Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Monday 24 January 2022
Previously Deported Alien Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 24, 2022, Salvador Dionisio-Guillermo, age 43, was sentenced to time served of 68 days’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Dionisio-Guillermo was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in November 2008. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after that time. He was located in the United States on January 12, 2020, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, when a Pennsylvania State Police trooper charged him with Driving Under the Influence and various traffic related violations.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanne M. Sanderson.
# # #
Podiatrist Pleas Guilty in Sex for Drugs Diversion SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A local podiatrist entered a guilty plea today to a two count Information charging unlawfully distribution of controlled substances for his involvement in a sex-for-drugs diversion scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Kent Kleinschmidt , U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris, Homeland Security Investigations, Detroit Division, and Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Dr. Maninder Deswal, 44, of Lansing, was charged with unlawfully prescribing Oxycodone-Acetaminophen (Percocet) and Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Norco), highly addictive opioids, to various women outside the course of professional medical practice. From December 2018 to September 2020, Dr. Deswal would issue controlled substance prescriptions to women in exchange for cash payments, sexual favors, and/or other illicit drugs. These women were not patients and issuing them prescriptions was not for legitimate medical purposes, but rather personal consumption and further drug diversion.
A sentencing date has been set for May 24, 2022 at 3:30 pm before United States District Judge Judith Levy.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandy R. McMillion. McMillion serves as the District’s Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Prosecutor as well as the Deputy-Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit. The Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit is a Department of Justice initiative designating twelve special prosecutors across the country to focus on prosecuting medical professionals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis.
The case was investigated by special agents and diversion investigators with the Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General along with assistance from the Ypsilanti Police Department and Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
Peoria Woman Arrested with Nine Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine in Morton, Ill. Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, woman, Donna N. Mark, 39, of the 2000 block of North California Street, was sentenced on January 20, 2022 to 168 months’ imprisonment (14 years), to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Court also ordered forfeiture of $21,578.95 seized at the time of the arrest.
At Mark’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid stated that Mark was “one of the most prolific” drug dealers, noting that she was arrested with over $21,000 and 9 pounds of ice methamphetamine destined for the communities of central Illinois. The judge weighed the substantial amount of methamphetamine found against Mark’s relatively short criminal history and positive upbringing. The judge noted that, while Mark did struggle with drug addiction during her 30s, the amount of drugs and cash she possessed showed that she was a drug dealer of “extraordinary” proportions.
At the hearing, the government explained that Mark’s offense conduct arose on March 2, 2021 when an officer with Morton Police Department was conducting warrant checks at the OYO Hotel in Morton, Illinois. Mark provided a fake name to police, who eventually contacted her again, along with two others to whom she had sold drugs. The investigation revealed Mark attempted to switch hotel rooms and hide bundles of ice methamphetamine in the toilet tank of the hotel room after giving the fake name to police. In total, law enforcement seized 8.2 pounds of ice methamphetamine from the toilet tank, an additional 818 grams of ice methamphetamine, $21,578.95 in U.S. Currency, drug paraphernalia, 71.3 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and a small amount of heroin and THC wax. Analysis by the DEA laboratory indicated the methamphetamine seized from Mark was 99% pure methamphetamine.
“This case results from the great work and collaboration of the Morton Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration to keep this highly-addictive drug off the streets of Tazewell and surrounding counties,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge. “This highly potent, readily available drug brings out the absolute worst in people and wreaks havoc in our communities. Our focus to keep communities safe by disrupting drug dealers at the top of the food chain will continue.”
According to public records, Mark was on probation in Tazewell County for two methamphetamine-related felonies at the time of this offense and had an active warrant at the time.
Mark was indicted in March 2021 and pleaded guilty in August 2021. Mark has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since her arrest on March 2, 2021.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in this case were not less than ten years and up to a life term of imprisonment, a five-year to life term of supervised release, and up to $10 million dollar fine.
The Morton Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with assistance of the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Penn Hills Woman Pleads Guilty to Participating in Gang’s Drug Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of suburban Pittsburgh pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Shania Wilson, age 40 of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Wilson is a part of an indictment that charged approximately 20 other individuals who operated a drug trafficking organization using the moniker Hustlas Don’t Sleep. Intercepted communications revealed that Wilson was a regular customer of the Hustlas Don’t Sleep drug trafficking organization who distributed portions of the fentanyl she received from the organization, provided provide feedback on the quality of the products being sold by the organization, and referred drug user customers to the organization.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 28, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Palm Bay Man Sentenced to Six Years for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced Davel Theodore Spady (35, Palm Bay) to six years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. A federal jury had found Spady guilty on October 21, 2021.
According to evidence presented during the three-day trial, Spady sold fentanyl on three separate occasions—February 18, 2021; February 27, 2021; and March 19, 2021—to a confidential source who was working with law enforcement. Spady sold the fentanyl from inside his vehicle while parked at a thrift store.
On April 14, 2021, the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Spady’s vehicle as he was travelling to deliver two ounces of fentanyl. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located the fentanyl, which had been concealed in the trunk.
Spady received an enhanced penalty at sentencing for obstruction of justice because the Court determined that he had testified falsely during his trial.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Melbourne Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Beatriz Gonzalez and Ranganath Manthripragada.
Owner of Health Care and Rehabilitation Facilities Indicted in $38 Million Payroll Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal district court in Newark, New Jersey, unsealed an indictment today charging the owner of a network of health care and rehabilitation facilities with willfully failing to withhold and pay over employment taxes on behalf of his employees, tax evasion, and failing to file benefit plan reports.
According to the indictment, Joseph Schwartz, an insurance broker, failed to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over millions of dollars in payroll taxes owed to the IRS on behalf of his employees as required by law. Schwartz owned and operated the New Jersey-based Skyline Management Group LLC and several related companies (Skyline), which in turn owned and managed 95 health care and rehabilitation facilities operating in at least 11 states. Schwartz allegedly controlled the finances of Skyline and the related companies.
In approximately late 2016, Schwartz and an associate allegedly created several businesses to provide staffing and management services for approximately 15,000 employees of the Skyline-owned health care and rehabilitation facilities. Although the staffing companies were nominally owned by other individuals, Schwartz allegedly controlled their finances and operation. From mid-2017 through June 2018, Schwartz allegedly caused the staffing companies to not pay approximately $38,982,016 in payroll taxes and unemployment taxes due the IRS. To evade unemployment taxes owed by the staffing companies, Schwartz allegedly used nominees to hide his control of the companies. He allegedly also provided, and directed others to provide, insufficient funds to pay the taxes owed.
In addition, as the trustee of Skyline’s 401K retirement plan, Schwartz allegedly did not file required reports with the Department of Labor relating to the financial condition, investments and operation of the retirement plan.
Schwartz made his initial court appearance on Thursday, Jan. 20, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. If convicted, Schwartz faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over employment taxes, five years in prison for each count of tax evasion, and ten years in prison for each count of failure to file a benefit plan report. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sullinger for the District of New Jersey; Special Agent In Charge Michael Montanez of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office; and the Department of Labor Criminal Investigations Program made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Department of Labor Criminal Investigations Program are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Shawn Noud of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Senior Litigation Counsel Vincent Grady O’Malley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Norwich Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Recording his Repeated Sexual Abuse of ChildRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TRAVIS M. WILLIAMS, 34, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 23 years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for photographing and video recording his repeated sexual abuse of a child.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on more than 100 occasions, Williams engaged in sexual acts with a child who was approximately 9 years old. In July 2019, Williams used his iPhone to photograph himself sexually abusing the child, and he subsequently sent the photographs to a woman via text message. On July 27, 2019, Williams filmed 10 videos depicting him sexually abusing the child.
