for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of abusive sexual contact. The indictment alleges that Soldierwolf knowingly engaged and attempted to engage in sexual contact with three victims who were minors at the time of abuse.
Soldierwolf appeared on January 25, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge Kelly Rankin and pleaded not guilty to the indictment. A jury trial is set for March 28, 2022, in Cheyenne before United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal. If convicted on all four counts, the maximum penalty is up to life in prison; up to five years of supervised release; up to a $610,000 fine and $235 in special assessments.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson is prosecuting the case.
The charges in the January 12, 2022 indictment against Soldierwolf are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Case number 0:22-00010-NDF
El Salvador National Indicted for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ALONSO BONILLA, age 45, a citizen of El Salvador, was charged today in a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, BONILLA reentered the United States after he was previously removed on April 12, 2018.
If convicted, BONILLA faces up to a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, up to $250,000 in fines, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and Spiro Latsis are in charge of the prosecution.
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Drug trafficker who attempted to shoot investigators sentenced to nearly 40 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Liberty County man has been sentenced to nearly 40 years in prison after a jury found him guilty at trial on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
Charles Hyde, 64, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 444 months in prison after being found guilty at trial in June 2021 in U.S. District Court in Brunswick on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; and Possession and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Hyde to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“After attempting to shoot at police officers, Charles Hyde is lucky to be alive,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Now his luck has run out, and the community is safer with him behind bars.”
As described in court documents and testimony, starting as early as July 2016 through December 2018, Hyde and a key co-defendant, Stacey White, 34, of Hinesville, made multiple trips each month to the Atlanta area to obtain kilograms of methamphetamine from a supplier, and recruited others to assist in selling the drugs.
After a controlled purchase of drugs from Hyde in May 2018, investigators from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation attempted to conduct a search of Hyde’s residence. Hyde aimed at investigators and pulled the trigger but his handgun malfunctioned, and a Liberty County deputy shot Hyde in the hand. He was taken into custody, and investigators subsequently found large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana in Hyde’s residence. Firearms experts who examined Hyde’s Taurus semiautomatic pistol determined that the firing pin had struck a .40-caliber cartridge in the chamber, but that it had failed to fire.
Hyde and White, along with four other defendants, were indicted on federal conspiracy charges in February 2019. White, a certified member of the violent Bloods criminal street gang, pled guilty and was sentenced in August 2020 to 246 months in prison; three codefendants also pled guilty and are serving prison terms. The sixth codefendant, Hyde’s brother, Terry Hyde, 59, of Hinesville, pled guilty and was sentenced in December to 84 months in prison.
“Hyde’s willingness to commit a violent assault against law enforcement officers is a not only a threat to law enforcement, but is a threat to the very fabric of our society.” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our country from the perils of drug abuse and the violence that all too often accompanies drug trafficking. This sentencing should serve as a reminder to other criminals who seek to cause bodily harm to an officer…if you are brazen enough to commit such a criminal act, a long prison term awaits you.”
“Illegal drugs have no place in Georgia,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities. The fact that this defendant attempted to shoot at investigators when being taken into custody shows his utter disregard for law enforcement. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”
This drug-trafficking conspiracy was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.
District of Columbia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jerome J. Simmons, 35, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 15-year prison term for sexually abusing an under-aged girl, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Simmons pleaded guilty in October 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. He was sentenced by the Honorable Marisa J. Demeo. Following completion of his prison term, Simmons will be placed on five years of supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years following his release from prison.
According to court documents, Simmons was in a romantic relationship with the victim’s mother. In December 2020, when the girl was 14, she told authorities that Simmons sexually abused her on multiple occasions in Southeast Washington when she was 13 and 14. A subsequent investigation determined that Simmons began grooming her for abuse when she was 13 by giving her a cellphone and texting her on it. After providing the cellphone, he asked her to send pictures of her body to him and then they had explicit video calls. This conduct, in turn, escalated to hands-on abuse. In a search of the defendant’s cellphone, police discovered graphic photos and videos depicting the victim.
Simmons was arrested on Dec. 26, 2020, soon after the girl made the disclosures. He has been detained ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Feldman and Paralegal Specialist ReShawn Johnson. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth C. Kelley, who prosecuted the matter.
Dallas Man Sentenced to 17+ Years in Prison in $15 Million FraudRead the Press Release
A Dallas man who conned 417 investors out of nearly $15 million was sentenced to 17 ½ years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Rudy Avila, 69, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June 2021. He was sentenced on Jan. 28 by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn, who also ordered him to pay $14,955,313.00 in restitution.
According to plea papers, Mr. Avila admitted he defrauded investors in seven investment companies: Starwood Asset Management Fund, Commodities Investment Group International, Trading Technologies Group, Trading Ventures Group, The L.I.F.T. Group, Capital Ventures Group, and Ventures Group, LLC, none of which were registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission as required by law.
Instead of investing money in U.S. based businesses as he had represented, Mr. Avila regularly wired at least 90% of the investors’ funds to bank accounts belonging to coconspirators in Costa Rica or to make Ponzi payments to other investors.
In order to convince investors that their funds were controlled by U.S. businesses, the defendant registered multiple businesses with the Texas Secretary of State, filed sham annual reports from the businesses, set up U.S. bank accounts for the businesses, and rented office space in DFW.
At Mr. Avila’s sentencing hearing, Judge Lynn read the names of all 417 victims and their loss amounts into the record.
Two of his coconspirators, Eddie Alexander Contreraz and Ivan Aguirre, who both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud last year, are still awaiting sentencing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcus Busch and Nick Bunch (fmr.) are prosecuting the case.
Court Shuts Down Mississippi Return PreparerRead the Press Release
A federal court in the Southern District of Mississippi has permanently barred a Mississippi tax return preparer from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The permanent injunction is against Terance Price, both individually and doing business as Superior Taxes. The court entered the injunction after Price failed to respond to the complaint the government served on him.
The complaint alleged that Price, who began operating his tax preparation business in 2015, knowingly took unreasonable positions on returns he prepared that understated the tax his customers owed, overstated the refunds owed to his clients, or both. In particular, the complaint alleged that Price prepared returns that falsely claimed residential energy credits, fuel tax credits and unreimbursed employee business expenses.
