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4 March 2022
Council Bluffs, Iowa, Man Sentenced for Interstate Sex OffenseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Achocho Enita, age 28, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced today for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Enita to 97 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. It is anticipated that he will be removed to Micronesia following completion of his prison sentence.
On July 13, 2021, Enita responded to an online ad posted by a law enforcement officer who posed as a 15-year-old female offering commercial sex. Through text message exchanges over the next ten days, Enita arranged to meet the person he thought was a minor female and pay to have sex with her. Enita was arrested after he had traveled from Council Bluffs to Omaha, Nebraska, for the meeting.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, on or about May 28, 2020, officers with the Springdale Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Alexander Ramon Perez, age 34. One of the officers attempting to stop Perez witnessed him throw an object from the window prior to stopping his vehicle. Officers searched the area where the object was thrown and found a 9mm pistol. After the stop, police interviewed two passengers in the vehicle who both confirmed that Perez possessed the firearm and threw it from the vehicle. Perez is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Springdale Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter Bridges prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Colorado Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for Selling Firearm to Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Colorado man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for selling a firearm to a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Terence Darnelius Hinton, 38, of Colorado Springs, sold a Harrington and Richardson 20-gauge shotgun and narcotic pills to an individual at a Hattiesburg apartment. Hinton had been previously advised by the individual that he was a convict and was not supposed to possess the firearms. The Court imposed sentencing enhancements for Hinton’s conduct which included those for the number of firearms involved, the possession or attempt to possess a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine, and for engaging in the trafficking of firearms.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
Co-conspirators Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Pablo Leyva, age 28, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and Chrystian Townsley, age 34, of Sioux City, Iowa, were both sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and for carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Leyva to 20 years of imprisonment and sentenced Townsley to 15 years of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing their terms of imprisonment, both Leyva and Townsley will begin 5-year terms of supervised release.
On March 8, 2020, Leyva, Townsley, and a female were traveling in a truck in Arizona on their way to Mexico to engage in drug trafficking. They traveled through Nebraska on their way to Mexico and brought a Diamondback Arms, Inc., DB-15 rifle to facilitate the drug trafficking. Officers in Arizona pulled them over as they traveled toward Mexico and took the rifle. After the traffic stop, Leyva, Townsley, and the female continued traveling to Mexico. During the next few days, Leyva, Townsley, and the female reached the Mexican border, entered Mexico to facilitate drug trafficking, left the truck in Mexico, and then re-entered the United States on foot. After re-entering the United States, a female from Nebraska drove to Arizona to pick them up and began driving them back to the Nebraska area. On March 14, 2020, in Liberal, Kansas, while driving back to the Nebraska area, an officer pulled them over and located 5 cellophane wrapped packages collectively containing about 4 pounds of methamphetamine and 65 fentanyl pills in the vehicle. Leyva and Townsley were transporting the drugs in the vehicle to distribute them.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the United States Secret Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Clinton Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Clinton man, Eric Lee Coleman, age 47, was sentenced on March 2, 2022, to 262 months in federal prison for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine. Coleman was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $200 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
According to court documents, Coleman sold various amounts of methamphetamine to a confidential source on two occasions in an undercover operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. On September 20, 2021, Coleman pleaded guilty to the charges.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Chadron Man Sentenced to 156 Months for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Bryan Morse, 61, of Chadron, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln for possession of child pornography. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Morse to 156 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release from prison, Morse will begin a 20-year term of supervised release.
Morse received an enhanced sentence because he had two prior convictions relating to the sexual abuse of children. In January 1988, Morse was convicted of sexual assault on a child. He was later convicted of enticement of a child in April 2001.
Homeland Security Investigations received a tip from a social media company, Kik, that a Kik account was involved with sharing child pornography. Another tip was provided to law enforcement about child pornography being traded over Skype. Both tips led agents to Morse. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence in Chadron. The warrant was executed on December 18, 2019. During the execution of the warrant, several electronic devices were seized.
Morse was home at the time when the search warrant was executed. Morse told the agents that he used chat rooms to trade child pornography. He also said law enforcement that child pornography would be found on the seized devices. When the devices were examined, the agents did in fact find numerous photographs and videos depicting child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Camp Hill Man Charged with Attempted Arson and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 2, 2022, Yevgeniy Maksymiv, 33, of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for maliciously attempting to damage or destroy a building by fire, and for knowingly possessing an unregistered destructive device.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Maksymiv attempted to damage or destroy Zembie’s Sports Tavern in Harrisburg by fire on February 28, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.
The total maximum penalties under federal law for the charged offenses is up to 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, followed by a period of supervised release following imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Burlington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man, Daniel Joseph Fritzjunker, age 35, was sentenced on March 2, 2022, to 144 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Fritzjunker was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $100 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
According to court documents, the investigation into Fritzjunker began when the Mount Pleasant Police Department received information of his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Henry County area. During the investigation, Fritzjunker was repeatedly identified as a major source for methamphetamine, of which he admitted in later interviews with law enforcement. On September 17, 2021, Fritzjunker pleaded guilty to the charge.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Burlington Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Brockton Man Charged for Lakeville RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was charged today in federal court in Boston with the Nov. 8, 2021 robbery of an Eastern Bank branch in Lakeville.
Nathon Caeser Ribeiro Neves, 22, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of bank robbery. Ribeiro Neves was detained following an initial appearance this morning before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judith G. Dein.
According to the charging documents, on Nov. 8, 2021, a masked individual – later determined to be Ribeiro Neves – entered an Eastern Bank branch located in Lakeville. There, Ribeiro Neves allegedly passed a teller two demand notes indicating a robbery and that, “a bombing would happen if no payment was made.” The teller gave Ribeiro Neves cash from her drawer and Ribeiro Neves exited the bank leaving the demand notes behind. The notes were later processed and determined to contain fingerprints.
On Nov. 15, 2021, an individual – later determined to be Ribeiro Neves – allegedly robbed a Cornerstone Bank branch in Worcester. Ribeiro Neves was arrested by law enforcement a few minutes after the robbery. According to the charging documents, Ribeiro’s fingerprints were obtained during his booking and found to be a positive match for the prints from the demand note in the Lakeville robbery.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins; and Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald, Jr. made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Role in Courthouse ShootingRead the Press Release
MARQUIS ISREAL, also known as “Garf” or “Gbaby,” 25, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 210 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for racketeering offenses related to his participation in a gang-related shooting in front of a state courthouse in Bridgeport in January 2020.
Today’s announcement was made by Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Isreal has been a member of the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport whose members sold narcotics, laundered narcotics proceeds, robbed drug dealers, stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut and used them to commit crimes, and tampered with witnesses who might testify against them. From approximately 2017 until August 2020, O.N.E. members were aligned with the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”), a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, against rival groups in Bridgeport, including the East End, East Side and PT Barnum gangs, as well as 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.
Isreal and his associates attempted to kill members and associates of the East End gang on January 27, 2020, in a brazen afternoon shooting in front of a Bridgeport courthouse. At 12:11 p.m. on that date, Bridgeport Police responded to the area of 172 Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport after a Shot Spotter activation detected approximately 20 shots being fired in front of the state courthouse located there. Upon arrival, investigators discovered that four victims had been shot while sitting inside a black Chevrolet Impala. One victim was shot in the side of his chest and was left paralyzed and a second victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder and wrist. The victims’ vehicle had approximately 23 entry bullet holes in the driver’s side and windshield area.
As alleged in court documents in a related case, Isreal had previously been shot and seriously wounded by one of his victims in a restaurant at 1653 Barnum Avenue in the East End of Bridgeport on September 15, 2019.
Isreal has been detained since August 6, 2020. On September 10, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder and aiding and abetting, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, both in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (“VCAR”) statute.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Karen L. Peck and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Berwick Bank Officer Charged with False Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Matthew W. Mensinger, age 48, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with aiding and abetting false statements on loan applications.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the criminal information alleges that Mensinger was the Chief Lending Officer of a Berwick, Pennsylvania-based financial institution. Between approximately November 2011 and June 2020, Mensinger caused other individuals and entities to obtain approximately $690,000 in loans from the financial institution, purportedly for small business purposes. In fact, however, the individuals and entities provided the money to Mensinger, who promised that he would repay the loans.
The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Office of the Inspector General, and from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Berkley Nurse Agrees to Plead Guilty to Tampering with Patients' FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Berkley nurse was charged and agreed to plead guilty in federal court in Boston to tampering with fentanyl intended for patients at a hospital’s post-surgery recovery unit and an outpatient vascular surgery center.
Hugo Vieira, 41, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product.
According to the charging documents, from December 2018 through January 2019, while working at a Massachusetts hospital and an outpatient vascular surgery center, Vieira removed fentanyl from vials meant for patients who were undergoing surgery or recovering from surgery. To conceal his conduct, Vieira allegedly replaced the diverted fentanyl with saline. Sixty tampered vials were identified at the vascular surgery center and two vials at the hospital post-surgery recovery unit. As a result, each of those vials contained less than 1.3–7% of the declared concentration of fentanyl citrate.
