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26 January 2022
Former Metro East Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former police officer in the Village of Alorton, Illinois, will be spending time in federal prison after falsifying thousands of hours on his timesheets. Ricky Perry, 51, of East Saint Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 10 months confinement today, consisting of 5 months in prison and 5 months of home confinement after his release.
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The overwhelming majority of police officers are honorable public servants who place their lives in harm’s way to protect the rest of us. But there must be consequences for those rare situations when officers break the laws they swore to uphold.
We will continue to enforce the law in an evenhanded way against all who break it.”FBI Special Agent in Charge David Nanz said, “The cornerstone of the public’s trust in law enforcement relies on the expectation that each person who takes the oath to protect and serve the public will do so with integrity. The FBI is committed to maintaining trust in law enforcement by holding all those who break the law accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, Perry started as a patrol officer with the Alorton Police Department in August 2017. Within his first six months, Perry began falsifying his timecards to hide the fact that he wasn’t really patrolling the jurisdiction during his shifts. In fact, nearly every shift that Perry claimed to be patrolling Alorton, he absconded from the jurisdiction without justification or approval. He usually went to his home outside of Alorton, where he parked his patrol car outside his house and sometimes ignored calls from dispatchers. Perry was often the only patrol officer on duty at the time.
Between May 2018 and April 2021, Perry spent about 4,000 hours on the clock as an Alorton patrol officer while improperly outside the jurisdiction. He received $60,346.25 based on his misrepresentations. As part of his sentence, Perry was ordered to pay this money back in restitution in addition to a small fine. He will also spend one year on supervised release after his time in prison and home confinement.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of agents with FBI Springfield, and the Illinois State Police.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith and Luke J. Weissler.Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public
Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.Former Government Employee Admits to Stealing Identities of 37 Individuals in Bank and Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Michelle L. Wasserman (619) 546-8431
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 26, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Kevin Lee of Chula Vista pleaded guilty in federal court today to using his position at the Defense Contract Management Agency (“DCMA”) to steal the identities of at least 37 individuals and using those identities to commit over $240,000 in bank and loan fraud.
DCMA is a federal agency responsible for administering contracts for the Department of Defense and other authorized federal agencies. For his former position at DCMA, Lee held a Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (TS-SCI) clearance. Beginning in approximately September 2018 and continuing up to and including September 2020, Lee devised a scheme to defraud various banks and loan companies by using stolen identities to apply for and obtain loans, which he then used to pay personal debts and bills.
According to his plea agreement, Lee initially used the identities of family members to apply for and obtain fraudulent loans. In approximately September 2019, Lee began applying for loans and bank accounts using information he had access to as a result of his employment at DCMA. Specifically, Lee accessed a DCMA Sharepoint site called DCMA 360 that contained personal identifying information belonging to various individuals employed by, or in some way in contact with, DCMA, including Department of Defense employees and contractors.
The plea agreement said the following:
The information Lee accessed included social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and various forms relating to government employment. After collecting sufficient personal identifying information on an individual, Lee used that information to apply for bank accounts and loans online. To do so, Lee created fraudulent identification documents using the stolen information, including driver’s licenses and passports. Lee additionally created and/or doctored pay stubs, bank statements, and tax documents to support his loan applications. In order to qualify for more loan money, Lee fraudulently increased the salary reflected on some of the documents. Lee created false email accounts for some of the stolen identities, and used various Google voice phone numbers to accomplish his fraud.
For example, Lee created a fake Gmail account for a DCMA employee, D.B. Two months later, on March 26, 2020, Lee conducted six separate searches for personal identifying information belonging to D.B. on the DCMA 360 site. Between March 26-March 30, 2020, Lee then used D.B.’s name, birthdate, address, and social security number to fraudulently apply for at least eight bank accounts and loans using D.B.’s identity. Lee created a fake Arizona Driver’s License using D.B.’s name address and birthdate, which he submitted with the fraudulent loan applications. Lee successfully obtained three loans in D.B.’s name, and used the funds for personal expenses. In total, Lee stole and used or attempted to use the identities of 37 actual individuals at 16 different financial institutions. The total amount of Lee’s actual and attempted fraud was $244,513.45.
“Government employees hold positions of public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “The identity theft and fraud in this case is particularly egregious because Mr. Lee violated that public trust for his own selfish ends. Those who engage in fraud and identity theft will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team as well as Defense Criminal Investigative Service and
Defense Contract Management Agency-Office of Inspector General for their excellent work on this case.
“The theft of personally identifiable information can significantly harm our military service members, civilian employees, and their families,” said Kenneth A. DeChellis, Special Agent in Charge, DoD Office of Inspector General, DCIS - Cyber Field Office. “This conviction, resulting from the coordinated actions of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Cyber and Western Field Offices, as well as our partner agencies, demonstrates our commitment to swift action against those who attempt to enrich themselves at the expense of our current and prior Department of Defense personnel.
Lee is next scheduled to appear at a sentencing hearing on April 22, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Lopez.
SUMMARY OF CHARGES Case Number 22CR147-LL
Kevin Lee Age:41 Chula Vista, CA
Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 1343
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18 USC 1028A
Maximum Penalty: Mandatory two years consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)
Defense Contract Management Agency-Office of Inspector General (DCMA-OIG)
Former Bruning Woman Convicted for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Krystal Smith, 30, formerly of Bruning, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for distribution of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Smith was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 8 years of supervised release with special conditions. There is no parole in the federal system. Smith was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
This case began with a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber tip indicating that Facebook user “Shane Smith” had attempted to share a video of child pornography to another Facebook user in August of 2019. Later investigation determined that Krystal Smith’s husband, Shane Smith, was responsible for this activity. On February 13, 2020, a residential search warrant was executed at Smith’s residence. Krystal Smith’s personal cellphone was among the devices that were seized during the execution of the search warrant. A forensic examination of her cellphone revealed sexually explicit files of a child in Krystal Smith’s life. These files included one video and multiple still photos which depicted the lascivious exhibition of the child’s genital area. The video and images appear to have been taken by Krystal Smith. Smith admitted to producing the video and sending it to her husband.
A review of Facebook message conversations between the Smiths additionally revealed that Krystal Smith produced and shared additional sexually explicit images and video files of the child to Shane Smith and had conversations discussing the potential sexual abuse of the child.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations.
Florida man admits to unlawfully accessing IRS system and fraudulently filing tax returnsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Keith Joseph, of Miami, Florida, has admitted to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Joseph, age 37, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Wire Fraud” and one count of “Aggravated Identity Theft.” Joseph admitted to fraudulently accessing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) eAuthentication online taxpayer system, which has servers located in Berkeley County, from March 2015 to March 2017. Joseph obtained personal identifying information of taxpayers without their knowledge to gain access to the IRS online taxpayer system. Once he had access, Joseph unlawfully obtained income tax transcripts and fraudulently filed tax returns using the taxpayers’ personal identifying information.
As a part of the plea agreement, Joseph agreed to pay $142,237 in restitution.
Joseph faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the wire fraud count and two years of incarceration the aggravated identity theft count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Cybercrime Investigations Division investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Five Defendants Charged in Connection with Interstate Car Theft RingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that KEINAN CHAPMAN, age 39, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia; GREGORY BUTLER, age 37, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana; TAWUAN SYLVESTER, age 46, a resident of Marrero; JONATHAN BUSH, age 35, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana; and AARON THIBODEAUX, age 36, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged in a multi-count indictment with conspiring to sell stolen cars after they were transported across state lines in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy), 18 U.S.C. § 2313 (sale and transportation of stolen cars), and 18 U.S.C. § 511 (altering vehicle identification numbers). The indictment was returned on December 10, 2021. The indictment was unsealed on January 18, 2022, following the arrest of the defendants.
The indictment also alleges that the defendants stole cars from car dealerships and rental car facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. After stealing the cars, the defendants retitled the cars under fraudulent Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINS) with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Once the cars were retitled and cloned with fraudulent VINS, the defendants then resold the cars to buyers in the New Orleans metro area at discounted prices.
The indictment charges CHAPMAN in counts 1, 5, and 9. BUTLER is charged in counts 1,7-10. SYLVESTER is charged in counts 1-3. BUSH is charged in counts 1-4, and 6. THIBODEAUX is charged in counts 1-3, and 6. 18 U.S.C. § 371 carries a term of imprisonment of up to five years. 18 U.S.C. § 2313 carries a term of imprisonment of up to ten years. 18 U.S.C. § 511 carries a term of imprisonment of up to five years. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
“We are grateful to our federal and state law enforcement partners for their continued efforts to reduce interstate car theft related crimes in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Evans.