Investigators recovered numerous text messages between Williams and the woman. In certain text messages, Williams told the woman that he wanted to engage in sexual acts with her while the child watched, and that he wanted the child to take part in these sexual acts.
Williams has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on August 30, 2019. On October 28, 2021, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.
The state charges against Williams are pending.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Norwich Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Neeraj N. Patel.
U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the New London State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation and assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
North Carolina Man Indicted for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A federal indictment was unsealed today charging a North Carolina man with tax evasion and failing to file tax returns.
According to the indictment, Darren Lee Joy, 63, of Charlotte, earned more than $750,000 in wages between 2015 and 2020, but he did not file any federal income tax returns for those years. Joy, who was employed as an information technology specialist by companies in the Charlotte area, allegedly submitted to his employers IRS Forms W-4 falsely stating he was exempt from federal income tax withholding. By claiming exempt status, Joy allegedly caused his employers to withhold little or no federal income taxes from his wages.
Joy is charged with six counts of tax evasion and six counts of willfully failing to file a tax return. If convicted, Joy faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion and one year in prison for each count of failing to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Brian Flanagan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nigerian Man Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Jude Uzochukwu Ifeanyi, 37, of Nigeria, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for wire fraud. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Ifeanyi to 41 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a one-year term of supervised release. Senior Judge Bataillon ordered Ifeanyi to pay restitution in the amount of $262,895 to several identified victims. Ifeanyi will be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence.
An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that from May 23, 2018 through May 25, 2018, Ifeanyi and his co-conspirators developed a scheme in an effort to defraud an Omaha couple out of $700,000. Ifeanyi and his co-conspirators, who were located in Nigeria, compromised an email account used by the Omaha couple. While conducting unauthorized surveillance within the Omaha couple’s email account, Ifeanyi and his co-conspirators identified a financial transaction that was to take place relating to the purchase of property in the State of Florida. Ifeanyi and his co-conspirators sent fraudulent emails to the Omaha couple, which appeared to come from the sellers of the property. The emails directed the Omaha couple to use “alternate wiring instructions” when making payment for property, ultimately directing that payment for the property be made to an unauthorized third-party bank account. As a result of the scheme, the Omaha couple was fraudulently induced into making a $700,000 wire transfer to the unauthorized third-party bank account. When the fraudulent scheme was discovered, the victims were able to recover a portion of the wire transfer but did suffer a loss of $131,485.
During the course of the FBI’s investigation, the FBI determined that Ifeanyi and his co-conspirators were also involved in other similar schemes to defraud victims located throughout the United States. The FBI identified 9 other victims with losses totaling $1,581,655.
On August 21, 2019, an Indictment charging Ifeanyi was filed in the United States District Court in the District of Nebraska. On December 30, 2020, Ifeanyi was extradited from Spain, where Ifeanyi was living at the time, to the United States under the supervision of the FBI. The FBI continues to investigate Ifeanyi’s co-conspirators who were involved with the criminal activity.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The sentencing today of Jude Uzochukwu Ifeanyi sends a strong message to criminals who carry out business email compromise schemes. The FBI takes this financially damaging threat seriously. We will continue to find and arrest criminals who target members of our community, regardless of where they commit their crimes from.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Shakespeare Cruz, age 48, of New York City, pleaded guilty today to federal drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen. As part of his plea, the defendant admitted that he distributed multiple kilograms of heroin and cocaine from 2014 through January 2019. The defendant further admitted that he and his co-conspirators arranged for the drugs to be transported from New York City to Lewis County, New York, where they were re-distributed to others there. During today’s guilty plea, the defendant agreed to forfeiture in the form of a money judgment of $200,000, reflecting the proceeds of his drug trafficking activity.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2022 in Syracuse. At sentencing, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of ten years, with a possible maximum of lifetime imprisonment. He faces a fine of up to $10,000,000 and a term of supervised release to follow any term of incarceration of at least five years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), the New York State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur, Adrian LaRochelle, and Andrew Beaty.
Mt. Sterling Man Sentenced to 234 Months for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, Ky.— A Mt. Sterling, Ky., man, Larry A. Crump, 37, was sentenced to 234 months in prison on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, after previously pleading guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery, bank robbery, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to his guilty plea agreement, Crump admitted to robbing the Cash N Check in Mt. Sterling, on November 16, 2020, and the Peoples Bank of Mt. Sterling, on November 20, 2020, at gunpoint. Crump also admitted to using a stolen firearm in the commission of the bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The amount of money taken from Cash N Check was approximately $900 and the amount of money stolen from the Peoples’ Bank was approximately $37,000. Law Enforcement agents recovered approximately $20,000 from the residence of one of Crump’s relatives. Crump was on parole at the time of the commission of the offenses.
Crump pleaded guilty in October 2021.
Under federal law, Crump must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Norman Arflack, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Chief Terry Landrum, Chief of Police, Mt. Sterling Police Department; and Jessica Stewart, Bath County Sheriff, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Mt. Sterling Police Department, and the Bath County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, the United States Attorney coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
— END —
Midland Businesswoman Pleaded Guilty to Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
MIDLAND – A Midland woman pleaded guilty last week to not paying federal payroll taxes.
According to court records, Lydia Evaro Madrigal, 64, was the president and chief executive officer for EXN, Inc. Starting in 2013 through 2015, EXN withheld payroll taxes from its employees’ paychecks but did not make the required payroll tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In all, Madrigal failed to account for and pay $637,594.35 in payroll taxes withheld from EXN’s employees. Madrigal also failed to pay the employer portion of the $249,536.35 in FICA taxes for 2013 through 2015. Instead Madrigal used the money for her own personal benefit.
As of today, Madrigal has voluntary paid losses to the IRS in full.
Madrigal pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to collect and pay over tax. She is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington made the announcement.
The IRS is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Harwood is prosecuting the case.
###
Man Convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor at QuanticoRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted an Afghan national Friday on charges of abusive sexual contact with a 3-year-old girl.
“This case is indicative of law enforcement’s commitment to ensure the safety of immigrant and refugee members of our community,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “People who come to our country seeking haven from tyranny and terrorism deserve to live here in safety. I want to thank the Marines and the FBI for their commitment to upholding that ideal. It is the resilience and courage of the victim and her family in speaking out against this offender that is truly emblematic of the contributions refugees and immigrants make to our country.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Mohammed Tariq, 24, engaged in sexual contact with the victim while both the victim and Tariq were housed at Camp Upshur, on Marine Corps Base Quantico, following evacuation from Afghanistan. United States Marines observed the defendant inappropriately touching the victim over her clothing, on her chest, genitals, and buttocks. The victim and Tariq were unrelated, however, both Tariq and the victim and her family had recently been evacuated from Afghanistan and brought to the United States.
Tariq faces a maximum term of life in prison when sentenced on April 26, 2022. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Haynes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Kramer are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’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.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-225.
Mahoning County Physician Pleads Guilty to Illegally Prescribing Controlled Substances and Causing the Deaths of Two PatientsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that Martin Escobar, 58, of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally distributing controlled substances, causing the deaths of two patients, unlawfully distributing a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21 and health care fraud.
According to court documents and the plea hearing, between March 2015 and October 2019, Escobar admitted to prescribing controlled substances out of his Lake Milton medical office, including opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, often in combination with benzodiazepines and stimulants, all outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.
Escobar admitted that, in order to support his unlawful prescription practices, he used false diagnoses, falsified patient pain intensity scales in medical charts, increased dosages of controlled substances and prescribed them for prolonged periods without evidence of efficacy. Furthermore, Escobar admitted to inadequately investigating patient pain complaints, failing to pursue treatment options other than controlled substances and falsely claiming to have performed extensive physical examinations on his patients.