The charge of tampering with a consumer product 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 obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge provides for a sentence of up to four years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $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; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; and Margret R. Cooke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Wan of Rollins’ Healthcare Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – James David Morris, Jr., 43, of Beckley, was sentenced today to two years and 11 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and violating his supervised release that was imposed as a result of his 2018 federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Morris had been out of prison for less than one year and was serving a term of supervised release when he committed the 2021 offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Morris admitted to being in possession of a Winchester 12 gauge shotgun found by law enforcement officers in his home on June 10, 2021. Morris was not legally permitted to possess firearms due to two prior convictions for federal firearms offenses. In addition to the 2018 conviction, Morris has a 2013 federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. That conviction resulted from an incident in which Morris and an associate pointed firearms at West Virginia State Troopers, and Morris’ associate fired at least one shot at the troopers.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe 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 Nos. 5:18-cr-00071 and 5:21-cr-00158.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Valdosta resident, who is an armed career criminal, was sentenced to serve more than 15 years in prison after state and federal agents arrested him in possession of two loaded firearms during a county-wide operation.
Frankie Shearry, Jr., 43, of Valdosta, Georgia, was sentenced as an armed career criminal to serve 188 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.
“It is unwise for a convicted felon to unlawfully own a gun, with armed career criminals facing even lengthier federal sentences for possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are helping us hold repeat and violent offenders accountable for their continued criminal activities.”
“This sentence makes it very clear that criminals who repeatedly break the law and continue to possess illegal firearms, will be held accountable with lengthy prison terms,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies make these arrests possible, ultimately making our communities safer.”
“This is another great example of the agencies working together to take another armed career criminal off the streets,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
According to court documents, federal and state law enforcement began a county-wide operation focused on probationers requiring home checks due to their criminal history or current status as probationers. Officers had information that Shearry, a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, was allegedly distributing narcotics from his place of work as a barber. Agents found two firearms inside Shearry’s bedroom that Shearry admitted belonged to him: a loaded semi-automatic pistol located near the top of his bed and another loaded semi-automatic pistol under his mattress. Shearry also admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his criminal history, which includes four prior convictions in Lowndes County Superior Court for various drug distribution charges.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.
Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to over 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jeffrey Patterson, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 155 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Patterson previously pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
In early 2021, Patterson robbed six banks in Arizona. In each robbery, Patterson approached a teller and produced a note demanding money. During his last robbery, Patterson’s demand note included a threat to shoot up the bank. After the teller handed him some money, Patterson pointed a handgun at the teller and demanded more. In total, Patterson stole more than $28,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phoenix Police Department, Tempe Police Department, Chandler Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, Peoria Police Department, and Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00231-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 020_Patterson# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Alexandria Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for conspiracy, possession, and distribution of fentanyl and Eutylone, and being a felon in possession of a firearm during drug trafficking.
According to court documents, from in or around June 2020, through at least December 2020, Kibruysday Degefa, 29, conspired with others to distribute counterfeit, pressed pills containing fentanyl, as well as Eutylone, which is a designer drug similar in character to MDMA. Pills distributed by the conspiracy twice on December 20, 2020, contributed to the mixed drug overdose death of a 20-year-old female in Arlington, whose blood was later determined to contain fentanyl. A search warrant on the hotel room where Degefa was staying at the time revealed additional narcotics for distribution, including Eutylone, along with multiple firearms concealed in the bathroom ceiling tiles. Degefa was previously convicted of robbery in Alexandria in 2015.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Andy Penn, Arlington County Chief of Police; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel M. Roberts and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Trump, Ryan Bredemeier, and Michael P. Ben’Ary prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principle mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
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-104.
Alabama Man Sentenced to 160 Years of Imprisonment for Soliciting Videos and Webcam Shows of Filipina Children Being Sexually AbusedRead the Press Release
A federal judge sentenced an Alabama man today to 160 years’ imprisonment for using internet applications to seek images and live transmissions of the violent sexual abuse of Filipina children as young as five years old.
Benjamin Walter, 41, of Decatur, was convicted by a federal jury on Oct. 5, 2021, of four counts of producing and attempting to produce child pornography and one count each of receiving and distributing child pornography.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Walter used two web service provider accounts, including messenger and webcam applications, to seek women in the Philippines to sexually abuse their own children and relatives. Walter’s requests to these women, which spanned approximately three years, included directions to arrange for the gang rape of young children and to sexually assault several young children in other harmful ways.
Walter sent money to the Philippines for the videos, images, and live transmissions via Moneygram, Western Union, and other money remitters in $25 to $50 increments. In addition to the live webcam shows, Walter also sent and received emails to which the senders attached images and videos of young children engaged in sex acts with adult men. This investigation and prosecution were part of a joint FBI and Homeland Security Investigations operation that targeted the buyers and sellers of these types of webcam shows in the Philippines.
The FBI’s Huntsville Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Charles Schmitz and Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White of the Northern District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
21 Alleged Gang Members and Associates Charged in RICO IndictmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal indictment was unsealed yesterday charging 18 alleged members of the Simon City Royals gang with a racketeering conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, narcotics trafficking, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and money laundering.
The indictment charges Allen Posey, 47; Jonathan Davis, 38; Jeremy Holcombe, 42; Jonathan Burnett, 38; Hank Chapman, 37; Jason Hayden, 41; Joshua Miller, 40; Gavin Pierson, 32; Justin Shaw, 35; Bobby Brumfield, 42; Jordan Deakles, 30; Bryce Frances, 42; Anthony Murphy, 29; Chancey Bilbo, 30; Dillon Heffker, 31; Douglas Jones, 33; Cody Woodall, 30; and Michael Muscolino, 42, with racketeering conspiracy. The indictment also charges those individuals and Valerie Madden, 53; Samuel Conwill, 43; and Jason Collins, 38, with narcotics conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Nine of the defendants – Shaw, Posey, Brumfield, Jones, Pierson, Deakles, Davis, Frances, Heffker and Murphy – are additionally charged with murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, or assault in aid of racketeering.
“The Criminal Division is committed to dismantling gangs, like the Simon City Royals, that use violence and intimidation to damage our communities and interfere with our justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment demonstrates that the Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting people victimized by these gangs and holding the alleged offenders accountable.”
“This case is an example of ATF’s dedication and commitment to combating violent crime in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) New Orleans Field Division. “ATF is proud to work with our law-enforcement partners to bring violent criminals to justice and to help make our neighborhoods safer.”
According to the indictment, the Simon City Royals are a national criminal gang whose dealings include extortion, narcotics, identity-theft, money laundering, and violent crime. The gang has a formalized hierarchy involving numerous “boards” and “teams,” including a team dedicated to carrying out violent gang punishments, and a “money team” responsible for earning revenue through fraud, illegal gambling, and identity theft.
According to the indictment, the defendants murdered or attempted to murder numerous individuals, including a suspected law-enforcement cooperator, a rival gang leader, and individuals perceived to have shown disrespect to the gang. The defendants employed various methods to conceal their activities and finances, including communicating via encrypted messages and filing articles of incorporation to establish a fraudulent nonprofit organization with the State of Mississippi.
If convicted, the defendants face penalties ranging from 10 years and life for narcotics conspiracy; up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy; 20 years to life imprisonment for the racketeering conspiracy; up to 10 years in prison for attempted murder in aid of racketeering; and up to 20 years for assault in aid of racketeering; and a mandatory life in prison sentence for murder in aid of racketeering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The defendants were arrested yesterday, March 3, and are scheduled to make their initial court appearances today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Percy of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Secret Service; the FBI’s Jackson Field Office; the Mississippi Department of Corrections; and local law enforcement agencies across multiple states are investigating the case. The Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Benton County Sheriff's Department, and Tippah County Sheriff's Department provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorneys Brendan Woods, Christopher Taylor, and Conor Mulroe of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Stringfellow for the Northern District of Mississippi 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.
21 Alleged Gang Members and Associates Charged in RICO IndictmentRead the Press Release
A federal indictment was unsealed today charging 21 alleged members and associates of the Simon City Royals gang with a racketeering conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, narcotics trafficking, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and money laundering.
The indictment charges Allen Posey, 47; Jonathan Davis, 38; Jeremy Holcombe, 42; Jonathan Burnett, 38; Hank Chapman, 37; Jason Hayden, 41; Joshua Miller, 40; Gavin Pierson, 32; Justin Shaw, 35; Bobby Brumfield, 42; Jordan Deakles, 30; Bryce Frances, 42; Anthony Murphy, 29; Chancey Bilbo, 30; Dillon Heffker, 31; Douglas Jones, 33; Cody Woodall, 30; and Michael Muscolino, 42, with racketeering conspiracy. The indictment also charges those individuals and Valerie Madden, 53; Samuel Conwill, 43; and Jason Collins, 38, with narcotics conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Nine of the defendants – Shaw, Posey, Brumfield, Jones, Pierson, Deakles, Davis, Frances, Heffker and Murphy – are additionally charged with murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, or assault in aid of racketeering.
“The Criminal Division is committed to dismantling gangs, like the Simon City Royals, that use violence and intimidation to damage our communities and interfere with our justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment demonstrates that the Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting people victimized by these gangs and holding the alleged offenders accountable.”
“This case is an example of ATF’s dedication and commitment to combating violent crime in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) New Orleans Field Division. “ATF is proud to work with our law-enforcement partners to bring violent criminals to justice and to help make our neighborhoods safer.”
According to the indictment, the Simon City Royals are a national criminal gang whose dealings include extortion, narcotics, identity-theft, money laundering and violent crime. The gang has a formalized hierarchy involving numerous “boards” and “teams,” including a team dedicated to carrying out violent gang punishments, and a “money team” responsible for earning revenue through fraud, illegal gambling, and identity theft.
