Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 1 December 2021
Universal City Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession ChargeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Yesterday, a Universal City man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in April 2020, the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office (BCFMO) issued a “Be on the Lookout” alert for Joshua Conan Faleide, 43, who had two explosives-related warrants for his arrest. BCFMO and Universal City Police Department arrested Faleide at his Universal City hotel room, where he had three loaded firearms, including a loaded SKS rifle, which had been mounted on a bipod near the entryway of the room. Faleide had previously been convicted of felony Assault on a Public Servant in Bexar County.
On July 29, 2021, Faleide pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession.
“Faleide's conviction and sentencing highlight our continuing efforts to prosecute violent actors who illegally carry firearms and endanger our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff.
“This defendant has proven that he has the propensity for violence on multiple dangerous levels,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “This sentence shows that removing convicted felons who possess firearms and those who wish to endanger our communities is the top priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners.”
The ATF and the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated this case. The Universal City Police Department assisted with the arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
###
United States Reaches Settlement with Frederick County Public School District to Protect Students with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced today a settlement agreement with the Frederick County Public School District to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities. The government’s investigation found that the school district unnecessarily and repeatedly secluded and restrained students as young as five years old in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the settlement, Frederick County will end the use of seclusion, overhaul its restraint practices, and train staff on the use of appropriate behavioral interventions for students with disabilities.
The settlement agreement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
The investigation, opened in October 2020, revealed thousands of incidents of seclusion and restraint in just two and a half school years. Although students with disabilities make up only 10.8% of students enrolled in the district, every single student the district secluded was a student with disabilities, as were 99%—all but one—of the students the district restrained. The district routinely resorted to seclusion and restraint in non-emergency situations instead of using appropriate individualized behavior interventions tailored to individual students’ needs. The investigation found that these practices often intensified students’ distress, with some students engaging in self-harm and showing other signs of trauma while in seclusion.
“Every child should feel safe and protected while in school. The use of seclusion rooms and unjustified physical restraints on young people, particularly those with disabilities, falls painfully short of a school district’s responsibility to support the safety, health, and educational needs of its students. Students with disabilities deserve a school environment rooted in positive, preventive, and supportive classroom strategies,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “We appreciate Frederick County Public School District’s cooperation in the investigation and are pleased that the District has agreed to take comprehensive steps to ensure that students with disabilities receive equal educational opportunities.”
“We cannot stand by and watch schools put children with disabilities in isolation thousands of times and call it public education. The district’s unlawful use of seclusion and restraint did not help students; it led to heightened distress and denied them access to a safe and positive learning environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Frederick County Public Schools understand the significant work ahead under this agreement and we will ensure that they institute all the institutional reforms necessary to comply with the law.”
The school district cooperated fully throughout the investigation. Under the settlement agreement, the school district will take proactive steps to ensure that its practices do not discriminate against students with disabilities. The district will, among other things:
- prohibit the use of seclusion;
- report all instances of restraint and evaluate whether they were justified;
- designate trained staff to collect and analyze restraint data and oversee the creation of appropriate behavior intervention plans;
- deliver appropriate training and resources to help schools implement the agreement;
- design and implement procedures for handling complaints about restraint;
- offer compensatory education services to students with disabilities who were subjected to the district’s discriminatory practices; and
- hire an administrator to supervise school-based staff and ensure the district’s compliance with the agreement and Title II of the ADA.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section, as part of a Division initiative to address unlawful segregation, seclusion, and restraint of students with disabilities in public schools. U.S. Attorney Barron and Assistant Attorney General Clarke thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Marquardt, and Trial Attorneys Natane Singleton and Claire Chevrier, who handled this investigation.View the letter here.
View the agreement here.For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/civil-rights.
# # #
Union County Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for receiving images of child sexual abuse, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Joseph Hinksmon, 42, of Cranford, New Jersey, previously pleaded by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to one count of an indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From July 10, 2019, through July 24, 2019, Hinksmon accessed the internet to download and receive videos and images of child sexual abuse to his personal hard drive. Hinksmon’s computer devices contained more than 600 images of child sexual abuse that Hinksmon had downloaded from the internet, including images of prepubescent children.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Hinksmon to 10 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $75,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig 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 sentencing.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey E. Zyriek Enriquez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
Two District Men Charged in 98-Count Indictment for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Armed Kidnapping, and FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mekhi Truesdale, 19, and William Bell, 19, both of Washington, D.C., have been indicted on 98 charges, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed kidnapping, and fraud, for a series of armed robberies that took place during the fall of 2020 in Northwest Washington. A third individual, Jada Winder, 19, of Greenbelt, Md., was also indicted on fraud and receiving stolen property charges.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the U.S. Park Police, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The indictment was returned on Nov. 5, 2021. Bell was arrested yesterday in San Luis Obispo, Calif., by the U.S. Marshals Service. Winder was arrested in Greenbelt by the U.S. Marshals on Nov. 24, 2021. Truesdale was arrested in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 5, 2020, following a foot chase in the Georgetown area. Truesdale and Bell remain detained pending further court proceedings, and all three defendants are to appear for a hearing on Dec. 10, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The indictment follows an investigation by MPD, FBI, and the U.S. Park Police into a series of armed robbery‑related incidents that occurred in the District of Columbia and Maryland in October and November 2020. According to the government’s evidence, between Oct. 17 and Nov. 1, 2020, Truesdale and Bell robbed at least 20 people at gunpoint or knifepoint across Northwest Washington. Three of the victims were kidnapped and forced into a vehicle before or after they were robbed. Following many of the incidents, Truesdale and Bell used mobile applications such as Venmo and Cash App to transfer funds from the victims to themselves and, on at least two occasions, to Winder.
The indictment details a series of 11 armed robberies committed between Oct. 17, 2020 and Nov. 1, 2020, at various locations in Northwest Washington. Two took place at Fort Reno Park. In one stretch of approximately four hours, late Oct. 31, 2020, and early Nov. 1, 2020, Truesdale and Bell allegedly committed four robberies, at four different locations: Fort Reno Park, the 3100 block of P Street NW, the 1400 block of 22d Street NW, and the 2400 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW. These four robberies involved a total of nine victims.
Truesdale and Bell are charged with a number of offenses related to the series of crimes, including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence and 95 counts of armed robbery, armed kidnapping, assault with intent to rob, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as various fraud offenses. Winder is charged with two counts of first-degree felony fraud and two counts of receiving stolen property.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and the U.S. Park Police. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metro Transit Police Department and the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department.
In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Chief Smith, and Chief Contee expressed appreciation for the work of those investigating the case from MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, and U.S. Park Police, as well as for the assistance of the Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in locating the defendants.
They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Alesha Matthews Yette. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Charles R. Jones, who are investigating and prosecuting the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, who investigated the case prior to indictment.
Trinitarios Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Multiple Guns, Ammunition, Cocaine and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Trinitarios street gang pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking firearms, ammunition, cocaine and crack cocaine in the Greater Lawrence area.
Jose Omar Hernandez-Aragones, 24, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for March 22, 2022.
Hernandez-Aragones was indicted and arrested in November 2019 as part of a federal sweep targeting federal and state offenders, including members and associates of the Trinitarios street gang, in the Greater Lawrence area.