Escobar also admitted to ignoring warning signs of his patients’ drug addiction and abuse. This included ignoring the results of his patients’ urine drug screen tests, many of which were performed in Escobar’s medical office and later billed to the government. These tests suggested that patients were abusing the drugs that Escobar had prescribed, using other controlled substances and selling their prescription drugs on the illegal secondary market. As a result, Escobar pleaded guilty to health care fraud.
Escobar also admitted that, in July of 2015 and 2016, he unlawfully prescribed opioids and other controlled substances to two patients without a legitimate medical purpose. Both patients later fatally overdosed from the drugs. In another instance, in April of 2018, Escobar admitted that he unlawfully prescribed opioids to an individual under the age of 21 without a medical need.
Escobar is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Ohio Attorney General’s Healthcare Fraud Section and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan D. O’Shea, Elliot D. Morrison and Michael L. Collyer, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Metzler of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
###
Local Man Sentenced for Role in California to Pittsburgh Drug OperationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A former Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to time served and two years of supervised release, with the first eighteen months on home detention on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Garfield Campbell Jr., age 25, formerly of Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood.
According to information presented to the court, Campbell Jr. is associated with an investigation that charged more than 20 individuals including his father, Garfield Campbell Sr. Based on intercepted communications, investigators determined that Campbell Sr., was using the United States Postal Service to send drugs from California to the Pittsburgh area for re-distribution. Campbell Jr. assisted the conspiracy by collecting money from the sale of drugs, sending money to pay for the drugs, and storing the drugs prior to their distribution.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Leader and Organizer of South Florida Drug-Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charges in the Southern District of FloridaRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Broward County resident Palacio Valdes Farley pled guilty in federal court in Miami to conspiring to traffic marijuana, eutylone, and MDMA, as well as conspiring to launder proceeds of the illegal drug activity.
As part of his plea, Farley admitted that from about 2016 to 2019, he organized and led a six-member South Florida drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”). The DTO obtained marijuana from co-conspirators in California, and MDMA from a South Florida co-conspirator, then distributed the drugs in Florida. Farley also admitted that on August 3, 2019, while he was serving a prison sentence at Jackson Correctional Institute in Jackson County, Florida, another member of the DTO was arrested while attempting to smuggle marijuana, eutylone, and MDMA into the prison. The plan was for Farley to distribute the drugs to inmates. As to money laundering, Farley admitted that he conspired with members of the DTO and others to conduct financial transactions intended to disguise the origins of the drug trafficking proceeds.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case, with assistance from Florida Department of Corrections, Office of Inspector General; Broward Sheriff's Office; Fort Lauderdale Police Department; Lauderhill Police Department; and United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Dwayne E. Williams and Dayron Silverio are prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
United States District Judge Kathleen M. Williams set Farley’s sentencing hearing for March 31, 2022. Farley faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment.
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 the case number 19-cr-20667-Williams.
###
Justice Department Settles with Insurance Agency to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with James A. Scott & Son Inc., an insurance agency doing business as Scott Insurance headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The settlement resolves the department’s claims that Scott Insurance discriminated on the basis of citizenship status against a non-U.S. citizen by requesting that he present a specific document to prove his permission to work and rejecting the valid document the worker showed. The department also found that Scott Insurance routinely discriminated against non-U.S. citizens by failing to consider and hire them due to their citizenship status.
“Employers cannot refuse to hire applicants based on their citizenship status except when they are authorized by law to do so,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Employers are also prohibited from discriminating against workers when verifying their permission to work. The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting workers from unlawful citizenship discrimination.”
The department’s investigation determined that Scott Insurance discriminated against a lawful permanent resident by asking him for his Permanent Resident Card to prove his permission to work and then rejecting the valid documentation he provided. The department further determined that from no later than June 1, 2017, and continuing until at least Aug. 1, 2020, Scott Insurance discriminated against non-U.S. citizens by failing to consider and hire them for positions based on their citizenship status.
The anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) protects U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizen nationals, refugees, asylees and recent lawful permanent residents from hiring discrimination based on their citizenship status. The law has an exception that allows employers or recruiters to limit jobs based on citizenship status if they are authorized to do so by a law, regulation, executive order or government contract. Employers are also prohibited from limiting or specifying the types of documentation a worker is allowed to show to prove permission to work, because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Employers must allow workers to present whatever valid documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine.
Under the settlement, Scott Insurance will pay $9,500 in civil penalties to the United States, and up to $70,000 in back pay to affected workers. The settlement also requires Scott Insurance to train employees on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Find more information on how employers can avoid citizenship status discrimination on IER’s website. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER. View the Spanish translation of this press release here.
Jury Finds Man Guilty of Assaulting a Dating PartnerRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a man Friday who assaulted his dating partner in November 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Alexander Michael Koloff, 29, of Tulsa, was found guilty of assault by striking, beating, and wounding.
During the domestic violence incident, Koloff, who had been drinking, took the victim’s phone so he could search through it. The woman asked him to return it when he was done, but he refused and eventually fled into a bathroom. As he tried to close the bathroom door, Koloff slammed the victim’s foot in the door injuring her. Next, Koloff slapped the victim, put his arms around her body and neck, and took her to the ground. Koloff then put his foot on her chest so the victim couldn’t move, took victim’s phone and fled the apartment,. The victim sought help from a neighbor and called 911. Koloff returned a short time later and locked himself in the apartment.
Officers responded to the incident and noted bruising and red marks on the victim that appeared consistent with the abuse described by the victim. An officer also conducted an on-scene lethality assessment with the victim, who identified to officers that she was in fear, was threatened, and had previously experienced violence from Koloff.
When performed, the on-scene lethality assessment can help police officers identify victims at high risk of homicide by their partners, ensure victims have a safe place to stay following a domestic violence incident, and place them in immediate contact with a domestic violence advocate.
The victim was later examined by a medical professional and found to have suffered multiple injuries including bruises and abrasions on her arms, back, chest, head and leg.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niko Boulieris and Kristin Harrington are prosecuting the case.
Judge sentences St. Louis man to 15 years in prison for several child exploitation crimesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Nicholas M. Ray to a term of 15 years in federal prison today. Ray previously pleaded guilty to attempting to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity and distribution of child pornography in a court appearance held October 2021. In 2014, Ray was convicted in St. Charles County Circuit Court for possession of child pornography and served a three-year prison sentence.
According to the plea agreement, in March 2020, Ray contacted a profile on a social media platform that in reality was an undercover police detective. Over the course of several messages that occurred on the social media application, Ray informed the undercover detective he had a sexual interest in minors as young as eight years old. Ray also stated he was interested in child pornography and that he had previously received such material from others in online chat messages.
Between March 2020 and April 2020, Ray communicated several times with the undercover detective indicating his desire to meet up to engage in sex involving minors. On April 28, 2020, Ray using a separate online application sent the undercover detective a link containing several thousand videos of child pornography.
The undercover detective arranged a meeting with Ray at a local hotel under the guise of having a sexual relationship with a fictitious minor child. Ray was arrested on June 10, 2020, after arriving at the hotel.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
Jefferson County woman admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Crystal Farmer, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Farmer, 43, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Device.” Farmer admitted to using a phone to distribute drugs in June 2021 in Jefferson County and elsewhere.
Farmer faces up to four years of incarceration and fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police, the DEA Task Force Montgomery County, Maryland; and the Frederick, Maryland, HIDTA group investigated. The EPDTF consists of the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Ranson Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Martinsburg Police Department.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Indictment Names Six in Scheme to Provide High-Powered Firearms and Huge Quantities of Ammunition to Mexican Drug CartelRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury indictment alleging a scheme to smuggle weapons and ammunition to one of the world’s most violent and dangerous transnational criminal organizations has led to the arrest of four defendants, the Justice Department announced today.