“Organized retail crime can have a devastating, far-reaching financial impact on our community. This alleged vehicle theft ring is estimated to have cost retailers and private citizens millions in losses,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge David Denton. “These indictments are the result of the hard work and collaboration between HSI agents and our trusted law enforcement partners. Together, we will work to ensure those involved in this scheme are investigated and brought to justice.”
“Over the last two years, LSP Investigators have worked diligently alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and recover several millions worth of stolen vehicles across the Gulf South”, said Colonel Lamar Davis, Louisiana State Police Superintendent. “The success of this operation exemplifies the dedication of our personnel and the strength of our collaborative efforts to ensure public safety.”
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and Jon Maestri are in charge of the prosecution.
Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Sig Sauer HandgunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 32 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Amini Nerson, age 21, formerly of the city’s Northview Heights neighborhood.
According to information presented to the court, on or about January 23, 2020, Nerson was stopped by Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for a traffic violation. After providing false identification information to the police, a search of his vehicle was conducted by the police. At that time Nerson was found to be in possession of a Sig Sauer handgun, Model P320, despite having been previously convicted of a felony in the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, PA.
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Nerson.
Federal, State, and Local Agencies Work Together to Combat Crimes involving Guns and Violence in the Monroe AreaRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan, Ouachita Parish Sheriff Jay Russell, Ouachita Parish First Assistant District Attorney Holly Jones, and agents from the ATF, FBI, and DEA, held a press conference today to discuss their efforts to increase the investigation and prosecution of cases against violent criminals in the City of Monroe.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods program brings together all levels of law enforcement - federal, state, and local - and this community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Because of this program and joint efforts of the agencies represented here today and other law enforcement partners, we have brought hundreds of federal firearm prosecutions in the Western District of Louisiana since 2018 and our efforts are increasing. Below are some statistics:
- In FY18 through FY21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted approximately 461 defendants in firearm related offenses, including felons and drug dealers in possession of firearms, in the entire Western District of Louisiana. Those divisions include Monroe, Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria, and Lake Charles. That is nearly double the number of such cases brought in the previous four years.
- There were 47 firearm related cases brought in Monroe during that same time frame.
- Currently our office has 14 active cases involving illegal firearms in the Monroe Division alone.
These statistics show that we have been committed to prosecuting federal firearm cases and getting dangerous criminals off the streets of our cities and pledge to work even harder to bring these offenders to justice. Cooperation with our state and local law enforcement partners in bringing these federal firearms indictments allows our state and local partners to concentrate on other crimes in our district.
An example of cases we are prosecuting in federal court to combat these types of crimes is an indictment that was returned today by a federal grand jury charging Montrelle Jones, 20, of Monroe, with illegally possessing a firearm by a prohibited person, knowing that he was subject to a protective order. The second count of the indictment charges Jones with possession of a firearm in a school zone. Federal laws prohibit the possession of any firearm in a school zone and Jones was found to have a loaded firearm in his possession after an altercation erupted between several individuals who were attending a basketball game at Neville High School on Friday, January 14, 2022.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, for each of the two counts.
“The goal of Project Safe Neighborhoods is to provide safe neighborhoods in Monroe and surrounding communities where people can safely live, work and raise their families,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We will continue to work closely with other law enforcement agencies to make that happen by removing some of the most violent and dangerous offenders from our streets. This is not something new for us, but instead a renewed effort to address the violent crime in the Monroe area to rid our communities of those bad apples. Illegally carrying a loaded gun and threatening those around you is not acceptable behavior and can result in the loss of innocent lives. Our message to those who participate in these bad acts is that threatening the safety of innocent people will not be tolerated and we are committed to boosting our coordinated efforts to rid the streets of this type of crime.”
City of Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan stated: “Mayor Friday Ellis and I are excited to be working with the Western District of Louisiana’s United States Attorney in ridding Monroe of violent gun offenders. The Monroe Police Department is dedicated to working hand in hand with our federal law enforcement partners so that violent criminals have significant and appropriate consequences for their actions. When convicted in the federal system, the offender will serve approximately 85% of their sentence in jail, as opposed to approximately 50% in the Louisiana State system.”
Ouachita Parish Sheriff Jay Russell stated: “The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has enjoyed a long standing relationship with U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown. Together we targeted violent felony criminals, removed them from our streets and brought them to justice. We look forward to continuing our combined efforts of improving the quality of life in our community for all of our citizens.”
Ouachita Parish District Attorney Steve Tew stated: “The District Attorney’s office is fortunate to be partnered with these law enforcement agencies on the state and federal level. Our First Assistant, Mrs. Holly Chambers Jones, has been at the forefront of this operation from its inception. She has done an outstanding job in coordinating the efforts of our office with these other agencies.”
If you have any information related to individuals committing crimes of violence in Monroe, please contact Monroe Police Department at 318-329-2600 or Crime Stoppers of North Delta at 318-388-CASH (2274).
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Federal Prison Time for Man Who Assaulted Flight Attendant While Traveling from Cancun to MiamiRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A federal district judge in Miami has sentenced a 50-year-old Canadian man to six months in U.S. federal prison for assaulting an American Airlines flight attendant.
On August 6, 2021, Enio Socorro Zayas was flying on American Airlines flight #1723 from Cancun, Mexico to Miami International Airport. During the flight, an attendant was serving refreshments to passengers and left snacks on Zayas’ lap because she believed Zayas was asleep. Zayas then reached around his side, intentionally grabbed the flight attendant on the back of the leg, and moved his hand up to her buttocks, all without the flight attendant’s consent.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, and Vernon T. Foret, Director of Field Operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami and Tampa Field Office, announced the sentence, which Senior U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck imposed.
FBI Miami and CBP Miami and Tampa Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Laserna prosecuted the case.
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-20435-PCH.
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Federal Indictment Returned in Pee Dee Kidnapping and CarjackingRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — United States Attorney Corey F. Ellis announced today that a federal grand jury in Florence returned an indictment in connection with a kidnapping and carjacking that began in Florence and ended with the successful recovery of the victim and arrest of the suspected kidnapper in Lumberton, North Carolina.
Specifically, Joseph Alan Wright, a/k/a “Wiz”, 39, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of carjacking.
As charged in the indictment and an associated criminal complaint filed with the court, on December 21, 2021, Wright abducted his victim, a pastor at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Florence, at knifepoint at approximately 10:20 a.m. According to the complaint, Wright forced the pastor into his vehicle located in the church parking lot and then left at a high rate of speed.
Almost immediately, employees at Immanuel Baptist Church realized that something was wrong and contacted the police. Attempts to contact the pastor on his cell phone were unsuccessful, so the Florence Police Department began attempts to locate him through various other electronic means, including obtaining information from OnStar, cell phone providers, and bank card use records. The complaint further states that officers also promptly reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for additional assistance upon discovering that a kidnapping had occurred.
Through these efforts, officers swiftly located the stolen vehicle in Lumberton, North Carolina, at approximately 12:09 p.m. – less than two hours after the incident began. Florence Police officers communicated this information to the Lumberton Police Department, who sent officers to locate the vehicle, rescue the pastor, and arrest Wright, all without incident.
“At its core, the mission of this office is to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of South Carolina and elsewhere. The complaint and indictment here illustrate that when we do that, we can save lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis. “The swift, collaborative work of the Florence Police Department, the Lumberton Police Department, and the FBI likely prevented an even greater tragedy.”
“This incident, as traumatic as it was for the victim, could have turned out much worse,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Susan Ferensic. “Thankfully, our local partners with the Florence Police Department and law enforcement in North Carolina were quick to respond and safely brought this situation to an end. The FBI along with other law enforcement partners will continue to root out violent offenders who place others in harm’s way.”
“We want to take this opportunity to thank our federal law enforcement partners for seeking this indictment,” said Chief Allen Heidler of the Florence Police Department. “It serves as another notice to violent offenders that this area’s law enforcement, from the federal level down to the local level, will continue our collaborative efforts to bring them to justice.”
Wright faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. Wright, who is currently in federal custody at the Florence County Detention Center as a result of the federal criminal complaint previously filed against him in this case, will be arraigned by a United States Magistrate Judge at the McMillan Federal Courthouse in Florence on February 3, 2022, at 2:30 p.m.
The case was investigated by a joint team consisting of the Florence Police Department, the Lumberton Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Everett E. McMillian and Lauren Hummel are prosecuting the federal case in close coordination with the 12th Circuit Solicitors’ Office.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Fort Washakie Man Indicted for Carjacking and Assault on the Wind River Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that SHANE DUANE BLACKBURN, age 33, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming was arrested and indicted for carjacking, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assaulting a federal officer. If convicted on all charges, Blackburn could face up to 45 years’ imprisonment, up to a $750,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment.
