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11 February 2022
Hamden Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin and CrackRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Rico,” 33, last residing in Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and crack cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2017, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating individuals who were distributing narcotics in and around Bridgeport. The investigation has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, physical and video surveillance, and the execution of multiple search and seizure warrants. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez, Antonio Small, Evan Sheffield, Louis McDowell, Anthony Small and others were distributing large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in the Bridgeport area.
On January 13, 2020, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”).
Antonio Small, Sheffield, McDowell, and Anthony Small have pleaded guilty. On October 27, 2020, Judge Thompson sentenced Sheffield to 97 months of imprisonment. Antonio Small, McDowell and Anthony Small await sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, as well as the DEA, Connecticut State Police, and the Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Patrick J. Doherty through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. 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.
Greenleaf Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Violation and Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Greenleaf man pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and assaulting a federal officer.
According to court records, in March 2021, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) started investigating vandalism on U.S. Government Property in the Mann Creak Area. The vandalism included markings of “SAI,” which refers to the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho. The vandalism also included threats to federal employees. The USFS identified Erik Konrad Ehrlin, 33, of Greenleaf, Idaho, as a possible suspect. It was reported that Ehrlin was potentially carrying a firearm. Ehrlin was previously convicted of sexual abuse in the first degree in Oregon and cannot lawfully possess firearms.
On April 30, 2021, a USFS special agent and a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy contacted Ehrlin at a campsite in the Mann Creek Area. The deputy observed Ehrlin with a firearm in his possession. During the encounter, Ehrlin entered his truck, attempted to flee, and struck the USFS agent with a part of the truck. He was taken into custody shortly after. In Ehrlin’s campsite, law enforcement located a semi-automatic rifle and in Ehrlin’s truck, law enforcement located a 9mm handgun.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained a search warrant for Ehrlin’s residence in Greenleaf, where agents located a journal with references to the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho. The journal also contained a “Sovereign Citizen’s Oath.” Agents also located two additional firearms, a .22 caliber rifle and a .22 caliber revolver.
Ehrlin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison for the firearm charge and one year in prison for the assault. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Forest Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which led to charges.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. 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.
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Grand Jury Indicts Convicted Felon Who Allegedly Fired BB Guns at Planned Parenthood in Pasadena with Violating FACE ActRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned a five-count indictment that charges a San Gabriel Valley man who allegedly fired BB guns at the Planned Parenthood facility in Pasadena with violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
Richard Royden Chamberlin, 53, who currently resides in Altadena, but also maintains a residence in Ontario, was charged with two counts of forcible interference with the obtaining and provision of reproductive health services. A third charge alleges attempted forcible interference with the obtaining and provision of reproductive health services. No one was injured in any of the shootings, and the FACE Act violations alleged in the indictment are misdemeanor offenses.
The indictment alleges that Chamberlin fired BB guns at the Planned Parenthood facility on multiple occasions in 2020 and 2021. Count one of the indictment specifically alleges an attack on March 30, 2021, in which a patient’s support companion was nearly hit as she waited on the front porch of the women’s health clinic.
The indictment also charges Chamberlin with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition for carrying a loaded handgun during the final drive-by attack on the Planned Parenthood facility on May 7, 2021. Following that alleged BB gun shooting, the Pasadena Police Department located Chamberlin in his vehicle near the Planned Parenthood facility, and they discovered vehicle multiple BB guns, as well as a.22-caliber handgun loaded with 10 bullets, according to court documents. Chamberlin, who was previously convicted of a narcotics-related felony in Arizona, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Following his arrest on May 7, the Pasadena City Attorney’s Office filed firearms-related charges against Chamberlin. Federal authorities began to investigate the matter and last month filed a criminal complaint against Chamberlin alleging the felon-in-possession offense.
The FBI arrested Chamberlin on January 28. In conjunction with his arrest, FBI special agents executed search warrants at Chamberlin’s two residences. At the Ontario residence, investigators recovered thousands or rounds of ammunition. The indictment also charges Chamberlin with being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The two felon-in-possession charges alleged in the indictment each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Each of the three FACE Act charges carry up to one year in prison.
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.
Chamberlin, who was freed on bond following his arrest on January 28, has been ordered to appear for an arraignment in United States District Court in Los Angeles on February 17.
The FBI’s Civil Rights Squad and the Pasadena Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting this case.
Grand Island Man Sentenced to 16 ½ Years for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Shane Lawrence, 40, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 16 1/2 years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Lawrence will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
On October 17, 2020, the Grand Island Police Department was conducting surveillance of a home where officers suspected drug trafficking was occurring. Police later obtained a search warrant and found 6.9 pounds of methamphetamine and $18,000 in U.S. currency. Lawrence was arrested at the scene and evidence showed that he was responsible for the distribution of large amounts of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Grand Island Police Department and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force. That Task Force is composed of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Grand Island Police Department, the Hall County Sheriff’s Department, the Hastings Police Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, the Kearney Police Department, and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department.
Former University Professor to Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud and Engaging in an Unlawful Monetary TransactionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced today that Yue Liu, also known as Troy Liu (age: 41) of Mequon, Wisconsin, had been charged in a two-count information with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957. Liu has signed a plea agreement acknowledging that he is guilty of those charges.
As detailed in court documents, beginning in approximately April 2016 and continuing through at least November 2020, Liu, who was an engineering professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), devised and executed a scheme to defraud. The essence of the scheme was to obtain money, through materially false promises and representations, from foreign students who were accepted into graduate programs at UWM. Liu promised foreign students that they would be part of a program run by an entity he controlled, which would pay expenses associated with their studies at UWM, including tuition and other costs. In reality, there was no such program affiliated with UWM, and UWM waived the students’ tuition because they were research assistants. Liu emailed letters to students in which he made false representations about the program, and he wrote those letters using a fictitious name he invented and using what appeared to be a UWM logo.
According to the Information and plea agreement, Liu fraudulently obtained more than $1.1 million from foreign students and visiting professors. Liu did not use the money from the students to pay their tuition and other expenses. Instead, he used a portion of the money he received for personal purposes, including to fund investment accounts and to pay credit card expenses. Liu also attempted to conceal the scheme by creating a fraudulent research agreement between UWM and a fictitious entity purportedly based in China and using a portion of the money to fund this agreement.
The wire fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release following any prison term. The unlawful monetary transaction count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
The claims made in the Information are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to convict the defendant. The plea agreement expresses the defendant’s intention to plead guilty, but the defendant has not yet formally entered a plea in this matter.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Scully.
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Former Tax Preparer from Minden Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Deborah Cooksey, 56, of Minden, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 24 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, for filing false tax returns. Cooksey was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $547,043.
Deborah Cooksey was indicted in March 2021 and on September 22, 2021, pleaded guilty to one count of filing false tax returns. Cooksey was the owner and operator of Cooksey’s Tax and Notary Services, LLC, in Minden, Louisiana, whose primary business was the preparation and electronic filing of individual income tax returns. She received all fees from the preparation and filing of client’s individual tax returns into a business account under the name of Cooksey’s Tax and Notary Services. Cooksey did not report all fees earned from the preparation and filing of client’s individual tax returns during the tax years 2013 and 2014. On April 15, 2015, Cooksey personally prepared and electronically filed her 2013 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, which was verified by a written declaration that it was made under penalties of perjury with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). She reported Schedule C income of $522,662 on her 2013 Form 1040 tax return. These gross receipts and income reported on her Schedule C were false and in truth and in fact, Cooksey knew her true Schedule C gross income for 2013 was $1,356,682. Because Cooksey understated her gross receipts and income on her Schedule C, there are taxes due and owing for 2013.
As part of her plea agreement, Cooksey agreed to be permanently enjoined from preparing, assisting, advising, or counseling in the preparation of, or filing federal tax returns for anyone other than herself. She is also prohibited from maintaining any association with a tax preparation business, instructing, teaching or otherwise training any person in the preparation of federal tax returns.
The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary J. Mudrick and Mike Shannon.
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Former Queens Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
The former owner of a drywall business in Queens pleaded guilty today to helping prepare a false corporate tax return for his business.