The arrests on January 19 are the result of Operation Semper Infidelis, a Los Angeles Strike Force investigation that targeted a domestic weapons trafficking organization that provided firearms and ammunition to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of the largest and most violent drug cartels in Mexico. In conjunction with the arrests, authorities unsealed a 23-count indictment that charges six defendants with conspiring to violate federal export laws by illegally bringing the weapons and ammunition to CJNG operatives in Mexico.
The indictment alleges that a Whittier man led the gun trafficking organization that used narcotics proceeds to purchase assault rifles, hundreds of thousands of rounds of assault rifle ammunition, and numerous machine gun parts and accessories – some of which were smuggled into Mexico, mostly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This case alleges a scheme to provide military-grade firepower to a major drug trafficking organization that commits unspeakable acts of violence in Mexico to further its goal of flooding the United States with dangerous and deadly narcotics,” said United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “We will continue our efforts to dismantle drug cartels by targeting their leadership and well as their soldiers, intercepting their narcotics and ill-gotten financial gains, and prosecuting those who provide the resources that allow the cartels to engage in acts of violence.”
“The defendants in this case smuggled sophisticated weaponry out of the United States to one of the most violent cartels in Mexico whose members target not only rival gangs, but innocent Mexican citizens and Mexican law enforcement,” said Kristi K Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Interdictions by our task force, coupled with this indictment, have dealt a blow to firearms trafficking groups on which this cartel relies to facilitate their violent operations.”
The indictment charges all six defendants in a conspiracy to violate export administration regulations that “restrict the export of items that could make a significant contribution to the military potential of other nations or that could be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States.” The indictment further charges five of the defendants with various attempted smuggling counts. The leader of the organization and his son are charged in a money laundering conspiracy, and two of the defendants are charged with being felons in possession of ammunition.
The six defendants named in the indictment are:
- Marco Antonio Santillan Valencia, 51, of Whittier, the alleged leader of the organization that obtained and supplied weapons, firearms parts and ammunition to the CJNG;
- Anthony Marmolejo Aguilar, 30, of Whittier, who is currently in state custody on separate charges in North Carolina;
- Marco Santillan Jr., 29, of Pahrump, Nevada, who is the son of the alleged leader of the ring and who was arrested in Oregon;
- Michael Diaz, 33, of Moreno Valley;
- Luis De Arcos, 51, of Midway City; and
- Rafael Magallon Castillo, 34, of Oceano, who is a fugitive believed to be in Mexico.
At their arraignments on January 19 in United States District Court in Los Angeles, Santillan, De Arcos and Diaz entered not guilty pleas and were ordered to stand trial in March. Santillan Jr. was ordered to appear for an arraignment in Los Angeles on February 2.
The indictment alleges that members of the Santillan gun trafficking organization obtained firearms in Oregon and Nevada, consolidated shipments in or near Pahrump and Whittier, and smuggled the prohibited items to Mexico. The organization further obtained ammunition from various states – sometimes anonymously ordering pallets of bullets – to be delivered to a stash location in Nevada.
The conspiracy, which the indictment states began no later than March 2020 and operated for about one year, also obtained thousands of rounds of .50-caliber armor piercing incendiary rounds in Arizona, consolidating them in Nevada before attempting to smuggle them into Mexico.
That indictment states that on May 26, 2020, in a Facebook message, “Santillan Jr. informed another individual that members of ‘Mencho’s cartel’ – referring to the CJNG – ‘are buying everything’ – referring to firearms and firearms parts.” Later that day, according to the indictment, Santillan Jr. sent a video of himself via Facebook holding a fanned stack of $100 bills and saying the “sale of firearms to the CJNG was profitable.”
During the Semper Infidelis investigation, authorities seized six assault rifles, over 250,000 rounds of assault rifle ammunition, over $300,000 worth of weapons parts and kits to assemble several “mini-guns” – six-barrel rotary machine guns capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute.
Marmolejo, Santillan Jr. and Diaz allegedly made large purchases of .50-caliber armor piercing incendiary ammunition and .223-caliber ammunition that was to be transported to Mexico. Days later, on July 31, 2020, in operations in Pahrump and San Bernardino County, law enforcement seized firearms parts and ammunition, including well over 100,000 rounds of .223-caliber and approximately 10,000 rounds of .50-caliber armor piercing incendiary ammunition.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The charge of conspiracy to violate export administration regulations carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the attempted smuggling counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Since the January 19 takedown, authorities continued efforts to arrest Magallon, but they are now seeking the public’s assistance in bringing him to justice. Anyone with information about Magallon’s whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
The Los Angeles Strike Force is led by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office. Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department and the United States Marshals Service are members of the Strike Force. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Gate Police Department provided substantial assistance during this investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Benedetto L. Balding and Christopher C. Kendall of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
Operation Semper Infidelis is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jabar Markeith Sellers, 39, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearing, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on a residence on Norway Avenue as part of a shooting investigation on July 7, 2021. Officers observed a vehicle believed to have been involved in a shooting and subsequently performed a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver was identified as Jabar Markeith Sellers, and a firearm was found in plain view in the driver’s door panel. Sellers is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of a previous felony conviction in Ohio.
Sellers pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and he faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on May 2, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00120.
###
Harrison County man sentenced for meth chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremy Moser, of Shinnston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 97 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Moser, 41, of Shinnston, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More Than Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine.” Moser admitted to working with others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from February 2017 to June 2018 in Harrison County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Original indictment release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/ohio-and-west-virginia-residents-indicted-drug-and-firearms-charges
Harrison County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniel Porter Critchfield, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was sentenced today to seven months and 15 days of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Critchfield, 35, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Critchfield, a person prohibited from having a firearm, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in February 2016 in Harrison County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Grand Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge announced today that Jaquari Trotter of Grand Rapids, Michigan pled guilty to shooting at a member of the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Gregory Rogers, who drove the getaway car following the shooting, previously pled guilty to aiding and abetting the assault.
On February 4, 2020, Trotter and Rogers were hanging out with friends outside a residence on Sherman Street SE in Grand Rapids when they saw a member of the task force drive by in an unmarked vehicle. When the agent drove by a second time, Trotter and Rogers pulled out in front of the agent’s unmarked SUV and sped around a neighboring corner. Trotter then had Rogers pull over sharply to the right side of the road, jumped out of the passenger door, pulled a loaded 9mm handgun from his waistband and fired 11 shots at the agent’s vehicle before jumping back into the car and speeding away with Rogers. Trotter is a previously convicted felon and it was illegal for him to possess a firearm in the first place.
The two men face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. They will also be ordered to pay restitution for the damage their crimes caused. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou on May 10, 2022 in Lansing.
“This shooting was a senseless act of violence that could have cost a law enforcement officer his life,” commented U.S. Attorney Andrew Byerly Birge. “Trotter and Rogers acted intentionally and without regard for the damage their actions could cause. With these pleas, they have taken the first step in accepting responsibility for their crime.”
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, whose office assisted on the case, commented that “We are tremendously pleased with the resolution in both these cases; we especially appreciate the way in which our office, and the Office of US Attorney, were able to work closely together to bring these individuals to justice in such a serious case.”
“Law enforcement officers risk their personal safety every day to protect the public, enforce the law, and keep our communities safe from violence,” said Josh P. Hauxhurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Criminals who choose to target officers can expect that every resource of the FBI will be used to ensure they are brought to justice.”
“We take any attempt to harm our Task Force Officers or Deputies while engaged in the performance of their official duties extremely seriously,” declared Joseph Guzman, Acting Chief Deputy of the U.S. Marshals Service. “We are thankful to see those responsible for this shooting held accountable and thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Kent County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI, and GRPD for their efforts in prosecuting everyone who was involved in this reckless act of violence.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grand Rapids Police Department, with additional assistance provided by the United States Marshals Service and the Michigan State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Blair Lachman, who also serves as a Deputy Prosecutor in the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office.