According to the indictment, the defendants murdered or attempted to murder numerous individuals, including a suspected law-enforcement cooperator, a rival gang leader, and individuals perceived to have shown disrespect to the gang. The defendants employed various methods to conceal their activities and finances, including communicating via encrypted messages and filing articles of incorporation to establish a fraudulent nonprofit organization with the state of Mississippi.
If convicted, the defendants face penalties ranging from 10 years and life for narcotics conspiracy; up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy; 20 years to life imprisonment for the racketeering conspiracy; up to 10 years in prison for attempted murder in aid of racketeering; and up to 20 years for assault in aid of racketeering; and a mandatory life in prison sentence for murder in aid of racketeering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The defendants were arrested yesterday, March 3, and are scheduled to make their initial court appearances today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Percy of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Secret Service; the FBI’s Jackson Field Office; the Mississippi Department of Corrections; and local law enforcement agencies across multiple states are investigating the case. The Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Benton County Sheriff's Department and Tippah County Sheriff's Department provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorneys Brendan Woods, Christopher Taylor and Conor Mulroe of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Stringfellow for the Northern District of Mississippi 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.
20 Members of a Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Vega Alta, Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 20 violent gang members from the municipality of Vega Alta with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Bayamón Strike Force, led the investigation, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“Today’s arrests reflect the unwavering commitment of the U.S. Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who fuel violence in our streets through their illegal drug trafficking activities” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The indictment alleges that from 2018, until the date of the return of the indictment, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) within 1,000 feet of Las Violetas and El Batey Public Housing Projects, and the Sabana Hoyos Ward, and also within 1,000 feet of a real property comprising a public or private school and/or playground. The object of the conspiracy was the large-scale distribution of controlled substances in Vega Alta for significant financial gain and profit.
The 20 defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of their organization, including as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts and facilitators. Eight of the defendants are facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All the defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $6,451,375.
As part of the conspiracy, the drug trafficking organization would import wholesale quantities of narcotics from the Dominican Republic, and other places, into Puerto Rico, to distribute in street- quantity amounts at their drug distribution points. The defendants and their co-conspirators established a drug distribution point that would move within different areas inside the public housing projects to avoid police detection. Some of the co-conspirators used different types of barriers and diversionary devices to avoid law enforcement detection, including fences, altered public housing amenities, dogs, and barbed wire.
Members of the organization would steal cars and use them to further their drug trafficking activities. Some members of the organization belonged to a musical group called “Los Piratas.” They would draw graffiti resembling this group near the drug points that belonged to the organization.
The members of the gang used force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the areas in which they operated. They often abducted and assaulted rival drug traffickers, as well as members of their own drug trafficking organization, to intimidate and maintain control of the drug trafficking operation. Some of the members of this organization marked themselves with a tattoo with the letters LSR, which stands for the phrase “Lealtad Sin Rango” (Loyalty with no rank). This tattoo symbolized loyalty among the members of the organization.
The defendants charged are:
Marcos Pagán-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Papin”
Miguel Santana-Avilés, a.k.a. “Macho/Machito”
John Morales-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Gordo”
Michael Nieves-Lacend, a.k.a. “Pinto”
Christian Sifonte-Ramos, a.k.a. “Peluche”
Joseph Israel-Ramos, a.k.a. “Mena”
Alex Jomar Negrón-García
Said David Adorno-Martínez, a.k.a. “Saiid”
Raymond Santana-Avilés
William Rodríguez-Reyes, a.k.a. “Willy”
Juan Lozada-González, a.k.a. “Picu”
Luis Alfonso-Cabrera, a.k.a. “Javi”
José Rosado-Vega, a.k.a. “Manos Mongas”
José Negrón-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Pepo”
David Rodríguez-Reyes
Steven Pacheco-Melecio
Josué Rosado-Rivera, a.k.a. “Cano/Patineta”
Ismael Figueroa-Maldonado, a.k.a. “Capo”
Gabriel Aguayo-Santana, a.k.a. “Gaby”
Mizrain López-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Mizra/Flaco”
Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Tereza Zapata-Valladares, AUSA Pedro Casablanca, and Special AUSA Cristina Caraballo are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison.
This case 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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3 March 2022
Young man pleads guilty after crashing into patrol unitRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – An 18 year-old Mexican man illegally residing in Brownsville has entered a plea of guilty to transporting illegal aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Christopher Rodriguez-Martinez admitted his guilty today.
On Dec. 7, 2021, authorities observed Rodriguez-Martinez and Guillermo Villasenor-Sanchez in a silver vehicle near the Los Fresnos canal. Soon after, they saw six individuals run from the canal and get into the vehicle.
Rodriguez-Martinez was the driver and fled the area at a high rate of speed. As law enforcement approached the vehicle, Rodriguez-Martinez lost control and made impact with the Border Patrol (BP) unit.
After the crash, the occupants of the vehicle attempted to run away. Authorities soon apprehended them.
Upon the arrests, authorities located a total of $30,000 in cash along with several cell phones in the vehicle.
Villasenor-Sanchez, 31, Matamoros, Mexico, had previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing May 4. Rodriguez-Martinez is set to be sentenced May 25.
At that time, each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Both remain in custody pending their hearings.
Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano is prosecuting the case.
York County Couple Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 2, 2022, Wyatt Jones, age 26 and Marisel Toro, age 21, of York, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury for child exploitation offenses.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment charges Jones and Toro with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that Jones and Toro committed the offenses between October 2020 and April 2021.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the York City Police Department, and the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Miovas, Jr. is prosecuting 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.
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses charged in the indictment is life imprisonment, a lifetime term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. There is also a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment for the defendants if convicted of production of child pornography. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Woman Sentenced for Embezzling $429,732 from her Small Business EmployerRead the Press Release
A woman was sentenced Wednesday in federal court for stealing $429, 732 from a veteran-owned small business in operation for 38 years, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Carol A. Broyles, 49, of Tulsa, to 27 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was further ordered to pay $429,732 in restitution to the business owners.
“Carol Broyles embezzled almost $430,000 from her employers, who treated her like family,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “She repaid them by violating their trust and gambling away their hard-earned profits. She will now spend more than two years in prison to account for her corrupt actions.”
“Ms. Broyles’ theft has negatively affected multiple people for the rest of their lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Dallas Field Office. “Her greed has destroyed a business and the owners who trusted her to help protect it. This sentencing should give her time to consider her actions and detour criminals from committing similar crimes.”
Broyles pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2021, to wire fraud and to subscribing to a false tax return. She admitted that while employed at a small business in Tulsa from January 2012, through October 2016, she devised a scheme to misappropriate the businesses’ funds to enrich herself and to pay for personal expenses. She used her access to the company’s cash collections to take funds, and she cashed several checks from the company’s account.
Broyles further admitted that she did not report the misappropriated funds on her 2015 tax form. Boyles knowingly failed to report $86,081 in stolen funds, and signed the form under penalty of perjury.
At sentencing, the victims described the financial devastation incurred because of Broyles’ criminal acts. Additionally, Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Reininger pointed to Broyles’ lack of personal accountability. She noted that Broyles claimed to have stolen the money to pay for expensive family medical bills, but instead Broyles spent nearly all the money gambling. She further noted that since Broyles became aware of the criminal investigation and throughout criminal proceedings, Broyles made little to no effort to make any restitution to the victims.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger prosecuted the case.
Woman Facing Federal Charges for Filing and Receiving Social Security Benefits Under Two Social Security NumbersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dinorah De Denis, age 72, of Frederick, Maryland, for the federal charges of theft of government property and social security fraud.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division; and Lead Investigator Pam Shank of the Office of Inspector General, Maryland Department of Human Services.
According to the two-count indictment, De Denis allegedly obtained two social security numbers and did not report to the Social Security Administration or the State of Maryland that she was receiving widows insurance benefits (WIB) payments under another social security number. Allegedly, she received supplemental security income (SSI) Medicaid and Food Supplement benefits through the State of Maryland under her first social security number when she applied for and was awarded SSA WIB under the other social security number. As a result, De Denis received $89,085 in benefits to which she was not entitled.
As alleged in the indictment, De Denis applied for her first social security number in 1973 under her birth name, Dinorah Cepeda Ulloa, on May 7, 1973. After De Denis married her husband later that year, De Denis obtained a second social security number under her married surname “De Denis”. The indictment alleges that De Denis applied for SSI in 2005 and was awarded SSI in 2006 under her first social security number and then applied for WIB after her husband died in 2012 under her second social security number and was awarded monthly payments thereafter. According to the indictment, De Denis did not disclose to the Social Security Administration that she was receiving WIB under another social security number, which would have disqualified her from receiving SSI.
Further, the indictment alleges that on September 28, 2017, during an interview with Social Security Administration representatives regarding her continued eligibility for supplemental security income under her first social security number, De Denis allegedly falsely stated that she was currently married to her husband and that they had been separated since 1984. Allegedly, De Denis also stated that her husband lived in Puerto Rico and that she was not aware of his whereabouts, despite the fact that she had applied for widows insurance benefits upon his death in 2012.
If convicted, De Denis faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property and 5 years in federal prison for social security fraud. 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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the SSA-OIG and the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davio, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Whitefish man sentenced to six years in prison for defrauding Montana investor of $2.3 million in scheme to fund fake CIA rescue missionsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Whitefish man who admitted to defrauding a Montana investor of $2.3 million by falsely claiming to be a former Force Recon Marine and CIA operative who needed funds to run fake CIA rescue missions in foreign countries but instead used the money for personal gain was sentenced today to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Matthew Anthony Marshall, 51, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. Judge Molloy also ordered a total of $3,254,327 restitution, with $2,355,000 to be paid to the victim, identified as John Doe, and $899,327 to be paid to the IRS. Judge Molloy accepted a plea agreement in the case and dismissed eight other counts. Marshall was allowed to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons.