According to court documents, Osvaldo Caceres, of Queens, New York, owned and operated OSVI Drywall Corporation. Caceres helped prepare the company’s corporate tax return for the tax period ranging from Feb. 1, 2013, through Jan. 31, 2014, which underreported the business’s gross receipts. Caceras caused a total tax loss to the IRS of $926,379.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 14. Caceres faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. He thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for providing substantial assistance in this matter.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah Ranney and Sam Bean of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Former City Councilman Adam McFadden Going to Prison for Wire Fraud Conviction and Filing A False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Adam C. McFadden, 50, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud and filing a false tax return, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. McFadden was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $265,528.00 to Quad A For Kids, the Internal Revenue Service and Rochester Housing Charities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, who handled the case, stated that McFadden was the Executive Director for Quad A for Kids between 2004 and 2014. From 2014 to September 2016, McFadden served as an independent contractor for Quad A for Kids. From September 2016 until 2019, McFadden returned to his position as the Executive Director of Quad A for Kids, which provides after-school and extended-day learning programs at some Rochester City School District elementary schools. Quad A for Kids operates as a separate entity funded through the Rochester Area Community Foundation Initiatives Inc. (RACF).
Between February 2012 and December 2018, McFadden submitted fraudulent invoices and receipts to the RACF for reimbursements in the approximate amount of $131,163.00. Specifically, McFadden created fraudulent invoices purportedly from: an individual for various computer and IT related services that were never provided; an entity that provided various sports, fitness and related products and services; entities that provided grant writing and related services; and Amazon, Walmart and Staples. The funds were used, in part, for McFadden’s personal benefit, including personal debts. After the submission of the fraudulent invoices, the RACF reimbursed the defendant personally or paid the various entities used by the defendant. The entities then used the money to pay debts owed by the defendant.
In August 2017 and February 2018, McFadden created fraudulent $4,000.00 invoices from the North East Area Development Association (NEAD) to Quad A for Kids, purportedly for training services provided by NEAD to Quad A for Kids. Although the training services were never performed by NEAD, McFadden caused Quad A for Kids to pay NEAD $8,000.00. NEAD then fraudulently paid the defendant $7,000.00 of the $8,000.00 that NEAD had fraudulently received.
In addition, in 2015, McFadden owned a company called Caesar Development LLC, which received an $87,500 contract from the Rochester Housing Charities for services which were never performed. Also, for the tax years 2015 through 2017, McFadden provided false information on his personal tax returns, reporting false deductions, including personal expenses, on his Schedule C, which falsely reduced his taxable income. The reduction in McFadden’s taxable income resulted in a tax loss to the IRS of $46,865.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brandon Gardner; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rochester Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Former Brownsville Ambulance Service Treasurer Pleads Embezzled FundsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Newell, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft and embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Edward T. Stevenson, age 63, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Stevenson, who was employed as the Administrative Director as well as served as the Treasurer of Brownsville Ambulance Service, Inc. (BAS), located in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, from January 17, 2013 through March 22, 2017, without authorization, issued 132 checks totaling $136,140 from BAS’s checking accounts at First National Bank and PNC Bank, made payable to himself, to cash, and to his personal business, Lunden’s Flower Shop, also located in Brownsville. Stevenson deposited the checks in his personal bank account or one of two bank accounts he maintained on behalf of Lunden’s Flower Shop, all of which were issued in excess of his wages and for his personal benefit. At the time of the offense, BAS was a not-for-profit business that annually received $10,000 or more in federal benefits through the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The law also requires that Stevenson make full restitution to BAS for the funds he embezzled. 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 bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Stevenson.
First of six consultants indicted in Amazon bribery scheme sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – The first of six consultants indicted in September 2020, for a fraud and bribery scheme targeting Amazon.com and its online Marketplace, was sentenced today to 10 months in prison and a fine of $50,000, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Rohit Kadimisetty, 28, of Northridge, California pleaded guilty to conspiracy in September 2021. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “You do not have a license to steal from Amazon, …you were involved in illegal conduct…. This could be called modern day organized crime.”
“Mr. Kadimisetty used his knowledge and contacts from prior employment at Amazon, to enrich himself by manipulating listings on Amazon Marketplace,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “He was a critical cog in the bribery wheel: paying contacts in India to reinstate suspended accounts, steal confidential information and attack competitors who got in the way of those funding the bribery scheme.”
According to records in the case, since at least 2017, the defendants used bribery and fraud to elevate and benefit certain merchants on the Amazon Marketplace. Kadimisetty and the other defendants served as so-called consultants to third-party (“3P”) sellers on the Amazon Marketplace. Those 3P sellers sold a wide range of goods, including household goods, consumer electronics, and dietary supplements on Amazon’s multi-billion-dollar electronic commerce platform.
Following his employment at Amazon, and after relocating to the United States, Kadimisetty used his inside knowledge to recruit employees in India to misuse their employee privileges and access to internal information, systems, and tools. Kadimisetty connected employees in India with other consultants and 3P sellers across the United States. Kadimisetty acted as a middleman of sorts, assigning tasks on behalf of 3P sellers and negotiating and arranging bribe payments on behalf of corrupted Amazon insiders. To hide his criminal conduct, Kadimisetty used deceptive email accounts, encrypted messaging services, and bribes through third parties.
The illicit services provided by Kadimisetty and the other defendants included: stealing confidential business information about Amazon algorithms; reinstating accounts and products that had been suspended; circumventing inventory fees for Amazon warehouses; falsifying claims for lost inventory; and facilitating attacks on competing sellers and product listings.
In his plea agreement, Kadimisetty admits being responsible for $100,000 in bribes paid to Amazon insiders during his active involvement in the enterprise. Kadimisetty left the conspiracy in late-2018, after a number of his contacts in India were fired by Amazon due to the misconduct.
“Mr. Kadimisetty used his insider access and expertise for his own benefit and those of his co-conspirators. Not only did his actions break the law, but ultimately consumer confidence was shaken by calling into question fair play. Fortunately, the actions of law enforcement were able to stop this scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald Voiret, FBI Seattle.
Four defendants, Ephraim Rosenberg, of Brooklyn, Joseph Nilsen, and Kristen Leccese, of New York City, and Hadis Nuhanovic, of Acworth, Georgia, are scheduled for trial in October 2022. Defendant Nishad Kunju, of Hyderabad, India, has not been arraigned on the indictment.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS:CI), and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Nicholas Manheim.
Federal Inmate Charged with Possession of A WeaponRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rigoberto Garay-Lopez, age 34, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood (FCI Allenwood), was indicted on February 10, 2022, by a federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on January 22, 2022, Garay-Lopez was found in possession of a piece of sharpened metal with a plastic handle, commonly referred to as a “shank,” that is intended to be used as a weapon.
The charge stems from an investigation by the Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the maximum term of imprisonment is five years and a $250,000 fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Duplin County Man Receives More Than 14 Years in Federal Prison for Pipe Bombs and Trafficking More Than a Kilogram of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Victor Gonzales, 35, of Duplin County, was sentenced to 176 months in prison for (1) Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing Methamphetamine, (2) Distribution of 50 grams or more of a substance containing Methamphetamine and (3) Possession of destructive device pipe bombs not registered to the defendant in the National Registration and Transfer Records.
According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, on April 7, 2021, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office conducted a controlled purchase of two ounces of methamphetamine from Gonzales at his residence on Albert Grady Road in Mount Olive. A second controlled purchase of approximately two ounces of methamphetamine was completed on April 12, 2021, from the same location.
On April 13, 2021, Duplin County Detectives served a search warrant on two addresses on Albert Grady Road associated with Gonzales. Gonzales was arrested during the serving of the search warrants. In a van in the yard, law enforcement found a box with digital scales and 146 grams of methamphetamine. A safe inside of the residence contained a homemade pipe bomb. Law enforcement found a loaded AR-15 in a car parked in the driveway. During a search of the property at the second residence, the following items were found: 6 homemade pipe bombs, a .22 caliber pistol and .25 caliber pistol. Following his arrest, Gonzales stated that he was going to find out who was “snitching” and that it was not going to be pretty. ATF neutralized the explosive devices.
According to law enforcement, Gonzales is associated with the SUR 13 gang. The investigation revealed that Gonzales was involved in the distribution of more than a kilogram of methamphetamine from October 2019 until the time of his arrest in April 2021.
This is part of operation “Fighting Jelly Fish” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-cr-00061-FL.
Drug User Who Possessed Multiple Firearms Sentenced to Seven Years’ in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed multiple firearms was sentenced today to seven years’ in federal prison.