The government further alleged in the complaint that Price has filed hundreds of tax returns since 2015, and that he has filed tax returns using other tax preparers’ personal identifying information. According to the complaint, the IRS assessed penalties against Price for failing to make reasonable inquiries to ensure that his customers were legitimately entitled to various tax credits, and Price has not paid those penalties.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. (More information can also be found here.) The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers, and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers, whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers. The IRS also has a checklist of things to remember when filing income tax returns in 2022.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $72,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronical federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Convicted Felon Who Fired BB Guns at Planned Parenthood Facility Arrested on Federal Charge Alleging Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Altadena man who allegedly fired BB guns at the Planned Parenthood facility in Pasadena on multiple occasions was arrested today on federal charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm for carrying a loaded handgun during one of the attacks on the women’s reproductive health clinic.
Richard Royden Chamberlin, 53, who currently resides in Altadena, but also maintains a residence in Ontario, was arrested this morning by FBI special agents. The arrest was made pursuant to a one-count criminal complaint filed on January 21 that charges Chamberlin with the illegal possession of a .22-caliber handgun.
Chamberlin is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, on multiple occasions in 2020 and 2021, Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley reported to the police that it had been fired upon by the occupant of a moving vehicle. Video surveillance from several of these attacks showed a Chevrolet Malibu registered to Chamberlin driving by with its window down when the shots were fired. Planned Parenthood suspected Chamberlin was using a BB gun because of multiple pellets lodged in the facility near the front door.
“During one of these shootings on March 30, 2021, a patient’s support companion was nearly hit as she waited on the front porch” of the Planned Parenthood facility, the affidavit states. “In addition to incurring the costs of repairs and added security, Planned Parenthood has had to cancel patient appointments and the staff has been emotionally traumatized not knowing when the next shooting will occur.”
After another reported BB gun shooting on May 7, 2021, the Pasadena Police Department located Chamberlin in his Malibu near the Planned Parenthood facility. Investigators found in Chamberlin’s vehicle multiple BB guns, as well as a Phoenix Arms .22-caliber handgun loaded with 10 bullets in a backpack on the front passenger seat. Chamberlin, who was previously convicted of a felony in Arizona, is prohibited from possessing firearms.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Chamberlin would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The investigation into the attacks on the Planned Parenthood facility is continuing.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Civil Rights Squad and the Pasadena Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.
Cleveland Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that Lawrence Dunbar, 28, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, January 27, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to more than 20 years in prison. Judge Nugent pronounced the sentence after Dunbar was convicted at trial of possessing multiple controlled substances with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
“This sentence is reflective of what happens when a life is spent dedicated to drug trafficking and violence,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “This sentence serves an example that felons who possess firearms and sell drugs in our communities will face consequences for their actions.”
“ATF’s mission is to protect the public from violent crime,” stated Roland H. Herndon, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “This sentence sends a strong message to those who use firearms to further their criminal enterprises that there will be consequences. ATF will continue to work with our partners to hold responsible any individuals who spread violence and drugs in our community.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 25, 2019, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) sought to arrest Dunbar at his apartment on warrants for a felonious assault shooting and violation of parole conditions. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers cleared the apartment, located and detained Dunbar and searched the apartment. In the kitchen and bedroom, officers found large quantities of substances that contained varying amounts of carfentanil, heroin and cocaine. Additionally, they located a loaded 9mm Glock semiautomatic pistol under the couch near the hallway and close to the narcotics in the kitchen. Officers also found large amounts of drug paraphernalia, including mixing containers, cutting compounds, packaging and distribution materials, digital scales, multiple cell phones and personal protection equipment.
At the time of his arrest, Dunbar was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, including multiple convictions for drug trafficking, drug possession, robbery and attempted felonious assault.
Judge Nugent sentenced Dunbar to a total of 245 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Police Department and the NOVFTF. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Margaret A. Kane.
Cleveland Man Convicted of Shooting at Federal Agents, Sex Trafficking of a Juvenile and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts today against Defendant Reuben Rankin, 36, of Cleveland, Ohio, following a nine-day trial before U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker in Cleveland. Rankin was convicted of assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, sex trafficking of a minor, production of child pornography and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On October 30, 2019, law enforcement officers with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Rankin’s residence in Cleveland as part of an investigation into the trafficking of a minor victim. As law enforcement agents approached the residence, Rankin fired six shots in rapid succession at the agents through the window of his vehicle parked in the driveway. An agent returned fire. Officers then arrested Rankin and recovered a .45 caliber pistol, spent rounds of ammunition, drugs and two cell phones from his vehicle.
Rankin is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to previous convictions of kidnapping, witness intimidation, aggravated assault and abduction in the Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court.
Rankin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12, 2022. A federal district court judge will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Cuyahoga County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Cleveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carol M. Skutnik, Edward F. Feran and Vanessa V. Healy.
Church Rock man sentenced to six years in prison for sexually abusing a childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Manison Largo, 42, of Church Rock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced in federal court today to six years and six months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child. Largo pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2021.
According to his plea and other court records, on multiple occasions between August 2017 and March 2018, Largo sexually abused the victim, who also is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. During the course of the abuse, which occurred at Largo’s residence in Church Rock on the Navajo Nation, the victim had not attained the age of 12. The victim was able to borrow a phone and called 911 to report the abuse.
Upon his release from prison, Largo will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.
Chicago Man Found Guilty of Heroin and Fentanyl Crime Near a PlaygroundRead the Press Release
A man who set up a heroin and fentanyl distribution deal was convicted by a jury on January 27, 2022, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Derrick Darryl Trawick, age 39, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl. The jury found that the crime occurred near a playground, but did not find that the use of the drugs resulted in serious bodily injury to the customer. The verdict was returned after about three hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Trawick was a heroin dealer in Dubuque who was nicknamed “Worm” and “KG.” During the early morning hours of May 31, 2019, two of his heroin customers contacted him to purchase a $40 bag of heroin. Trawick and another man drove to meet the customers and then directed them back to Trawick’s residence on Walnut Street, which was around the corner from the playground at Jefferson Park. Trawick and the other man then returned to Trawick’s residence and went inside. A short time later, the other man exited the residence, walked to the customers’ car, and sold them the purported heroin, which actually contained both heroin and fentanyl. The customers then drove to a nearby motel and used the heroin and fentanyl. One of those customers suffered an overdose during which she lost consciousness and stopped breathing for several minutes. She regained consciousness after being given Narcan by her companions and chest compressions by a first responder.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Trawick remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Trawick faces a mandatory minimum sentence of one year of imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-1016-CJW.