###
Gloversville Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kent Tucker, age 24, of Gloversville, New York, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Anthony Clay, Chief of the Gloversville Police Department.
As part of his guilty plea, Tucker admitted that on August 21, 2020, he possessed methamphetamine pills and cocaine case with the intent to distribute them, and also possessed a loaded, stolen firearm to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 24, 2022, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, in Albany. The parties have jointly recommended an 84-month term of imprisonment, which Judge D’Agostino may accept or reject. If she rejects the recommended term of imprisonment, Tucker would be able to withdraw his guilty plea and proceed to trial.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Gloversville Police Department, with assistance from the New York State Police and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Gettysburg Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 21, 2022, Daniel Lee Boose, age 39, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for receiving child pornography. Boose was also ordered to register as a sex offender and serve 10 years of supervised release following his release from prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Boose previously pleaded guilty in this case to receiving images of child pornography within Middle District of Pennsylvania. Gurganus noted that at the time of his arrest, Boose was found to be in possession of more than 1,000 images of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children, much of which consisted of sexually explicit material involving children between the ages of 7 and 13.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
# # #
Former Veterinarian Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Madison Heights, Virginia man and former veterinarian pleaded guilty to a pair of misdemeanor drug charges related to his diversion of hydromorphone, an opioid drug also known under the trade name of “Dilaudid.”
Patrick Gries, 54, pleaded guilty last week to one count of adulteration of a drug held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce and one count of distribution of a controlled substance without a written prescription.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our partners at the FDA, and elsewhere, to ensure consumer products are stored and prescribed using the most safe and secure protocols possible,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When individuals with access to controlled substances break those safety protocols, even for individual use, they must be held accountable.”
“The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that it is safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper with medicines put the health of patients (whether they are human or animal) at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to protect the public health and bring to justice health care professionals who take advantage of their unique position and compromise their patients’ health and comfort by tampering with needed drugs.”
According to court documents, from 1994 through 2021, Gries practiced as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at a veterinary hospital in Amherst County, Virginia. The veterinary hospital held hydromorphone for sale and maintained supplies of hydromorphone for use in treating pain in the hospital’s animal patients following surgeries.
As the hospital’s primary surgeon, Gries had full access to the hospital’s supply of hydromorphone. Beginning in July 2020 and without a valid prescription, Gries diverted hydromorphone for personal use by withdrawing a portion of the hydromorphone from the vial and injecting it into himself. He would then replace the diverted portion of the hydromorphone with another substance, usually either saline or butorphonal, and then return the altered hydromorphone to the supply maintained by the hospital.
The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration - Diversion Control Division, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Former UTA Employee Sentenced for Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY- Jacob Splan, 39, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and 36 months of probation on Tuesday, in relation to making false statements to special agents from the United States Department of Transportation and the FBI.
According to the plea agreement, Splan admitted to lying to federal investigators about whether he had invoiced the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) for work completed at his personal residence. Under the terms of Splan’s former employment with UTA, he had the authority to make no-bid “micro purchases” on behalf of UTA in the amount of $3,000.00 or less. However, during a meeting on January 7, 2021, with special agents from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FBI, Splan affirmatively stated that he had paid $3,000 dollars of his own money to contractors for work completed at his home. Splan later admitted in the plea agreement that he had not paid the contractors with his own money and that he knew the statement was false. In addition to the six months of home confinement, Splan has been ordered to pay a fine of $30,000, which was the estimated value of the work that Splan had completed on his own driveway.
“One of the highest priorities within the Department of Justice is ensuring the integrity of governmental processes and employees,” said United States Attorney Andrea T. Martinez. “We hope that this sentencing sends a message that misusing public funds and lying to federal investigators will be taken seriously and prosecuted in the District of Utah.”
“Working with our law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and prosecute government officials who make false statements during criminal investigations ensures that those in positions that serve the public maintain their integrity,” said Cissy Tubbs, Special Agent-In-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Jacob Splan’s sentence sends a message that this conduct is unlawful and will not be tolerated.”
“Jacob Splan abused his position for his own personal gain and then lied about it,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice of the Salt Lake City FBI. “No matter the amount of money, corruption undermines confidence in government, and those who commit fraud will be held accountable.”
Assistant United States Attorneys from the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case against Splan. Special Agents from the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the FBI conducted the investigation.
Former UBS Financial Advisor Charged with Defrauding over $5 Million Dollars from His UBS ClientsRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, German Nino, a former UBS Financial Advisor, made his initial appearance in federal court in Miami to face charges of defrauding over $5 million from a family who maintained several accounts at UBS.
According to a federal information, from about 2012, and continuing to 2020, Nino, a resident of Broward County, was a financial advisor working at a branch office of UBS Financial Services Inc. in Miami. Nino oversaw and managed UBS investment accounts for various customers, including three victims who were related and who had various investment accounts at UBS. Nino was the financial advisor assigned to oversee and manage the victims’ money in the accounts.
It is alleged that from about May 2014 to February 2020, Nino made a total of 62 unauthorized transfers from three UBS accounts belonging to the victims, which totaled $5,833,218.59. To accomplish the wire fraud scheme, Nino made materially false and fraudulent statements to his victims and concealed and omitted material facts including misrepresenting the true performance, balance, and rate of return of the accounts he managed; forging the signature of his clients on documents purporting to authorize transfers out of the accounts; preparing a fraudulent land purchase contract and forging a victim’s signature on the land purchase contract to make it appear that the victim was purchasing land in Colombia by using money from the victim’s account; removing one of the victim’s email from the victim’s UBS email account profile so that the victim would not receive email notifications from UBS about unauthorized transfers; and preparing fraudulent UBS account statements and client review statements, which falsely inflated the balance and value of the victims’ accounts, says the information.
Nino made his initial appearance in federal magistrate court in Miami before United States Magistrate Lisette M. Reid.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deric Zacca is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.
An information contains mere allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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 22-cr-20020.
###
Former State Court Victim Advocate Admits Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT ECCLESTON, 58, of Canton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today via videoconference to one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, covert FBI personnel in two different field offices outside of Connecticut were monitoring various public groups on the social medial application Kik. In August and September 2020, Eccleston, using the Kik usernames “hartfordctguy” and “Mowgli100,” distributed numerous pornographic images and videos of children in these Kik groups, including images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of toddlers and prepubescent children. Eccleston also served as an administrator of one Kik group and required prospective members to send him videos of child sexual abuse for group access.
Eccleston was arrested on December 11, 2020. At the time of the offense, he was employed as a Victim Services Advocate for the Hartford Superior Court in Hartford.
Eccleston is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on April 19, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Eccleston has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Avon Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Former Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – An inmate of SCI Pine Grove, Indiana, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Delrico Shields age 26, formerly of Glenwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pled guilty on January 21, 2022, before U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy.