Devonte Wright, age 21, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 24, 2021 guilty plea to being a drug user in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed that Wright possessed at least seven firearms, including a firearm with an obliterated serial number, a stolen firearm, and an AR-15 rifle. During the time Wright possessed these firearms, he was a marijuana user. Wright posted multiple videos of himself smoking marijuana while in possession of the firearms to public social media sources.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2007.
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Disbarred Attorney Pleads Guilty to $5 Million Cryptocurrency FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today announced that PHILIP REICHENTHAL, a disbarred attorney, pled guilty in Manhattan federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud investors who believed they were purchasing Bitcoin. Reichenthal engaged in the scheme with Randy Craig Levine, a/k/a “Viktor Lapin,” a/k/a “Andre Santiago Santos Galindo,” a/k/a “Alexander Martinez Lavrov,” a/k/a “Alexander Kozlov,” a/k/a “Hristo Danielov Marinov,” an international fugitive who fraudulently induced victims to send millions of dollars to REICHENTHAL, who was a licensed attorney at the time of the fraud. REICHENTHAL falsely represented that he would act as an escrow agent for the transactions, but instead, he sent a substantial portion of the money to Levine, before any Bitcoin was provided by Levine to investors. Neither Levine nor REICHENTHAL ever provided any Bitcoin or refunded the investors’ money.
REICHENTHAL was arrested on September 14, 2020, and pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a licensed attorney and escrow agent, Philip Reichenthal was entrusted to keep investors’ money safe. But as he admitted today, he betrayed that trust by siphoning millions of dollars of investor money. Now he stands guilty of wire fraud and awaits sentencing for his crime.”
As alleged in the Complaint and Indictment filed against REICHENTHAL, as well as his co-conspirator Levine,[1] and other statements made in open court:
The charges against Levine and REICHENTHAL involve two fraudulent schemes. In the first fraudulent scheme, in approximately June and July 2018, Levine induced another individual, the principal of a purported cryptocurrency escrow firm (“Individual-1”), to wire to REICHENTHAL over $3 million of funds from an over-the-counter cryptocurrency broker (“Company-1”) to fund the purchase of Bitcoin after falsely telling Individual-1 that Levine would sell thousands of Bitcoin, when in truth and in fact, Levine never intended to sell Bitcoin. After receiving the $3 million, REICHENTHAL, in turn, wired over $2 million to bank accounts in Guatemala held in the name of one of Levine’s aliases. Levine then lied to Individual-1 for days about why the deal had not worked out, the status of the purported Bitcoin, and the location of Company-1’s money, which was never returned.
In the second fraudulent scheme, from approximately February 2019 to May 2019, Levine induced a Florida resident involved in brokering Bitcoin transactions (“Individual-2”) to cause investors to send to REICHENTHAL over $2 million of the investors’ money to fund the purchase of Bitcoin. Again, Levine told Individual-2 that Levine would sell Bitcoin, when in truth and in fact, Levine never had any intention of selling Bitcoin to the investors. After receiving the funds from the investors, REICHENTHAL, in turn, sent over $1.9 million to bank accounts in Mexico controlled by Levine; the money was then wired to a bank account in Russia held in the name of one of Levine’s aliases. Levine then lied to Individual-2 and an investor about the status of the investors’ funds, which were never returned.
In connection with the above transactions, Levine used, among other things, various false aliases to communicate with the individuals sending funds to REICHENTHAL and foreign bank accounts held in his false names. REICHENTHAL used bank accounts held in the name of his law firm and an attorney trust account to receive the funds and the pass them to Levine, before he or investors received the Bitcoin, contrary to REICHENTHAL’s and Levine’s promises.
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REICHENTHAL, 78, of Homestead, Florida, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This charge carries a maximum term of twenty 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.
REICHENTHAL will be sentenced at a later date by the Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan.
Extradition proceedings against Levine are pending.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Estes and Drew Skinner are in charge of the prosecution
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, as to Levine, 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.
Defendant in Marijuana and Cocaine Conspiracy SentencedRead the Press Release
EL PASO – A defendant in a marijuana and cocaine conspiracy case was sentenced on Wednesday to nine years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
According to court documents, Vicente Montoya, aka “Vicente Fabela Montoya,” “Chente,” 46, of Socorro, was a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Carlos Moreno-Reyes, aka “Charlie Brown” from October 2008 until April 2019. The DTO operated in the El Paso area and was responsible for transporting and distributing marijuana and cocaine from El Paso to destination cities, including Oklahoma City. Montoya admitted that he received approximately $1,800,400 in drug proceeds in his role in the DTO.
On October 4, 2021, Montoya pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. In addition to his prison sentence, Montoya was ordered to pay a $1,800,400 money judgment.
Other members of the DTO included Carlos Moreno-Reyes, aka “Charlie Brown,” 46, of Clint; Jose Luis Ortiz-Valenzuela, aka “Pelon,” 37, of Avondale, AZ; Julio Adrian Terrazas, aka “JT,” 31, of Fabens; Edgar Sanchez, aka “Siez,” “Chavalito,” 31, of Fabens; Jacinto Olivas-Cervantes, aka “Chente,” “Chinto,” 53, of San Elizario; Oliva Beltran-Paez, 34, of Clint; and Rey Anthony Garza, aka “Ray Anthony Garza,” “Flaco,” 51, of Fabens.
“I am thankful for the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners that enable us to work together to prosecute not only individual drug traffickers, but also to take down large drug trafficking organizations such as this one,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff.
“The successful conclusion of this case exemplifies HSI’s commitment to disrupting extremely dangerous supply chains of drugs that poison people,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho. “The resolve of HSI special agents to curb drug trafficking, which drives violence in our communities, undoubtedly saves lives.”
On February 26, 2020, Moreno pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of bulk cash smuggling. On November 15, 2021, Moreno was sentenced to 204 months in prison and ordered to pay a money judgment of $25,587,400.
Sanchez and Ortiz-Valenzuela pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. On March 11, 2020, Sanchez was sentenced to 120 months in prison. On July 17, 2020, Ortiz-Valenzuela was sentenced to 96 months in prison.
Olivas-Cervantes and Terrazas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute. On February 25, 2020, Olivas was sentenced to 30 months in prison. On July 20, 2020, Terrazas was sentenced to 46 months in prison.
Beltran-Paez, pleaded guilty to one count of bulk cash smuggling. On February 28, 2020, Beltran was sentenced to five years of probation.
Garza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. On April 6, 2021, Garza was sentenced to 108 months in prison.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andres Ortega prosecuted the case.
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Dating Abuse Impacts Millions of Teens Every YearRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Dating abuse impacts millions of teens and young people every year. According to loveisrespect.org, one in three teens in the United States will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults and 43% of college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM), a time to raise awareness about this all-too-common issue, focus efforts on ending the violence, and share resources for teens experiencing violence, survivors and their communities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Alaska is proud to share a new resource: the Teens and Technology Resource Series which is funded by the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Misuse of technology is an increasingly common tactic by harmful partners. The Teens and Technology resources aim to help adults who teach, work with, and care for teenagers understand technology from their perspective to empower teenagers to safely navigate relationships and technology use. These resources include examples of technology abuse, uses and misuses of social media applications, and five ways to engage with young people.
“Valentine’s Day is the day we celebrate romance, and we naturally think of romance as a beautiful, blissful, benign and healthy feature of our lives,” said District of Alaska U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. “Unfortunately, the terrible reality for too many teens can include relationships fraught with abuse. Families and adults must do more to help our teens foster safe and healthy relationships.”
“The pandemic has made everything more challenging – for children and youth, advocates across the country have reported an uptick in online abuse as younger folks spend more time spent online,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall. “The Teens and Tech Resource Series can help adults meaningfully engage with young people, empowering them to recognize abuse and unhealthy relationships, prevent future violence, and use technology safely. Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month gives us the opportunity to put a spotlight on these projects, as well as OVW’s year-round commitment to ending dating violence.”