Beginning in 2017, law enforcement conducted an investigation into the members, associates and suppliers of the Trinitarios operating in the Greater Lawrence area. The Trinitarios is a street gang originating in the New York area with increased presence in Lawrence and the surrounding communities. According to court documents, many Trinitarios members are involved in a broad range of illegal activities including, but not limited to, firearms and drug trafficking as well as violent crimes undertaken to protect the interests of the gang and its members.
During the investigation, Hernandez-Aragones was identified as a member of the Trinitarios. On four separate occasions between May and July 2018, Hernandez-Aragones sold least nine guns, ammunition, cocaine and crack cocaine to a cooperating witness. Specifically, Hernandez-Aragones sold the cooperating witness two handguns and ammunition for $1,900 on May 16, 2018; a bulletproof vest, a loaded 9 mm handgun, a SKS rifle and a magazine containing ammunition for the rifle on June 4, 2018; two handguns and approximately 55.4 grams of a substance containing cocaine July 3, 2018; as well as three guns, one of which was stolen, and approximately 8.7 grams of a substance containing crack cocaine on July 13, 2018. Hernandez-Aragones is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a 2016 conviction of assault that was punishable by more than one year in prison.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine or cocaine base provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Matthew B. Mollhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy P. Vasque made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mulcahy of Mendell’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Texas man admits to smuggling $1.1 Million of crystal methRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 20-year-old Dallas resident has entered a guilty plea to illegally importing approximately 25.16 kilograms of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
On June 6, Luke Law attempted to cross into the United States after vacationing in Monterrey, Mexico. Authorities referred his vehicle to the secondary inspection area where a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. An X-ray scan revealed anomalies behind the vehicle’s gas tank. Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered a total of 29 bundles of meth wrapped in clear tape weighing approximately 25.16 kilograms.
The drugs have an estimated street value of approximately $1.1 million.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and set sentencing for a future date. At that time, Law faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens is prosecuting the case.
Sturgis Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography was sentenced on November 22, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
William Nicholas Riley, age 61, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund. Riley will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Riley was arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2020 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Riley initiated sexual chats and sought images of child pornography from a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent. Riley then negotiated a time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Riley went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor, he was met by law enforcement and placed under arrest.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Riley was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Statement by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke on World AIDS DayRead the Press Release
On World AIDS Day, the Department of Justice reaffirms the rights of people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to live free from stigma and discrimination. Through enforcement of civil rights laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and by educating the public about their rights and responsibilities through outreach and technical assistance, the department remains committed to protecting and advancing the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.
“The Department of Justice plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the civil rights of people living with HIV and AIDS,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division. “Together with our federal partners and those in communities across America, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate unlawful treatment of those living with HIV and AIDS, recognizing in particular the disproportionate impact of HIV on communities of color, including Black and Latino communities. In doing so, the department will renew our fight against the spread of unfounded stereotypes and misinformation about the disease while celebrating the advances that allow people with HIV to live long and productive lives.”
Over the past year, the department has continued vigorously to enforce the ADA to combat HIV discrimination and the still-pervasive attitudinal barriers that people living with HIV and AIDS experience daily — particularly in accessing health care services. The department’s enforcement efforts seek equal opportunity and dignity in all aspects of life for those living with HIV and AIDS.
- In January, the department filed two lawsuits alleging that obstetrician-gynecologist doctors in California refused to provide routine medical care to a patient on the basis of her HIV status. The complaints alleged that when the patient tried to make an appointment with one of the doctors, she was told that the doctor could not see her because she had HIV and the other doctor denied the patient a Pap smear, a regular preventative procedure, because he deemed her a “high risk” patient. https://www.ada.gov/anucha_comp.html; https://www.ada.gov/jamaluddin_comp.html
- In June, the department entered into a settlement agreement with a dental practice with multiple locations in North Carolina after an investigation substantiated that the practice refused to accept a new patient with HIV who was seeking routine dental care, and required certain laboratory results from patients with HIV before deciding whether to provide care. The agreement requires the practice to pay compensatory damages to the individual, provide training and implement a non-discrimination policy. https://www.ada.gov/night_and_day_sa.html
- In February, the department entered into a settlement agreement with a surgical practice in Michigan after an investigation by the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services substantiated allegations that the practice turned away a prospective patient because of the person’s HIV status. The agreement requires the practice to pay compensatory damages to the individual, provide training and implement non-discrimination policies and practices. https://www.ada.gov/great_lakes_surgical_sa.html
- In February, the department entered into a settlement agreement with the Nevada Department of Corrections to resolve systemic discrimination in its correctional practices. The department’s investigation found that the State impermissibly isolated and segregated inmates with HIV, failed to keep their HIV status confidential and denied them equal employment opportunities as well as classification and housing at lower custody levels. Under the settlement, Nevada agreed to develop or amend its policies and procedures to ensure equal and integrated housing, classification and employment opportunities; to provide training on the ADA to staff; and to implement an ADA grievance procedure. https://www.ada.gov/nv_doc_sa.html
- In June, the department entered into a settlement agreement with a nail salon in North Carolina that denied services to an individual living with HIV and inappropriately requested medical documentation. The agreement requires the salon to pay monetary damages to the individual, provide training and adopt a non-discrimination policy. https://www.ada.gov/diva_nails.pdf
In addition to enforcement efforts, the department continues to engage in outreach to educate people living with HIV and AIDS, businesses, state and local governments and public entities on their rights and responsibilities under the ADA. The department also provides technical assistance and responds to questions from individuals and covered entities through our ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
On World AIDS Day 2021, and every day, the department remains dedicated to eradicating discrimination against those living with HIV and AIDS. Through comprehensive enforcement of our civil rights laws and the provision of outreach and technical assistance, the department will continue to lead efforts to ensure that all people living with HIV and AIDS can share fully in all that our country has to offer.
To learn more about the department’s work, please visit www.ada.gov/hiv.
South Florida Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Building “Ghost Guns” and Manufacturing Ammunition in GarageRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – This week, Mark Gene George, 58, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, appeared in federal court in Fort Pierce and was sentenced to 27 months in prison after being convicted of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon.
According to court documents, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) executed a federal search warrant at George’s residence in Port St. Lucie in December of 2020. During the search, agents recovered an AK-style rifle, multiple pistols, and six firearms that had no serial number or manufacturer information. Agents also found over 5,000 rounds of, and parts of, assorted ammunition, as well as machines and tools to manufacture ammunition. George later admitted to building unserialized AR-style rifles, as well as ammunition, and to having previously sold firearms online.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
ATF Miami led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover 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-14009.
###
South Dakota Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
John Burgess Bad Hand, age 37, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 30, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Bad Hand, a person required to register as a sex offender by reason of conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration between September 15, 2021, and October 21, 2021, while living in Upper Cut Meat, South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Bad Hand is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Bad Hand was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Soccer coach admits to producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A former McAllen youth league coach who illegally resided in Pharr has entered a guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
From March 2020 through June 2021, Oscar Hinojosa communicated and cultivated a relationship with a 15-year-old minor.
Hinojosa was the victim’s soccer coach. Over time, Hinojosa told her he loved her and expressed his sexual desire for her. During their communications, Hinojosa instructed the minor victim to send a sexually-explicit photo of her genitalia in a specific pose. She ultimately did as requested on this occasion and others.
While communicating with this victim, Hinojosa also attempted to cultivate a similar relationship to another one of the minor females on his soccer team. While he was unsuccessful, he expressed his love for her as well.
Hinojosa is not a citizen of the United States does not have legal status to reside here.