“Marshall promoted a fantasy world filled with fake missions carried out by fictitious operatives for clandestine agencies in faraway lands for phony purposes. It was all fake, but unfortunately it was paid for with real money from a real victim. And the money never went anywhere except to Marshall’s personal accounts,” U.S. Attorney Johnson said. “The lengths to which Marshall went to carry off this fraud can hardly be overstated. He used a phone application to send fake text messages; he created false emails; he sent the victim prayer beads collected during a fake mission; and he got a tattoo to falsely signify that he was a member of ‘Force Recon,’ etc. The list goes on. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Racicot and Ryan Weldon, Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, and the federal agents who poured countless hours into uncovering this scheme and bringing Marshall to justice,” U.S. Attorney Johnson added.
“Mr. Marshall devised an elaborate scheme layered in lies to defraud the victim,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Like most fraud cases, Mr. Marshall’s motive was simply greed. The FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office would like to acknowledge the many special agents across the country, the intelligence community, and witnesses, who worked together to hold this accomplished fraudster and manipulator accountable and seek justice for the victim.”
“Tax evasion and fraud of this magnitude and with this degree of dishonesty and deceit, deserves to be punished. I applaud the investigative efforts of our agents and federal law enforcement partners in uncovering this elaborate scheme and bringing Mr. Marshall to justice,” said Andy Tsui, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder to others that operating outside of the law and failing to pay taxes on income gained through legal or illegal means has severe consequences.”
In court documents, the government alleged that in Spring 2013, Marshall began working for John Doe. In a scheme that involved numerous lies, fake emails and phony texts, Marshall convinced John Doe that he was a former CIA operative and a former member of an elite Force Reconnaissance unit in the U.S. Marine Corps who had engaged in covert missions around the world.
Marshall asked John Doe if he would fund “off the books” CIA-backed rescue missions, which Marshall said would involve assault teams he would lead in foreign countries. Based on Marshall’s false representations, John Doe wired Marshall a series of payments, totaling about $2,355,000, from 2013 to 2016, all under the guise of funding five missions for the CIA as described by Marshall.
As part of the scheme, Marshall forwarded John Doe fake text messages, allegedly from Cofer Black, a former CIA officer who was the director of the CIA Counterterrorist Center, lauding his success. To further the myth that he worked for the CIA under Cofer Black, Marshall obtained fake phone numbers using a phone application, called Burner, and logged two numbers with Virginia area codes into his account as being affiliated with Cofer Black. He then sent himself fake messages, purportedly from Cofer Black. Cofer Black has never been associated with either Virginia number Marshall used with the Burner app and does not know Marshall.
In fact, Marshall was never affiliated with the CIA in any capacity and never served in an elite Force Reconnaissance unit in the Marine Corps. Marshall received an Other Than Honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Reserve in November 1999.
Marshall did not use John Doe’s money for any missions. Rather, Marshall spent the money on personal expenses and loans and gifts to friends and family members. Marshall also failed to report money received from John Doe in 2013 for two purported missions as income on his tax return, resulting in a tax evasion of $356,756.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy J. Racicot and Ryan G. Weldon and Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI.
Note: Click to view
Marshall Sentencing MemoPACER case reference. 20-32
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Watauga Man Indicted for LarcenyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Watauga, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Larceny.
Arlen Eugene Kern, age 57, was indicted on December 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 1, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to five years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between April 2018 and June 2020, in McIntosh, South Dakota, Kern stole over $1,000 in United States currency and tangible goods from his place of employment.
The charge is merely an accusation and Kern is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Kern was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Wakpala Man Charged with Embezzlement and Theft from Indian Tribal OrganizationsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Wakpala, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
Joshua Iron Cloud, Sr., age 38, was indicted on September 8, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 23, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between March and May 2020, Iron Cloud embezzled, stole, and converted more than $1,000 of monies, funds, and credits belonging to Oyate Community Development Corporation of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, an Indian Tribal Organization. It is alleged that Iron Cloud used those monies on personal items and expenditures.
The charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case was brought pursuant to The Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspector Service; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
For additional information about The Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
Iron Cloud was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
United States Files Enforcement Action to Stop Deceptive Marketing of Herbal Tea Product Advertised as Covid-19 TreatmentRead the Press Release
UPDATE
The Complaint described in the press release below was dismissed by the Court on March 18, 2025, pursuant to a stipulation of voluntary dismissal entered into by the parties. See No. 22-CV-1159 (ENV), ECF No. 71.
BROOKLYN, NY – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Branch, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), today announced a civil enforcement action against defendants B4B Earth Tea LLC, B4B Corp., and Andrew Martin Sinclair for alleged violations of the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
According to a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, the defendants advertised that their herbal tea product, Earth Tea, could prevent or treat COVID-19. For example, the defendants allegedly advertised on social media that Earth Tea is the “most effective [t]reatment against” COVID-19, that it “works within minutes” and will enable consumers to “get out of quarantine within 24 hours guaranteed.” The defendants had no competent or reliable scientific evidence to support those claims. Further, the defendants allegedly made deceptive statements about a purported scientific study to bolster their unproven COVID-19 claims. The complaint also alleges that Earth Tea is an unapproved new drug that the defendants are selling in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The complaint seeks civil penalties, as well as a permanent injunction to stop the defendants from continuing their unlawful marketing and sales of Earth Tea.
The COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, passed by Congress in December 2020, prohibits deceptive acts or practices associated with the treatment, cure, prevention, mitigation, or diagnosis of COVID-19. Persons who violate the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act may be subject to civil penalties, injunctive relief, and other remedies available under the FTC Act. The complaint also alleges violations of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive conduct and false advertising.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provides that a product is an unapproved new drug if it is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans but is not generally recognized as safe and effective for its intended uses and is not the subject of an FDA approval. Remedies for violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act include injunctive relief.
“COVID-19 has tragically claimed nearly one million lives in this country and close to six million lives worldwide,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Unfortunately, there are too many people who are taking advantage of this crisis by pushing alleged treatment products that are nothing more than snake oil. We will not tolerate attempts to make a dishonest dollar while putting our communities at risk during a pandemic.”
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate individuals or companies seeking to profit from the COVID-19 public health emergency by unlawfully advertising unproven products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to protecting consumers and enforcing the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the FDCA against those who unlawfully market unproven COVID-19 treatments.”
“Products like this may delay patients from seeking proven treatments from their health care provider. Preying on patients’ vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic is unacceptable,” stated Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. “The FDA will continue to actively monitor the U.S. market for any companies or individuals falsely marketing products with claims it prevents or treats COVID-19, and will take actions against those who violate the law and endanger patients.”
“Without any scientific evidence, the defendants claimed that drinking their herbal tea is more effective in preventing COVID-19 than approved vaccines, and cures anyone who has gotten ill within 24 hours,” stated Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “In bringing this matter with our partners at the Department of Justice and the Food and Drug Administration, the Commission continues its commitment to using every tool available to stop and deter those who would treat the pandemic as opportunity to peddle bogus treatments.”
This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Blume of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson and Trial Attorney Zachary A. Dietert of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. Robert Van Someren Greve represents the FTC, and Michael Shane represents the FDA.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York recently announced a Consumer Protection Team in the Office’s Civil Division at https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/united-states-attorney-breon-peace-announces-formation-consumer-protection-team-office. The Consumer Protection Team will pursue all appropriate measures to stop culpable entities and individuals that engage in conduct threatening the health, safety, economic security, or dignity of potentially vulnerable individuals. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, or to report suspected consumer fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny.
The Defendants:
B4B Earth Tea LLC
B4B Corp.
Andrew Martin Sinclair
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CV-1159
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in $4.3 Million Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Pinson, 46, of Wayne County, and Frank Russo, 69, of North Carolina, were sentenced today for their roles in defrauding Toyota of over $4.3 million in connection with a Toyota Customer Support Program. Both men also will be required to pay restitution of up to $4.3 million to Toyota.
Pinson was sentenced to six years in federal prison. A federal jury convicted Pinson in December 2021 of three counts of wire fraud, six counts of mail fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of conspiring to commit money laundering. Pinson was the owner of Big Blue Motor Sales, a Kentucky used car dealership. Evidence at trial revealed that to carry out his scheme, Pinson bought Toyota trucks at wholesale prices at auction, obtained hundreds of copies of Kentucky and West Virginia residents’ driver’s licenses, fraudulently titled the trucks in the name of those residents, and fraudulently induced Toyota to repurchase the trucks at 150% of their retail value. Toyota issued 350 checks in the names of individual false owners between 2013 and 2015. Pinson forged signatures on all 350 checks and deposited them into his bank account. Pinson then used the money from this fraud scheme to buy more Toyota trucks at wholesale to run through the scheme. He also paid cash bribes to Frank Russo and Stanley Clark. Earlier this week, Clark was sentenced to one year and three months in prison. Pinson further used the criminally-derived money from the fraud scheme to purchase a beach house in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina.
Russo was sentenced to two years in federal prison for wire fraud. Russo pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2020. Russo was employed as service manager by a Toyota dealership in Kanawha County. Russo admitted that he participated in the fraud scheme by ensuring that vehicles brought to the Toyota dealership qualified for the extended warranty extension program. Russo admitted that he sent false ownership information to Toyota by electronic wire in furtherance of the scheme. Russo admitted that he received bribes or kickbacks from Big Blue Motor Sales for his participation in the scheme.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Steve Loew and Andrew Tessman handled 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 Nos. 2:19-CR-00250 and 2:19-cr-00222.