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Castro Valley Resident Charged in Pandemic Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court charges Idowu Hashim Shittu for fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain pandemic-related unemployment benefits from numerous state agencies, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Quentin Heiden, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
According to the criminal complaint, between March and the end of July 2020, Shittu, 46, of Castro Valley, California, engaged in a scheme to use the personal information of other people to obtain pandemic-related unemployment benefits. The complaint explains that in March of 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the federal government authorized the payment of hundreds of billions of dollars in unemployment benefits to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and, since then, many state authorities responsible for distributing those unemployment benefits to their residents have been inundated by fraudulent claims. According to the complaint’s allegations, Shittu fraudulently submitted requests for such benefits and then used some of those proceeds for his own personal gain.
The criminal complaint describes three occasions in which Shittu allegedly disposed of fraudulently obtained benefits. In the first instance, the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) received a request for unemployment benefits on May 5, 2020. The request was submitted in the name of a resident of Mercer Island, Washington – identified in the complaint only by the initials “S.O.” The request included the supposed applicant’s correct date of birth and social security number. The Washington ESD responded to the request by depositing more than $9,000 in an account linked to a reloadable debit card. A subsequent investigation revealed the account was used by someone in California. Specifically, a person withdrew cash from several automatic teller machines located in the Bay Area, including Hayward, Castro Valley, and San Jose. According to the complaint, S.O. told investigating law enforcement that he was not been in California at any time during 2020. A Walmart customer fitting Shittu’s description was captured on camera using an ATM to withdraw cash from that account.
The criminal complaint describes two additional instances of unemployment benefits being issued by the Washington ESD to Washington residents – one from Seattle and the other from Olympia – after which ATMs in the Bay Area were used to withdraw that money from the accounts or the proceeds from those accounts were spent in Bay Area stores. In each case, a person fitting Shittu’s description was photographed engaging in transactions relating to the accounts. According to the complaint, Shittu fraudulently obtained more than $1 million in unemployment benefits from various state agencies, including the Washington ESD.
In sum, the complaint charges Shittu with three counts of access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(5). Shittu faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each count. In addition, a court may order restitution, fines, a period of supervised release, and other penalties; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Shittu made his initial federal court appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim. Magistrate Judge Kim scheduled Shittu’s next court appearance for Monday, January 31, 2022.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Paulson and Kevin Rubino are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa and Mark DiCenzo. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cheyenne Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that ANTWOINE WILLIAMSON, 31, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm by United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on January 18, 2022. He received 30 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.
On March 11, 2021, Williamson fired three shots into the air in a residential neighborhood in Cheyenne, during an argument with his girlfriend. Police were dispatched to the incident and arrested Williamson.
“This is a prime example of why it is illegal for felons to possess firearms,” said United States Attorney Bob Murray. “We appreciate the investigative work of the Cheyenne Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, which aided in a successful conviction.”
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom prosecuted the case.
Case # 0:21-cr-00076-NDF
Boston Man and Woman Plead Guilty to Roles in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man and woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to conspiracy and distribution charges involving fentanyl.
Valentin Pujols, 35, and Katherine Olivares-Soto, a/k/a “Jessy,” 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count each of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Pujols and Olivares-Soto are scheduled to be sentenced on May 18 and May 24, 2022, respectively.
Pujols and Olivares-Soto were indicted in September 2019 along with co-conspirator Maria Yovanny Soto-Diaz-Deperez, a/k/a “Betty.” Soto-Diaz-Deperez remains a fugitive.
Pujols and Olivares-Soto allegedly conspired with Soto-Diaz-Deperez to distribute fentanyl. As stated during the plea hearing, on multiple occasions between December 2018 and February 2019, Soto-Diaz-Deperez agreed to sell quantities of fentanyl to an undercover agent. In December 2018, Pujols and Soto-Diaz-Deperez sold the undercover agent approximately 49 grams of fentanyl. In January 2019, Olivares-Soto, allegedly acting on behalf of Soto-Diaz-Deperez, sold approximately 109 grams of fentanyl and on a third occasion, Soto-Diaz-Deperez allegedly sold approximately 124 grams of fentanyl to the undercover agent.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of 40 grams or more fentanyl each provide for a sentence of at least 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 judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Arlington Police Chief Juliann Flaherty; and Somerville Acting Police Chief Charles Femino made the announcement today. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston Housing Authority Police Division and the Arlington Public Housing Authority. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Birmingham Man Indicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted a Birmingham man on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
A four-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Terry Lee Skanes, Jr. 21, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to the indictment, in October 2021, Skanes illegally possessed a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 5.56 American Tactical, Inc. semi-automatic pistol, five grams or more of methamphetamine, heroin, and a mixture containing a detectable amount of heroin and fentanyl.
The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.
The penalty range for possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine is 5 to 40 years in prison.
The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute heroin and a mixture containing a detectable amount of heroin and fentanyl is 20 years in prison.
The minimum penalty for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime is five years in prison.
ATF investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Axtell Man Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Chad Carlson, 44, of Axtell, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 27, 2022, by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Following his prison term, Carlson will serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Between 2015 and 2019, Carlson sold methamphetamine to a number of people in various communities in central Nebraska. In October of 2018, Carlson sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Area Doctor, Patient Recruiter Charged in a $17 Million Illegal Opioid Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DETROIT - An indictment was unsealed today charging a physician and a patient recruiter with conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs, and other opioid-related charges, U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division.
Charged in the indictment are John Kirkpatrick, 83 of Birmingham, MI and Roland Williams (age) of Detroit, MI.
The Indictment alleges from May 2018 through March 2021, Dr. John Kirkpatrick conspired with Roland Williams and others to issue a significant number of prescription opioids outside the scope of medical practice to recruited “patients” who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs. Dr. Kirkpatrick operated Southfield Medical Services in Southfield, MI. Dr. Kirkpatrick only accepted cash at his clinic, and utilized the clinic to prescribe oxycodone and oxymorphone, two of the most addictive and diverted opioids that have a significant street value.