Mission Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
U.S. District Judge Alvarez accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 18, 2022. At that time, Hinojosa faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton T. Turner is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Federal Prison for CarjackingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of carjacking was sentenced on November 30, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Shawn Michael Long, age 31, was sentenced to 116 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit a firearm and to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Long was indicted for firearms offenses, failing to appear, and carjacking by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2021. He pled guilty to carjacking on August 23, 2021.
Between January 15 and 16, 2021, in Sioux Falls, Long and an accomplice attempted to forcefully take a motor vehicle, a Honda Accord, from the victim and the victim’s two friends. During the carjacking, Long brandished a firearm and threatened the victim and the other occupants of the car. While Defendant Long pointed the firearm at the victim, Long’s accomplice grabbed the car keys from the victim and took control of the vehicle. Long’s accomplice entered the driver’s side and tried to steal the car, but the gear lock was engaged, preventing Long and his accomplice from taking the vehicle. Because bystanders were watching this crime take place, Long and his accomplice fled the scene.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Long was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sheraden Man Sentenced for Obstructing Pittsburgh Police during May 30, 2020 Pittsburgh ProtestRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on a charge of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
George Allen, 33, of Glen Mawr Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to twelve months and a day of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. Judge Schwab permitted the defendant to remain on bond and self-report on February 1, 2022, to begin his sentence.
The court was previously advised that on May 30, 2020, Allen did knowingly and willfully throw multiple pieces of concrete at a vehicle occupied by police officers. One of the pieces of concrete shattered the front passenger window and struck an officer, causing minor bruising to the officer’s arm. Allen’s actions caused the obstruction, impediment and interference of law enforcement officers engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.
Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Access with Intent to View Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - William Carl Eikenberg, Jr., age 51, of Edgewater, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to access with intent to view child pornography.
The guilty plea was 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; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.
Eikenberg previously entered a guilty plea to distribution of child pornography in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County in August 2016. Eikenberg admitted that he used BitTorrent through a personal cell phone to download and trade child pornography. BitTorrent is a communication protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing network that enables users to distribute electronic files over the internet. Eikenberg served 114 days in jail and was placed on five years of supervised probation. As a result of his conviction, Eikenberg was required to register as a sex offender.
According to his guilty plea, between April 2017 and September 2017, Eikenberg knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view child pornography, including content depicting the exploitation of prepubescent minors being used to engage in sexual conduct. These visual depictions included at least 94 video files and 80 images of child pornography. Eikenberg admitted that he knew the production of the depictions involved minors engaged in sexual activity.
As part of his investigation, on July 3, 2017, and September 3, 2017, an Anne Arundel County Police Department (AAPD) detective identified several known electronic files of child pornography being shared by an IP address assigned to Eikenberg’s Edgewater, Maryland address. These files included a 21-minute video that portrayed a prepubescent female engaged in sexual activity with an adult male and several other shorter videos that also depicted the sexual abuse of minors.
Further, on September 6, 2017, AAPD learned that Eikenberg had stopped attending sex offender treatment and fled from probation supervision. On September 22, 2017, Eikenberg ran out the backdoor of his residence and attempted to evade authorities as AAPD officers and Eikenberg’s probation officer approached his residence for a home visit. Eikenberg was later apprehended, taken into custody, and transported to an AAPD station.
In a subsequent voluntary interview, Eikenberg stated that he used the BitTorrent network to view child pornography between April and September 2017.
Eikenberg and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Eikenberg will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2022 at 11 a.m.
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 commended the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Maddox and Abigail E. Ticse, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, for his work in the prosecution of the case.
# # #
Russian Man Sentenced for Providing ‘Bulletproof Hosting’ for CybercriminalsRead the Press Release
A Russian man was sentenced today for providing “bulletproof hosting” services, which were used by cybercriminals between 2009 to 2015 to distribute malware and attack financial institutions and victims throughout the United States.
On Dec. 1, Chief Judge Denise Page Hood of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan sentenced Aleksandr Grichishkin, 34, of Russia, to 60 months in prison for the scheme.
According to court documents, Grichishkin was a founder and leader of a bulletproof hosting organization that rented internet protocol (IP) addresses, servers, and domains to cybercriminal clients who employed this technical infrastructure to disseminate malware that allowed them to gain access to victims’ computers, form botnets, and steal banking credentials for use in frauds. Malware hosted by the organization included Zeus, SpyEye, Citadel, and the Blackhole Exploit Kit, which attacked U.S. companies and financial institutions between 2009 and 2015 and caused or attempted to cause millions of dollars in losses to U.S. victims.
Grichishkin also helped clients evade detection by law enforcement and continue their crimes uninterrupted by monitoring sites used to blocklist technical infrastructure used for crime, moving “flagged” content to new infrastructure, and registering all such infrastructure under false or stolen identities. On June 28 and Oct. 20, respectively, Chief Judge Hood sentenced two of Grichishkin’s co-conspirators, Pavel Stassi, 30, of Estonia, to 24 months in prison and Aleksandr Skorodumov, 33, of Lithuania, to 48 months in prison for their roles in the scheme.
According to court filings and statements made in connection with the defendants’ guilty pleas, Grichishkin was one of the organization’s founders and proprietors, and its day-to-day leader. In this role, he oversaw efforts to advertise the organization’s bulletproof hosting services in online cybercrime forums, set pricing for these services, negotiated and interfaced with clients seeking internet infrastructure to be used in spamming and malware operations, managed employee hiring and compensation, and supervised the systems administrators’ and other employees’ work. He also regularly instructed other members of the organization on how to “resolve” abuse notices by, among other methods, moving the affected clients’ data to new, “clean” domains and IP addresses.
Stassi, Skorodumov, Grichishkin, and a fourth defendant, Andrei Skvortsov, 34, of Russia, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization. Skvortsov is pending sentencing and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with critical assistance from law enforcement partners in Germany, Estonia, and the United Kingdom.
Senior Counsel Louisa K. Marion of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick E. Corbett of the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.
Providence Man Admits to False Use of a Social Security Number to Defraud Rhode Island Food Stamp, Medicaid ProgramsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man today admitted to a federal court judge that he fraudulently used another individual’s Social Security number to defraud the Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Program of more than $39,000, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Program of more than $7,000, and also used the number to obtain a Rhode Island identification card, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
Diomedes Ramirez Rodriguez, 48, a Dominican national, pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, health care fraud, theft of public money, and false representation of citizenship.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, between March 2014 and August 2020, Ramirez Rodriguez used a Social Security number and other documents belonging to another person to fraudulently gain $39,023 in health care benefits from RITE Care, Rhode Island’s Medicaid Managed Care Program.
In a second scheme that ran from March 2017 to August 2020, using the same Social Security number, Ramirez Rodriguez applied for and was approved to receive $7,342 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.
Finally, in March 2018, Ramirez Rodriguez falsely stated that he was a United States citizen when applying for and receiving a Rhode Island identification card from the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles.
Ramirez Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on February 28, 2022.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations; and U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
###
Project Monitor and Abatement Company Owner Sentenced to Jail and Fined $399,000 for Conspiring to Violate Asbestos RegulationsRead the Press Release
Kristofer Landell and Stephanie Laskin were sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy sitting in Binghamton, New York, for conspiring to violate Clean Air Act regulations that control the safe removal, handling and disposal of asbestos.