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Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Violently Robbing Suburban Chicago Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge today sentenced two men to federal prison for stealing expensive watches and jewelry at gunpoint from a suburban Chicago store.
TOBIAS DIGGS, 28, of Chicago, and JOSHUA MCCLELLAN, 32, of Oak Lawn, Ill., robbed Razny Jewelers in Hinsdale, Ill., on the morning of March 17, 2017. More than $400,000 in merchandise was stolen during the heist, including watches by luxury brands Frederique Constant, Patek Phillipe, and Tudor. The defendants later sold, attempted to sell, or disposed of some of the stolen items in the Chicago area and Atlanta, Ga.
A federal jury in 2020 convicted Diggs and McClellan on robbery and firearm charges. U.S. District Judge Gary S. Feinerman today sentenced Diggs to eleven years in federal prison, and McClellan to eight years.
The sentences were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hinsdale Police Department, Oak Lawn Police Department, and the FBI Chicago Field Office’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST). Additional support was provided by the Felony Investigation Assistance Team (FIAT), a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force in the western suburbs of Chicago. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Berry III.
Two other individuals allegedly participated in the robbery. MARVON HAMBERLIN, of Chicago, was indicted and is a fugitive. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The fourth individual has not been identified.
According to evidence presented at trial, the robbers planned in advance to rob Razny Jewelers. On the day of the heist, McClellan drove the getaway car – a Lexus sport-utility vehicle – while Diggs and the other robbers entered the store and pointed a gun at a female employee. After the unidentified robber tackled a store security guard, Diggs hit the female employee with the gun and dragged her by her hair to a back room, while he and the others gained accessed to the store’s safe and stole the jewelry.
Tulsa Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man who repeatedly sexually abused a child under the age of 12 was sentenced Thursday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III sentenced Joshua David Slinkard, 41, to life in federal prison and a lifetime supervised release.
On Sept. 2, 2021, Slinkard pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country and one count of possession of child pornography. Slinkard later tried to withdraw his plea, but his request was denied.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and Tulsa Police Department are committed to seeking justice on behalf of children who have suffered at the hands of sexual predators like Joshua Slinkard. This life sentence serves as a reminder that such criminal behavior will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
“The FBI works tirelessly in collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure child predators face justice for their unspeakable crimes,” said Edward J. Gray, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “This sentencing reaffirms our unwavering commitment to protecting our most vulnerable citizens from abuse and exploitation.”
In a sentencing memorandum, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Childress called Slinkard a danger to all children. She stated that Slinkard’s criminal history exhibited “a predilection to sexually abuse children.” In addition to abusing the victim in this case, Slinkard also touched the victim’s eight-year-old friend inappropriately and was convicted in Mayes County for an offense that involved him touching a 5-year-old child. Childress further noted that Slinkard was found to be in possession of child pornography.
The abuse charged in this case occurred from Jan. 1, 2009, through Nov. 26, 2010. According to court documents, the victim was frequently left in Slinkard’s care. Slinkard sexually abused the victim and often called her derogatory names.
The defendant warned the victim not to tell anyone. When she did, he consistently attempted to discredit the child’s pleas for help. The child repeatedly reported the abuse to her mother and other family members, but she was not believed.
In 2011, the child finally disclosed the abuse to a school counselor after watching a school presentation about sexual abuse. The counselor contacted authorities, and Slinkard was arrested. Even after his arrest, Slinkard attempted to obstruct justice by writing a letter to the child’s mother pleading with her to convince the child to say she lied about the abuse.
During the investigation, law enforcement also found Slinkard to be in possession of video files containing the sexual abuse of children, including those of children who were younger than 12 years of age.
At the sentencing hearing, the victim, now an adult, emphasized that when a child discloses abuse, others need to listen to them and believe them. The victim further stated that although it has been difficult, she is striving to live a full life by working and taking college courses.
In 2011, Slinkard pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and child pornography charges in Tulsa County District Court, but the conviction was subsequently dismissed based on the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v Oklahoma. Because the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation reservation and the defendant is an enrolled tribal citizen, the federal government prosecuted the case.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress prosecuted the case.
Titusville Woman Pleads Guilty in Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Titusville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Kimberly Ann Gesin, 44, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around June 2018, to on or about February 28, 2020, Gesin conspired with her co-defendants to distribute methamphetamine as they participated in a methamphetamine distribution network that trafficked methamphetamine from Akron, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania into Crawford, Venango and Warren Counties.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for June 29, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, 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.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Gesin on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop E, Vice Unit, the Titusville Police Department, the Warren County Drug Task Force, the Warren County Sherriff’s Office and the Crawford County Sherriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gesin.
Thirteen Individuals Indicted in Connection with Their Roles in Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms from Beckley to PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson and Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow, Louisville Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today that a federal grand jury returned a 19-count indictment charging 13 individuals in connection with their roles in a conspiracy to traffic over 130 firearms from the Beckley area to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More than 30 of the firearms have been recovered in Philadelphia and have been connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent crimes.
Charged with conspiracy to travel interstate with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license are:
Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” 36, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Derrick Woodard, also known as “D,” 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Shyheem Woodard-Smith, also known as “Peanut” and “Nut,” 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hassan Abdullah, also known as “San,” 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Denise Johnson, 24, of Beckley, West Virginia
Shakyrah Ross, 23, of Beckley, West Virginia
Tyana Bly, also known as “Biggie,” 22, of Beckley, West Virginia
Stephanie Cohernour, 32, of Fayetteville, West Virginia
Maurice Johnson, 35, of Mount Hope, West Virginia
Arileah Lacy, also known as “Leah,” 23, of Beckley, West Virginia
Terri Lawhorn, 27, of Oak Hill, West Virginia
Lakeshia Nicole Simon, 22, of Beckley, West Virginia
Donte Webster, 22, of Beckley West Virginia
According to the indictment, from approximately June 2020 to July 2021, Jones, Woodard, Woodard-Smith, and Abdullah recruited individuals to straw purchase firearms on their behalf. The indictment further alleges that Jones caused the straw purchases to be conducted to obtain firearms for himself, Woodard, Woodard-Smith and Abdullah without there being a record that they were the actual buyers. As part of the conspiracy, Jones, Woodard, Woodard-Smith and Abdullah traveled from Philadelphia to the Beckley area to acquire firearms for the purpose of reselling them for profit in Philadelphia and often accompanied the straw purchasers to various gun stores. Jones, Woodard, Woodard-Smith and Abdullah are also charged with travelling interstate with the intent to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.
Defendants Bly, Cohernour, Maurice Johnson, Lacy, Lawhorn, Simon and Webster are charged with providing false information during the acquisition of firearms at various gun stores in the Beckley area. The indictment alleges that these defendants made false statements on ATF Form 4473 certifying that they were the buyers of the firearms when they knew they were actually purchasing the firearms for others.
The indictment alleges that during the scheme straw purchasers bought over 130 firearms in or near Beckley and delivered them to others in the conspiracy for transfer to Philadelphia.
The indictment also charges Jones with being a felon in possession of a firearm, alleging that he possessed a Ruger, Model-LC9S, 9-mm pistol on March 11, 2021. Jones is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of a 2010 felony conviction for robbery in Pennsylvania.
“The gun trafficking pipeline through which these defendants were supplying crime guns to Philadelphia has been shut down as a result of this investigation,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “We will continue to work with ATF and our state and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute gun traffickers and straw purchasers that put guns in the wrong hands and fuel violence in our cities.”
“One of the ways we accomplish our mission is by identifying sources of crime guns and those who illegally supply firearms used to commit acts of violence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we disrupt and dismantle illegal supply networks to keep firearms from being trafficked to places where they are used to harm our communities. Firearms trafficking is not a victimless crime. It is illegal and it puts firearms into the hands of prohibited persons and criminals who often use them to commit acts of violence. No community is immune to gun violence. What’s happening in one community impacts others, and today highlights how West Virginia law enforcement is working together to protect our communities and our neighbors.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Field Division of the ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Oak Hill Police Department, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, the Beckley Police Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department and the West Virginia Fusion Center.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is handling the prosecution.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00046.
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The Pennsylvania State University Agrees to Pay $899,824.55 to Settle A Voluntary Disclosure Related to the Penn State Psychological ClinicRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG, PA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Penn State has agreed to pay $899,824.55 to resolve allegations of civil liability for the submission of claims by the Penn State Psychological Clinic in State College, PA, to Medicare, TRICARE and Medicaid between February 1, 2015 and July 31, 2020 for behavioral health and Evaluation & Management services that violated Medicare rules and regulations.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, Penn State, through the Clinic, is alleged to have submitted improper claims related to behavioral health services with respect to the supervision of doctoral students, “incident-to” billing requirements, and/or the credentialing of licensed practitioners for Medicare participation. Additionally, the Clinic is alleged to have submitted claims for Evaluation & Management services that were not supported by the medical record. After discovering the problems, Penn State took prompt corrective action and disclosed the matter to the United States Attorney’s Office. Restitution is $599,883.03 of the settlement amount.
This matter was handled by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG), the Defense Health Agency (DHA), acting on behalf of the TRICARE program, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
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Texan admits guilt to multiple charges under Project Safe ChildhoodRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo resident has pleaded guilty to receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The investigation began after authorities linked David De Los Santos to child exploitative materials in the internet.