Blackburn appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Teresa M. McKee on January 21, 2021, for an arraignment hearing and pleaded not guilty. Blackburn was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals, and a jury trial has been set for March 14, 2022, before Chief United States District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
This crime is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case # 0:22-cr-00012-SWS
Essex County Man Admits Illegal Possession of Multiple Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man today admitted illegally possessing multiple firearms and a significant quantity of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Walter Lee Nichols, 51, of East Orange, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Nov. 17, 2020, Nichols possessed a firearm and 32 rounds of ammunition in a hidden compartment in his vehicle. In a storage unit rented in his name, Nichols possessed four firearms – including at least one semiautomatic firearm that was capable of accepting a large capacity magazine – and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Nichols has previously been convicted of at least one felony offense, including a controlled substance offense.
The firearms offense to which Nichols pleaded guilty carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, for its assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Pesce of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Distribution of Controlled Substances and Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Anthony Wisham, 60, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Wisham previously pled guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Wisham admitted to distributing ounce quantities of fentanyl on September 15, 2020, in East St.
Louis, Illinois. On December 10, 2020, Wisham admitted he possessed, with the intent to distribute, approximately 21.3 grams of cocaine while possessing a firearm. Wisham is a convicted felon and prohibited from carrying a firearm.The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.District Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Death of Her 11-Month-Old DaughterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Tyra Anderson, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the February 2020 death of her 11-month-old daughter, which was caused by blunt force trauma to the head, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Anderson pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a 10-year prison term, with all but three years of that time suspended on the condition that Anderson have no future unsupervised contact with children and that she engage in mental health treatment. Following the prison term, Anderson is to be placed on five years of supervised release. The Honorable Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for March 31, 2022.
Anderson was the parent and primary caregiver for the child, Makenzie Anderson. On Feb. 6, 2020, she took her daughter to Children’s National Medical Center, where the child was pronounced dead. Anderson, who was residing at a hotel in the 1600 block of New York Avenue NE, told law enforcement that the child fell from a bed on or about Feb. 3, 2020. She stated that the child “was not active and not acting like herself” the following day, and that she was gasping for air on Feb. 5. Finally, on Feb. 6, she stated, she found the child unresponsive and cold to the touch. She maintained that she did not seek immediate medical attention because she was scared.
On Feb. 7, 2020, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy. Prior to the examination, the staff washed the child’s remains and observed a brown-colored residue on the towels and sponges. A member of the staff noted that the residue looked like make-up or some type of cosmetic. Once the child was fully washed, the examination detected multiple contusions to the head and face. Following a search warrant, cosmetics were recovered from the hotel room. The autopsy determined that the child suffered from multiple contusions to the face and head, skull fractures, and other injuries. The cause of death was ruled to be blunt force trauma to the head.
Anderson was arrested on Dec. 4, 2020, following an investigation.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert, Grazy Rivera, and Meridith McGarrity, former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Victim/Witness Program Specialist Amy Trotto. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty in 2020 Murder of Man in Southwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Bratrell Hawkins, 29, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed for a January 2020 homicide in Southwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Hawkins pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea calls for a sentence within the Superior Court Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines. Hawkins is to be sentenced on May 20, 2022, by the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan.
The government’s evidence showed that on the evening of Jan. 4, 2020, inside a residence in the 1400 block of Third Street SW, Hawkins, his girlfriend, and her female friend were socializing with the victim, Xavier Tate, 26. Hawkins and the others were in the living room and were drinking and smoking. The two females went to bed and Hawkins came to join them in the bed. A short while later, an argument ensued between Hawkins and his girlfriend, who ordered Hawkins and her friend out of the bedroom. All three of them went downstairs and continued to argue before the girlfriend ordered them both out of the house.
As the girlfriend and Hawkins were preparing to leave, the girlfriend and Tate went back upstairs. Hawkins retrieved a gun out of a black bag and put the weapon in his coat. He then walked back upstairs. While on the second floor, at approximately 5:25 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2020, Mr. Tate confronted Hawkins about the earlier argument. While arguing, Hawkins shot him several times. At the time, Hawkins was under the mistaken and unreasonable belief that Mr. Tate was reaching for a weapon. Hawkins was arrested on Jan. 9, 2020.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee expressed appreciation for the work of the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the efforts of Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert, Grazy Rivera, Meridith McGarrity, and Tasha Harris; former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Victim/Witness Program Specialist Latrice Washington-Williams, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia G. Wright and David Gorman, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Distribution of Fentanyl Results in Federal Prison Sentences for Two North Louisiana ResidentsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that three individuals from North Louisiana have been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for their involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl.
Makayla Monique Smith, 29, of Campti, Louisiana, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Smith was charged in an indictment in July 2020 and pleaded guilty July 7, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. In March 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Cenla Safe Streets Task Force began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of individuals in the Natchitoches, Louisiana area. During their investigation, law enforcement agents learned that three USPS Priority Parcels were received in the Natchitoches Post Office addressed to a known vacant address but were returned to the post office as “undeliverable.” An individual called the USPS Hotline to inquire about the subject parcels and provided a callback number. An agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service contacted the individual and she provided him a new address in Campti for the subject parcels to be delivered.
Law enforcement agents arranged for a narcotic detection K-9 to conduct an open-air narcotics sniff of the subject parcels and positively alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search warrant was obtained and agents recovered approximately 51 grams of fentanyl in the parcels. Agents attempted to make a controlled delivery to the new address given but the parcels were refused by an adult female at the address. USPS contacted the individual who had provided the new address and left a message that the delivery was attempted but the parcels were refused. A male individual called and told the post office that the packages would be picked up. That afternoon, agents observed two females arrive in a Jeep and enter the post office, retrieve the subject parcels, drive to a residence in Campti and take the packages into the residence. Soon after, two males arrived at the residence and went inside. A female then exited the residence and placed a box inside the Jeep and the two females and four children then got into the Jeep and left, followed by the two males. Agents conducting surveillance observed the two vehicles travel from Campti to Natchitoches and the agents were able to stop their vehicles for probable cause. Smith was the driver of the Jeep and the driver of the other vehicle was her boyfriend and co-defendant. A K-9 officer alerted at the rear of the Jeep to the presence of narcotics and agents searched and found the three packages in the rear area covered by a blanket. Smith and her co-defendants, Jeremy Dewayne Armstrong and Earl Mack Wallace, II, were arrested. All three defendants admitted to their involvement in obtaining the fentanyl.
Smith’s co-defendants, Jeremy Dewayne Armstrong, 37, of Natchitoches, and Earl Mack Wallace, II, 39, of Campti, both previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Judge Dee D. Drell to the following: Armstrong received a sentence of 240 months (20 years) in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, and Wallace was sentenced to 3 years probation.
“A few grains of fentanyl can have deadly consequences and unfortunately fentanyl overdose cases have been an issue across our district in recent years,“ said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “One of our goals will be to vigorously prosecute those who possess this drug illegally. Further, we will continue to work closely with all of our law partners to disrupt drug fentanyl and methamphetamine traffickers, stopping them in their tracks.
The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office and Natchitoches Police Department investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
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Director of Chabad at UCSD Admits to Conspiracy to Defraud Qualcomm with Former Chabad of Poway Rabbi GoldsteinRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Michelle L. Wasserman (619) 546-8431 and Valerie Chu (619) 546-6750
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 26, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Rabbi Yehuda Hadjadj, director of Chabad at the University of California, San Diego, pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring with former Chabad of Poway Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and at least three other individuals to defraud Qualcomm’s corporate matching program.
Beginning no later than August 2010 and continuing through late 2017, Hadjadj fraudulently obtained funds from Qualcomm’s corporate matching program for Chabad at UCSD, by inducing at least three donors to make sham donations to Friendship Circle, a non-sectarian organization run at the time by Rabbi Goldstein. Chabad at UCSD was not eligible to receive corporate matching funds from Qualcomm, as the corporate matching program excluded sectarian or denominational religious groups from its eligible donation recipients. To conceal the true recipient of the matched funds, Hadjadj told the donors to write checks to Friendship Circle. At the time, or shortly after the donor wrote the check, Hadjadj returned all or most of the donation in cash. The donors would nonetheless request that Qualcomm match the sham donation. After Qualcomm matched the sham donations to Friendship Circle, Rabbi Goldstein funneled approximately two thirds of the matched funds back to Hadjadj, keeping one third for himself.
According to Hadjadj’s plea agreement, on September 26, 2017, a donor wrote a check for $4,900 to Friendship Circle. Shortly thereafter Hadjadj visited the donor’s home and gave him $4,400 in cash. The donor nonetheless requested that Qualcomm match the $4,900 sham donation. In total, Hadjadj met with this donor eleven times to give him cash in exchange for sham matched donations to Friendship Circle. Hadjadj recruited at least two additional donors to engage in this scheme. Hadjadj fraudulently obtained approximately $40,000 for Chabad at UCSD over the course of the scheme.