As alleged in the indictment, Dr. Kirkpatrick required each “patient” to have certain records in a patient file before he would write a controlled substance prescription. Roland Williams and others created fraudulent medical records, including MRI reports and Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) reports, to give the appearance of legitimacy.
As further alleged in the indictment, Dr. Kirkpatrick authorized electronic prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, which were issued under Dr. Kirkpatrick’s DEA license and without a medical evaluation by him. During the conspiracy, Dr. Kirkpatrick prescribed more than 574,604 dosage units of Schedule II controlled substances, with a conservative street value of more than 17 million dollars.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alison A. Furtaw and Brandy R. McMillion. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative created by Attorney General Sessions, that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Amazon Employee Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud for Stealing More Than $273,000 in MerchandiseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Douglas Wright, Jr., 27, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to mail fraud, for stealing merchandise from Amazon worth over $273,000, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Joining U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement are Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Charlotte, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte.
According to plea documents and today’s hearing, from June 2020 to September 2021, Wright executed a scheme to defraud Amazon by stealing merchandise worth over $273,000 from the company’s warehouse. Over the course of the scheme, Wright was employed as an Operation’s Manager at Amazon’s warehouse in Charlotte. Court records show that Wright misused his access to the company’s computers to target certain merchandise, particularly computer parts such as internal hard drives, processors, and graphic processing units, and shipped those items from the warehouse to his home address. As Wright admitted in court today, he then sold the stolen merchandise for profit to a computer wholesale company in California.
Wright pleaded guilty to mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
The FBI and USPIS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Allentown Man Sentenced to over 1 ½ Years for Importing Illegal Controlled Substances from China and Fraudulently Selling them as ‘Dietary Supplements’Read the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Leandro Rodriguez, 45, of Allentown, PA, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit approximately $669,000 by United States District Court Judge Edward G. Smith for his participation in a conspiracy to smuggle mislabeled drugs into the United States from China, and sell them as dietary supplements.
In October 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle and resell misbranded drugs, and delivering those drugs in interstate commerce, in order to defraud the United States by impeding and impairing the lawful functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The charges arose from Rodriguez’s participation in a conspiracy from early 2011 until March 2017 to import from China and resell to consumers, substances falsely labelled as “all natural” dietary supplements, but which the defendant knew contained the undeclared ingredient Sibutramine, a dangerous controlled substance that could not legally be sold in the United States.
“The United States sets standards for controlled substances in order to keep American consumers and patients safe,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The defendant knowingly skirted our country’s importation laws, and sold dangerous drugs under the guise of benign supplements. This scheme put many people’s health and safety at risk.”
“Misbranded drugs that are disguised as dietary supplements and contain potentially harmful hidden ingredients place American consumers at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who endanger the U.S. public health by distributing fraudulent and potentially dangerous products.”
“For nearly six years, Rodriguez smuggled into the United States a dangerous controlled substance from China, just to mislabel it as a dietary supplement and peddle it to consumers, seemingly with no regard for the health and safety of those who consumed the product,” said William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia. “HSI Philadelphia was pleased to partner with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Postal Inspection Service on this important investigation. As a result of strong federal law enforcement collaboration, Rodriguez will be held accountable for his criminal acts.”
The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.
Albert Lea Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sextortion, Online Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Albert Lea man has been sentenced to life plus ten years in prison for engaging in sextortion and online sexual exploitation of minors. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.
According to court documents, in 2017, Travis Kyle Mayer, 33, downloaded and received child pornography from a Russian-based child pornography distribution website. In 2018, Mayer sexually exploited a 15-year-old girl, through persuasion and coercion, using her to produce child pornography, which he then possessed and distributed. Mayer committed these crimes while he was required to register as a sex offender, based on his prior conviction for attempted third degree criminal sexual conduct. Between June 20, 2019, and October 11, 2019, Mayer attempted to obstruct the administration of justice by requesting a witness to testify falsely regarding the child sexual exploitation investigation.
Acting United States Attorney Charles J. Kovats stated: “For years, this defendant victimized children by sexually exploiting them. Despite prior criminal convictions, Mayer continued his pattern of predatory behavior by exploiting, extorting, coercing, and threatening his minor victims. A sentence of life in prison is justified and ensures that he will never again victimize another child.”
“There is no group of people more deserving of our diligent protection than children, and no offender more deserving of strong justice than one who blatantly targets those most vulnerable to exploitation. Whenever anyone repeatedly harms children and persists in those acts despite previous intervention, we will work hard for a severe sentence like the one levied today,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul. “The FBI will continue to do everything thing we can to ensure those who choose to harm our children face severe consequences, and their victims receive the justice they deserve.”
On June 29, 2021, following a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Mayer on two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender, and one count obstruction of justice.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Albert Lea Police Department, and the Albany (Oregon) Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander D. Chiquoine and Joseph H. Thompson.
Thursday 27 January 2022
Yankton Man Found Guilty of Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that Matthew Carter, age 31, of Yankton, South Dakota, was found guilty of Possession of Child Pornography as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Carter was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 4, 2021.
While Carter was in jail in January 2021, he called his dad and directed him to retrieve some property that Carter hid above the ceiling tile in his bathroom. An officer listening to the jail call went to Carter’s residence and found a computer hard drive above the ceiling tile. Forensic examination of the hard drive revealed 60 video files containing child pornography.
This case was investigated the Yankton Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wetzel County man sentenced for a firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Samuel Amos Minger, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 46 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Minger, 43, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Minger, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of prior offenses, admitted to having a six-shot revolver in November 2020 in Tyler County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Tyler County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
West Virginia Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Kevin Hartleroad, 64, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after being convicted of attempted production of child pornography announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Hartleroad was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, between February 2020 and April 2020, Hartleroad engaged in online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer purporting to be the stepfather of a 14-year-old girl with whom he was sexually active. During the course of their conversations, Hartleroad expressed interest in having sex with the girl. He also expressed an interest in watching the “stepfather” having sex with the teenage girl, and he sent the undercover officer a text message graphically detailing the sexual acts that he wanted to see performed with the girl. The jury found him guilty of the charge following a two-day jury trial in September, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
Waterloo Drug Dealer Who Possessed Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime was sentenced January 26, 2022, to five years in federal prison.