Shields was originally charged along with 23 others following a four-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking, violence, and firearms violations in and around the Hazelwood neighborhood in Pittsburgh. According to information provided to the court, during various points in the time frame listed in the indictment—from in and around August of 2019 and continuing thereafter to in and around August of 2021—Shields conspired to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 26, 2022. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least three years. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Munhall Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and Whitehall Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment of Shields.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Florida Dentist Sentenced to 12 Months and a day in Prison for Public Corruption Scheme Involving Former Arkansas State SenatorRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE - A Florida dentist, formerly of Arkansas, was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison followed by one year of supervised release and a $157,500 fine on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, between February of 2014 through November of 2016, Benjamin Gray Burris, age 50, was the owner of several orthodontic clinics and practiced as an orthodontist through Arkansas. On February 27, 2014, Burris, State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson, and others met for a dinner at a Little Rock restaurant and discussed Burris’s legislative objectives and hiring Hutchinson as Burris’s corporate legal counsel. Jeremy Hutchinson, who then represented state Senate District 33, comprised of portions of Pulaski and Saline County, Arkansas, stated that as part of any arrangement there needed to be “real legal work.” In his plea agreement, Burris admitted that part of his intent in hiring Hutchinson was to enable Burris to influence and request official action from Hutchinson. Throughout the course of their arrangement, Burris’s legal entities paid Hutchinson Law Firm a total of $157,500 at a rate of approximately $5,000 per month as a general retainer and Hutchinson was assigned legal work.
Specifically, Burris sent Hutchinson an email outlining Burris’s “Legislative Objectives” in late February of 2014 in which Burris stated that he wanted specialty restrictions on orthodontists removed. On January 26, 2015, Hutchinson filed a shell bill in the Arkansas Senate entitled “An Act to Clarify the Laws Governing Dental Practice.” Later on, April 6, 2015, Hutchinson filed a related Interim Study Proposal with the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor. On September 22, 2015, Hutchinson filed another Interim Study Proposal (ISP-2015-154) on the subject. This ISP, among other things, proposed to remove the specialist restriction for orthodontists. According to text messages cited in Burris’s plea agreement, in 2016 Burris texted Hutchinson complaining about a lack of “ROI” also known as “return on investment” in his arrangement with Hutchinson and he requested specific updates on legislative matters. ISP-2015-154 was eventually filed as House Bill 1250 on January 23, 2017, after Hutchinson claimed a belated conflict, passed in the 91st General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, and was later signed into law on or about March 15, 2017.
Burris sold his businesses and moved to Florida in the spring of 2017 and has not practiced in Arkansas since that time.
Burris plead guilty on September 13, 2021.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas and U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross of the Eastern District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The FBI and the IRS investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Aaron Jennen, Ben Wulff, Stephanie Mazzanti, Allison Bragg and Kenneth Elser prosecuted the case for the United States.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Five Men Indicted for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Five Boston-area men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for firearm and drug offenses.
Trevon Bell, 26, of Boston, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Freily Cabral, 25, of Boston and Quincy, was indicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Dumari Scarlett-Dixon, 21, of Boston and Weymouth, was indicted on one count of unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dane Mitchell, a/k/a “Cheaney,” 31, of Revere, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Lawrence Alexander, 24, of Stoughton, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Bell was arrested on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, and was detained following an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell that afternoon. Cabral, Scarlett-Dixon and Mitchell had previously been arrested and remain in federal custody. Alexander remains at large.
According to charging documents, an investigation conducted from August through December 2021 identified the defendants as illegally possessing or selling firearms. As part of the investigation, a series of search warrants were executed at the defendants’ residences which allegedly resulted in the seizure of numerous firearms, ammunition and drugs packaged for sale. According to charging documents, a search of Cabral and Alexander’s residence on Sept. 9, 2021, resulted in the seizure of a Taurus .38 caliber revolver, a Hopkins and Allen .32 caliber revolver, a Walther 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, .38 caliber and 9-millimeter ammunition, approximately 1.3 kilograms of marijuana packaged for sale and over $23,000 in cash. A search of Scarlett-Dixon’s residence on Sept. 21, 2021, resulted in the seizure of a Bersa 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, 49 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition and 10 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. A search of Mitchel’s residence on Dec. 28, 2021, resulted in the seizure of a Taurus .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, .380 caliber ammunition, eight bags of cocaine packaged for sale, a digital scale and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. Agents also recovered a Glock Model 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol that was linked to Bell. At the time of the offenses, Cabral, Scarlett-Dixon and Bell were each on house arrest via electronic monitoring for pending state court firearm charges and Mitchell was on supervised release for a prior federal firearms charge.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, at least two years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, from and after any sentence imposed on the underlying drug trafficking counts, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Quincy and Lynn Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Men on Fentanyl Trafficking, Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted two Minneapolis men of multiple counts of drug dealing, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
Following an eleven-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis, Anthony Akemu Abari, 41, and Kevin Termell Green, 38, were convicted late Friday afternoon of multiple counts related to a fentanyl-laced heroin trafficking conspiracy. Abari was further convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to the evidence presented at trial, since 2018, Abari, Green, and others participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin laced with fentanyl. Between late 2018 and mid-2019, the defendants regularly supplied fentanyl-laced heroin to individuals living in a large homeless encampment along Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis. Abari and co-defendant Relondo Devon Hall, 37, stopped there, on a daily basis at times, to distribute drugs they obtained from Green.
In January 2019, law enforcement received information that there was drug dealing going on at a Minneapolis residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence where they found Abari with 100 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, a gun, and two phones connecting him to drug dealing. In April 2019, law enforcement received additional information that Abari was in possession of heroin and a firearm. Upon execution of a search warrant, they found Abari in the basement where they also recovered 20 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in July of 2019, upon execution of a search warrant, law enforcement seized 298 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl belonging to Green. Green had been supplying Abari and others with heroin laced with fentanyl from at least December 2018 and continuing into July 2019.
Abari was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of heroin laced with fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of heroin laced with fentanyl, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment. Green was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Sentencing dates will be scheduled at a later time.
Abari and Green’s co-defendant Relondo Devon Hall, 37, pleaded guilty on July 30, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin A. Wesley and Lindsey E. Middlecamp.
###
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con una agencia de seguros que resuelve unas acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con James A. Scott & Son, Inc., una agencia de seguros que opera bajo el nombre de Scott Insurance, con sede en Lynchburg, Virginia. El acuerdo resuelve las acusaciones del Departamento de que Scott Insurance discriminó, por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía, a un no ciudadano estadounidense al pedirle que presentara un documento específico para demostrar su permiso para trabajar y al rechazar el documento válido que el trabajador presentó. Asimismo, el Departamento halló que Scott Insurance discriminaba, de forma rutinaria, a no ciudadanos estadounidenses al negarse a considerar o contratarlo debido a su estatus de ciudadanía.
«Los empleadores no pueden negarse a contratar a candidatos con base en su estatus de ciudadanía salvo cuando por ley están autorizados a hacerlo», declaró Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal Federal Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Además, se les prohíbe a los empleadores discriminar a trabajadores a la hora de verificar su permiso para trabajar. La División de Derechos Civiles se ha comprometido a proteger a los trabajadores de la discriminación ilícita por motivos de ciudadanía».
La investigación del Departamento determinó que Scott Insurance discriminó a un residente permanente legal al pedir que presentase su Tarjeta de Residente Permanente para demostrar su permiso para trabajar y luego rechazar la documentación válida que él presentó. Más aún, el Departamento determinó que, a más tardar, el 1 de junio del 2017 hasta al menos el 1 de agosto del 2020, Scott Insurance discriminó a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. al negarse a considerar o contratarlos para puestos, por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía.
La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) protege a ciudadanos estadounidenses, nacionales no ciudadanos, refugiados, asilados y residentes permanentes legales recientes de la discriminación por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía. La ley tiene una excepción que permite que empleadores o reclutadores restrinjan puestos con base en el estatus de ciudadanía si cuentan con la debida autorización para hacerlo bajo alguna ley, un reglamento, una orden ejecutiva o un contrato gubernamental. A los empleadores se les prohíbe restringir o especificar los tipos de documentación que se le permite al trabajador presentar para demostrar que cuenta con permiso para trabajar, por motivos de la ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen de tal trabajador. Los empleadores deben permitir que sus trabajadores presenten cualquier documentación válida que dichos trabajadores quieran y no pueden rechazar documentación válida que parece ser genuina.