The District of Alaska’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Working Group has also heard concerns about teen dating violence and prevention from tribal people and stakeholder provider agencies during listening and consultation sessions across many parts of Alaska. In the last year, the MMIP Working Group reached out and provided an opportunity for listening/consultation sessions to 170 of the 229 Alaska Federally Recognized Tribes as well as education and outreach presentations and forums to all of Alaska’s Tribes. “Fostering healthy relationships in teens and across generations is so important,” added Kuhn. “We must all work together using these tools to encourage and empower teens to develop healthy relationships and eliminate teen dating violence across Alaska.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking, there are many services available to help, including:
- Teen Dating Abuse Hotline, 1-866-331-9474, text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522, or visit loveisrespect.org
- The StrongHearts Native Helpline, which offers online chat on their website and a hotline – at 1-844-7NATIVE (or 1-844-762-8483) and provides culturally-appropriate services and advocacy to American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence.
Alaska Resources:
- Alaska 2-1-1 or www.alaska211.org is a one-stop resource for finding help in your community. It’s free, confidential and available in almost any language. Call Center hours are Mon – Fri 8:30am – 5:30pm.
- Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) provides a state-wide list of resources and contact information for domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy services including shelters. https://andvsa.org/find-help/member-programs/
- Covenant House Alaska supports homeless or at-risk youth 907 272 1255 or www.covenanthouseak.org
- Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living www.iacnvl.org Confidential help available 24/7 at 907-452-2293 or toll-free at 1-800-478-7273
- The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) promotes justice through culturally based advocacy, prevention and intervention services to restore dignity, respect and humanity to all Alaska Native people. https://anjc.org/
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Background for Editors:
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Safety Net Project developed the Teens and Tech Resource Series in partnership with eleven24, a teen violence prevention program dedicated to reducing the prevalence of relationship abuse and sexual violence through media literacy and identity affirmation.
The Office on Violence Against Women provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw
Curwensville Felon Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Curwensville, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 24 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release on his conviction of unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Chancellor M. Shaw Walter, 27.
According to information presented to the court, on September 16, 2019, Shaw was found in possession of ammunition. On June 26, 2018, Shaw was convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield County, of the crimes of flight to avoid apprehension and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, which are crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing ammunition
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Ms. Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Shaw.
Council Bluffs Woman Sentenced for Transportation of a MinorRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Diamond Marie Logan, age 24, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on February 8, 2022, by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 120 months in prison for Transportation of a Minor. Logan’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Logan pleaded guilty to the charge on September 7, 2021.
On November 18, 2020, two teenage girls ran away from a residential group home located in Omaha. They first went to a home in Omaha but were later picked up by Logan who then drove the girls to her house in Council Bluffs. On December 2, 2020, the FBI located one of the teenagers in Omaha who then assisted in locating the second teenager. The two girls disclosed that Logan posted them on an online website for purposes of prostitution. The FBI searched through the online website and found that between October and December 2020, Logan posted numerous ads for prostituting the girls. Logan arranged prostitution at her home in Council Bluffs and also drove one of the girls from Council Bluffs to Omaha for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Mitchell Wayne Bochnicek, age 43, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced December 8, 2022, by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 120 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. His term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Bochnicek pleaded guilty to the offense on September 2, 2021.
On January 21, 2021, Bochnicek was stopped by law enforcement regarding his vehicle bearing an incorrect registration plate. After attempting to identify Bochnicek, the officer performed a pat down and located a scale in his pocket. The officer then located methamphetamine, baggies, a scale, a loaded firearm, and $1,392 inside the vehicle. Bochnicek admitted the methamphetamine and the paraphernalia belonged to him.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Columbia Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Missouri, sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for possessing child pornography.
Joseph Lynn Clark, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On Oct. 12, 2021, Clark pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. Clark, who has a prior state conviction for possessing child pornography, admitted that he uploaded child pornography to his Google account.
On Oct. 30, 2020, a detective with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reporting 92 files that appeared to be child pornography in Clark’s Google Photos account. On Jan. 27, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence and Clark was arrested. Officers seized Clark’s iPhones, laptop computer, iPad, and electronic storage devices.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Columbia Man Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for methamphetamine trafficking after he received a large package of methamphetamine shipped from California to distribute locally.
Bryan Patton Tullous, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 10 years and 11 months in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 2, 2021, Tullous pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
On April 26, 2019, law enforcement officers intercepted a package from California that had been shipped to the residence shared by Tullous and co-defendant Cassiopeia Marie Blaise, 37. The package contained approximately 5.6 pounds of methamphetamine in five individual packages that weighed approximately one pound (453 grams) each, for a total of 2.209 kilograms of methamphetamine. Officers conducted surveillance of the residence as the package was delivered to the front porch. Both Tullous and Blaise were outside; Blaise retrieved the package and took it inside the residence while Tullous was in a neighbor’s yard. Officers took both of them into custody and executed a search warrant of the residence. Officers found the opened package hidden under clothing at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom.
Officers also found a dozen firearms in various areas of the residence, including a loaded Smith & Wesson .380-caliber pistol laying near the package in the bedroom. In a safe in the garage, officers found a Mossberg .22-caliber rifle, a Snake Charmer 410 shotgun, a Browning .223-caliber rifle, a Bear River .38-caliber revolver, and a Charter Arms .38-caliber revolver. The Snake Charmer 410 shotgun had the stock cut off, making it useable as a pistol grip-type weapon.
Tullous admitted that he ordered the package and paid $12,000 for the methamphetamine.
Blaise pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2021, to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and awaits sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the East Central Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.
Cheektowaga Man Arrested on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James Fox, 38, of Cheektowaga, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with maintaining a drug premises and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on February 3, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Fox’s residence on Beach Road in Cheektowaga, NY. During the execution of the search warrant, among other items, investigators seized a loaded shotgun; additional rounds of ammunition; Narcan; two electrical tasers; and a stun gun. The Government alleges that Fox frequently used his residence to solicit prostitutes, many of whom were addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, and that Fox provided some of the prostitutes with illegal narcotic in exchange for sex acts.
Fox is being held following a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.
The complaint is a result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Karn. Jr. and Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Centralia Man Sentenced for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Brylon Engelkins, 21, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for possessing a firearm by a felon. Upon his release, Engelkins will be supervised by
United States Probation for a period of three years. Additionally, Engelkins must pay a $300 fine and a $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, Engelkins possessed a 9mm Diamondback pistol while on supervised release for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, a prior federal conviction from the Southern District of Illinois. Engelkins’ current sentence will be served consecutive to the sentence previously imposed for violating his supervised release.This case was investigated by the FBI - Springfield Division Safe Streets Task Force, the United
States Marshal’s Service, and the Centralia Police Department.Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Rakeem Leonard, age 30, from Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Leonard admitted that, on July 19, 2021, he possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol after having been convicted of two felonies and while he was subject to a no contact order.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Leonard remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Leonard faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the High Risk Unit of the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 21-53.
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Boswell Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A former resident of Boswell, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Michael Knisely, 31, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment before United States District Judge Stephanie Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from on or about April 16, 2021, Knisely possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Cambria County Drug Task Force, and Cambria County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Knisely.
Boston-Area Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms Conspiracy Involving Six Shootings, Including One with Machine GunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Tiny Rascals Gang (TRG) pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Massachusetts and Maine and to his involvement in six shootings in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Jaiir Coleman, a/k/a “JC”, a/k/a “Chino,” 22, of Malden, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and other controlled substances; one count of conspiring to possess, use and carry firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy; one count of possessing a machine gun; and one count of possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2022. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Coleman faces a mandatory term of 40 years in prison for these drug and gun crimes.
Coleman was arrested in January 2021 on state offenses and charged in April 2021 as part of Operation Street Sweepah: Kings of Belaire, an investigation that began in 2020 in direct response to increased violence in communities north of Boston where a significant spike in shootings is believed to be the result of gang-related rivalries.
Coleman is a self-identified member of TRG, one of the largest and most violent criminal street gangs in the country that operates on a decentralized structure via local groups or “sets.” TRG is involved in street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine and members are known for their involvement in gun violence on the street, including drive-by shootings of residences of rival gang members.
Coleman participated in a long-running conspiracy to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine base (crack cocaine) locally and in the Bangor, Maine, area. The charging documents describe numerous recorded conversations between Coleman and a co-conspirator in which the sale and distribution of controlled substances is discussed, including explicit instructions by Coleman about the manner in which to adulterate fentanyl and the proper prices to charge.