Judge McAvoy sentenced Landell and Laskin to eight months and ten months of incarceration respectively, as well as three years of supervised release, during which time defendants must surrender any asbestos-related licenses. Co-defendants Roger Osterhoudt, Gunay Yakup and Madeline Alonge were all sentenced to three years’ probation in early November. All five defendants were further ordered to pay approximately $399,000 in restitution to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its costs related to cleaning up the now-contaminated site in Kingston, New York, known as the “Tech City property.” The defendants may also be ordered to pay additional monies to members of the community who were potentially exposed to hazardous air pollutants as a result of the defendants’ conspiracy.
According to court-filed documents, Landell, Laskin, Yakup, and Alonge engaged in a year-long conspiracy to violate federal and New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) regulations intended to prevent human exposure to asbestos. More specifically, between 2015 and 2016, Landell and Laskin both permitted, and in some cases directed, abatement workers to remove asbestos from the TechCity Property illegally by stripping regulated asbestos containing materials without properly containing the work area and removing the asbestos dry, thus allowing airborne fibers to escape into the surrounding environment. In an effort to conceal those crimes, Landell, acting in his capacity as an air- and project-monitor, concealed these violations by fabricating and falsifying paperwork required by EPA and the State of New York. The conspirators also engaged in other efforts to deceive authorities, such as by failing to conduct air-monitoring and falsifying at least one NYSDOL-required “final air clearance.” Despite the defendants’ efforts to conceal their crimes, NYSDOL inspectors found numerous violations during the course of the year-long project and issued notices of violation. Conditions at the TechCity Property deteriorated until NYSDOL shut down operations in August 2016 and directed the defendants and their companies to cease all work. Notwithstanding this NYSDOL order, the defendants continued operations for a short time, prompting a criminal investigation.
In his plea agreement, Osterhoudt, the Vice President of Property Management for TechCity, admitted that as a result of the defendants’ illegal asbestos removal, there was likely a release of asbestos contamination into the environment that placed others at an increased risk of death or serious bodily injury. Asbestos has been determined to cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, an invariably fatal disease. Given that EPA has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, the United States has endeavored to identify all those persons in close proximity to the illegal asbestos operations during the TechCity project and is seeking restitution on behalf of all those potentially exposed to airborne asbestos contamination during the relevant time period. That process is ongoing.
Special agents of the EPA investigated the case with the assistance of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and information provided by the NYSDOL Asbestos Control Bureau and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The case was prosecuted by Todd W. Gleason and Gary N. Donner of the Environmental Crimes Section.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Conspiracy, Health Care Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon sentenced Tamika Adams, 45, to sixty-five months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for her role in a years-long conspiracy. Adams was also ordered to pay restitution to the Pennsylvania Medicaid program in the amount of $445,131.67.
During her plea hearing on March 13, 2020, Adams admitted that at various times between 2011 and 2014 she was an employee of three related entities operating in the home health care industry—Moriarty Consultants, Inc. (MCI), Activity Daily Living Services, Inc. (ADL), and Everyday People Staffing, Inc. (EPS). MCI, ADL, and a fourth entity, Coordination Care, Inc. (CCI), were approved under the Pennsylvania Medicaid program to offer certain services to qualifying Medicaid recipients (“consumers”), including personal assistance services (PAS), service coordination, and non-medical transportation, among other services. EPS nominally performed back-office functions for MCI, ADL, and CCI.
Between January 2011 and the defendant’s departure from the entities in and around 2014, MCI, ADL, and CCI collectively received tens of millions of dollars in Medicaid payments based on claims submitted for home health services, with PAS payments accounting for the vast majority of the total amount. During that time, Adams admitted that she participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program for the purpose of obtaining millions of dollars in illegal Medicaid payments through the submission of fraudulent claims for services that were never provided to the consumers identified on the claims, or for which there was insufficient or fabricated documentation to support the claims.
As part of the conspiracy, Adams admitted that she fabricated timesheets to reflect the provision of in-home PAS care that, in fact, she never provided to the consumer identified on the timesheets. In one instance, Adams admitted submitting false timesheets claiming that she provided more than 80 hours of care in a single week to a consumer, while also working full-time as the nominal president of ADL. During a two-year period in which the same consumer lived with Adams, the defendant admitted taking steps to conceal their co-habitation and the fact that she served as the consumer’s power of attorney (both disqualifying circumstances) from the Medicaid program.
Likewise, Adams admitted that she paid kickbacks to at least one consumer—her spouse at the time—in exchange for his participation in the scheme. Specifically, Adams admitted that she and her father, co-defendant Tony Brown, used Brown’s name on time sheets for fabricated care of Adams’s then-spouse. At various times, Adams admitted that she, Tony Brown, and her spouse would meet at an MCI office on the day that Brown received payment for the fraudulent care so that the three individuals could divide the proceeds. In total, Adams acknowledged causing losses to the Pennsylvania Medicaid program in excess of $250,000 related to her spouse.
Adams also admitted that during the conspiracy, she caused the submission of Medicaid claims for PAS care that her friend, an MCI employee, purportedly provided to various consumers, without the friend’s knowledge and when in fact no such care had been provided to the consumers. During this time, Adams admitted that her friend was recovering from a serious injury and unable to work. Adams further misused her friend’s personally identifiable information to obtain and misappropriate the resulting salary payments. Finally, Adams admitted that during the course of audits of MCI, ADL, and CCI, she fabricated documentation for submission to state authorities in an effort to conceal the Medicaid fraud scheme. Among other things, Adams fabricated PAS timesheets, criminal history checks for attendants, child-abuse clearance forms for attendants, and certain consumer affidavits to ensure that files requested as part of the audits appeared complete.
To date, a total of sixteen defendants have been charged in connection with this investigation. Adams was the twelfth defendant to enter a guilty plea. The remaining defendants, including Tony Brown, are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Edward Song are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.
Pittsburgh Man Admits Guilt in California-to-Pennsylvania Marijuana Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Christopher Shaner, age 26, pleaded guilty to one count before U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Shaner participated in conspiracy to distribute marijuana from 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around May 2019, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Shaner was part of a conspiracy in which individuals, many of whom were born in Jamaica, mailed kilograms of cocaine and marijuana from California to individuals in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Federal agents obtained Court authorization and intercepted the communications of members of the conspiracy, including Shaner and they also executed numerous search warrants.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for March 22, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Judge ordered the defendant shall remain on bond.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Maureen Sheehan-Balchon are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Shaner. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. In this case, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force and the New Castle Police Department also participated in the investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Tax Fraud and Operating Fraudulent Debt Relief SchemeRead the Press Release
A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS and assisting others in filing false income tax returns.
On July 16, Albert Upshur, aka Kelinde Jaha, and a co-conspirator, Yolonda Thompson, aka Qhama Al, were found guilty at a bench trial of one count each of conspiring to defraud the IRS and eight counts each of helping others to file false tax returns. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2009 and 2015, Upshur and Thompson attempted to obtain millions of dollars for themselves and other participants in a fraudulent debt relief scheme they referred to as the Debt Payoff Process. As part of the scheme, Thompson and Upshur formed the Yolonda Denise Thompson Living Trust (the Thompson Trust). Participants in the Debt Payoff Process were told that if they paid money to Upshur and filed tax returns and other documents Thompson prepared for them, they could access funds from the Thompson Trust to pay off their mortgages and other debts. In reality, the tax returns that Thompson prepared and participants filed with the IRS fraudulently claimed income tax refunds that the scheme participants were not entitled to receive. The false tax returns collectively sought fraudulent IRS refunds of more than $300 million.