In July 2020, Rabbi Goldstein pleaded guilty to fraud charges, admitting that he participated in a complex, years-long, multi-million-dollar tax-evasion scheme and other financial deceptions involving theft of public money. Rabbi Goldstein’s plea agreement outlined the fraud scheme with Hadjadj.
Hadjadj is the tenth individual to plead guilty to crimes discovered in this investigation. Two additional individuals agreed to deferred prosecution agreements as a result of the investigation.
“Rabbi Hadjadj violated his position of trust within our community and took advantage of a corporate program meant to encourage employee charitable donations,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Fraud has no place in fundraising, and those who use lies and dishonesty to obtain money, whether for themselves or for an organization, will be held to account for their crimes.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and FBI and IRS agents for their excellent work on this case.
“The defendant abused his status and connections to help facilitate a years-long fraud scheme,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “The FBI is proud to work with our federal partners at the Internal Revenue Service to root out these schemes which not only defraud the companies who participate in corporate matching programs, but also diminish the public’s trust in the validity of charitable contributions.”
“Rabbi Hadjadj conspired with Rabbi Goldstein to cheat Qualcomm, and even recruited others who trusted him to commit fraud,” said IRS Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner. “IRS Special Agents will do everything in our power to uncover financial deceptions, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served against all who choose to place their own greed ahead of the welfare of our businesses and the community.”
Rabbi Hadjadj is next scheduled to appear at a sentencing hearing on April 18, 2022, at 9 a.m. before Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant.
SUMMARY OF CHARGES Case Number 22CR148-BAS
Yehuda Hadjadj Age:47 La Jolla, CA
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison
PREVIOUSLY CHARGED DEFENDANTS AND SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Yisroel Goldstein, Case Number 20CR1916-BAS Age: 58 Poway
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison
Alexander Avergoon, Case Number 19CR2955-BAS Age: 44 San Diego
Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 1343
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, USC 1028A
Maximum Penalty: Two years minimum consecutive term in prison
Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, USC 1956(a)(1)(B)(i)
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
Bruce Baker, Case Number 20CR1912-BAS Age: 74 La Jolla
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and file false tax returns, in violation of Title 18, USC 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison
Bijan Moossazadeh, Case Number 20CR1893-BAS Age: 63 San Diego
Filing a False Tax Return, in violation of Title 26, USC 7206(1)
Maximum Penalty: Three years in prison
Yousef Shemirani, Case Number 20CR1895-BAS Age: 74 Poway
Filing a False Tax Return, in violation of Title 26, USC 7206(1)
Maximum Penalty: Three years in prison
Boris Shkoller, Case Number 20CR1913-BAS Age: 83 Del Mar
Filing a False Tax Return, in violation of Title 26, USC 7206(1)
Maximum Penalty: Three years in prison
Mendel Goldstein, Case Number 20CR2772-BAS Age: 63 Brooklyn, NY
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison
Stuart Weinstock, Case Number 21CR0042-BAS Age: 64 Escondido, CA
Filing False Tax Return, in violation of Title 26, U.S.C. §7206(1)
Maximum Penalty: Three years in prison
Jason Ellis, Case Number 21CR2200-BAS Age: 42 Poway, CA
Filing False Tax Return, in violation of Title 26, U.S.C. §7206(1)
Maximum Penalty: Three years in prison
Rotem Cooper, Case Number 20CR3968-BAS Age: 54 San Diego
Deferred Prosecution Agreement
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 371
Igor Shtilkind, Case Number 20CR3955-BAS Age: 55 San Diego
Deferred Prosecution Agreement
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, USC 371
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service
Detroit man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stewart Jenkins, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 33 months of incarceration for a cocaine charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Jenkins, 49, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base.” Jenkins admitted to having cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in September 2020 in Monongalia County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
DeepDotWeb Administrator Sentenced for Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
An Israeli national was sentenced yesterday to 97 months in prison for operating DeepDotWeb (DDW), a website that connected internet users with Darknet marketplaces, where they purchased illegal firearms, malware and hacking tools, stolen financial data, heroin, fentanyl and other illicit materials.
According to court documents, Tal Prihar, 37, an Israeli citizen residing in Brazil, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in March 2021. Beginning in October 2013, Prihar owned and operated DDW, along with co-defendant Michael Phan, 34, of Israel. In addition to providing general information about the Darknet, DDW provided users with direct links to illegal Darknet marketplaces, which are not accessible through traditional search engines.
For providing these links, Prihar and Phan received kickback payments from the marketplaces in the form of virtual currency, including approximately 8,155 bitcoins (worth approximately $8.4 million at the time of the transactions). To conceal the nature and source of these illegal kickback payments, Prihar transferred the payments from his DDW bitcoin wallet to other bitcoin accounts and to bank accounts he controlled in the names of shell companies. DDW was seized by federal authorities in April 2019, and Prihar has agreed to forfeit $8,414,173. Phan remains abroad and is currently undergoing extradition proceedings in Israel.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung for the Western District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.
The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorneys C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Alexander Gottfried of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
The department thanks French authorities as well as its law enforcement colleagues at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Brazilian Federal Police Cyber Division, Israeli National Police, Dutch National Police, Europol Darkweb Team, Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany, and National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom. Significant assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
This case was brought in conjunction with the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) Team. Established within the FBI’s Hi-Tech Organized Crime Unit, J-CODE is a U.S. Government initiative aimed at targeting drug trafficking, especially fentanyl and other opioids, on the Darknet. The J-CODE team brings together agents, analysts, and professional staff with expertise in drugs, gangs, health care fraud and more.
This prosecution is also a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
Cottage Grove Man Charged in Bank Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minnesota – A Cottage Grove man has been charged following a string of Twin Cities bank robberies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
According to court documents, in November 2021, Michael Thomas Prall, 43, used force, violence, and intimidation to steal thousands of dollars from three separate banks. On November 30, 2021, Prall stole approximately $775 from a Wells Fargo bank in Cottage Grove. On November 19, 2021, Prall stole approximately $4,589 from a Bremer Bank in Woodbury. On November 5, 2021, Prall stole approximately $2,558 from a US Bank in Bloomington.
Prall, who is charged with three counts of bank robbery, made his initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer in U.S. District Court. Prall was detained pending further court proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Cottage Grove Police Department, the Woodbury Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Convicted Sex Trafficker Is Sentenced to More Than 19 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney has sentenced Simone Cherelle McIllwain, 30, of Charlotte, to 235 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release for sex trafficking of a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court during yesterday’s hearing, on January 1, 2020, law enforcement were notified that a 13-year-old female was a suspected victim of sex trafficking. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that, from December 2 to December 25, 2019, McIllwain did in fact engage in the sex trafficking of the minor in the Charlotte area. Court documents show that the minor victim was introduced to McIllwain through a mutual acquaintance, and shortly thereafter McIllwain began to advertise the victim online for commercial sex. McIllwain also arranged for the minor to engage in sex acts at McIllwain’s hotel room and she kept a portion of the proceeds. At the time of the offense, McIllwain was on supervised release for a 2014 federal conviction in Florida, for transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
On April 19, 2021, McIllwain pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik Lindahl prosecuted the case.
If you believe you are the victim of a trafficking situation or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. You can also text NHTRC at 233733 or submit a tip online.
Columbus man sentenced for methamphetamine chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Devante Crutez Taylor, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to 84 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Taylor, 29, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine.” Taylor admitted to having 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in August 2019 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Falsely Representing Himself as a Citizen of the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that a Colombian national pleaded guilty today to falsely claiming he was a United States citizen.
According to court documents, on December 8, 2021, Andres Bejarano, 33, presented himself to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") officers for inspection to board a flight from St. Croix to Florida with a Florida driver’s license. It was later determined that the license belonged to his brother, Daniel Bejarano. When questioned, the defendant falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen. He subsequently admitted that he took and used his brother’s identification, because he was aware that he had an active warrant for his arrest.
Bejarano is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Huston is prosecuting the case.
Co-Founder and Former CEO of Foreign Oil Company Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Failure to File Tax Returns Causing over $20 Million in Losses to the U.S. TreasuryRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today that TODD KOZEL, the former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of a multi-national foreign oil company, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 60 months in prison following KOZEL’s guilty plea to five counts of willful failure to file individual income tax returns for the calendar years 2011 through 2015. U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, who previously accepted Kozel’s guilty plea, imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, Todd Kozel failed to file income tax returns, or pay the federal tax liabilities that were owed under those returns, despite earning millions of dollars in compensation as the CEO of an overseas oil company. Today’s sentence shows that no one is above the law—all citizens must pay their fair share of taxes, including Americans who earn compensation from working in foreign countries.”