Jordan Charles Johnson, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 13, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In a plea agreement, Johnson admitted that, on October 18, 2019, law enforcement recovered over 900 grams of marijuana in vacuumed sealed bags, over $3,000 in United States currency, a Ruger SR22 .22 LR caliber pistol, a Mossberg 715P .22 LR caliber pistol, and a short-barreled Remington 514 .22 LR caliber weapon made from a rifle with no serial number from his bedroom. Johnson also admitted that he intended to distribute some or all of the marijuana to another person, and that the Ruger SR22 pistol and the Mossberg 715P pistol were available for the protection of himself, his drug proceeds, and the marijuana.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Johnson was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department 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 20-CR-02045-CJW.
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Washburn Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for Her Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marcie Leoso, 40, Washburn, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 5 years in federal prison for her role in a heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine conspiracy. Leoso pleaded guilty on September 28, 2021 to conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
In April and May 2020, Leoso made several trips with her co-conspirator Aaron Guski to pick up heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine from a source in Minnesota to redistribute in the Bayfield and Ashland areas. The leader of the conspiracy, David Stone, while incarcerated in state custody, directed his associates, including Leoso, on when to pick up drugs, how much to pay, and how and where to distribute them throughout the area. Leoso’s relevant conduct included 75 grams of fentanyl/heroin and over 3 ounces of methamphetamine.
Judge Conley remarked on how unbelievable it was that so many people were willing to participate in a drug conspiracy orchestrated via phone calls from an individual in custody.
Leoso is the first member of the conspiracy to be sentenced. The four other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to federal charges. David Stone is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Conley on February 16, Chai Vang on April 26, Aaron Guski on April 28, and Mala Persaud on May 4.
The charges against these five individuals are the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Ashland Police Department, Washburn Police Department, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Red Cliff Police Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper is handling the prosecution.
Walthill Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Assault with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Matthew Moniz, Jr., age 33, of Walthill, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for assault with a deadly weapon. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Moniz to 70 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Moniz will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On December 16, 2019, Moniz and his co-defendant, Jonathan Earth, assaulted a male victim during an altercation in Winnebago, Nebraska. Moniz punched the victim and pulled out a knife and cut him in the face. As Earth held the victim down, Moniz stabbed the victim in the neck. The stab caused a deep laceration to the victim’s neck.
Earth was sentenced on December 20, 2021, for his role in the assault and received 63 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago Police Department, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Vermonter Arrested for Attempted Enticement and Coercion of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scarlet Shadows a/k/a “Dragongurl69,” age 31, of West Rutland, Vermont, appeared today in federal court on a charge that she attempted to entice a minor into sexual activity.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the criminal complaint, Shadows attempted to entice and coerce an individual, whom Shadows believed to be an 11-year-old girl, to have sex. After weeks of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with undercover law enforcement officers, Shadows arranged to meet the child in Warren County, New York. Before being arrested yesterday, Shadows traveled from Vermont to Warren County with an engagement ring, condoms, and gifts for the child.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Shadows faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Additionally, if convicted, Shadows would be required to register as a sex offender.
Shadows appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, who ordered Shadows detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 1, 2022.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation may contact the FBI’s Albany Field Office at (518) 431-4866.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc
Vallejo Parolee Indicted for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment today against Bruce Lamont Walker, 53, of Vallejo, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Walker was convicted in 2014 for a domestic violence offense and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Walker had only been on parole for three months when a parole search resulted in the discovery of an AR‑15 style “ghost gun” (privately made without a serial number) in his bedroom. Also found was an extended magazine with 27 rounds of ammunition. Walker is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition on account of seven prior felony convictions, including two felony crimes of violence and multiple firearms related felonies.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Division of Adult Parole Operations, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Enforcement Team, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Walker faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Utah Attorney Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Attorney Eric Singleton, 56, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison by a judge in the District of Utah for his role in a bankruptcy fraud scheme on Monday. In addition, Singleton was ordered to serve two years of supervised release after the completion of his federal prison sentence and was ordered to pay $266,843 in restitution to the victims of his crime.
In the plea agreement, Singleton admitted that, from May of 2016 until September of 2017, he made false statements to the United States Bankruptcy Court, the bankruptcy trustee, and his clients, to facilitate his fraudulent scheme to embezzle money from client trust accounts and spend the money for his own personal use. Singleton carried out the fraud by advising his clients, “SYN and “CCN”, to transfer over approximately $288,000 to Singleton, which were proceeds from the sale of their properties, for Singleton to pay his attorney’s fees of $22,000 and to hold the remaining amount of $266,000 in his client trust accounts. Singleton advised his clients that he would hold the money for safekeeping to ensure that the money would not be taken by collections. Singleton then advised his clients he would return the money to his clients after the completion of their bankruptcy case. Singleton then spent the $266,000 for business and personal use.
After Singleton had embezzled the $266,000, he filed three separate bankruptcy proceedings for his clients in the United States Bankruptcy Court. During these bankruptcy proceedings, Singleton falsely stated to the court and the trustee that these individuals had less than $50,000 in assets, despite the fact that CCN and SYN had transferred over $266,000 to Singleton prior to the filing of these bankruptcy cases.
Following these three separate bankruptcy cases, Singleton filed two of his own bankruptcy cases in a continued effort to hide and conceal that he had embezzled $266,000 from his clients and then spent the money for business and person use.
The case was prosecuted by an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah and a Special Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Trustee’s Office for the District of Utah and investigated by Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Upper Marlboro Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Connection with Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Tammy Jones, a/k/a “Tammy Taylor”, age 53, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. As part of her plea agreement, Jones will be required to pay $111,377.12 in restitution.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.