Law enforcement conducted a search of his residence in Laredo and seized numerous digital devices. A forensic analysis revealed 832 image and video files depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to court documents, the files included children under the age of 5 and images involving elements of bondage or bestiality.
Today, he admitted to receiving and possessing pornographic images, but challenged the content of those items.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will consider all factors and impose sentencing on a later date. At that time, De Los Santos faces a up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Laredo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Petters is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
TV Producer for Russian Oligarch Charged with Violating Crimea-Related SanctionsRead the Press Release
A federal court in the Southern District of New York today unsealed the first-ever criminal indictment charging a violation of U.S. sanctions arising from the 2014 Russian undermining of democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine.
According to court documents, John Hanick, aka Jack Hanick, 71, a U.S. citizen, is charged with violations of U.S. sanctions and false statements in connection with his years-long work for the sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.
“The Justice Department will do everything it can to stamp out Russian aggression and interference,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “As alleged in the indictment, the Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev was previously sanctioned for threatening Ukraine and providing financial support to the Donetsk separatist region. The defendant Hanick knowingly chose to help Malofeyev spread his destabilizing messages by establishing, or attempting to establish, TV networks in Russia, Bulgaria and Greece, in violation of those sanctions.”
“Konstantin Malofeyev is closely tied to Russian aggression in Ukraine, having been determined by OFAC to have been one of the main sources of financing for the promotion of Russia-aligned separatist groups operating in the sovereign nation of Ukraine,” said U.S. Attorney Damien Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The U.S. sanctions on Malofeyev prohibit U.S. citizens from working for or doing business with Malofeyev but as alleged, Hanick violated those sanctions by working directly for Malofeyev on multiple television projects over the course of several years. The indictment unsealed today shows this office’s commitment to the enforcement of laws intended to hamstring those who would use their wealth to undermine fundamental democratic processes. This office will continue to be a leader in the Justice Department’s work to hold accountable actors who would support flagrant and unjustified acts of war.”
“Sanctions imposed by the U.S. government are in place to protect our national interests, as well as the interests of our allies around the world,” said Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “As alleged, Mr. Hanick worked for the benefit of Konstantin Malofeyev, a Specially Designated National under Executive Order 13,660 who provided significant financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea in 2014. The action we have taken today should serve as an example to all that we will use all the resources at our disposal to aggressively enforce our nation's sanctions.”
According to court documents, in 2014 the President issued Executive Order 13,660, which declared a national emergency with respect to the situation in Ukraine. To address this national emergency, the President blocked all property and interest in property that came within the United States or the possession or control of any U.S. person, of individuals determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be responsible for or complicit in, or who engaged in, actions or policies that threatened the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, or who materially assist, sponsor, or provide financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to, individuals or entities engaging in such activities. Executive Order 13,660, along with certain regulations issued pursuant to it (the Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations) prohibits, among other things, making or receiving any funds, goods, or services by, to, from, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked.
On Dec. 19, 2014, OFAC designated Konstantin Malofeyev as a Specially Designated National (SDN) pursuant to Executive Order 13,660. OFAC’s designation of Malofeyev explained that he was one of the main sources of financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea, and materially assisted, sponsored, and provided financial, material or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a separatist organization in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
As alleged in the indictment, Hanick worked directly for and for the benefit of Malofeyev from at least in or about 2013 through at least in or about 2017, and continued to engage in this conduct after OFAC listed Malofeyev as a SDN, in violation of the Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations. Beginning in at least 2013, Malofeyev began planning to create a new Russian cable television news network (the Russian TV Network), and Hanick began traveling to Russian in early 2013 to meet with Malofeyev regarding these plans. In or about July 2013, Hanick moved to Russia to work for Malofeyev on the Russian television network, after negotiating the terms of his employment directly with Malofeyev, including the salary he would receive, payment for his housing in Moscow, and his Russian work visa.
Hanick continued to work for and report directly to Malofeyev after OFAC designated Malofeyev as a SDN in December 2014. For instance, in January 2015, Hanick wrote an email to Malofeyev that a draft policy for the Russian TV Network was meant “to implement your vision and to provide you with information for you to make decisions … You are the founder and chief architect of the project. We, as board members have the responsibility to direct the staff to implement your instructions.” The Russian TV Network went on the air in Russia in or about April 2015. Hanick played a leadership role at the network, described at various times in emails from 2015 through 2017 as “Board Chairman,” “General Producer,” “chairman of the HR committee,” and “General Advisor” for the Russian TV Network. Hanick reported directly to Malofeyev regarding the network’s operations and was listed on organizational charts directly below Malofeyev. Hanick was paid for his work through two Russian entities that were nominally separate from the Russian TV Network, but his compensation was overseen by Malofeyev, negotiated with Malofeyev, and was for his work for Malofeyev’s Russian TV Network. Hanick wired a portion of the payments he received from a Russian bank account to a bank account he held at a bank located in New York, New York.
Hanick also worked for Malofeyev on a project to establish and run a Greek television network and on efforts to acquire a Bulgarian television network. At Malofeyev’sdirection, Hanick traveled to Greece and to Bulgaria on multiple occasions in 2015 and 2016 to work on these initiatives, andreported directly back to Malofeyev on his work. For instance, in November 2015, Hanick wrote to Malofeyev that the Greek television network would be an “opportunity to detail Russia’s point of view on Greek TV.” In connection with Malofeyev’sefforts to acquire the Bulgarian television network, Hanick took steps to conceal Malofeyev’s role in the acquisition by arranging to travel to Bulgaria with another person identified by a Greek associate of Malofeyev, so that it would appear the buyer was a Greek national rather than Malofeyev.
In February 2021, FBI agents interviewed Hanick about his work for Malofeyev, and Hanick made false statements about his work for Malofeyev, including the false statements that Malofeyev had no involvement in Hanick’s travel to Bulgaria, and that Hanick did not know that Malofeyev had any connection to the attempt to acquire the Bulgarian television network until afterward.
Hanick is charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and making false statements which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Pursuant to the request of the United States, Hanick was provisionally arrested on Feb. 3, in London, with a view toward extradition. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thane Rehn and Jessica Greenwood for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The task force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
TV Producer for Russian Oligarch Charged with Violating Crimea-Related SanctionsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today the unsealing of the first-ever criminal indictment charging a violation of United States sanctions arising from the 2014 Russian undermining of democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine. JOHN HANICK, a/k/a “Jack Hanick,” a United States citizen, is charged with violations of United States sanctions and false statements in connection with his years-long work for the sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev. Pursuant to the request of the United States, HANICK was provisionally arrested on February 3, 2022, in London, the United Kingdom, with a view toward extradition.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Konstantin Malofeyev is closely tied to Russian aggression in Ukraine, having been determined by OFAC to have been one of the main sources of financing for the promotion of Russia-aligned separatist groups operating in the sovereign nation of Ukraine. The United States sanctions on Malofeyev prohibit United States citizens from working for or doing business with Malofeyev but as alleged, Hanick violated those sanctions by working directly for Malofeyev on multiple television projects over the course of several years. The Indictment unsealed today shows this Office’s commitment to the enforcement of laws intended to hamstring those who would use their wealth to undermine fundamental democratic processes. This Office will continue to be a leader in the Justice Department’s work to hold accountable actors who would support flagrant and unjustified acts of war.”
“The Justice Department will do everything it can to stamp out Russian aggression and interference,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “As alleged in the indictment, the Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev was previously sanctioned for threatening Ukraine and providing financial support to the Donetsk separatist region. The defendant Hanick knowingly chose to help Malofeyev spread his destabilizing messages by establishing, or attempting to establish, TV networks in Russia, Bulgaria, and Greece, in violation of those sanctions.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Sanctions imposed by the United States government are in place to protect our national interests, as well as the interests of our allies around the world. As alleged, Mr. Hanick worked for the benefit of Konstantin Malofeyev, a Specially Designated National under Executive Order 13660 who provided significant financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea in 2014. The action we have taken today should serve as an example to all that we will use all the resources at our disposal to aggressively enforce our nation’s sanctions.”
According to the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
In 2014, the President issued Executive Order 13,660, which declared a national emergency with respect to the situation in Ukraine. To address this national emergency, the President blocked all property and interest in property that came within the United States or the possession or control of any United States person, of individuals determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be responsible for or complicit in, or who engaged in, actions or policies that threatened the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, or who materially assist, sponsor, or provide financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to, individuals or entities engaging in such activities. Executive Order 13,660, along with certain regulations issued pursuant to it (the “Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations”) prohibits, among other things, making or receiving any funds, goods, or services by, to, from, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked.
On December 19, 2014, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Konstantin Malofeyev as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) pursuant to Executive Order 13,660. OFAC’s designation of Malofeyev explained that he was one of the main sources of financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea, and has materially assisted, sponsored, and provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a separatist organization in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
As alleged in the Indictment, HANICK worked directly for and for the benefit of Malofeyev from at least in or about 2013 through at least in or about 2017, and continued to engage in this conduct after OFAC listed Malofeyev as a SDN, in violation of the Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations. Beginning in at least 2013, Malofeyev began planning to create a new Russian cable television news network (the “Russian TV Network”), and HANICK began traveling to Russian in early 2013 to meet with Malofeyev regarding these plans. In or about July 2013, HANICK moved to Russia to work for Malofeyev on the Russian television network, after negotiating the terms of his employment directly with Malofeyev, including the salary he would receive, payment for his housing in Moscow, and his Russian work visa.