Coleman admitted to committing six shootings in furtherance of this drug conspiracy. Four shootings took place on Nov. 11, 2019, in Chelsea and Somerville, during which homes and vehicles were struck with gunfire. A fifth shooting took place in May 2020 in Somerville targeting individuals who were believed to be rival gang members. A sixth shooting took place in Cambridge in July 2020, during which Coleman used a machine gun to shoot at a group of individuals in response to a video posting made on social media.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Coleman was arrested for operating with a suspended license. A subsequent search of Coleman’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a machine gun. According to the charging documents, a music video posted online earlier that week depicts Coleman holding and brandishing the same machine gun recovered from the vehicle on Jan. 6, 2021.
The charge of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiring to possess, use and carry firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to life in prison because a machine gun was involved in the offense, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possessing a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possessing a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and up to life in prison to be served consecutively to the penalty for the underlying drug trafficking crime, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Roy E. McKinney, Director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Somerville Acting Police Chief Charles Femino; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes; Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy; Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow; Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis; and Revere Police Chief James Guido made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Middlesex County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices; Suffolk County and Essex County Sheriff’s Departments; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bloomsburg Man Charged with Attempted Production of Child Pornography and Attempted Online EnticementRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Alexander Stroup, age 33, of Bloomburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 11, 2022, by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted production of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and transmitting obscene material to a minor.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that from or about October 23, 2021 through October 23, 2021, Stroup attempted to persuade, induce, and entice, a person under the age of 18 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct using a facility of interstate commerce. The indictment also alleges that Stroup did transfer and attempt to transfer obscene matter to another individual who had not attained the age of 16 years.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel 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 "resources."
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Michael Bryant, 62, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun crimes.
According to court documents, Bryant admitted selling fentanyl to a confidential informant on three separate occasions in March 2021. The drug transactions occurred at his residence on Hunt Street in Beckley. During one of the controlled buys, Bryant also sold the confidential informant a loaded Francolin Arms, model Citadel Boss 25, 12 gauge shotgun. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bryant’s residence on October 21, 2021 and seized additional quantities of fentanyl, a loaded Sports Arms, Derringer 22 caliber pistol, and rounds of 9mm and 22 caliber ammunition. Bryant admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of his two prior felony convictions for unlawful assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Bryant pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 19, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit is comprised of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar Kordestani is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00199.
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Bagel Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion and a wire fraud conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph Smith, of Fishkill, owned and operated New York Bagel, a business that operated in Pennsylvania and other states. Smith and Dennis Mason conspired to defraud individuals who sought to open new franchises of New York Bagel. Smith and Mason induced the prospective franchisees to open up New York Bagel stores by understating the startup costs, overstating the number of franchises that were up and running, and exaggerating the financial success of existing franchises. Smith and Mason charged prospective franchisees fees ranging between $7,500 and $44,500 to gain rights to open stores. When prospective franchisees learned of the misrepresentations, Smith refused to refund these fees.
For the years 2014 through 2016, Smith deposited more than $1.3 million in franchise fees into New York Bagel bank accounts he controlled. Smith spent these funds on personal items wholly unrelated to New York Bagel including rent for his personal home, recreational travel, car payments for personal vehicles and everyday living expenses. Smith did not timely file corporate or individual income taxes for these three years, or pay the taxes owed to the IRS, even though he was required by law to do so.
Mason previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud on June 25, 2020.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on May 24. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on both the tax evasion and conspiracy charges, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Eric B. Powers of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ignall of the U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case.
Altoona Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ in Prison for Possession of Materials Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Altoona, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 10 years’ in prison followed by 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Matthew Michael Walter, 34.
According to information presented to the court, on or about August 22, 2019, Walter knowingly possessed pictures and videos in individual computer graphic files which were produced using prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. All computer graphic files were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Ms. Chung commended the Department of Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Walter.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Alleged Drug Trafficker Extradited from EcuadorRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton (619) 546-8941 and Mikaela L. Weber (619) 546-9734
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 11, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Brayan Alberto Rodriguez Alcala, an alleged Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker, was extradited to the United States from Ecuador today.
On October 19, 2021, a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of California returned an indictment charging Rodriguez Alcala with participating in a long-running worldwide conspiracy to traffic substantial quantities of cocaine, from Central and South America to Mexico and ultimately into the United States, as well as laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds.
Rodriguez Alcala was apprehended by Ecuadorian authorities in November 2021 while visiting Quito, and Ecuador granted the United States’ extradition request in January 2022. He arrived in San Diego this morning and made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal. He is scheduled for a motion hearing/trial setting before Judge Curiel on May 16, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
“Those who export dangerous narcotics to the United States and seek to evade justice will find no place to hide,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “The Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the Ecuadorian authorities in this matter. By working with our law enforcement partners at home and around the world, we will continue to work to dismantle dangerous drug cartels.”
“This extradition sends a resounding message to drug traffickers around the world that the United States law enforcement community will vehemently pursue those who seek to harm to Americans with their deadly drugs and violence.” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz who further praised the efforts of the San Diego Strike Force for their support and contribution to this criminal investigation and extradition.”
“This extradition is another victory against the Sinaloa Cartel that will negatively impact their cocaine distribution operation,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe. “The DEA is committed to holding anyone who profits from drug trafficking accountable, regardless of where they are located in the world.”
“The FBI is proud to work alongside our international and federal partners from HSI, DEA, and IRS to bring wanted persons back to the United States to face justice,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “This collaborative effort should send a message to fugitives worldwide – the United States government’s international reach has no limits. We will continue to use all investigative resources and international law enforcement partnerships to disrupt these transnational criminal organizations. The FBI is grateful for the hardline stance President Guillermo Lasso and the Government of Ecuador have taken against international fugitives.”
“The supply of narcotics illegally crossing our borders, entering our communities, and killing our citizens is completely fueled by greed,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner. “For decades, IRS Criminal Investigation has been committed to working with our law enforcement partners to trace and stem the flow of illicit money to dismantle the drug trade. Today’s extradition of Brayan Rodriguez Alcala, who is charged with drug trafficking and money laundering, demonstrates that you cannot hide from justice.”
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Ecuador, and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United States State Department provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Ecuador.
This case is part of a long-running investigation targeting the Valenzuela Transnational Criminal Organization, which is a significant component of the Sinaloa Cartel. To date, the investigation has resulted in the charging of 34 defendants and the seizure of approximately $3.8 million dollars in U.S. currency, 685 kilograms of cocaine, 24 kilograms of fentanyl, and 20,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition.
This prosecution is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The United States is represented in court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton and Mikaela L. Weber
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendant Information
Defendant Criminal Case No: 21-cr-2960-GPC
Defendant Number
Name
Age
Hometown
12
Brayan Alberto Rodriguez Alcala
23
Culiacan, Mexico
Summary Of Charges
International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 1956(h). Term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation
United States Marshals Service
Alabama Man Indicted for Transporting a Minor Across State Lines for Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
PECOS – A federal grand jury in Pecos returned an indictment yesterday charging an Alabama man with transportation of a minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, Matthew Jacob Metzler, 32, traveled to Arizona to pick up a minor and then brought the child to Pecos where he allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the child.
Metzler is charged with one count of transportation of a minor in interstate commerce to engage in a criminal sexual activity. The defendant is scheduled for a detention hearing on February 16, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho made the announcement.
HSI, along with invaluable assistance from the Pecos Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy L. Greenbaum is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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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10 February 2022
Webb City Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Webb City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for the sexual exploitation of two victims, an 8-year old and a 16-year old.
Harley Wayne Schrader, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 16 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Schrader to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. Schrader will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
On July 20, 2021, Schrader pleaded guilty to two counts of the sexual exploitation of a child. Schrader admitted that he solicited pornographic images from an 8-year-old child victim and that he sent her pornographic images of himself through Facebook Messenger. Schrader also admitted that he solicited pornographic images from a 16-year-old victim he met through a video game.
A Joplin, Mo., police officer took a report on July 7, 2017, that Schrader was sending inappropriate pictures to the child victim through Facebook Messenger. Investigators also found sexually explicit images of the child victim that had been sent to Schrader through Facebook Messenger.
On Oct. 4, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Schrader’s residence and seized his cell phone. During an interview with officers, Schrader also admitted that he met a 16-year-old female through the video game Immortal Knight, and she sent him nude images of herself. Investigators found multiple messages between Schrader and the 16-year-old victim on his cell phone, as well as images of child pornography.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force, and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Waterloo Man Who Put Gun to Woman’s Head Found Guilty After Jury TrialRead the Press Release
A jury found a convicted felon who put a gun to a woman’s head and fired the gun at a residence guilty on February 9, 2022, following a three-day jury trial.