According to her guilty plea, in May 2011 Jones purchased a home in Brandywine, Maryland. To finance the purchase of the home, Jones obtained a mortgage for $360,660 from Lender 1, which was backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
In 2017, Jones sought and received a loan modification for her FHA-insured mortgage through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Partial Claim Program, which is a loan modification program for FHA-insured mortgages. As part of the Partial Claim Program, HUD works to restructure the borrower’s mortgage payments using a partial claim which allows the borrower to stay in the home. A lender files a “partial claim” with HUD for a portion of the outstanding mortgage balance and HUD makes payment to the lender on behalf of the borrower for that portion of the mortgage. In exchange, HUD receives a security interest in the property in the amount of the balance that was paid to the lender and the borrower agrees to repay HUD for the amount of the partial claim. Thus, the lender is effectively “made whole” by the partial claim payment from HUD. When the borrower sells the home, the borrower is ultimately responsible for the balance of the partial claim to remove the lien held by HUD.
As stated in her plea agreement, in or around June 2017, Jones sought and received a loan modification through the HUD Partial Claim Program for her Brandywine, Maryland home. HUD made a partial claim payment to Servicer 1 (who serviced Jones’s FHA-insured mortgage) of $111,377.12 on behalf of Jones. In exchange, Jones granted HUD a security interest in the Brandywine, Maryland property for $111,377.12, the amount of the partial claim payment made by HUD. Jones also entered into a loan modification agreement with the mortgage lender, in which Jones owed $352,151.01 in principal and agreed to make monthly payments of $2,564.96.
In 2018, Jones sought to sell the Brandywine, Maryland property for $429,900. To close the sale of the property, employees of a settlement company sought proof that Jones’s lien from HUD and the FHA had been released.
In fact, the lien had not been released. Jones thereafter created false and fraudulent documents to make it appear as though the lien had been released in order to facilitate the sale of the Brandywine, Maryland home as part of the scheme.
Specifically, Jones created a fraudulent email account, purporting to be an employee of a company contracted by HUD to service loans on HUD’s behalf. Jones, posing as an employee of the HUD contractor, told an employee of the settlement company that the lien on the Brandywine, Maryland home had been released and Jones created and attached a bogus lien release document. Jones thereafter continued to contact the settlement company while posing as an employee of the HUD contractor. Jones also submitted a fraudulent Certificate of Satisfaction to the settlement company, which permitted the sale of the Brandywine, Maryland property on or about October 19, 2018.
After the sale of the Brandywine, Maryland property closed, the individual who purchased the home from Jones was notified of the outstanding lien on the property in 2019. Investigation revealed that Jones had falsified documents and fraudulently posed as an employee of the HUD contractor in order to further her scheme to defraud HUD.
In total, Jones caused a net loss of $111,377.12 to HUD, which represents the partial claim that HUD paid on behalf of Jones in September 2017.
Jones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2022 at 2:30 p.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HUD-OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin R. Cottingham, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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United States Attorney Announces a Minot, ND, Man Found Guilty of Sexual Exploitation of Six Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
BISMARCK - United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that a Federal Jury found Derrick Stephen Walker, age 46 of Minot, ND, guilty for six Counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one Count of Receipt of Images Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
A federal jury found Derrick Walker guilty of six Counts of the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor involving six separate minor victims identified as "John Doe One, Age One"; "John Doe Two, Age Three"; "John Doe Three, Age Six"; "John Doe Four, Age One"; and "Jane Doe One" and "Jane Doe Two, both Age One". Walker was specifically found guilty of aiding and abetting his co-defendant, Katie Heidinger of Velva, ND, in the production of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of the minors. In addition, Walker was found guilty of receiving images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. Investigation revealed that Katie Heidinger was involved in a romantic relationship with Derrick Walker and that Heidinger produced and distributed the videos and images, using the internet, at Walker’s request.
Katie Heidinger entered a change of plea to guilty to Counts One through Six on June 16, 2020 and is currently scheduled for sentencing on March 16, 2022. The Sentencing date for Walker has not been set.
"The actions of these defendants are revolting. The harm they’ve caused their victims is devastating and can last a lifetime," said acting Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of HSI St. Paul. "HSI is proud of the work we’ve accomplished with our state and local law enforcement partners, and we remain committed to our joint efforts in bringing these criminals to justice."
This case was investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Ward County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme assigned to the case.
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U.s. Settles Dispute over Disadvantaged Business Enterprise FraudRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – United Ironworkers (“United”), D&K Welding Services (“D&K”), Kim Rasnick, and Dorrie Wise-Harris have agreed to pay the United States and the State of Illinois
$440,000 to resolve a civil False Claims Act investigation relating to fraud on the Disadvantaged
Business Enterprise (“DBE”) programs of the United States and the State of Illinois U.S. Attorney
Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. United and D&K are steel construction companies
operating on highway and bridge projects in Illinois and other midwestern states.The DBE program reflects Congress’s intent to combat discrimination against minority and
women-owned businesses on federally-assisted surface transportation work. Under the DBE
regulations, only businesses independently owned and operated by a minority or woman may be
certified as a DBE.The government alleged that, as a non-DBE, United and its President, Kim Rasnick, conspired with
a DBE, D&K, and its President, Dorrie Wise-Harris, to provide materially
false representations and information regarding ownership and control of D&K for DBE certification
and recertification purposes. These allegations were investigated by the U.S. Department
of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and culminated in this settlement.“The DBE program is designed to provide business opportunities to minority and women owned
businesses. Funds designated for that purpose should not be misallocated to
businesses masquerading as legitimate DBEs,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.Karl and Diana Jefferson, who own a steel construction firm in Southern Illinois,
brought the allegations to light. The False Claims Act permits private individuals to
sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. The
civil lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Illinois and is captioned United States et
al. v. United Ironworkers, Inc., et al., 17-cv-1402. The Jefferson’s will receive $79,200 from the
settlement proceeds.This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois and the
Illinois Attorney General’s Office.U.S. Marshals need public's help to stop phone scamsRead the Press Release
SOUTHEAST, GA - The United States Marshals Service (USMS) needs your help to stop several phone scams targeting residents in Coastal Georgia. United States Marshal David L. Lyons reports scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers and threatening to arrest members of the public for failing to appear in federal court. In lieu of arrest, the fraudsters then offer to collect a fictitious fine through payment by gift card, phone application or other remote means.