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge Tom Fattorusso said: “U.S. citizens are required to pay taxes on worldwide income from all sources, including income earned overseas. Kozel earned tens of millions of dollars, and as a result, was required by law to pay taxes – more than $20 million – on those earnings. By not paying his fair share, he cheated the American people out of millions of dollars.”
According to the Information and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during public court proceedings:
Pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code and attendant regulations, all United States citizens and residents who had annual income in excess of a threshold amount are required to report accurately their income, tax obligations, and, where appropriate, any claim for a refund on a United States Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040 (“Form 1040”), which must be filed annually with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). This obligation applies to all sources of income, including income earned through overseas employment and from foreign financial accounts.
From at least in or about 2004 through at least in or about 2014, TODD KOZEL was the co-founder and CEO of a London-based petroleum company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (the “Oil Company”). During the period 2011 through 2015, KOZEL, a United States citizen, earned substantial compensation as the CEO of the Oil Company, totaling more than approximately $66 million during the five-year period. But despite earning this substantial income, KOZEL willfully failed timely to file any personal federal income tax returns for calendar years 2011 through 2015, resulting in well over $20 million in unpaid federal tax liabilities. As part of his criminal conduct, KOZEL used sophisticated offshore structures, trusts, and bank accounts to conceal a portion of his undeclared income from the U.S. government.
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In addition to the prison sentence, KOZEL, 55, of New York, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $29,462,965.23.
Mr. Williams praised the IRS-CI for their outstanding investigative work on this case, and thanked the Large Business and International Division of the IRS for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Louis A. Pellegrino and Olga I. Zverovich are in charge of the prosecution.
Chicago Man Who Conspired to Distribute Drugs Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was found in possession of 370 methamphetamine tablets, almost 200 grams of cocaine, and marijuana, was sentenced yesterday to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Brian Hale, age 35, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after pleading guilty in July 2021 to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Hale admitted that he possessed 151 grams of marijuana, 370 tablets containing 134 grams of methamphetamine, 195 grams of cocaine, and $5,262 in cash. The drugs and cash were found during a traffic stop of the car Hale was driving through Dubuque County. During the traffic stop, a drug dog alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the car. Hale had attempted to disguise the smell of drugs by sprinkling chili powder over the packages containing the drugs. Law enforcement then searched the car and found the drugs and money. Hale further admitted that he had agreed to distribute at least some of the methamphetamine to other people and that the cash was either proceeds from drug sales or was intended to be used to further drug-trafficking activities.
Hale has prior convictions for drug offenses. Hale had previously been convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, manufacturing/delivering cocaine, and possession with intent to deliver heroin.
Hale was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hale was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hale is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Devra Hake and Alex Geocaris and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-01036.
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Career Offender Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs man was sentenced today to 152 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and one count of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
In September, 2019, detectives with the Hot Springs Police Department conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine from Bobby Nutt. The next day, Nutt reported to his parole officer for an office visit. During his parole visit, Nutt’s vehicle was searched and approximately 148 grams of cocaine was seized as well as a loaded Glock pistol with a round in the chamber.
Due to the nature of Nutt’s prior felony convictions, he was sentenced as a Career Offender.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement.
The Hot Springs Police Department and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Canadian man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking stolen identities on the dark webRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Slava Dmitriev has been sentenced for access device fraud in connection with his possession and sale of over seventeen hundred stolen identities on the dark web. Dmitriev, a Canadian citizen, was arrested while on vacation in Greece in September 2020 and extradited to the United States in January 2021.
“This defendant profited off buying and selling people’s stolen identities, including victims in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “As a result of the diligence of federal agents coupled with valuable cooperation of Greek law enforcement, Dmitriev was arrested, extradited, and is now sentenced to federal prison.”
“Dmitriev stole the identities of hard-working citizens of the United States and thought he was safe from prosecution while overseas,” said Phil Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence will serve as a reminder that the FBI will always work diligently with International Law Enforcement partners to bring justice to citizens who have been victimized.”
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: Dmitriev used the moniker “GoldenAce” to buy and sell stolen identities, including social security numbers, on the darknet marketplace AlphaBay. From May 2016 through July 2017, Dmitriev sold 1,764 items on AlphaBay for approximately $100,000. The vast majority of these items were stolen identities, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information. There were at least five victims residing in the Northern District of Georgia.
Dmitriev also collaborated with the cyber-extortionist group “the Dark Overlord” (“TDO”), including:
- On June 16, 2016, Dmitriev sent TDO access credentials for a New York dentist that Dmitriev had purchased on a criminal marketplace. The dentist was subsequently breached and extorted by TDO.
- On July 11, 2016, Dmitriev received a spreadsheet from TDO containing approximately 200,000 stolen identities.
- On May 24, 2017, Dmitriev sold information stolen by TDO that contained the identity of a victim living in La Quinta, California.
On September 8, 2020, Dmitriev was arrested while traveling in Greece. The following day, Greek authorities executed a search warrant on the residence where Dmitriev was staying and located a computer containing emails discussing the buying and selling of identities and social security numbers, as well as a video about how to perpetrate identify theft.
Slava Dmitriev, 29, of Vaughn, Ontario, Canada has been sentenced to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dmitriev pleaded guilty on August 30, 2021 to the charge of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Hellenic (Greek National) Police, Naxos Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Ministry of Justice Directorate of Special Legal Affairs.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz, Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, and Nathan Kitchens, Chief of the Public Integrity and Special Matters Section, prosecuted the case. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section and Office of International Affairs.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Canadian Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography and Extortion in Relation to Five Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Muhammad Luqman Rana, age 32, of City of Vaughan, Ontario, for the federal charges of production of child pornography and extortion by threat to injure the reputation of another. The indictment was returned on December 11, 2019 and unsealed yesterday upon his extradition from Canada.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Mark Saunders of the Toronto Police Services (Canada).
According to the 10-count indictment, from June 2014 to June 2016 Rana persuaded, induced, and coerced five minor victims, residing in Maryland, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Washington and New York, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography and extorted the victims by threatening to injure their reputation.
Rana is made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Copperthite and is detained pending trial.
If convicted, Rana faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and up to two years of imprisonment for extortion by threat to injure the reputation of another. The maximum statutory penalty for all of the charged conduct is 160 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. commended the FBI and the Toronto Police Services for their work in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Canada to secure the arrest of Rana in Canada and his extradition to the United States. Mr. Barron and Mr. Polite thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin and Jennifer Leonardo of the Justice Department’s Criminal Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Canadian Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography and Extortion in Relation to Five Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Maryland returned an indictment in December 2019, which was unsealed today, charging a Canadian man with production of child pornography and extortion.
According to court documents, Muhammad Luqman Rana, 32, of Vaughan, Ontario, from June 2014 to June 2016, persuaded, induced, and coerced five minor victims, residing in Maryland, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Washington, and New York, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography and extorted the victims by threatening to injure their reputation.
Rana is charged with five counts of production of child pornography and five counts of extortion by threat to injure the reputation of another. If convicted of all counts, Rana faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 160 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Rana made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore today before U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Mark Saunders of the Toronto Police Services made the announcement.
The FBI and the Toronto Police Services are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Canada to secure the arrest of Rana in Canada and his extradition to the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin for the District of Maryland and Senior Trial Attorney Jennifer Toritto Leonardo of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://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.
CEO of Major Online Cryptocurrency Exchange Company Indicted for Defrauding Company’s Customers, Destroying Evidence, and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A 17-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Miami, Florida charging Paul E. Vernon, 48, the founder, operator, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Project Investors Inc., doing business as Cryptsy, with criminal violations for his involvement in a sophisticated theft scheme involving his cryptocurrency exchange. The charges include tax evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, computer fraud, tampering with records, documents, and other objects, and destruction of records in a federal investigation.
According to the Indictment, Paul E. Vernon solicited and caused cryptocurrency investors to trust the safety of Cryptsy, an online cryptocurrency exchange company, for storing and trading their virtual currency. Vernon exercised control over cryptocurrencies deposited on the Cryptsy website. Between May 2013 through May 2015, Vernon used his control over Cryptsy’s accounts, known as wallets, to steal over one million dollars from Cryptsy’s cryptocurrency wallets. Once Vernon stole his customers' funds from Cryptsy’s wallets, he deposited the funds into a personal cryptocurrency wallet and then transferred the same funds into his personal bank account. At no time during this time period did Vernon disclose this theft of his customers’ funds from his customers’ Cryptsy wallets.
On about July 29, 2014, Vernon informed Cryptsy employees that Cryptsy had been hacked by an unidentified party, and that the hacker had stolen more than five million dollars’ worth of bitcoins and other cryptocurrency from Cryptsy. For six months following this disclosure to his employees, Vernon continued to operate Cryptsy, including soliciting new customers, without disclosing to his customers that the website's security had been compromised. In or around November of 2015, Vernon abruptly moved to China and, shortly thereafter, publicly reported to Cryptsy customers the 2014 hack of the Cryptsy wallets and loss of bitcoins and other cryptocurrency. In April 2016, after being notified that Cryptsy was in receivership, Vernon hacked into Cryptsy servers from a remote location, stole Cryptsy’s database containing customers’ funds, and destroyed the customer database to conceal his illicit activity.