Trivansky Tyrique Swington, age 29, from Waterloo, Iowa, was found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon.
Evidence at trial showed that, on February 15, 2021, Swington was with a group of friends at a residence in Waterloo, Iowa. The group had been drinking for several hours when some of them decided to leave. Swington and three others got into a vehicle. Before the vehicle even left the residence, Swington got into an argument with a woman inside the vehicle. Swington began scratching and clawing at the woman and pulling her hair. Swington pulled out chunks of the woman’s hair, which officers later found in the back of the car and in the driveway. At some point, Swington pulled out a .38 Special Revolver and pointed it at the woman’s head. Other people in the vehicle tried to wrestle the gun away from Swington. Eventually, one person got out of the vehicle and went to get help. Two people, including the victim, called 9-1-1 while Swington was still at the residence. While they were on the phone with 9-1-1, Swington took off down the street, turned around and fired the gun at the residence. Officers responded to the scene and spoke with witnesses who said that Swington had pulled out a revolver. Officers located Swington a couple blocks away. With the use of a K9, officers were able to track Swington’s path of travel and locate a .38 Special Revolver. Witnesses positively identified the revolver as the one Swington had pulled on them. Swington has previously been convicted of a felony offense.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Swington is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2033.
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Waltham Man Indicted for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Waltham man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly receiving child pornography.
Robert Daigle, 45, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography. Daigle was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Jan. 11, 2022, with the same offense and, after a detention hearing, was released on pretrial conditions.
According to charging documents, a search of Daigle’s residence on Jan. 11, 2022, resulted in the recovery of electronic devices belonging to the defendant. An on-site forensic examination revealed images and videos depicting child pornography on at least one device. During an interview with investigative agents, Daigle allegedly admitted to downloading hundreds of thousands of child pornography files.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States 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 Office; and Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Union County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey men was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for drug distribution charges in connection conspiring to distribute cocaine base and distributing fentanyl and cocaine base, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Tyrell Wilson, aka “Hell Rell,” 36, of Rahway, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and one count of possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
In September 2019, Wilson and Marvin Lagrier, aka “Black Jesus,” 39, of Newark, were were charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base. Lagrier was indicted on these charges in October 2019, pleaded guilty in August 2021, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2022.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Sept. 19, 2019, Wilson and Lagrier were arrested for conspiring to sell at least 280 grams of cocaine base.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Wilson to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark, and members of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
This case is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, the Orange Police Department and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gang Unit in Newark.
U.S. Permanent Resident Convicted by Nebraska Jury in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that a federal jury in the District of Nebraska found Oswaldo Neri, 30, of Mexico, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Oswaldo Neri conspired with his brother, Jesse Neri, and others to distribute methamphetamine in Omaha in early 2021. Oswaldo Neri resides in the U.S. as a permanent resident.
On January 4 and 5, 2021, a DEA undercover agent posing as a customer contacted a known Mexico-based methamphetamine supplier to order for purchase 1 pound of methamphetamine. The agent and the Mexican source of supply agreed that a local party would meet the customer at a business in Omaha, Nebraska to complete the sale and agreed that the customer would pay $4,100 for the pound. As planned, they met and completed the transaction. Investigators thereafter identified the Neri brothers as the persons who met with the undercover officer and delivered the methamphetamine.
A week later, on January 12, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at the Neri brothers’ residence in Omaha. Both brothers were arrested, and investigators recovered 6 additional pounds of methamphetamine from Oswaldo Neri’s bedroom closet, as well as additional evidence of distribution.
United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher presided over the jury trial and will sentence Oswaldo Neri on May 18, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Field Division, and the Nebraska State Patrol. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Chemistry Unit provided laboratory services for the investigation.
Two Whitley County Men Convicted of Violent KidnappingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — Two Rockholds, Kentucky, men, Jake Messer, 38, and George Oscar Messer, 62, have been convicted by federal juries sitting in London, of two counts of kidnapping. Jake Messer was convicted on Thursday morning, after a three-day trial. George Oscar Messer was convicted on January 13, 2022, after his three-day trial
According to trial evidence, the kidnappings were motivated by a drug transaction that went off track. The Messers kidnapped two victims, in Rockholds, and transported them to a remote trailer in Manchester. There, the victims were held for approximately 24 hours, during which time they were interrogated. One victim was repeatedly sexually assaulted.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations Unit recovered 15 firearms and numerous controlled substances from the Messer residence. Several of the firearms, including an assault rifle, were used in furtherance of the kidnappings.
The Messers were indicted in November of 2020. Their two co-conspirators, Joshua Mills and Stephen S. Jewell, previously entered guilty pleas to kidnapping and are likewise awaiting sentencing.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn S. Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police jointly announced the verdicts.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed.
Jake Messer will appear for sentencing on May 31, 2022; George Oscar Messer will appear on May 11, 2022; Joshua Mills will appear on May 16, 2022; and Stephen S. Jewell will appear on May 6, 2022.
Each defendant faces a maximum of Life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing the sentence.
This case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. The PSN program involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Tompkins County Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison for Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Shameek Halls, age 31, of Tompkins County, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison for his convictions for trafficking crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Halls was also ordered to forfeit ownership of the currency, ammunition and firearms seized during this case and, also, serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
As part of his guilty plea, Halls admitted that he was responsible for selling crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl on numerous occasions in Broome County in New York’s Southern Tier from 2018 through 2019. Further, on November 14, 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their partner agencies seized three handguns, an AR-15 style weapon and ammunition from Halls. As part of his guilty plea, Halls admitted that he possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force (BCSIUTF), comprised of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, Binghamton Police Department, Johnson City Police Department and Endicott Police Department, as well as by the New York State Police Violent Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team (VGNET) and the New York State Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Grabowski.
Three Bowling Green Men Charged in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, KY returned an indictment yesterday charging three men in a drug conspiracy.
According to court documents, Antonio Billups, 33, of Palmetto, GA, Leon Allen, 33, of Bowling Green, KY, and Timothy Barnett, 45, of Bowling Green, KY, are charged with conspiring together from at least as early as November 22, 2021, and continuing to on or about November 23, 2021, to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and with aiding and abetting each other to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Billups, Allen and Barnett are all charged in the indictment with one count of Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and one count of aiding and abetting each other in the Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Billups and Allen also are charged in an additional count of the indictment for aiding and abetting each other in the Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The defendants are scheduled for their arraignment on February 23, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, all three defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and J. Todd Scott Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
The DEA and the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II is 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.
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Thirteen in Akron Charged with Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal grand jury returned an eighteen-count superseding indictment charging 13 individuals as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that sought to distribute approximately 16 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and other controlled substances in the Akron area.
Law enforcement officials arrested nine members of the conspiracy this morning after the superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court. Three members of the conspiracy were arrested in September 2021 and one member was arrested in a separate case.
Named in the indictment are Damien Roger Marcel Stafford, 41, of Akron, Ohio; Chezerae D. Floyd, 44, of Akron, Ohio; Lucian D. Blackwell, 41, of Akron, Ohio; Craig L. Johnstone, 49, of Akron, Ohio; Rausheeda L. Hyshaw, 41, of Akron, Ohio; Antwain D. Stewart, 41, of Akron, Ohio; Ricky Lynn Vaughn, 60, of Akron, Ohio; Clifford E. Stafford, 44, of Akron, Ohio; Dorshaun R. Tucker, 41, of Akron, Ohio; Alexander Prieto, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio; Marian Ripley, 21, of Akron, Ohio; Travis Blankenship, 31, of Charleston, West Virginia and Jessica McClanahan, 31, of Charleston, West Virginia.
Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, valeryl fentanyl and cocaine. In addition, various members of the conspiracy are also charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, maintaining a drug premises and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense.
According to the indictment, it is alleged that Defendant Damien Stafford purchased fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine from drug suppliers, including Defendant Prieto, in Cleveland and elsewhere. Stafford is accused of using Defendants Hyshaw, Floyd, Blankenship, McClanahan, Clifford Strafford, Tucker, Blackwell and Riley to transport the drugs to be stored at multiple residences in the Akron area. It is alleged that Stafford then used Defendants Vaughn, Johnstone, Floyd, Blackwell and Stewart to distribute the drugs.