Conforme el acuerdo, Scott Insurance pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos que asciende a $9,500 y $70,000 en pagos retroactivos a los trabajadores afectados. Por otra parte, el acuerdo requiere que Scott Insurance capacite sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA y que se someta a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración del Departamento.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; prácticas documentales injustas; y represalias o la intimidación.
Aprenda más sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en el sitio web de la IER. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
Des Moines Apartment Shooter Sentenced to 183 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On January 21, 2022, United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Darreon Earl Wright, age 25, of Des Moines, to 183 months in prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery; interference and attempted interference with commerce through robbery; and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. Wright was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the two-day federal trial held in September 2021, shortly before 9:00 p.m. on February 19, 2020, Wright and his co-conspirator lured the victim to an apartment complex in Des Moines under the false promise of selling the victim marijuana. Upon the victim’s arrival at the apartment complex, Wright’s co-conspirator led the victim to an enclosed stairwell within the apartment complex where Wright was waiting with a loaded gun to ambush and rob the victim of the $6,900 in cash he brought to purchase the marijuana. When the victim entered the enclosed stairwell, Wright’s co-conspirator grabbed the victim, and Wright shot the victim two times—once in the arm, and once in the chest. Wright fled the shooting scene with his pistol. The victim survived.
This investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Section. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Perjury by Threatening a Witness in Murder TrialRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Lakewood, Colorado, man convicted of Subornation of Perjury and Conspiracy to Commit Subornation of Perjury was sentenced on January 21, 2022, by Judge Karen E. Schreier, U.S. District Court.
Jason Patrick Baca, age 35, was sentenced to five years in federal prison on each count, to run consecutively, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Baca was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2019, and pleaded guilty on December 22, 2021. The conviction stems from Baca threatening a material witness and dissuading the witness from testifying truthfully in the September 2021 jury trial for the 2016 assault and shooting death of Vincent Von Brewer III.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Collins and Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Baca was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Chester County Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking into Area College Computer NetworksRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Timothy Spillane, 39, of Chester Springs, PA, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Joel Slomsky to accessing a protected computer network without authorization, arising from his intrusions into the digital networks of two suburban Philadelphia-area colleges.
According to court documents, between November 2017 and January 2018, the defendant hacked into approximately 25 school network email accounts at two local colleges belonging to students and staff. After gaining access to these accounts, Spillane obtained the personal identifying information of the account holders and others, including W-2 tax forms and student financial information. The defendant then attempted to submit fraudulent tax returns using the stolen information, but he was unsuccessful because he could not accurately determine the victims’ adjusted gross income from the prior tax year. Spillane further admitted that he set up email, pre-paid phone and bank accounts in these individuals’ names in order to collect the fraudulently obtained tax return money.
“A significant number of Americans handle nearly all of their business online, which means that the information they store digitally can be vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Would-be thieves like this defendant demonstrate how quickly and easily personal information can be compromised. However, this case also demonstrates how quickly our Office and our law enforcement partners will respond; it was only a matter of weeks between the FBI receiving a tip and the day they knocked on the defendant’s door to execute a search warrant, stopping him in his tracks.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe.
Chapel Hill Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years Imprisonment for Elder Fraud Home Repair SchemeRead the Press Release
Greensboro, N.C. – Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, announced today that JORGE ALBERTO GARCIA, also known as “Alberto Garcia” and “Roberto Garcia,” was sentenced today in federal court for fraud and tax offenses.
GARCIA, age 41, had pled guilty on November 22, 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, that is, a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, in a home repair scheme, as well as two counts of failure to file income tax returns.
GARCIA was sentenced by United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., in Greensboro. GARCIA was sentenced to 121 months in prison as to Count One and 12 months in prison as to Counts Eleven and Twelve, to run concurrently with one another. He was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release as to Count One and one year of supervised release as to Counts Eleven and Twelve, also to run concurrently with another. He was ordered to pay $4,043,397.52 in restitution.
“The lengthy sentence in this case reflects the depravity of the scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “This prosecution sends a message to would-be fraudsters: fraud, especially fraud that targets the vulnerable elderly, is a top priority of federal law enforcement in this district, and an offense that carries substantial penalties.”
“The victims in this case trusted Jorge Garcia, but unfortunately they were manipulated and deceived. Garcia ripped off hundreds of elderly victims to fill his own pockets. Now he will pay for his crimes serving a federal prison sentence where he can't swindle anyone else,” said Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina.
“Illegal activity involving innocent taxpayers has brought financial ruin to many Americans,” stated Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to using our forensic accounting skills to help unravel complex fraud and money laundering schemes. We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who attempt to enrich themselves by fraudulent means, and to help put a stop to this and other types of white collar crime."
According to court documents, from on or about September 2015 to and including April 2020, GARCIA approached elderly, retired individuals at their private residences in Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties, offering home improvement services using the business names “J&J Home Improvement” and “JH Home Improvements, Inc.” Many of these victims had physical or mental infirmities. GARCIA—who never had a state general contractor’s license—would offer to perform home improvement projects and these elderly individuals would, in turn, pay him prior to the completion of any construction work via personal checks, credit cards, or withdrawals from investment accounts. GARCIA would often direct that these individuals leave the “to” line of the check blank (which would later be completed in the name of his wife), or issue the check directly to his wife, who, in turn, deposited the checks into personal accounts in her name or that of her business, La Cacerola. GARCIA’s wife would then withdraw the money in cash and/or issue a cashier’s check made out to GARCIA. GARCIA and his wife would also take the checks to the elderly individual’s bank or their bank and cash the checks without depositing the funds into their bank accounts.
Filed documents further state GARCIA would develop personal relationships with these elderly individuals, calling them “Momma” and “Poppa,” and encourage them to solicit their neighbors to engage his services in home improvement projects for their residences, as well. GARCIA also solicited loans from some of the elderly individuals for whom he had already contracted to perform home improvement projects, separate and apart from those projects. In at least one instance, he received a check from a victim for such a loan and returned to that victim’s home later that same day to request the loan again. The victim, not remembering that he had written the first check, issued yet another check for the same amount to GARCIA.
However, GARCIA would not complete the contracted home improvement projects, nor would he repay any loans in full. When the contracting individual, a concerned relative of that person, or a local law enforcement officer confronted GARCIA about the payments, GARCIA would respond in the following ways: a) GARCIA would promise to send workers to complete the project but never fully complete the project; b) GARCIA or his wife would return a small percentage of the monies paid for the project; and/or c) GARCIA or his wife would write a personal check to the contracting individual that would be returned by the issuing bank as lacking sufficient funds. On more than one instance, GARCIA urged the victim not to contact the authorities about the unfinished work.
Review of records from bank accounts known to be controlled by GARCIA and/or his wife for the time period spanning May 2014 through November 2019 indicates that, as a result of the above-described scheme to defraud, GARCIA obtained a total exceeding $3 million dollars belonging to multiple victims.
Further, as reflected in the factual basis filed in support of GARCIA’s guilty plea, GARCIA and his wife have filed no federal income taxes since 2007, either personally or for their respective businesses. For the tax years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, GARCIA and his wife had a joint income exceeding $3 million dollars. In calendar years 2017 and 2018, GARCIA had and received gross income exceeding the amount required to file an income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service; GARCIA knew this and willfully failed to file a return.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (in coordination with the Durham Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Chapel Hill Police Department, Carrboro Police Department, and Cary Police Department) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys JoAnna G. McFadden and Ashley E. Waid.
###
Cedar Rapids Nurse Sentenced in Drug Diversion and Tampering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids surgery center nurse, who diverted fentanyl to her own use at a local outpatient surgery center, was sentenced on January 21, 2022, to five years probation. Sabrina Thalblum, age 52, from Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a July 21, 2021, guilty plea to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, and one count of adulteration and misbranding with intent to defraud and mislead.