The Indictment further alleges that Vernon attempted to evade his federal income tax obligations for 2014 and 2015. In each of 2014 and 2015, Vernon caused to be filed false and fraudulent U.S. individual income tax returns in which he underreported the tax due and owing to the United States. Based on his actual taxable income in 2014 and 2015, Vernon’s tax due and owing to the United States was substantially more in each of these years than the amounts reported to the United States.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Matthew D. Line, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the IRS-CI and FBI’s Miami Field Office, with assistance from the United States Secret Service’s Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Watson is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture.
Charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If you were a Cryptsy.com customer and would like to file a complaint, please visit www.IC3.gov. Please reference “Cryptsy” in your complaint.
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 19-cr-20509.
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Casper Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that DANIEL HENDRICKS, 33, of Casper, Wyoming pleaded guilty to four counts of production of child pornography. Hendricks appeared for a change of plea hearing before Chief United States Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on January 13, 2022. Sentencing has been set for April 7, 2022.
Hendricks faces 15 to 120 years of imprisonment and 5 years to life of supervised release. He could also be ordered to pay a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act of 2015 and a $100 special assessment on each count. In addition, he could pay up to $50,000 in special assessments and mandatory restitution of not less than $3,000 per requesting victim pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Christyne M. Martens is prosecuting the case.
Case No. 21-cr-00133-SWS
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years n Federal Prison for Gang-Related Drug SalesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY GILCHRIST, 32, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs, including the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”), a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, whose members and associates distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals, and celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube. GHB/Hotz members and associates also committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
In January and February 2020, investigators made controlled purchases of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl from Gilchrist at the Greene Homes Housing Complex. Gilchrist was a member or associate of GHB/Hotz who had recently been released from state custody after receiving a 15-year jail sentence, suspended after eight years, for selling narcotics.
Gilchrist was arrested on March 13, 2020. On November 20, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Karen L. Peck and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 24 Years for Racketeering and Witness Tampering OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAKALE BRANTLEY, also known as “Charlie Wilson,” “Kellz,” and “Man Man,” 22, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 292 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for racketeering and witness tampering offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Brantley was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gang, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, sold narcotics, laundered narcotics proceeds, stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut and used them to commit crimes, and tampered with witnesses who might testify against them.
On August 8, 2018, Brantley and other O.N.E. members stole a white Jeep Grand Cherokee in Newburgh, New York, and drove it back to Bridgeport. In the following days, Brantley conspired to use the car to kill East End gang members and their allies who Brantley had learned through social media were at a deli on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport. Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, O.N.E. members drove the stolen Jeep to Union Avenue in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival East End group member, and shot and seriously wounded Smith’s female companion, both of whom were seated in a parked car. After the shooting, Brantley and other O.N.E. members transported the Jeep to Indian Wells State Park in Shelton where they burned the vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder.
In October 2018 in Bridgeport, and in November 2018 in Stratford, Brantley and other O.N.E. members and associates attacked a marijuana dealer and stole marijuana from him. After Brantley was arrested on federal charges on March 23, 2020, and while he was incarcerated, he attempted to solicit others to kill the victim of the marijuana robberies, who Brantley had learned had become a federal witness, in order to prevent Brantley’s prosecution for those offenses. Specifically, Brantley reached out by prison call to associates and by letters addressed to those associates in an effort to have his associates kill the robbery victim and then cover his nose with fentanyl to make it appear as if he overdosed.
On July 12, 2021, Brantley pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of solicitation of witness tampering.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Karen L. Peck and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bartonsville Man Indicted for Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 25, 2022, Nazim Hassam, age 70, of Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on bank fraud and money laundering charges.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Hassam applied for and received multiple loans under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) while making false statements on the applications. Hassam was indicted along with two businesses he co-owns, the Pocono Plaza Inn and Om Sri Sai, Inc., in 2019 on felony sex and drug trafficking charges. When asked whether he or the companies applying for the loans were under indictment, Hassam falsely answered, “No.” The indictment alleges that Hassam fraudulently obtained loans totaling $89,308. Hassam then conducted unlawful monetary transactions with the bulk of those funds.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
If convicted, Hassam faces a maximum total penalty under federal law for these offenses of 120 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Bangor Man Sentenced for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced today in federal court for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., sentenced Christian Barreto, 35, of Bangor to five years imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Barreto pleaded guilty on June 8, 2021.
According to court records, on July 14, 2020, Barreto distributed over 187 grams of cocaine to a law enforcement informant. On July 28, 2020, agents executed a search warrant at his residence in Holden where they found an additional 166 grams of the cocaine, $1,635 in cash, several cellular telephones and a handgun. The investigation revealed that over the course of two-and-a-half years, Barreto sold nearly 14 pounds of cocaine in Penobscot County.
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Holden Police Department and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
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Baldwinsville Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Curtis, age 22, of Baldwinsville, New York, pled guilty yesterday to one count of receiving child pornography over the Internet.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his guilty plea, Curtis admitted that in September 2017 he asked an 11-year-old child to send him sexually explicit videos over Instagram. In his exchanges with the child, the defendant pretended that he was a female fashion designer looking for models.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 24, 2022, before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Curtis faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Curtis will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary Green, age 36, of Albany, pled guilty today to illegally possessing a loaded shotgun as a felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
As part of his plea, Green admitted that on September 28, 2021, he knowingly possessed a loaded shotgun in his vehicle and on his person while driving and walking on South Pearl Street in the city of Albany. A prior felony conviction for criminal possession of a weapon prevented Green from legally possessing the firearm in New York.
Green faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on May 26, 2022, by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Albany Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
After Three-Month Federal Trial Four MS-13 Gang Members Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Multiple MurdersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On January 24, 2022, a federal jury convicted Milton Portillo-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Little Gangster,” age 26; Juan Carlos Sandoval-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Picaro,” age 22; Oscar Armando Sorto Romero, a/k/a “Lobo,” age 22; and Jose Joya Parada, a/k/a “Calmado,” age 20, for a racketeering conspiracy and for racketeering, connected to their participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13. Portillo-Rodriguez, Sandoval-Rodriguez, and Sorto Romero were each also convicted of multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
The convictions were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations, Baltimore Office; Chief Jason Lando of the Frederick City Police Department; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith, III; Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
“The brutal and tragic violence perpetrated by these defendants and their fellow MS-13 gang members is totally unacceptable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland and our local, state and federal partners are working together to remove these violent gang members to keep our communities safe from the threat of MS-13,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “We will continue to work to bring to justice these transnational gangs, and we welcome the continued support from members of our communities in order to carry on our work against MS-13.”
“These convictions mark a profound victory for the people of Maryland, who do not deserve to be intimidated by the reprehensible actions of these criminals,” said James R. Mancuso, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Baltimore. “Hopefully this prosecution and the sentences facing these defendants will deter others from joining criminal organizations. We thank all of our federal and local law enforcement partners for their hard work in making these convictions happen.”
MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland. The defendants were members of the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas (“FLS”) and Parque Vista (“PVLS”) cliques.
The evidence at the three-month trial established that between 2015 and 2017, the defendants engaged in drug trafficking, extortion, and brutal acts of violence against suspected rivals of the gang in an effort to increase MS-13’s power in the Frederick County, Montgomery County, and Anne Arundel County areas of Maryland.
At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.” One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible.
MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increase the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position.
As detailed during the trial, from 2015 through 2017, the Fulton clique of MS-13 sought to increase its presence in Frederick, Wheaton, and Annapolis, Maryland through numerous acts of violence, extortion, and drug sales. Trial evidence focused on the defendants’ participation in four grisly murders of those suspected of association with rival gang members carried out in 2017. First, on March 31, 2017, the gang lured a 17-year old from Annapolis to Wheaton Regional Park, where they stabbed him over 100 times, dismembered him, removed his heart, and buried him in a clandestine grave. Two days later, the gang kidnapped another individual from Silver Spring, Maryland and brought him to a wooded area in Frederick, where he was killed with knives and machetes before being buried in a shallow grave. On June 24, 2017, the gang used a female associate to lure a 21-year old woman into a car and then took her to a wooded area in Crownsville, where she was killed, her body was dismembered, and she was buried in a clandestine grave. Finally, on August 5, 2017, the gang lured another victim to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, where he was hit in the head with a hammer and slashed with a machete until he died. He was also buried in a grave in the park.
According to trial evidence, these murders were all intended to maintain and increase the status of MS-13, as well as allow individual MS-13 members to maintain or increase their status within the gang.