As part of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges that the defendants used these residences in Akron as locations to store and distribute their controlled substances. In addition, conspiracy members are accused of using cell phones to communicate and drug “testers” to evaluate the strength and quality of a controlled substance intended for sale.
On September 23, 2021, law enforcement officers with the FBI, ATF, Greater Akron Safe Streets Task Force and Akron Police Department executed search warrants at multiple residences connected to the drug trafficking conspiracy. At one residence, officers encountered Damien Stafford wearing latex gloves and a mask. Officers detained Stafford, entered a bathroom and found multiple bags of various sizes on the floor and inside the toilet. According to court documents, the bags contained powdery white and off-white substances that were later tested and confirmed to contain fentanyl.
In total, law enforcement officials seized approximately 16.6 kilograms of fentanyl, 9.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of valeryl fentanyl, 400 grams of cocaine, one semiautomatic rifle, and four semiautomatic pistols during the execution of the search warrants. Defendants Damien Stafford, Ricky Lynn Vaughn and Rausheeda Hyshaw were also arrested during the execution of the warrants.
If convicted, a defendants’ sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violations.
In all cases, sentences will not exceed the statutory maximums, and in most cases, will be less than the maximums.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF and the Akron Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly.
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Texas Woman Charged with Operating Warranty Fraud Scheme Targeting Cisco SystemsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Takandryia Latrice Cage, 35, formerly of Grand Prairie, TX, was charged by Information with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud based on a scheme to defraud Cisco Systems Inc. (“Cisco”), as well as one count of bank fraud and three counts of wire fraud in connection with schemes to defraud lenders by submitting false Payroll Protection Program applications.
The Information alleges that between July 2016 and January 2018, the defendant conspired with Jerel Andre Williams, charged separately, to perpetrate a scheme to defraud Cisco by engaging in a sophisticated warranty fraud scheme. According to the Information, Cage and Williams obtained serial numbers to expensive computer hardware manufactured by Cisco, and then used false email addresses and identities to submit fraudulent warranty claims to Cisco, pretending to own Cisco products that were not working and under warranty. The Information alleges that Cage and Williams provided customer service representatives with descriptions of the non-existent defects that they knew could not be solved by troubleshooting and would require replacement with new products, causing Cisco to ship the replacement products on the expectation that the defective products would be returned. As charged, once the defendant and Williams obtained the Cisco hardware, Williams sold it to a computer equipment reseller without disclosing that it had been obtained by fraud, and then split the profits with the Cage. The conspirators successfully obtained 157 warranty replacement products from Cisco, each with a retail value of between $3,693 and $34,500, which they had shipped to addresses throughout the United States, including addresses in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; Las Vegas, Nevada; Henderson, Nevada; La Jolla, California; San Diego, California; Arlington, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and Fort Worth, Texas.
The Information further alleges that Cage independently perpetrated schemes to defraud lenders participating in the Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”), which was a provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) that provided with Small Business Association with authorization to forgive loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. Between June 2020 and June 2021, the defendant submitted six false PPP loan applications to lenders, on which she made numerous false statements regarding businesses she purported to own and operate, including false statements about the number of employees, the wages paid, the payroll taxes paid, the revenues and net profits earned, and the intended use of the PPP loan proceeds. As a result of these six false PPP loan applications, Cage caused lenders to send her over $101,000 in PPP funds, which she then spent on unauthorized purchases for herself.
“Warranties are designed to make consumers whole by replacing faulty products, not for exploitation by scammers looking to turn an illegal profit,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Warranty fraud is not a victimless crime, rather, companies which support employment for thousands of workers stand to lose significant sums, as the charges demonstrate here. The defendant also allegedly scammed the U.S. government by defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program, which is intended to help American businesses continue paying their employees in the face of the pandemic. Thieves who defraud these programs are taking advantage of honest business and taxpayers alike.”
“This alleged fraudster demonstrated a keen aptitude for working the system,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire. “Through this scheme, the funds intended for employees whose jobs were impacted by the pandemic were depleted for nefarious purposes. Whether it’s government coffers, corporate accounts, or someone’s piggybank, the taking of money you aren’t entitled to is illegal. And no matter how clever you think the scheme, the FBI will uncover it and, with our partners, bring you to justice.”
“IRS-Criminal Investigation is proud to join forces with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes like these and hold the offenders accountable,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent In Charge Yury Kruty. The charges brought against Cage is a victory for all law-abiding individuals who work hard to make an honest living.”
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 110 years in prison, a five-year period of supervised release, a $2,000,000 fine, and a $500 special assessment. The defendant will also be required to make full restitution to Cisco and the lenders she defrauded.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael S. Lowe.
An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ten Indicted for Healthcare KickbacksRead the Press Release
Ten people, including two medical doctors, have been indicted in a $300 million healthcare fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
The defendants – who stand accused of accused of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks, offering or paying illegal kickbacks, and soliciting or receiving illegal kickbacks – were charged in a 26-count indictment filed Wednesday afternoon.
“Anti-kickback laws are designed to ensure that financial considerations do not cloud physicians’ judgement,” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The Justice Department is determined to prosecute those flouting our nation’s healthcare fraud laws. Patients – and taxpayers – deserve rigorous enforcement.”
“Illegal kickback schemes corrupt the healthcare system. They cause billions of dollars in losses each year, generate business for dishonest service providers and erode trust in our health care system,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to expose fraud and protect the public from illegal schemes.”
According to the indictment, the founders of several lab companies, including Unified Laboratory Services, Spectrum Diagnostic Laboratory, and Reliable Labs LLC, allegedly paid kickbacks to induce medical professionals to order medically unnecessary lab tests, which they then billed to Medicare and other federal healthcare programs.
The medical professionals -- including internal medicine specialist Eduardo Canova, family medicine practitioner Jose Maldonado, and nurse practitioner Keith Wichinski – allegedly accepted the bribes and ordered millions of dollars’ worth of tests.
Meanwhile, Unified, Spectrum, and Reliable disguised the kickbacks as legitimate business transactions, including as medical advisor agreement payments, salary offsets, lease payments, and marketing commissions.
The labs, through marketers, allegedly paid doctors hundreds of thousands of dollars for “advisory services” which were never performed in return for lab test referrals. They also allegedly paid portions of the doctors’ staff’s salaries and a portion of their office leases, contingent on the number of lab tests they referred each month. In some instances, lab marketers even made direct payments to the provider’s spouse. (When the labs threatened one provider that payments would cease if he didn’t refer more tests, he immediately increased his lab referrals, averaging approximately 20 to 30 referrals per day.)
Knowing they could disguise additional kickbacks using a provider-ownership model, the founder of Spectrum and Unified, Jeffrey Madison, convinced the co-founders of Reliable, Biby Kurian and Abraham Phillips, to convert Reliable into a physician-owned lab. Reliable offered physicians ownership opportunities only if those physicians referred an adequate number of lab tests. In some cases, they made advance disbursement payment to physicians in an effort to appease the physician and ensure he would not send samples to other labs.
As a result of these kickbacks, laboratories controlled by the defendants were able to submit more than $300 million in billing to federal government healthcare programs. Between 2015 and 2018, Dr. Maldonado alone received more than $400,000 in kickbacks for ordering more than $4 million worth of lab tests and Dr. Canova received more than $300,000 in kickbacks for ordering more than $12 million worth of lab tests.
Defendants indicted are:
• Jeffrey Paul Madison, 56, founder of Unified Laboratory Services and Spectrum Diagnostic Laboratory
• Mark Christopher Boggess, 49, chief operating officer for Spectrum and Unified
• Biby Ancy Kurian, 49, co-founder of Reliable Labs, LLC
• Abraham Phillips, 50, co-founder of Reliable Labs, LLC
• Dr. Jose Roel Maldonado, 48, family medicine doctor based in Laredo
• Dr. Eduardo Carlos Canova, 44, internal medicine specialist based in Laredo
• Keith Allen Wichinski, 50, board-certified nurse practitioner based in San Antonio
• David Michael Lizcano, 56, ]owner of DCLH, a marketing firm engaged by Unified, Spectrum, and Reliable
• Laura Ortiz, 58, sister of David Lizcano and employee at his marketing firm
• Juan David Rojas, 34, owner of Rojas & Associates, another marketing firm engaged by Unified, Spectrum, and Reliable
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 55 years or more in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl is prosecuting the case.