The evidence at trial also established that after the IRS began to investigate the Debt Payoff Process, Upshur and Thompson attempted to obtain money from the IRS by other fraudulent means, including using checks drawn on closed bank accounts and trying to use financial instruments such as fictitious bonds. The defendants also continued to file false tax returns for themselves and others after the IRS assessed civil penalties against them and notified them that they were under criminal investigation.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ordered Upshur to serve one year of supervised release. Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 15, 2022.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. He thanked U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which provided support in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Kathryn D. Carpenter of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Pendleton Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Pendleton, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for shooting a family member with a semi-automatic pistol and distributing methamphetamine.
Royce Francis Speedis, 34, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in early March 2019, Speedis and co-defendant Lavella Ruth Thompson, 28, also of Pendleton, arranged to purchase methamphetamine on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. On March 7, 2019, three individuals drove to the reservation to meet and sell methamphetamine to Thompson. Thompson arrived in an SUV and tried to convince the three people to follow her to a second location to complete the sale. When they declined, Thompson returned to the SUV. Three men then exited the SUV with guns and opened fire into the sellers’ car. One passenger in the sellers’ car sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being struck in the back of the head.
The methamphetamine sellers provided conflicting accounts of Speedis’ involvement in the shooting. A ballistics analysis later linked a Ruger rifle recovered from Speedis’ family’s residence on the reservation to spent cartridge casings found at the shooting scene. However, no arrests were made following the shooting.
On April 17, 2019, Speedis and his sister engaged in an argument with their cousin on the reservation. When the cousin attempted to leave, Speedis pulled a black semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and fired a single round that traveled through his cousin’s right leg into his left leg.
On April 23, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Speedis with assault with a deadly weapon and using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. On August 19, 2020, Speedis was indicted a second time, along with Thompson, on one count each of conspiring with one another to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and interference with commerce by robbery.
One year later, on August 23, 2021, Speedis pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On September 7, 2021, Thompson pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. She will be sentenced on December 10, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Umatilla Tribal Police Department and the FBI. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Pekin Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Daniel W. Dawe, 48, of the 1600 block of Crescent Drive has been sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that on or about November 5, 2019, Dawe was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Dawe was searched due to his status on parole, and officers located several individual baggies of suspected ice methamphetamine hidden on his person. A lab report later revealed the methamphetamine weighed 17.584 grams and was 100% pure. Dawe admitted he had been released from prison approximately six months prior in June 2019 and had purchased approximately eight ounces of ice methamphetamine in the time frame since his release. Dawe was on mandatory supervised release for the State of Illinois at the time of this offense.
Dawe pleaded guilty to the sole count of the indictment on June 25, 2021, pursuant to a written plea agreement.
Dawe faced enhanced statutory penalties for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute due to his prior 2012 conviction for robbery, a serious violent felony offense - specifically, a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a minimum of eight years to life term of supervised release, and a maximum $8,000,000 fine.
Dawe has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest November 5, 2019. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pekin Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Owner of local marketing business to pay quarter of a million dollars for committing COVID relief fraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus woman was sentenced in federal court here today and ordered to pay a fine of $250,000, the maximum amount allowed by law, for committing COVID relief fraud. In addition to her fine, she was ordered to pay more than $128,000 in restitution.
Janet Jenison, 38, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement on a Paycheck Protection Program loan application.
Jenison was charged by bill of information in May 2021 and pleaded guilty in July 2021.
According to court documents, Jenison submitted three fraudulent applications to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, created by the CARES Act, for Janet Minton Marketing, LLC, a business registered in her maiden name. The applications collectively sought $298,719.67 in fraudulent loans. Two of the applications were approved and a financial institution disbursed $160,247.
In support of the three applications, Jenison created false Fifth Third Bank account statements for her business for the period Feb. 8, 2020 to March 6, 2020. The bank statements showed debits for payroll, tax withholding and business expenses. The business account at Fifth Third Bank was not opened until April 27, 2020.
Jenison also submitted false tax documents. One document claimed she elected for her marketing business to be classified as a corporation and was dated Jan. 24, 2020, but the employer identification number on the form was not created until four months later. The defendant also made false claims about federal employment tax deposits.
Jenison was interviewed by law enforcement in March 2021 and she admitted to creating the false documents submitted in support of the applications.
As part of her sentence, Jenison was ordered to pay $128,783.04 in restitution and to serve five years of probation, including six months of home confinement.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; and officials with the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Orangeburg Brothers Sentenced on Federal Firearm Charges Related to ShootingRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that brothers Abrian Dayquan Sabb, 26, of Orangeburg, and Darius Bernard Sabb, 23, of Georgetown, were sentenced today in federal court after pleading guilty to offenses related to making false statements to a federal firearms dealer during the purchase of a firearm. Abrian Sabb was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Darius Sabb was sentenced to three years probation.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the morning of April 10, 2019, Abrian Sabb, while armed with a loaded AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine, entered the emergency room of The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg and began shooting in the hallway. A nurse was struck by a bullet to the chest, causing serious bodily injuries. Law enforcement responded and arrested Abrian Sabb at the scene, charging him with various state charges. Upon learning of the incident, Darius Sabb went to local law enforcement and advised that he had purchased the firearm for his brother.
The investigation revealed that the day before, April 9, 2019, Abrian Sabb had been involved in a domestic argument at his residence, which resulted in law enforcement responding and confiscating his handgun. Later that day, Abrian Sabb asked his brother, Darius Sabb, to go with him to a local firearms dealer to purchase him another firearm. Abrian Sabb provided his brother money and requested that he buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round magazine and two boxes of ammunition for him. Darius Sabb falsely filled out the ATF 4473 form attesting that he was the actual purchaser of the firearm and bought it.
Immediately upon leaving the firearms dealer’s store, Darius Sabb turned the items over to Abrian Sabb. Later that day, Abrian Sabb’s girlfriend called Darius Sabb and complained about him purchasing the firearm for Abrian Sabb as she indicated she was fearful. Darius Sabb then retrieved the rifle and hid it at another person’s home. However, the next morning, Abrian Sabb found out where the firearm was located, kicked in the front door of the residence, and retrieved the firearm. Later that morning, he and his girlfriend traveled to the medical center to seek help for his mental illness. At some point, he left the medical center, went to his vehicle, returned with the firearm, and began shooting.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Abrian Sabb to 84 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. She sentenced Darius Sabb to three years’ probation with 180 days of home detention and GPS location monitoring. State court charges related to the shooting remain pending in Orangeburg County against Abrian Sabb, and he is innocent of those charges unless proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case.
# # # # #
North Carolina Man Sentenced for Trafficking a Dozen Loaded Firearms into Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A North Carolina man who was found in possession of a dozen loaded, high-powered firearms, night-vision goggles, a taser, and other like items during a traffic stop by Rhode Island State Police on Rte. 95 was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
Anthony Mondrez Thompson, 43, pleaded guilty in federal court on November 6, 2020, to the charge of being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, during the stop, following a confrontation with a State Police trooper, Thompson attempted to flee on foot on Rte. 95 and was tasered. A search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol from under the driver’s seat and a flashlight attachment and laser sight attachment for the Glock .40; eleven loaded firearms and ammunition clips were located in the rear of the vehicle; and a backpack located on the backseat containing camouflage-patterned clothing, a taser, a can of pepper spray, night vision goggles, a machete, handcuffs, and handgun holsters was also recovered.