At her guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Thalblum admitted that, from about August 2018 to August 2019, she was an unlawful user of, and addicted to, fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid and controlled substance. Thalblum abused her position as a registered nurse to gain access to fentanyl at her employer, a local surgery center, and divert it to her own use. As a part of her scheme, Thalblum tampered with the vials of fentanyl. Thalblum removed the caps from vials of fentanyl at the outpatient surgery center and then carefully punctured the vials with needles and drew out the fentanyl. She then refilled the vials with saline to make the vials appear as if they still contained fentanyl. Thalblum also carefully reglued the caps of the vials to make it appear as if the vials were undisturbed, when, in truth, these consumer products no longer contained their declared values of fentanyl. In this way, the Thalblum made it appear as if the vials remained new, unopened, and filled with the controlled substance on their respective labels, that is, fentanyl, when, in truth, the Thalblum had diverted some or all of the fentanyl in the vials to herself.
Thalblum was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thalblum was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $10,000. She also must forfeit her nursing license. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-102.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Arizona man pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records, in 2017 and 2018, Arthur Merson, 67, of Scottsdale, Arizona, participated in a scheme to defraud involving investments in Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs). Investors were promised that they could receive a portion of the value of an SBLC, worth millions of dollars, for a much smaller initial investment. Investors were promised returns equal to many times the amounts of their initial investments in a matter of weeks. They were also promised that their money would remain in the attorney trust account of a co-conspirator—who at the time was a licensed attorney in Florida—until confirmation was received that the SBLC had been issued.
In his role as an intermediary between investors and the principal members of the conspiracy, Merson falsely represented to investors that the investment was not risky and that he had been involved in similar successful deals in the past. In fact, he had not been involved in prior successful transactions of this sort, nor had he made any significant amount of money from them.
After co-conspirators fraudulently transferred investor funds, Merson relayed a variety of excuses from other members of the conspiracy for why the transactions had not occurred. He also falsely represented that he was an independent consultant who was only going to receive a small finder’s fee, and claimed not to know the details of the transaction or the payouts the clients could expect. In fact, he had a significant independent financial interest in the investment transaction that he failed to disclose, and affirmatively misled investors about, as he responded to investor inquiries.
Merson faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI investigated the case.
# # #
Ambridge Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison in Project Safe Childhood Case: Kevin Lude Also Ordered to Pay More than $72,000 to 22 VictimsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 8 years’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction of Receipt and Attempted Receipt of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Kevin Lude, age 31, of Ambridge, Pennsylvania on January 20, 2022.
According to information presented to the court, from August 21, 2019 through September 30, 2019, Lude knowingly received and attempt to receive visual depictions of minors, namely videos, engaging in sexually explicit conduct via peer-to-peer networks. Because a peer-to-peer network allows a user to download files directly from the computers of other users in the network, Lude was able to accrue an extensive collection of child sexual abuse material while permitting other individuals to do the same.
In imposing Lude’s sentence, Judge Ranjan stated: “[I]t is undisputed and supported by the victim-impact statements that there remains an ongoing harm to the victims as their images are re-distributed.” As part of his sentence, the Court ordered Lude to pay restitution to 22 of his victims, resulting a total order of restitution of $72,788.98.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended Homeland Security Investigations and the New Brighton Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lude.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Sunday 23 January 2022
Rosebud Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Jesse James Leader Charge, age 26, was indicted on September 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 21, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, mandatory minimum five years of supervised release, up to life, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between May 6, 2021, and September 14, 2021, in the District of South Dakota, Leader Charge, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Leader Charge is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Leader Charge was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Parmelee Man Charged with Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Hehaka Thunder Hawk, age 38, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 21, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, any term of years, not less than five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between September 1, 2020, and September 30, 2020, in the District of South Dakota, Thunder Hawk knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a minor female.
The charge is merely an accusation and Thunder Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Thunder Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Jury Finds Mission Man Guilty of Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that Patrick Medearis, age 38, of Mission, South Dakota, was found guilty of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm as a result of a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Medearis was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16, 2020. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on April 22, 2020, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, law enforcement was searching for Medearis based on an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred the previous day, wherein he was suspected of possessing a firearm. Medearis was located at a residence south of Mission. When law enforcement arrived, Medearis attempted to flee in a vehicle. He was subsequently apprehended, and a .22 caliber long rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun were located in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Medearis has three prior felony convictions. He was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in U.S. District Court in 2006. He was convicted of Child Abuse and Neglect in U.S. District Court in 2010. He was convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer in U.S. District Court in 2017. As a result of these convictions, it is illegal for Medearis to possess firearms or ammunition. Medearis will forfeit ownership of the firearms to the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Medearis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Friday 21 January 2022
York County Man and Woman Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 12, 2022, Shiloh Edris Johnson, age 18, and Kadie Jean Swartz, age 18, both of York, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Johnson and Swartz conspired to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, and that they conspired to possess, and possessed, firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The indictment also charges Johnson with receiving a firearm while under indictment for robbery and aggravated assault.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses charged in the indictment is up to life imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and up to lifetime supervised release. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
This matter was prosecuted as part of the 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.
###
Weymouth Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Weymouth man pleaded guilty yesterday to his involvement in a scheme to defraud a financial institution and to obtain money from its customers using fraudulent identification documents.
Judemario Josaphat, Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for May 4, 2022. Josaphat was charged with an alleged co-conspirator on Feb. 4, 2021.
Josaphat participated in and, at times, directed a scheme to defraud a financial institution. To carry out the scheme, Josaphat and others used fraudulent identification documents, among other means, to withdraw money from customers’ accounts at a federally-insured bank in the form of checks and cash. The fraudulently-obtained funds were then deposited in other bank accounts opened in the names of fictitious business entities before being withdrawn. The scheme resulted in over $800,000 in losses between December 2017 and February 2018.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentenced imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright and Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
Webster Man Sentenced for Mailing Threatening Communications to a West Virginia JudgeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Webster man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for mailing threatening communications to a West Virginia District Court Judge.
Keith Lessard, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served (approximately four months) and one year of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of two years in prison, the maximum sentence permitted by statute. On Sept. 15, 2021, Lessard pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications.
Lessard was charged and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2020 in the Southern District of West Virginia. The case was transferred to the District of Massachusetts in July 2021 for plea and sentencing proceedings.
From August 2019 through June 2020, Lessard engaged in a series of communications with a West Virginia District Court Judge, and others, using email and postal mail. Prior to becoming a judge, the victim had previously served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in a case against Lessard in 2010. The communications sent by Lessard were part of a scheme to extort money from the victim by threatening injury to her reputation by falsely claiming that she engaged in illegal prosecutorial misconduct when she prosecuted him.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Waterbury Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS CASTRO, 34, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 68 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
On August 27, 2021, a jury found Castro guilty of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. According to the evidence and testimony at trial, in September 2018, a DEA Task Force investigation revealed that Castro was attempting to purchase two kilograms of cocaine. On September 10, 2018, task force officers conducted surveillance on individuals who were suspected of being the source of the cocaine as they traveled by car to Castro’s residence on Delaware Avenue in Waterbury. Investigators later stopped the car and recovered $67,000 in cash. A search of Castro’s residence that evening revealed more than 500 grams of a mixture containing cocaine, a kilogram press, items used to process narcotics for redistribution, and $8,292 in cash.
This is Castro’s second federal conviction. In March 2011, he was sentenced in the Southern District of New York to 18 months of imprisonment for trafficking cocaine, crack and firearms.
Castro, who had been released on bond, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of the court proceeding to begin serving his sentence.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Tara Levens.