Unfortunately, the scheme has proven highly successful at both the local and national level. According to Marshal Lyons, fraudsters often establish credibility with callers by employing a threatening tone, providing information like badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials or federal judges, and by referencing real courthouse addresses. The scammers have even spoofed phone numbers to appear legitimate on caller ID.
Marshal Lyons definitively states the USMS and the federal court will never ask for card numbers, wire transfers or routing numbers over the telephone. Any suspicious phone calls should be authenticated by hanging up and calling the federal court or the USMS offices in Augusta, Brunswick or Savannah directly. Marshal Lyons expands, “The best defense to these scams is public awareness. Sharing this information with your friends and family members may prevent them from becoming the next victim.”
If you have been targeted in a phone scam or other fraudulent activity, please report the information to the FBI through its Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov) and to the Federal Trade Commission (www.reportfraud.ftc.gov).
Additional information about court scams can be found on the websites for the United States Courts (www.uscourts.gov) and the United States Marshals Service (www.usmarshals.gov).
U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Suit Against Philadelphia Pharmacy and Pharmacist for Illegally Dispensing Opioids and for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that the United States filed a civil lawsuit against Philadelphia-based pharmacy Spivack, Inc., which previously operated under the name Verree Pharmacy, and its former owner, pharmacist Mitchell Spivack, alleging that they engaged in a years-long practice of illegally dispensing opioids and other controlled substances, and systematic health care fraud. The lawsuit alleges that Verree and Spivack illegally dispensed unparalleled quantities of opioids and other controlled substances into the Philadelphia community. The complaint seeks civil penalties and civil damages, which could total in the millions of dollars, as well as injunctive relief.
The culmination of a multi-year federal-state investigation, the complaint alleges that Verree Pharmacy, its pharmacist and then-owner Mitchell Spivack and other employees of Verree, had a responsibility to dispense opioids and other controlled substances only when appropriate. Instead, the United States alleges that the pharmacy and Spivack dispensed the drugs, even when faced with numerous red flags suggestive of diversion—such as opioids in extreme doses, dangerous combinations of opioids and other “cocktail” drugs preferred by those struggling with addiction, excessive cash payments for the drugs, blatantly forged prescriptions, and other signs that the pills were being diverted for illegal purposes. The complaint alleges that Verree—which was the top retail pharmacy purchasing oxycodone in Pennsylvania—has been a nationwide and regional outlier in its deviant purchasing, dispensing, and billing of controlled substances. To avoid scrutiny from the drug distributors that sold them the pills, Verree through Spivack, allegedly made false statements to maintain the façade of legitimacy and keep the pharmacy stocked with these pills critical to its profits. Behind that façade, the complaint alleges that Spivack drew millions of dollars from the pharmacy while the public suffered the consequences, including one patient who overdosed and died next to Verree Pharmacy bottles dispensed by Spivack.
The United States’ complaint alleges that Verree and Spivack were also engaging in an expansive health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent billings for drugs not actually dispensed. The alleged cornerstone of the scheme was a code used by the pharmacy employees in their internal computer system: “BBDF” or “Bill But Don’t Fill.” Verree, Spivack and their co-conspirators allegedly used BBDF as a means to cover their losses on other drugs and further line their pockets with illicit profits by falsely claiming to insurers, including Medicare, that they had dispensed a drug to a patient, when in fact they had not. According to the complaint, this sophisticated fraud—which one of the employees admitted to investigators—resulted in significant losses to Medicare and other federal programs.
The lawsuit seeks to impose civil penalties and damages on Verree and Spivack under the Controlled Substances and False Claims Acts. If Verree and Spivack are found liable, they could face civil penalties up to $68,426 for each unlawful prescription dispensed, civil penalties up to $23,607 for each false claim they submitted to federal health care programs, and treble damages for the alleged health care fraud against federal programs. The court may also award injunctive relief to prevent Verree and Spivack from committing additional controlled substance violations.
“Pharmacies and pharmacists engage in the deepest violation of the community’s trust when they exploit their access to opioids and other controlled substances and illegally dispense the drugs for their own financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “It is even more disturbing when pharmacies take advantage of their position of trust by fraudulently billing Medicare and other federal health care programs for bogus prescription drugs. My Office will use every resource it has to pursue and hold these individuals accountable. I am grateful for the support and investigative teamwork that the DEA, HHS-OIG, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office provided in this important matter.”
“In a city that has been so adversely and disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, Verree Pharmacy was the top retail pharmacy purchasing oxycodone in the entire state of Pennsylvania,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “Spivack and the other employees at Verree routinely demonstrated total disregard for their professional and ethical obligations and improperly dispensed powerful painkillers when numerous warning signs were present.”
“The Medicare and Medicaid Programs provide vital prescription drug services to their beneficiaries, said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office for the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Pharmacies are required to only bill for prescriptions and products they actually provide to their patients. HHS-OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the DEA to investigate allegations of fraudulent insurance billings.”
“We know that nearly 80% of those who use heroin first started with misusing a prescription opioid,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “Pharmacies and medical professionals have a responsibility under the law to dispense these drugs only when appropriate. These allegations of illegal dispensing and fraud are disturbing -- they hurt families and communities all over the Commonwealth and steal needed resources from taxpayers. Our office is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners, and I am thankful for the women and men who collaborated on this case.”
If the public has any information regarding Verree Pharmacy or any other health care fraud allegation, individuals should contact the HHS-OIG hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS.
The case is being investigated by the Philadelphia Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, HHS-OIG, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, with additional assistance from the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General, the Defense Health Agency, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The civil investigation and litigation are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony D. Scicchitano and auditors Dawn Wiggins and George Niedzwicki.
The complaint contains allegations only that the United States must prove if the case proceeds to trial.
Twice Convicted Sex-Offender Arrested with Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A Crawfordsville man was arrested Tuesday on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, an investigation into Christopher Gene Beke, Sr.,43, began with a report by Google LLC, after the company determined a Google user uploaded sexually explicit images of minors to Google servers in 2021. The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received these reports, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office identified the Google user as Beke, Sr., who had prior convictions for Child Molesting and Possession of Child Pornography. Upon execution of a search warrant, and with the assistance of “Hunter”, IMPD’s Electronic Detection K-9, Beke was found to be in possession of devices that contained sexually explicit images of minors. Beke admitted to police that his phone would contain illegal images.