As a result of this guilty verdict, more than 30 defendants have been convicted in this and a related case.
Portillo-Rodriguez, Sandoval-Rodriguez, and Sorto Romero each face a mandatory sentence of life in prison for each of the murder in aid of racketeering charges. Joya Parada faces a maximum sentenced of life in prison for the racketeering conspiracy and for racketeering. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for Joya Parada for April 8, 2022, at 10 a.m.; Sandoval Rodriguez for April 22, 2022, at 4 p.m.; Sorto Romero for May 6, 2022, at 10 a.m.; and Portillo Rodriguez for May 13, 2022, at 10 a.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (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 an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick Police Department; the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Zachary Stendig, and Anatoly Smolkin, who are prosecuting this case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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25 January 2022
Westville Man Sentenced to 300 Months of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Josiah Phillips, 34, of Westville, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon following his guilty plea to two counts of production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Phillips was sentenced to 300 months in prison, 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution.
According to documents filed in the case, in 2019 and 2020, Phillips produced videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with victims under the age of five.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang.
Webster Man Going to Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead 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 Cody Fingland, 23, of Webster, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that on February 22, 2021, law enforcement officers observed Fingland sell marijuana and THC vape cartridges to another person in exchange for cash. Subsequently, officers conducted a search of a residence on South Clinton Avenue where Fingland had been staying. During the search, officers recovered 30 grams of cocaine, 572 grams of marijuana packaged for sale, 83 oxycodone pills, a scale, a loaded 22-gauge shotgun, and a box of additional ammunition. Fingland maintained the residence to prepare, manufacture, package, sell, and store controlled substances. Also on February 22, 2021, officers searched a residence on Whiting Road in Webster, NY, where Fingland had previously lived with his parents, and recovered 11 kilograms of marijuana, various THC products packaged for sale, 85 clonazepam pills, and a scale. In addition, on December 4, 2020, law enforcement intercepted two packages containing marijuana intended for Fingland.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy Foley, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Webster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dennis Kohlmeier.
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Webster City Man Sentenced to over 10 Years Federal Prison for Meth OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 24, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
On August 23, 2021, Joshua Boice, 35, from Webster City, Iowa, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On March 7, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Boice for suspected driving while impaired. Boice admitted using methamphetamine and marijuana before work that day, and to possessing needles used to inject methamphetamine. During a subsequent search, law enforcement seized methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, pills, and needles. On October 18, 2020, law enforcement conducted another traffic stop of Boice in Ames, Iowa. Law enforcement discovered drug paraphernalia, approximately $4,700 cash, a firearm, and methamphetamine. In total, Boice possessed with intent to distribute approximately 2 pounds of meth.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Boice was sentenced to 128 months 16 days imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Boice remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Webster City Police Department, Iowa State University Police Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3048. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Utica Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation FelonyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Matthew Felitto, age 37, of Utica, New York, pled guilty today to violating the constitutionally protected right of an arrestee to be free from excessive force by a law enforcement officer. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea today, Felitto admitted that on September 4, 2020, while working as a police officer for the Utica Police Department, he arrived on the scene of an arrest to assist in transporting the arrested individual to the station. The arrestee was handcuffed behind his back and in leg shackles when Felitto arrived, because the arrestee had been refusing to comply with the commands of other officers already on-scene. Felitto helped those officers place the arrestee in the back of a police van. Once the arrestee was lying on the floor of the van face up and restrained, Felitto kicked him several times in the face and upper chest while wearing work boots. The kicks were without legal justification and were made with sufficient force to cause the arrestee pain and a bruised/swollen lip.
Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Felitto was required to, and did, resign from the Utica Police Department effective immediately. Sentencing is scheduled for May 25, 2022. If the Court accepts the parties’ plea agreement, the defendant will receive a sentence of probation for a term and under conditions set by the Court, and a fine of $7,500. As a felon, Felitto will also be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
“My office is committed to holding police officers accountable when they violate the constitutional rights of the citizens they are sworn to serve, even those under arrest,” said United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. “Police officers routinely respond to high-stress and high-stakes situations, and they regularly handle those responsibilities with professionalism and poise, but when an officer uses excessive force and violates the civil rights of others, we will pursue those cases aggressively.”
“Law enforcement officers are given incredible power to enforce the law and ensure justice. The privilege of wearing a badge does not come with the authority to violate the Constitution or the rights of the very people they have taken an oath to protect. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable law enforcement officers who break the law and tarnish the reputation of the many dedicated, honest, and hard-working officers who serve their communities every day,” said Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Michael F. Perry with the assistance of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.
Top Member of Chester “3rd Bone” Drug Gang Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Dwayne Butler, 27, of Chester, PA, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $4,000 special assessment by United States District Court Chief Judge Juan R. Sanchez for his role as one the most prolific members of the “3rd Bone” drug trafficking group, a violent street gang that sold large amounts of crack, cocaine, and heroin in downtown Chester.
In October 2019, Butler and nearly two dozen others were arrested pursuant to parallel Indictments of rival drug gangs operating in and around Chester: “3rd Bone,” which held power in the area of 3rd and Lamokin Streets; and their rivals, “William Penn,” which controlled the territory surrounding the Chester Housing Authority’s William Penn Homes.
Butler and 12 of his “3rd Bone” co-conspirators were charged in a 70-count Indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute crack, cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin (one count); distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (57 counts); unlawful use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug felony (five counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm (two counts); and aiding and abetting. In September 2021, Butler pleaded guilty to more than 35 drug-related counts, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Earlier this year, another “3rd Bone” defendant, Jamel Covington, 31, also of Chester, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $500 special assessment. Covington pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearms offenses, including maintaining a small arsenal of semiautomatic weapons and bulk amounts of crack and fentanyl in a storage facility rented in his name.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators in 3rd Bone, together with the defendants in the William Penn gang, terrorized the Chester community for years with their drug dealing and associated violence,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Butler dealt dangerous narcotics and illegally possessed weapons to further his drug-dealing business, and for that he will now spend more than a decade in prison. Thanks to the efforts of investigators at the FBI and DEA, the 3rd Bone and William Penn drug operations have been permanently shut down, making the streets safer and improving the quality of life for the Chester community.”
“For years, Butler and his fellow gang members terrorized the hard-working residents of Chester – and he now will pay the price for his crimes. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will never stop working to make our communities safer and free from violent crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working closely the Chester City Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meaghan A. Flannery and Matthew T. Newcomer.
Texan admits to smuggling people in coffinRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 33-year-old Galveston man has entered a guilty plea to attempting to smuggle individuals in a flag-draped coffin, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Zachary Taylor Blood admitted to one count of alien smuggling.
On Oct. 26, 2021, Blood drove a grey van modified to transport caskets into the primary inspection lane of the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Falfurrias.
Authorities observed a coffin in the back of the van and asked what he was transporting. He replied “Dead guy, Navy guy.” However, the coffin was in poor condition and the American flag was taped to the top with packing tape.
Law enforcement then referred him to secondary inspection. There, they discovered two Mexican nationals, both unlawfully present within the United States, concealed inside the coffin.
The two men admitted to paying a smuggler to get them to San Antonio. They claimed that after crossing the river into the United States, they were taken to a parking lot where Blood was waiting for them. He had them get into the coffin and began driving north.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing May 11. At that time, Blood faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Santa Fe duo appears in court on firearm and drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Werni Lopez-Perez, 25, and Mario Guizar-Anchondo, 19, both of Santa Fe, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court today, facing charges of conspiracy, possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They will remain in custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 27.
Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo were indicted on Jan. 11. According to the indictment and other court records, on Dec. 30, 2021, Guizar-Anchondo allegedly was driving and Lopez-Perez allegedly was a passenger in a pickup truck when Santa Fe police performed a traffic stop for nonfunctioning tail lights. Neither Guizar-Anchondo nor Lopez-Perez had a valid driver license and the officer informed them the truck would be impounded. During a subsequent search of the truck, investigators allegedly recovered approximately 1,730.7 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 3,401.5 grams of fentanyl, five loaded firearms, and $5,563 in cash.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on the drug charges, Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. If convicted on the firearm charge, they would face a consecutive 5 years and up to life in prison.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Santa Fe Police Department, New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Louis Mattei is prosecuting the case.
San Jose Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years Following Jury Convictions for Meth Trafficking and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Armando Daniel Calderon was sentenced today in United States District Court to 198 months in federal prison following convictions for two counts of methamphetamine trafficking, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, and one count of carrying a firearm during drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon. The sentence was handed down by Senior United States District Judge William Alsup.