HANICK continued to work for and report directly to Malofeyev after OFAC designated Malofeyev as a SDN in December 2014. For instance, in January 2015, HANICK wrote an email to Malofeyev that a draft policy for the Russian TV Network was meant “to implement your vision and to provide you with information for you to make decisions … You are the founder and chief architect of the project. We, as board members have the responsibility to direct the staff to implement your instructions.” The Russian TV Network went on the air in Russia in or about April 2015. HANICK played a leadership role at the network, described at various times in emails from 2015 through 2017 as “Board Chairman,” “General Producer,” “chairman of the HR committee,” and “General Advisor” for the Russian TV Network. HANICK reported directly to Malofeyev regarding the network’s operations and was listed on organizational charts directly below Malofeyev. HANICK was paid for his work through two Russian entities that were nominally separate from the Russian TV Network, but his compensation was overseen by Malofeyev, negotiated with Malofeyev, and was for his work for Malofeyev’s Russian TV Network. HANICK wired a portion of the payments he received from a Russian bank account to a bank account he held at a bank located in New York, New York.
HANICK also worked for Malofeyev on a project to establish and run a Greek television network and on efforts to acquire a Bulgarian television network. At Malofeyev’s direction, Hanick traveled to Greece and to Bulgaria on multiple occasions in 2015 and 2016 to work on these initiatives, and reported directly back to Malofeyev on his work. For instance, in November 2015, HANICK wrote to Malofeyev that the Greek television network would be an “opportunity to detail Russia’s point of view on Greek TV.” In connection with Malofeyev’s efforts to acquire the Bulgarian television network, HANICK took steps to conceal Malofeyev’s role in the acquisition by arranging to travel to Bulgaria with another person identified by a Greek associate of Malofeyev, so that it would appear the buyer was a Greek national rather than Malofeyev.
In February 2021, FBI agents interviewed HANICK about his work for Malofeyev, and HANICK made false statements about his work for Malofeyev, including the false statements that Malofeyev had no involvement in HANICK’s travel to Bulgaria, and that HANICK did not know that Malofeyev had any connection to the attempt to acquire the Bulgarian television network until afterward.
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HANICK, 71, is a United States citizen who most recently has resided in London. The sanctions charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The false statements charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The task force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the support and expertise of the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs in the conduct of this matter.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thane Rehn and Jessica Greenwood are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] The entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Stockton Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Olyimpus Shaquille Pereira, 28, of Stockton, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2021, following a lawful search, officers found a Sig Sauer .40‑caliber semi-automatic handgun in Pereira’s vehicle. Pereira has several prior felony convictions—including assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury and two prior felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition convictions—which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Pereira faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
St. Louis man convicted during a November trial is sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –On November 2, 2021, a jury convicted Robert Harrison, 41, of St. Louis of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a two-day trial. As a result of the jury verdict, United States District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Harrison to 84 months in federal prison on March 2, 2022.
According to court records, on January 8, 2020, Harrison crashed his vehicle into a retaining wall in front of a residence in the City of St. Louis. When officers responded, Harrison tossed a firearm from his waist band and attempted to kick it under the front of his vehicle without officers noticing. Harrison was previously convicted of a felony and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kourtney M. Bell and Rodney H. Holmes prosecuted the case.
Spencer Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Spencer man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester for possession of child pornography.
Joseph Michael Smith, 59, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Smith will appear before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy tomorrow, March 4, 2022, at 1 p.m. in federal court in Worcester.
According to court documents, investigators received several tips that child pornography was shared from messenger accounts tied to Smith’s address. During a search of Smith’s residence on Nov. 10, 2021, a USB drive was seized. Smith also informed agents that child pornography was located on a black laptop in his basement. A forensic analysis of the USB drive allegedly revealed 35 videos depicting children as young as two-years-old being sexually abused.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Spencer Police Chief David Darrin made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Rollins’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Southwest Virginia Man Sentenced for Role in Unemployment Benefits ScamRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia man, who conspired with more than 30 others in a scheme to defraud the government of more than $499,000 in unemployment benefits, was sentenced this week to 30 months in federal prison.
George Levi Buckles, 32, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of making false statements.
According to court documents, Buckles conspired with Leelynn Danielle Chytka, Gregory Marcus Tackett, Jeffery Ryan Tackett, and others to commit fraud against the United States in connection with the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits.
Over the course of nine months, members of the conspiracy filed fraudulent claims with the Virginia Employment Commission on behalf of at least 37 individuals, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000. Chytka, the mastermind behind the scheme, was sentenced to nine years in prison, as were both Tacketts.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia; Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Murphy and Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
South Texas woman convicted for arranging smuggling attempt that led to deathRead the Press Release
VICTORIA, Texas – A 24-year-old Edinburg resident has entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to transport of illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Viriam Lizeth Huerta-Garcia admitted she accepted monies from the family members of a now deceased Mexican citizen to get him into the United States.
On July 21, 2021, authorities learned that a smuggled undocumented non-citizen had been abandoned along the roadside during a smuggling attempt. A family member of the victim had reported smugglers told them that the male victim had become ill during the trip and provided the location where he was left behind.
Law enforcement responded to the scene and discovered a Hispanic male laying down in a brushy area a short distance from the roadway. They pronounced him dead on the scene. The investigation revealed the victim was the same as the one the family member reported missing.
The victim had recently left the country to assist his ailing mother but had been trying to return to the United States. He was last heard from July 18, 2021.
Huerta-Garcia admitted today that she accepted $3,600 from his family members as payment for smuggling him into the United States.
Sentencing has been set before Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey May 26. At that time, Huerta-Garcia faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth is prosecuting the case.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 168 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –George W. Fowler, Jr., 33 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Fowler was sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in August 2020, law enforcement searched Fowler’s home and discovered a kilogram of methamphetamine, over 350 grams of heroin, and nearly 150 grams of fentanyl along with four handguns and $57,000 cash. Fowler was involved in distributing drugs with his brother, Rashawn Fowler, who was sentenced on January 19, 2020, by Chief Judge DeGuilio to 121 months in prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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Six Indicted for Distribution of Cocaine and Methamphetamine along Wasatch FrontRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in the District of Utah has issued a16-count indictment, which alleges that six individuals associated with a drug trafficking organization are responsible for conspiring to distribute cocaine, in addition to the distribution of methamphetamine, along the Wasatch Front.
The charges are the result of an investigation into a drug trafficking organization which was allegedly responsible for transporting kilograms of cocaine from California into Utah for distribution. Using court authorized investigative techniques, Special Agents from the FBI and the Wasatch Metro Narcotics Task Force identified six defendants allegedly responsible for the distribution of narcotics.
From November of 2021 until February of 2022, agents completed several controlled buys of cocaine and methamphetamine from the defendants listed in the indictment. During the investigation, agents seized over 1.8 kilograms of cocaine, over one pound of methamphetamine, two firearms, and over $102,000 in cash.
The indictment charges Leonardo Ortiz-Rios, aka Gerardo Ortiz Benitez, 45, of West Valley City, with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of distribution of cocaine.
Teresa Sanchez, 45, of West Valley City, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Jacinto Perez, 61, of Taylorsville, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, four counts of distribution of cocaine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Alejandro Santana-Brito, 35, of West Valley City, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and two counts of distribution of cocaine and one count of reentry of a previously removed alien
Justin Archuleta, aka Philip Zachary Colvin, 50, of Salt Lake City, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Jose Guadalupe Ruiz, 53, of Tooele, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen L. Nelson and Stewart M. Young in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case, Special Agents from the FBI and the Wasatch Metro Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation.Indictments are not findings of guilt. Defendants charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.
Shelby County Woman Charged with Stealing from HOAs and EmployerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal prosecutors have charged a Shelby County woman for wire fraud for embezzling from her employer and the homeowners’ associations they managed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr.
A one-count information filed this week in U.S. District Court charges Aimee Louise Statham, 47, of Chelsea, with embezzling from her employer, Rouland Management Services (RMS), and the homeowners’ associations that RMS managed. In conjunction with the charge, the government also filed a plea agreement with Statham. She must appear before a judge to enter a guilty plea.
According to the information, between January 2018 and August 2021, while employed as the bookkeeper by RMS, Statham made unauthorized transfers of funds from an RMS bank account and various homeowners’ associations bank accounts to her personal account. Statham used the unauthorized funds received for personal expenses.
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Pelham Police Department and the United States Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rummage is prosecuting the case.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Shasta County Woman Arrested for Lying to Federal Agents Regarding Kidnapping and Defrauding the Victim Compensation BoardRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sherri Papini, 39, of Redding, was arrested today on charges of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and engaging in mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, and Shasta County Sheriff Michael L. Johnson announced.
According to the criminal complaint filed in this case, on Nov. 2, 2016, Papini was reported missing, and extensive searches were conducted for her in Shasta County and California as well as in several other states. On Nov. 24, 2016, Papini was found in Yolo County near Woodland. Papini had various bindings on her body and injuries including a “brand” on her right shoulder.
At that time, Papini told law enforcement officers and others that she had been abducted and held by two Hispanic women at gunpoint and held against her will. She also provided details of the alleged abductors to an FBI sketch artist. Based on her account, law enforcement agencies were on the lookout for Hispanic women matching Papini’s description. The investigation eventually showed, however, that this was a false narrative Papini fabricated. In truth, Papini had been voluntarily staying with a former boyfriend in Costa Mesa and had harmed herself to support her false statements.