“Day in and day out, law enforcement and federal prosecutors work closely to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and off the streets of our neighborhoods,” noted Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus. “This defendant traveled from North Carolina with an arsenal of loaded firearms, ammunition, and other weapons. Their seizure, and today’s federal sentence, are an unequivocal win for our communities and for the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program.”
“As always I am grateful for the vigilance and dedication of our Troopers, but am especially proud today as our Troopers were responsible for apprehending this dangerous individual and seizing a cache of weapons,” said James M. Manni, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety. “I want to commend the rest of our law enforcement team for ensuring that this case was brought to a successful conclusion.”
An analysis of the firearms by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that at least three of the firearms seized from Thompson had been reported stolen.
“Felons who possess firearms endanger our communities” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge ATF Boston Field Division “ATF will continue to partner with federal, state, and local agencies to keep firearms out of the wrong hands. As a convicted felon, this sentence ensures that our communities will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for firearm offenses.”
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Thompson was sentenced to 96 months of incarceration to be followed by two years of federal supervised release.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.
###
New York City Man Going to Prison for Illegally Accessing Hundreds of Snapchat Accounts and Send Nude PhotosRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that David Mondore, 30, of New York, New York, who was convicted of accessing a protected computer without authorization and, by means of such conduct, furthering the intended fraud and obtaining anything of value, was sentenced to serve six months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that between July 2018 and August 2020, the defendant gained unauthorized access to, and control of, Snapchat accounts belonging to third parties. After doing so, Mondore often located nude “selfie” photos saved in the victims’ “My Eyes Only” folder, which the defendant then saved to his own phone. Mondore gained unauthorized access to Snapchat accounts belonging to 14 victims in the Western District of New York. The defendant admits that he gained unauthorized access to at least 300 Snapchat accounts belonging to victims both in the Western District of New York and elsewhere.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
# # # #
New Jersey Woman Pays Fine for Interfering with Safe Operation of a VesselRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New Jersey woman agreed to pay an $800 civil fine to resolve an allegation that she interfered with the safe operation of a commercial sightseeing vessel, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to the civil complaint, on July 15, 2021, Marybeth C. Greer, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, jumped off the M/V Acadian, as it was docking in Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor. As a result, the vessel’s crew had to deploy a ladder to retrieve Greer and disengaged the vessel’s propeller to prevent injury to her.
Greer faced a fine of up to $25,000.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case. Greer cooperated throughout the investigation.
# # #
New Jersey Man Charged with Distribution of Controlled Substances Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on November 9, 2021, Daniel D. Wheeler, a/k/a “Danny Manhattan,” age 32, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged by a federal grand jury with drug distribution resulting in death and conspiring to do the same. The case was unsealed following Wheeler’s arrest on November 30, 2021.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Wheeler conspired to knowingly and intentionally distributing controlled substances, including fentanyl and heroin, within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of a person. The indictment further alleges that Wheeler aided and abetted by another, did distribute heroin and fentanyl on March 31, 2020, which led to the death of another.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute for drug distribution resulting in death is life imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
# # #
New Bedford Man Arrested on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was arrested yesterday in connection with receiving and possessing child pornography.
Robert David Austin, 41, was charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. Following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, Austin was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for today at 3 p.m.
According to the charging documents, Austin engaged in a number of groups on a messenger application through which child pornography is disseminated. On Nov. 3, 2021, a search of Austin’s residence revealed child pornography on his cell phone. Further analysis of Austin’s phone identified the messaging application through which Austin engaged in the dissemination of child pornography.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Miramar Man is Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for an On-Line Child Exploitation Scheme to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A federal district judge in Fort Lauderdale has sentenced Andres Camilo Ruiz, 31, of Miramar, Florida, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release as a sexual offender, for production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and possession and distribution of child pornography. Ruiz was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
Beginning in November of 2018 and continuing through May 14, 2019, Ruiz pretended to be a 12-year-old child named “June” on social media platforms where he met other children throughout the country and tricked and coerced them into creating sexually explicit videos. Ruiz would befriend these children on social media using web-based applications. While pretending to be a child himself, Ruiz would prey upon the unsuspecting child victims by sending them sexually explicit videos of other children and encouraging them to perform the same sexual conduct, record it and send it back to him. Ruiz exploited over 50 children. The youngest child who was coerced by Ruiz into making a sexually explicit video of herself was only nine years old. When Ruiz was arrested, law enforcement found an extensive collection of child pornography on his cell phone and in his cloud account: over 1100 images and videos including images of children engaged in sadomasochistic acts.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the sentence imposed by United States District Judge Roy K. Altman.
FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jodi L. Anton and Francis Viamontes 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 no. 19-cr-060223.
###
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Moorhead, Minnesota, man convicted of Bank Fraud was sentenced on November 29, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Richard L. Carpenter, a/k/a “Butch” Carpenter, age 68, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, $7,784,996 in restitution, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
An Information was filed on May 11, 2021. Carpenter pled guilty on June 21, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning in approximately 2008 and continuing through March 10, 2020, when Carpenter knowingly executed and attempted to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud a financial institution whose deposits were, at the time of the offense, insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Carpenter began custom feeding cattle in the 1980s. In approximately 2008, Carpenter changed his operation from custom feeding to raising and feeding his own cattle in the rural Watertown, South Dakota, area.
Carpenter was a customer at First Premier Bank. On multiple occasions over the years, Carpenter provided false and fraudulent information about his income and assets to First Premier Bank in order to induce the bank to loan him money and give him a large line of credit. Carpenter falsely inflated his cattle sales and the number of cattle he had on hand. Carpenter also falsified his tax returns and provided those to the bank in support of his falsely inflated figures.
In approximately 2020, Carpenter also kited checks between his account at First Premier Bank and his account at Reliabank.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Carpenter was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Middlesex County Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for $1.7 Million Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.7 million bank fraud scheme that involved writing fraudulent business checks, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Tammy L. Martinez, 49, of South Amboy, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January 2014 through March 2019, Martinez served as an office manager and bookkeeper for a New Jersey based company. Beginning in January 2014, Martinez used her position at the company to issue fraudulent checks made payable to herself or cash and forged the signature of her manager on the fraudulent company checks. Martinez converted the fraudulent company checks into cash at bank branches in New Jersey. The scheme allowed Martinez to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars every year for more than half a decade, resulting in approximately $1.78 million in losses.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Martinez to five years of supervised release and ordered her to pay restitution of $1.78 million.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney in Newark, and the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamel Semper, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crimes and Gangs Unit.
Michigan Man Who Led Law Enforcement on A High Speed Chase from Lewiston to Dunkirk Sentenced to Home ConfinementRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Donyell Williams, 27, of Michigan, who was convicted of high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, was sentenced to serve six months home confinement and two years’ probation by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on March 5, 2021, at approximately 9:54 p.m., Williams was driving a Jeep Commander with Ohio license plates on the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Co-defendant Johnny Greer, 19, was a passenger in the vehicle. As the defendants drove towards the Lewiston Port of Entry, they failed to stop for federal inspection despite numerous “stop” signs posted by Customs and Border Protection. Williams instead proceeded to accelerate through a commercial truck lane and then drove around a tire deflating strip. While being pursued by CBP officers and the New York State Police, Williams drove on the I-190 south to I-90 west at speeds ranging from 95 mph to 110 mph. A few hours later, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on March 6, 2021, the Jeep Commander was located on the side of the road in the vicinity of Dunkirk, NY, and Williams and Greer were arrested.