On June 23, 2021, a federal jury convicted Calderon, 35, most recently from San Jose, of the following four counts:- possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), on August 20, 2018;
- carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), on August 20, 2018;
- conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, during the month of September 2018; and
- possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), on September 25, 2018.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 20, 2018, San Jose State University Police Department officers stopped Calderon’s pickup truck in the vicinity of Keyes Street and South 3rd Street in San Jose. Calderon was the driver and sole occupant. Police officers learned that Calderon had multiple outstanding arrest warrants and took him into custody. Upon arrest, officers discovered $5,363 in cash and six .40 caliber bullets in Calderon’s pants pockets. Inside the truck, officers found three bags. One bag contained methamphetamine and .40 caliber ammunition. The second contained methamphetamine. The third contained a high-capacity pistol magazine loaded with 18 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Officers also discovered a .40 caliber pistol loaded with nine rounds of .40 caliber ammunition next to the driver’s seat.
In total, police recovered approximately 1.83 pounds of methamphetamine from Calderon’s truck.
Further evidence presented at trial showed that in September 2018 – just weeks after the traffic stop – Calderon conspired to distribute a large quantity of methamphetamine. In that month, Calderon repeatedly spoke on the phone and met in the San Mateo area with a prospective buyer to negotiate the sale of 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of methamphetamine. The negotiations settled on a price of $4,700 per kilogram of methamphetamine, for a total price of $70,500 for 15 kilograms. During the negotiations, Calderon guaranteed the quality of the methamphetamine for the buyer and agreed to exchange it for other methamphetamine if the buyer was dissatisfied.On September 25, 2018, Calderon met with the buyer early in the day and agreed to deliver the methamphetamine to the parking lot of a Menlo Park shopping center. Later in the day, Calderon and two others were arrested near that shopping center. Calderon fled on foot when officers approached but was apprehended. Law enforcement seized 989 grams (more than two pounds) of pure methamphetamine at that arrest scene. During their search of a nearby stash house connected to Calderon, agents recovered an additional 6,492 grams (more than 14 pounds) of pure methamphetamine as well as documents bearing Calderon’s name.
Trial evidence also showed that prior to his arrest on September 25, 2018, Calderon hid methamphetamine inside a red Mustang parked outside the stash house. Law enforcement officers seized that methamphetamine too, which weighed 317 grams (more than two-thirds of a pound).In a memorandum filed for sentencing, the government pointed out that Calderon exhibited dangerousness during his encounters with police in August and September of 2018. During the August 20th traffic stop by San Jose University police officers, Calderon had a loaded firearm wedged between his driver’s seat and the truck’s center console. During a September 11th traffic stop by law enforcement in San Mateo County, Calderon fled the scene and left behind a privately-made firearm without a serial number, also known as a “ghost gun.” At his September 25th arrest, Calderon again fled on foot. When apprehended, Calderon struggled with the officers, got his hands on an officer’s gun, and pointed the gun at officers before they overcame Calderon and placed him in handcuffs.
In addition to imposing a 198 month prison term, Judge William Alsup sentenced Calderon to five years of supervision following his release from prison. Calderon has been in custody since his September 25, 2018 arrest. His sentence begins immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and Sloan Heffron prosecuted the case with the assistance of Patricia Mahoney, Andy Ding, Hector Lopez, and Madeline Wachs. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force, and the San Jose State University Police Department.This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Rochester Meth Trafficker Going to PrisonRead 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 Joseph Marchione, 51, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who handled the case, stated that on January 5, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers in Anchorage, Alaska, intercepted a FedEx parcel originating from China and addressed to Joseph Marchione, which contained approximately eight kilograms of 1,4 butanediol (BD), a controlled substance analogue of Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB). Homeland Security Investigations conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel to Marchione’s apartment in Rochester on January 21, 2021. After Marchione accepted the package, agents entered the residence and executed a search warrant. During the search, they seized 225 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1,327 grams of Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), which is also similar to GHB, digital scales, new and unused plastic baggies, numerous new and unused glass vials, and approximately $19,400.00 in cash. Marchione was taken into custody.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief David Smith.
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Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud After Stealing Covid-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man pleaded guilty today for perpetrating a scheme to steal funds intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Benjamin Tifekchian, 47, pleaded guilty to bank fraud.
According to court documents, in May 2019, Tifekchian incorporated Bencho Jewelry Inc. (Bencho) in the State of Oregon and served as the company’s sole owner and officer. Bencho never had any employees and never generated more than $500 in revenue in any calendar year.
After Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tifekchian devised and perpetrated a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) by fraudulently applying for CARES Act-authorized Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of Bencho.
In EIDL applications submitted to SBA in April and August 2020, Tifekchian falsely claimed Bencho had generated as much as $758,000 in revenue, had been operating for 20 years, and employed 12 people. SBA denied both applications. In June 2020, Tifekchian successfully obtained more than $884,000 in PPP funding after falsely claiming Bencho employed 78 people and had an average monthly payroll of $353,698. SBA guaranteed the loan and paid Bank of America, the FDIC-insured loan issuer, more than $26,000 in fees.
Tifekchian used the PPP loan to pay for gambling, vacations, and other personal expenses. Suspecting fraud, Bank of America froze the loan funds, but only after Tifekchian had spent more than $68,000.
On July 13, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Tifekchian with bank fraud and wire fraud.
Tifekchian faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years’ supervised release. With his continued acceptance of responsibility, the government will recommend Tifekchian be sentenced to at least 21 months in prison. Tifekchian will be sentenced on April 18, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut.
As part of the plea agreement, Tifekchian has agreed to pay $910,773.35 in restitution, including $26,527 to SBA.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the SBA Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan W. Bounds is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Portland Man Affiliated with Two Local Street Gangs Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man affiliated with the Hoover Criminal Gang and Krude Rude Brood was sentenced to federal prison today for illegally possessing a short-barrel shotgun as a convicted felon.
Christopher Raymond Fox-Southard, 23, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
In March 2021, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop a stolen vehicle driving recklessly, when the driver fled at a high rate of speed. Fox-Southard was a passenger in the vehicle along with three other Brood associates. Deputies eventually found the vehicle unoccupied and located Fox-Southard in a nearby parking lot. While searching the area, deputies found a stolen, short-barreled shotgun abandoned in a stairwell. Video surveillance footage of the area later reviewed by the deputies showed Fox-Southard walk away from the abandoned vehicle, remove his backpack and jacket, take out the shotgun, and discard it in the stairwell.
On May 11, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Fox-Southard with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. On November 2, 2021, he pleaded guilty to the former charge.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon with assistance from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. Today’s sentencing is part of a global resolution of Fox-Southard’s federal and state criminal cases.
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.
Political Consultant Admits Role in Murder for Hire SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey-based political consultant today admitted hiring two men to kill a longtime associate who had worked for him on various political campaigns, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Sean Caddle, 44, of Hamburg, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Judge Vazquez allowed Caddle to remain out on $1 million unsecured bond, home detention with electronic monitoring and travel restrictions.
“This was a callous and violent crime, and this defendant is as responsible as the two men who wielded the knife,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “There is no more serious crime than the taking of another person’s life. The defendant has admitted arranging and paying for a murder by two other people. His admission of guilt means he will now pay for his crime.”
“Today’s guilty plea will bring some sense of closure to the victim’s family who have been left to wonder – for nearly eight years – who murdered their loved one,” Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. said. “This should serve as a warning to criminals and potential criminals, alike – while you are going about your life, thinking you ‘got away with it,’ the FBI is piecing together the facts that will serve as your undoing.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In April of 2014, Caddle solicited one of his conspirators (identified as “CC-1”), a Connecticut resident, to commit a murder on Caddle’s behalf in exchange for thousands of dollars. CC-1 then recruited a longtime accomplice from Philadelphia (identified as “CC-2”), to join the plot.
On May 22, 2014, CC-1 and CC-2 traveled from out of state to the victim’s apartment in Jersey City. After entering the apartment, CC-1 and CC-2 stabbed the victim to death and then CC-1 set fire to the victim’s apartment.
After Caddle learned the following day that the victim had been murdered, he met CC-1 in the parking lot of a diner in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Caddle paid CC-1 thousands of dollars in exchange for the murder, and CC-1 shared a portion of those proceeds with CC-2.
Caddle faces a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 7, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for its assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee M. Cortes Jr., Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care Fraud Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Farrell, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Distributing Child Sex Assault ImagesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years (120 months) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on his conviction of distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on George Goodwin, 50, of the city’s North Point Breeze neighborhood.
According to information presented to the court, Goodwin distributed videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity with adults over the social networking service MeWe. After law enforcement agents learned of the distribution, they executed search warrants on Goodwin’s residence and phone, where they found a large and disturbing collection of child pornography, as well as online chats in which Goodwin distributed the videos. The collection included prepubescent children, sadistic and masochistic abuse and in excess of 600 images.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Goodwin.