During an interview conducted by a federal agent and a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office detective in August 2020, Papini was warned that it was a crime to lie to federal agents. She was presented with evidence that showed she had not been abducted. Instead of retracting her kidnapping story, Papini continued to make false statements about her purported abductors. In addition, Papini caused the California Victim’s Compensation Board to pay victim assistance money based on her kidnapping story. From 2017 through 2021, Papini’s request for victim assistance caused approximately 35 payments totaling over $30,000, including for visits to her therapist and for the ambulance that transported her to the hospital after her return.
“When a young mother went missing in broad daylight, a community was filled with fear and concern,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Shasta County Sheriff’s Office immediately began investigating, calling on the assistance of the FBI. Countless hours were spent following leads, all in an effort to bring this woman back to her family. Three weeks later, she was found 146 miles south of where she disappeared, and the focus went from trying to find her to trying to find her abductors. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that there was no kidnapping and that time and resources that could have been used to investigate actual crime, protect the community, and provide resources to victims were wasted based on the defendant’s conduct.”
“This case exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to working tirelessly with law enforcement partners and prosecutors to examine all facts and seek the truth, no matter how long that process takes or how complex the analysis may be,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “We are grateful for the dedication of the agents, investigators, lab technicians, professional staff, and prosecutors who aided our collaborative fact-finding efforts. We are relieved that the community is not endangered by unknown, violent kidnappers, and thank the public and media for their patience and strong support for this case since the initial reports of Sherri Papini’s disappearance.”
“The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office is very thankful for the partnerships with all of the local, state, and federal allied agencies that have been involved with this investigation for the last five plus years,” said Sheriff Johnson. “The arrest of Sherri Papini was made possible by the outstanding hard work of a multitude of agents, detectives, DOJ criminalist, forensic analyst, crime scene investigators and support staff members that were assigned to this investigation. Everyone involved in this investigation had one common goal; to find the truth about what happened on Nov. 2, 2016 with Sherri Papini and who was responsible. The 22-day search for Sherri Papini and subsequent five-year search into who reportedly abducted her was not only taxing on public resources but caused the general public to be fearful of their own safety, a fear that they should not have had to endure. The Sheriff’s Office has appreciated the support and patience from the citizens of Shasta County and abroad. This investigation has always been a priority to get solved for the Sheriff’s Office as well as for our investigating partners at the FBI and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services and Bureau of Investigation.”
“At the California Department of Justice, we're proud of the work that our investigators and forensic experts do each and every day to provide critical investigative leads to our law enforcement partners across California,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “No matter the circumstances, our team is committed to the facts. While this case deals with a tough situation, we'll continue to do our part to help secure justice. Thank you to our partners at the federal and local level for your commitment to seeing this case through.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services and Bureau of Investigation, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Shelley D. Weger are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer, Papini faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of mail fraud, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Second St. Thomas Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing a St. Thomas Jewelry Store While Carrying a PistolRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Shemar G. Webster, a resident of St. Thomas, appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller in the District Court yesterday and entered a guilty plea to the charge of interference with commerce by threats or violence and use of or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. He faces up to life in federal prison. The sentencing date will be set by the Court.
According to Court documents, on Saturday, September 19, 2020, a white Suzuki Vitara arrived in the area of Gems & Gold Corner jewelry store located on the waterfront near Veteran’s Drive, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Webster and a co-defendant exited the white Suzuki Vitara with firearms and entered the Gems & Gold Corner jewelry store. Webster brandished the pistol he possessed and threatened the jewelry store employees and others. Webster physically assaulted the jewelry store owner using the firearm, striking the owner’s head. Webster and a co-defendant broke the jewelry showcases and took jewelry from the store. They then retreated from the jewelry store, got back into the white Suzuki Vitara, and were driven away from the area.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan A. Albino.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhood is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Savannah man sentenced to decades in prison for sexual abuse of a childRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been sentenced to more than two decades in federal prison after admitting he sexually abused a child at an overseas military base during an eight-year period.
Paul Francis Dunn III, 46, of Savannah, was sentenced to 293 months in prison after pleading guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact Committed by a Person Employed by the Armed Forces Outside the United States, and Sexual Abuse of a Minor Committed by a Person Employed by the Armed Forces Outside the United States, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Dunn to serve a life term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. A hearing will be held at a later date to determine the amount of restitution Dunn must pay.
“Sexual abuse of a child creates a lifetime of trauma,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “While this sentence can’t undo the abuse, at least it can ensure that Paul Dunn will be locked away for his horrific crimes.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Dunn admitted that while he served in the U.S. Army and later as a civilian U.S. employee in Belgium, from 2006 to 2014, he repeatedly sexually abused a child under age 16. He was arrested in 2018 after the victim reported the abuse, and Dunn pled guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in June 2021.
“Sexual assault against a child is an unspeakable crime that deserves the harshest penalties,” said Gregory Ford, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). “This sentence is a reflection of the dedication our CID Special Agents and our law enforcement partners maintain, to seek justice for the most vulnerable among us.”
“It is beyond comprehension that someone in a position sworn to protect American citizens would take advantage and traumatize a vulnerable child,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Maybe Dunn thought he could keep his crimes buried overseas, but that will not stop the FBI from pursuing child predators. Thanks to the help of our partners, he will now serve a lengthy prison sentence where he won’t be able to victimize any more children.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fort Stewart office and the FBI, and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Kaylynn Foulon and Eduardo Palomo of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela Mateo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
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 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.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Santa Barbara Man Charged in $12 Million Investment Scam Faces New Allegations of Failing to Pay Millions of Dollars in TaxesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Barbara man who allegedly stole approximately $12 million from victims who thought their investments would be used to purchase annuities today faces new charges of failing to pay over $3 million in federal income tax and concealing bank accounts in Monaco used to hide ill-gotten gains.
A superseding indictment filed today in United States District Court charges Darrell Arnold Aviss, 64, with three counts of tax evasion, six counts of failing to report foreign bank and financial accounts, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Aviss was arrested last June and initially charged with five counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering for allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme that promised to invest victims’ money in annuities from Swiss insurance companies. The original 11 charges are included in today’s superseding indictment that alleges Aviss used none of the victim funds to purchase annuities.
Aviss, who was jailed for about three months before a judge ordered him released in September on a $200,000 bond, is currently scheduled to go on trial July 26. He will be directed to appear for an arraignment on the superseding indictment in the coming weeks.
Aviss allegedly operated the fraud scheme from at least 2012 through mid-2020, soliciting money from people who wanted to purchase annuities from insurance companies based in Switzerland. Even though he arranged for the victims to receive statements showing the value of the annuities were increasing, the indictment alleges Aviss did not use the victims’ money to purchase annuities. Victims, most of whom were over the age of 60, gave Aviss more than $12 million, with most of that money coming from just one victim, according to court documents. Some money was paid back to victims to keep the scheme running.
Instead of purchasing annuities, Aviss allegedly used the victims’ money for his own purposes and to support his lavish lifestyle, which included luxury cars, expensive watches and trips to Monaco.
The superseding indictment alleges that Aviss also defrauded the United States by failing to file tax returns for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and failing to pay any income taxes for those years. Aviss allegedly evaded paying more than $3 million in income taxes.
Aviss also failed to file with the Department of the Treasury Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts for the years 2015 through 2020 relating to accounts he controlled in Monaco. The superseding indictment alleges that he transferred victims’ money to these offshore accounts, one of which was established with information from an identity theft victim.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted of the charges in the superseding indictment, Aviss would face decades in federal prison. For example, each of the five counts of wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Monica E. Tait of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
San Diego Man Sentenced to More than 20 years for Three Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Mario J. Peia (619) 546-9706
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 3, 2022
SAN DIEGO – A man who committed three armed robberies, including a robbery in which he fired his gun at a clerk, was sentenced in federal court today to 248 months in prison.
Devon Dwayne Brooks pleaded guilty in July to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, one count of Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, and two counts of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
According to his plea agreement, Brooks admitted that he robbed the Alpha and Omega Jewelry store in National City on March 26, 2019; the Valerio’s Bakeshop in National City on December 30, 2019; and the Winchell’s Donut House in National City on January 2, 2020. A gun was used in all three robberies. During the Winchell’s Donut House robbery, Brooks used a revolver to demand money from the cash register. When the clerk resisted, a struggle ensued. Brooks took a step back, aimed his revolver, and fired one shot, ultimately missing the clerk. Brooks then punched and pistol-whipped the clerk before fleeing empty handed.
“This defendant terrorized and injured store clerks and put their lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “He changed their lives forever. This is a prime example of why the Department of Justice prioritizes violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes in a manner that promotes victim rights and ensures just consequences for those who perpetrate violent crimes.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, the FBI and the National City Police Department for their excellent work on this case.
“Today’s sentence should send a very clear message to violent criminals throughout the county – the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force will utilize all investigative resources and law enforcement partnerships to track down and bring to justice those who commit violent acts and put lives in danger,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “The FBI is proud to work alongside our partners at the National City Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office to help keep our communities safe. I hope this sentence brings a sense of justice and closure to those victims whose lives were viciously impacted.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 20cr0239-WQH
Devon Dwayne Brooks Age: 23 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Hobbs Act Robbery/Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1951
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 924(c)
Maximum Penalty: Life; Consecutive Mandatory Minimum: Seven years per count
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
National City Police Department
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.