Task Force to Increase Awareness of Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – The South Texas Officers and Prosecutors (STOP) Human Trafficking Task Force, a coalition of prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in San Antonio, met this week to review goals for the coming year, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, San Antonio Mayor Ron Niremberg, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and BCFS Health and Human Services Human Trafficking Interdiction Division (BCFS-HHS-HTI) Executive Director Chara McMichael.
The STOP Human Trafficking Task Force’s mission is to increase community awareness of all forms of human trafficking, disrupt trafficking organizations, rescue victims and hold traffickers accountable through effective investigation and prosecution. The Task Force also works to expand resources of all area partners to effectively serve survivors of human trafficking. The San Antonio Police Department serves as the lead law enforcement agency and BCFS-HHS-HTI serves as the lead victim services agency.
Task Force members provide specialized training and support for local law enforcement agencies and victim service providers to STOP human traffickers by identifying, arresting, and prosecuting them. Task Force members also provide training to educational and business organizations throughout the San Antonio and South Texas communities to increase awareness and identification of all forms of human trafficking, including adults and children who are exploited for the purposes of sex and labor. Above all, the Task Force strives to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable victims and rescue them from the hands of traffickers.
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking and needs immediate assistance, call 911. If you suspect human trafficking activities, please call the toll-free local human trafficking regional hotline at 1-844-843-6348 or 1-844-UIENDHT (U&I can END Human Trafficking). Trained professionals are ready to provide information and assistance. For additional information, please e-mail [email protected].
The STOP Human Trafficking Task Force, chaired by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, consists of experts dedicated to investigating and prosecuting incidents of human trafficking at both the state and federal levels. In addition to the San Antonio Police Department and BCFS-HHS-HTI, partners include the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County Juvenile Probation, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (TRLA), U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Suburban Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Child Pornography and Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges of child pornography and traveling to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.
JEREMIAH HARRIS, 22, of Naperville, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years, while the travel charge is punishable by up to 30 years. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah set sentencing for June 28, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Chicago Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Chicago Police Department. The Crystal Lake, Ill., Police Department and FBI Resident Agency in Waco, Texas, provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Guzman.
The child pornography charge involves sexually explicit photographs and videos that Harris repeatedly requested from a 17-year-old boy in 2020. Harris admitted in a plea agreement that the boy sent the photos and videos of himself to Harris in exchange for $2,000. Harris also admitted in the plea agreement that he requested and received other images of child pornography from two other minor boys, and he attempted to entice one of them to engage in sexual activity.
The travel charge pertains to Harris traveling in 2019 from Dallas, Texas, to Orlando, Fla., to engage in sexually explicit conduct with a 15-year-old boy. Harris admitted in the plea agreement that he directed the boy to meet him in a public bathroom, where Harris sexually assaulted him.
Springfield Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Cocaine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in federal court in Worcester for his role in a conspiracy to traffic drugs from California to Western Massachusetts and launder the proceeds.
Miguel Betancourt, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Aug. 18, 2021, Betancourt pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In July, 2016, Betancourt received five kilograms of cocaine from a Mexican drug trafficking organization (DTO) and distributed it in Western Massachusetts. As partial payment for the cocaine, Betancourt engaged in two types of money laundering. First, by providing his source with two vehicles, from the inventory of an auto dealership Betancourt owned, for no payment. Second, Betancourt also helped wire cash from his own drug sales back to the Mexican DTO.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration, San Diego Division, Homeland Security Investigations and the Westfield Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil L. Desroches and Steven H. Breslow of Rollins’ Springfield Office prosecuted the case.
Spencer Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Spencer man who possessed child pornography was sentenced February 9, 2022, to 15 years in federal prison.
Anthony Martin, age 30, from Spencer, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 22, 2021, guilty plea to receipt of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Martin admitted to knowingly receiving and attempting to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Martin further admitted to receiving and possessing approximately 13 videos containing child pornography and approximately 162 images containing child pornography. Martin was previously convicted in Iowa of Lascivious Acts with a Child.
Martin was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Martin was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Martin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4012.
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South Florida Medical Clinic Owner Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Orchestrating $42 Million Health Care Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal district judge in Miami sentenced Bradley Jason Kantor, 49, of Key Largo, Florida, to 10 years in federal prison for submitting approximately $42 million in fraudulent health care claims to United Healthcare.
From April 2013 to March 2017, Kantor owned and operated Mobile Diagnostic Imaging, Inc. (“MDI”), a medical clinic in Davie, Florida that purported to provide antigen therapy and other allergen immunotherapy services, such as allergy testing and allergy shots, to commercial insurance beneficiaries. Kantor offered and paid kickbacks to co-conspirators to induce them to refer beneficiaries to MDI, so that MDI could bill commercial insurers for services that it never provided. MDI submitted approximately $42 million in false and fraudulent claims to United Healthcare, and United paid MDI more than $12 million in reimbursement for services that beneficiaries never received. Kantor purchased a $3 million home in the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida, two Winnebago motor coaches, and a 37’ yacht with the ill-gotten proceeds.
Kantor previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke.
FBI Miami and U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration investigated this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb and Michael B. Homer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20243.
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Seven Named in Superseding Indictment Charging Violations of Federal Drug and Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Seven people from Illinois and Pennsylvania have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
]The five-count Superseding Indictment, returned on February 1, 2022, and unsealed today named the following defendants: • Anthony Cook, 53, of Chicago, IL; • Curtis Diggs, 51, of Westchester, IL; • Dion Diggs, 55, of Brownsville, PA; • Byron McCrae, 42, formerly of Monessen, PA; • Douglas Smith, 39, of Monessen, PA; • Michael Martin, 41, of Brownsville, PA; and
• Nadia Wilkins, 45, of Chicago, ILAccording to the Superseding Indictment, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base from in and around June 2020 to in and around July 2021. McCrae and Cook are also charged with possessing with intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams or more of cocaine, while McCrae is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, all on March 3, 2021. Also on March 3, 2021, McCrae is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
McCrae faces a minimum sentence of 20 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $20,500,000, or both. Cook faces a minimum term of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $15,000,000, or both. As to the remaining defendants, the law provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Yvonne Saadi and Jonathan Lusty are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Perryopolis Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Serial Sex Trafficker Sentenced to over 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A serial sex trafficker who exploited multiple victims over a 15-year period was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on various sex trafficking charges.
Bruce “Arki” Brown, 43, of Dorchester, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 138 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On Nov. 1, 2021, Brown pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor; transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution; two counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; obstruction of justice; and witness tampering. Brown has remained in federal custody since his arrest in February 2020.
“For more than 15 years, Brown preyed upon women and profited from his sex trafficking enterprise. His exploitation and violence caused immeasurable harm and trauma,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Many people assume that this kind of depravity doesn’t exist our communities, but it does. Sex trafficking activity on the local level is a reality – and so is imprisonment. Today’s sentence shows that those who engage in such heinous crimes will be identified, prosecuted and put behind bars. My office and our law enforcement partners will be relentless in our efforts to hold traffickers accountable and bring accountability to their victims.”
“What Bruce Brown did is unconscionable. He sexually exploited vulnerable victims and plied them with promises of a better life and then used violence, and psychological manipulation as a means of control,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence cannot erase the harm inflicted upon his victims, but it keeps Mr. Brown exactly where he belongs—behind bars. The FBI will never stop working to find and help victims of human trafficking, to protect them from further abuse, and to keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.”
Brown was originally indicted in February 2020. In June 2020, Brown was charged in a superseding indictment with obstruction of justice and witness tampering for his attempt to influence a victim’s testimony related to the charges against him. In July 2020, Brown was charged in a second superseding indictment.
Brown targeted particularly vulnerable and transient victims and manipulated them through tailored psychological techniques to maintain control.
After Brown was charged in February 2020, he attempted to obstruct justice and tamper with his victims’ testimony. He directed co-conspirators to call victims and try to get them to alter or withdraw their testimony against him. Brown dubbed this scheme his “Plan B.”
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. The Newton Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and Mackenzie J. Duane of Rollins’ Civil Rights Enforcement Team prosecuted the case.
If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or Text 233733.