“This case is a great example of how an international corporate giant like Google can use technology to detect child sexual abuse images being stored online and then quickly get that information into the hands of local law enforcement officers,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Using these internationally generated leads, our ICAC Task Force can put local boots on the ground to stop people who traffic in sexually explicit images of children. And a special thanks for the incredible work of our law enforcement partners in Montgomery County.”
“Detective French and Detective Kirby have worked tirelessly on these cases, and we are grateful for our partnerships with the ICAC Task Force,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham. “We will continue to commit all of our resources to these types of crimes and work with our partners to ensure we do our part in keeping children safe.”
Beke, Sr. is charged with Possession of a Visual Depiction of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct (with a Prior Conviction). The defendant made his initial court appearance today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Doris L. Pryor of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, Beke, Sr. faces a sentence of at least 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Crawfordsville Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (including the County Sex Offender Registrar), and the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office also provided valuable assistance.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Korobov who is prosecuting the case.
This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. In fiscal year 2019, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
Additionally, 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Traffic Stop in Fresno County Results in Charges for Washington Residents Traveling with 300,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Joseph Hill, 40, of Mount Vernon, Washington, and Brigit Marie Bissell, 27, of Bothell, Washington, charging them with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 14, 2022, Hill and Bissell were traveling northbound on Interstate 5 in Fresno County, when stopped by police for speeding. When the officer had his narcotics detection dog run a sweep around the car, the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed three bags containing approximately 75 pounds of fentanyl or over 300,000 fentanyl pills.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol, the Fresno High Impact Investigations Team, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hill and Bissell face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Texas Biologist Indicted for Wildlife TraffickingRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in Amarillo, Texas, issued an indictment today charging Dr. Richard Kazmaier, 54, with smuggling goods into the United States and two violations of the Endangered Species Act. The indictment alleges that Kazmaier, an associate professor of biology at West Texas A&M University, imported protected wildlife items into the country without declaring it or obtaining the required permits.
The Endangered Species Act and federal regulations require importers to declare wildlife, including parts and products, to customs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when it enters the country. The indictment charges that, between March 2017 and February 2020, Kazmaier imported wildlife items from around the world into the United States without declaring them. These items included skulls, skeletons and taxidermy mounts.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates trade in endangered or threatened species through permit requirements. The United States and 183 other countries are signatories to the CITES treaty. The indictment also charges Kazmaier with importing wildlife items from 14 protected species without obtaining permits, including the Eurasian otter, lynx, caracal, vervet monkey, greater naked-tailed armadillo and king bird-of-paradise.
The maximum sentence for the felony smuggling charge is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The two Endangered Species Act charges are misdemeanors with a maximum sentence of one year incarceration and a $100,000 fine.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement in Redmond, Washington, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Global Reach. The operation focused on the trafficking of wildlife from Indonesia to the United States. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Bell for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resource Division’s Environmental Crimes Section.
An indictment is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven otherwise before a jury at trial.
Texas Biologist Indicted for Wildlife TraffickingRead the Press Release
An associate professor of biology at West Texas A&M University has been indicted for smuggling goods into the United States and violating the Endangered Species Act, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Dr. Richard Kazmaier, 54, allegedly imported protected wildlife items into the country without declaring it or obtaining the required permits.
The Endangered Species Act and federal regulations require importers to declare wildlife, including parts and products, to customs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when it enters the country.
The indictment charges that, between March 2017 and February 2020, Dr. Kazmaier imported wildlife items from around the world into the United States without declaring them. These items included skulls, skeletons and taxidermy mounts.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates trade in endangered or threatened species through permit requirements. The United States and 183 other countries are signatories to the CITES treaty.
The indictment also charges Dr. Kazmaier with importing wildlife items from 14 protected species without obtaining permits, including the Eurasian otter, lynx, caracal, vervet monkey, greater naked-tailed armadillo, and king bird-of-paradise.
An indictment is merely an allegation, not evidence. Like all defendants, Dr. Kazmaier is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the felony smuggling charge. The two Endangered Species Act charges are misdemeanors with a maximum sentence of one year incarceration and a $100,000 fine.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement in Redmond, Washington, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Global Reach, which focused on the trafficking of wildlife from Indonesia to the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Bell for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
South Kingstown Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned a three-count indictment charging a South Kingstown man with possessing and distributing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
The indictment charges William Schock, 27, with two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Charging documents allege that Schock shared sexually explicit images of prepubescent females with others, using an online social media app. Additionally, it is alleged, Schock downloaded and stored video files depicting child pornography.
According to court documents, in May 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Ottawa provided information to HSI agents in Providence of an IP address that was used to upload an image of child pornography. HSI Providence agents determined that the IP address belonged to Shock’s residence, and that on at least two occasions it was allegedly used to upload child pornography.
In August 2020, HSI agents, assisted by the Rhode Island State Police and members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, executed a court-authorized search of Schock’s residence. A forensic review of Schock’s cell phone allegedly revealed numerous videos depicting child pornography.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly.
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Somerset County Man Charged with $860,000 Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for his role in fraudulently obtaining over $860,000 in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan payments (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Butherde Darius, 49, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud, and four counts of money laundering. Darius is scheduled to make his initial appearance by videoconference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
Darius submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of his purported business, Fabulous Appetizers LLC. The applications contained fraudulent representations to the lenders, including a Federal Home Loan Bank member, and the Small Business Administration (SBA), including bogus tax information from the IRS and certifications as to the number of employees and gross revenue of Darius’s business. According to IRS records, many of the purported tax documents Darius submitted were never in fact filed with the IRS and Darius fabricated the existence of employees and the revenue of his business. Based on Darius’s alleged misrepresentations in his loan applications, he received approximately $862,000 in federal COVID-19 emergency relief funds meant for distressed small businesses. Darius then spent the proceeds on personal expenses, including hotels and airfare, and made cash withdrawals of over $58,000.
The count of bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million; each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; and each count of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Both the wire fraud and money laundering counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez; special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero; special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephen Donnelly; special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; and special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Jason J. Molina in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine M. Romano and David E. Dauenheimer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Government Fraud Unit, in Newark.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.