Greer was previously convicted and sentenced to serve six months in prison
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Jennifer H. Gottstine.
# # # #
Merrimack Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Kyle Mehlhorn, 28, of Merrimack, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for multiple drug trafficking and firearm charges, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 27, 2020, Manchester police officers observed a vehicle with wrongfully attached license plates and made a traffic stop. Mehlhorn was the driver and he had a female passenger. A records check of Mehlhorn revealed his license and registration were suspended and he was placed under arrest. The passenger was cooperative and identified her belongings in the vehicle. On November 2, 2020, after obtaining a search warrant, Manchester police officers searched the vehicle and found over 209 grams of methamphetamine, over 28 grams of fentanyl, various items used in drug packaging, $13,800 in cash, and two loaded firearms. At the time of his arrest, Mehlhorn was a previously convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
In January of 2021, Mehlhorn was arrested in Boston on a complaint from the District of New Hampshire. Mehlhorn was armed with a 9 mm handgun and was carrying a backpack containing over 196 grams of methamphetamine and over 187 grams of fentanyl. A subsequent search warrant for the vehicle revealed an additional .22 caliber handgun.
Mehlhorn previously pleaded guilty on August 6, 2021. He will forfeit the firearms and cash seized in January of 2021. The money and firearms seized in October of 2020 have already been forfeited.
“Armed drug traffickers like Kyle Mehlhorn pose a serious threat to the community by carrying deadly weapons and selling dangerous substances,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “As a convicted felon, Mehlhorn should not have had a gun. Instead, he possessed multiple guns while peddling significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. This lengthy sentence shows that the law enforcement community is working hard to protect the Granite State from violent crime and to hold armed criminals accountable for their actions.”
“Armed with multiple firearms and deadly drugs, Kyle Mehlhorn is responsible for bringing danger and violence to our neighborhoods, and for this, he will spend significant time behind bars, said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI’s New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to rid our communities of armed drug dealing criminals.”
“This investigation and subsequent arrest of the defendant is another example of the outstanding work being done by the officers and detectives of the Manchester Police Department,” said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “We continue to value our state and local law enforcement partnerships which greatly assist in holding people such as this defendant accountable for their behavior.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Hampshire State Police, the Manchester Police Department, the Concord Police Department, the Gorham Police Department, and the Boston (MA) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck assisted with forfeiture aspects of this matter.
###
MediaMuv Principals Charged with Stealing Millions in Music RoyaltiesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jose Teran, 36, of Scottsdale, Arizona appeared today in federal court on charges for Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Transactional Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft. In mid-November, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 30-count indictment against Teran, and his co-conspirator, Webster Batista, 38, of Doral, Florida. On November 18, Special Agents with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation arrested Batista at his residence in Florida.
According to the indictment, from 2016 to the present, Teran and Batista used fraudulent pretenses and made false representations to collect over $20 million in royalty payments for music that was monetized through a third-party company. Through their company MediaMuv, Teran and Batista allegedly first claimed they had the legal right to monetize over 50,000+ songs on February 13, 2017. The indictment alleges that contractual agreements were executed between MediaMuv and two third party companies in which MediaMuv made false and fraudulent affirmations that they had legal rights over the music they claimed to control. According to the indictment, Teran and Batista did not pay anything to the top 30 artists or their representatives, whose music generated royalties that the defendants collected. Teran and Batista allegedly used the identities of others to make false claims about ownership and to create the false impression that MediaMuv had other employees. The indictment further alleges that Teran and Batista used the fraudulent proceeds to purchase high-end items such as cars, jewelry, and property.
If convicted, Teran and Batista face up to 5 years in prison for Conspiracy, up to 20 years for Wire Fraud, up to 10 years for Transactional Money Laundering, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years for Aggravated Identity Theft. They may also be fined up to $250,000 per felony conviction.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Seth T. Goertz, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR21-0955-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-090_Batista# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.McDowell County Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A McDowell County woman plead guilty today to a child pornography offense.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Lacosta Steele, 25, of Iaeger, admitted that in October and November 2020 she persuaded a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct, including masturbation and the lascivious exhibition of her genitals, for the purpose of creating videos of this conduct. Steele admitted that she then sent those images to her then-boyfriend using her cell phone. Steele also admitted that during this same time frame she transported the same 12-year-old girl to R.D. Bailey Lake, where her then-boyfriend engaged in sexual intercourse with the child.
Steele pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and faces at least five and up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced on April 4, 2022.
“I want to thank the West Virginia State Police and Homeland Security Investigations for their partnership in making sure that this defendant was held accountable for her heinous crime against a vulnerable child,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-00187.
###
Maryland man admits to a firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dylan Michael Ward, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has admitted to a firearms conspiracy, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Ward, 22, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy.” Ward admitted to working with others to purchase and transport firearms illegally across state lines from West Virginia into Maryland. The crimes occurred in March and April of 2021 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Ward faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Maryland Woman Sentenced for Paying More than $6,500 in Bribes to Metropolitan Police Department EmployeeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michelle Cage, 46, of Temple Hills, Md., was sentenced today to five years of probation, including six months of home confinement, for paying more than $6,500 in bribes to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) employee in exchange for personal identifying information of traffic crash victims.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Cage pleaded guilty in November 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of bribery of a public official. She was sentenced by the Honorable Emmett G. Sullivan. While on probation, Cage must complete 100 hours of community service.
According to the government’s evidence, dating back to at least 2012, Cage worked, in return for referral fees, to connect people in need of legal representation or medical services with providers of those services. In 2017, Cage started MC Referrals and Marketing L.L.C. to provide these referral services. To identify potential clients, Cage obtained from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Traffic Accident Reports, or “PD Form 10s,” which contained the names and contact information of individuals involved in traffic accidents.
Beginning in 2015, however, MPD General Order 401.03 limited the distribution of these reports to individuals involved in traffic accidents and their representatives. Cage admitted that, beginning at that time and continuing into 2017, she paid cash bribes in the amount of $50 to $200 per week to a clerk in MPD’s First District station, to influence the clerk to violate the General Order and provide Cage with the confidential reports, which Cage used to contact and solicit potential clients. Cage admitted that she paid the clerk at least $6,500 in bribes.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and MPD’s Internal Affairs Division. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Fraud Section, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein and Veronica Sanchez.
Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man who possessed more than 600 images of child pornography was sentenced in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Matthew Steven Janson, 38, to seven years in federal prison followed by seven years of supervised release.
“Matthew Janson accessed and viewed hundreds of images of children being sexually abused,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The demand for child pornography feeds an illicit industry that preys on the most vulnerable members of society. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains relentless in its pursuit of those who produce and seek out depictions of child sexual abuse.”
Janson pleaded guilty in June after he knowingly used the internet to receive child pornography from April 18, 2016 to May 25, 2016.
According to the plea agreement, Janson admitted to possessing at least 600 images of child sexual abuse including the abuse of prepubescent minors who had not attained 12 years of age. The materials were possessed and knowingly accessed via Janson’s computer and within the Muscogee Nation Reservation.
Janson is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Janson’s state conviction was vacated due to the Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma. He previously pleaded guilty in state court in 2017 and was sentenced to 10 years with 5 years of that time suspended.
The Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Man Sentenced for Committing Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
A man who engaged in a series of violent crimes in Tulsa was sentenced Tuesday in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson
Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III sentenced Deshawn Patrick, 19, of Tulsa, to 121 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
“Deshawn Patrick, armed with a firearm, committed two robberies against a teenager and an elderly man,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Patrick posed a serious danger to the public and will spend more than 10 years in prison for his violent acts.”
Patrick pleaded guilty on Aug. 23, 2021, to two counts of robbery in Indian Country.
In his plea agreement, Patrick admitted that he pointed a firearm and used force to take a minor victim’s phone, car keys and vehicle in Tulsa. When the victim arrived at an apartment complex on Sept. 6, 2020, Deshawn Patrick exited his vehicle pointing a firearm at the teenage victim and, along with a codefendant and two juvenile accomplices, demanded the driver and passenger exit the vehicle. He and his accomplices grabbed the victim’s phone and car keys. Patrick and an accomplice then drove away in the victim’s car.
Patrick further admitted to robbing a second victim on Oct. 18, 2020. Patrick and a juvenile accomplice approached the 74 year-old victim inside the victim’s garage. Patrick and his accomplice pointed semi-automatic pistols at the victim in order to gain entry into the house. Patrick struck the elderly victim in the head with a pistol, knocking him unconscious. Patrick then entered the victim’s home and took his keys and wallet. The two defendants fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. The victim sustained lacerations to his head during the incident.
Both robbery victims are Muscogee Nation citizens, and the crimes occurred within the Muscogee Nation Reservation.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan H. Heatherman and Reagan V. Reininger prosecuted the case.
Madisonville Woman Sentenced in Conspiracy to Commit Mail FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that, earlier today, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced defendant JILL LEWIS (“LEWIS”), age 41, resident of Madisonville, Louisiana, to six (6) months’ home confinement and two (2) years’ probation. LEWIS previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of her involvement in a postal fraud scheme. LEWIS is also required to pay restitution in the amount of $42,749.74.
According to her guilty plea, between January 2014 and January 2016, LEWIS and her co-conspirator conspired to submit false insurance claims to the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), causing the USPS to mail reimbursement checks to LEWIS and her co-conspirator for over $42,000. In this scheme, LEWIS and her co-conspirator falsely claimed that they had purchased expensive jewelry and other items and attempted to return the items to the retailers through the mail, but the USPS had lost the items. LEWIS and her co-conspirator then submitted forged invoices to the USPS to support the reimbursement amounts. The false claims and forged documents caused the USPS to send the reimbursement checks to LEWIS and a co-conspirator through the mail.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, for its work in investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Long and Shirin Hakimzadeh.
MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 51 Years in Federal Prison for His Role in the Commission of a Murder and a Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Luis Antonio Cruz-Hernandez, a/k/a “Paniquiado “, age 27, of Silver Spring, Maryland to 51 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder for hire, interference with interstate commerce by robbery, and the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Grimm has also ordered Cruz-Hernandez to pay over $250,000 in restitution.
The sentence was 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; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, Cruz-Hernandez is a member of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13”, an international criminal organization and criminal enterprise. Specifically, Cruz-Hernandez was a member and associate of the Pinos Locotes Salvatrucha (“PLS”) clique of MS-13. MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city of region. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible.
In November 2016, a PLS clique member was hired to murder someone in exchange for money, and Cruz-Hernandez was directed to assist with the murder. Between November 20, 2016 and November 30, 2016, Cruz-Hernandez conspired with others to murder the victim in return for monetary payment from two individuals (Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2). Cruz-Hernandez understood Co-conspirator 1 to be the person paying to have Victim 1 murdered and understood Co-conspirator 2 to be the middle-man between Co-conspirator 1 and a PLS clique member.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2 paid for a hotel room located in the vicinity of the victim’s residence, for Cruz-Hernandez, and other conspirators, including the clique member to use. Further, Cruz-Hernandez and other conspirators conducted surveillance of the victim in order to determine the most opportune time to murder him.
As stated in his plea agreement, on November 30, 2016, Co-conspirator 2 drove Cruz-Hernandez and the clique member to an area in the vicinity of the victim’s residence. The clique member then exited the vehicle and shot and killed the victim. After the murder, the clique member was paid for the murder of the victim and gave a portion of the payment to Cruz-Hernandez.
Facilities of commerce utilized as part of the conspiracy to murder the victim in return for monetary payment included the vehicle used to conduct physical surveillance and to murder the victim, and cell phones used by conspirators to communicate and facilitate the murder.
Additionally, Cruz-Hernandez pled guilty in relation to seven of armed robberies in the eastern district of Virginia and Maryland between June 2017 and November 2017. These robberies occurred at the direction of a PLS clique member and resulted in the loss of more than $250,000 to victim businesses.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI Baltimore, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Fairfax County Police Department (Virginia) and the Herndon Police Department (Virginia) for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Moomau, who prosecuted the case.
# # #
Louisville Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on Monday to 32 years in prison followed by a life term of Supervised Release for production, attempted production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, in 2017 and 2019, Shaun Douglas Dickson, 26, engaged in conversations with children on the Internet while posing as both an 11-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy. During these conversations, Dickson sent images of child pornography to children he met online, including young girls in Greece and Australia that he attempted to and successfully induced and coerced into creating images of sexually explicit conduct to send to him. Dickson further threatened a child that he would distribute the images of child pornography he had produced of her to her friends and family if she did not send him additional images, and then subsequently distributed those images to other children. After a search warrant was conducted at his residence in 2019, Dickson was also found to be in possession of over 1,200 images and videos of child pornography.
“The outstanding effort of the investigators and prosecutors assigned to the case ended the activities of a sexual predator who exploited children internationally,” stated United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “I commend the work and partnership of Attorney General Cameron’s office and HSI Nashville.”
“Thanks to the partnership between our Cyber Crimes Unit, HSI, and U.S. Attorney Bennett’s team, we were able to stop this criminal from continuing to exploit children online,” said Attorney General Cameron. “Our children deserve childhoods free from exploitation, abuse, and neglect, and collaboration among law enforcement agencies through initiatives like Project Safe Childhood are essential to protecting our youngest.”
“HSI agents make it a top priority to protect vulnerable children who become victims of online sexual predators,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. “The investigative efforts of our agents in this case, working with the Kentucky State Attorney General’s office, ensured that this offender will pay for his inexcusable acts with a lengthy stay in federal prison.”
The Office of the Kentucky Attorney General and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Gomez and Stephanie Zimdahl prosecuted the case.
###
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources
Louisville Gas & Electric Company to Permanently Limit Harmful Air PollutionRead the Press Release
In a proposed consent decree lodged today in U.S. District Court, Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E) has agreed to permanent emission limits for the sulfuric acid mist that it emits from its Mill Creek Station, located in Jefferson County, Kentucky. LG&E also agreed to perform a congressionally authorized diesel-emissions reduction supplemental environmental project aimed at reducing ground-level emissions to resolve allegations that it emitted too much sulfuric acid mist in violation of the Clean Air Act.
The complaint, filed in July 2020, alleges that LG&E failed to timely install and operate emission control technology and operated its facility, including its boilers and nitrogen oxide controls, in a manner that exacerbated sulfuric acid mist emissions. As a result, the utility’s coal combustion operations emitted high levels of sulfuric acid mist, affecting the surrounding community and violating certain federally enforceable general provisions of Kentucky’s Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan.
“This settlement will ensure that this utility permanently controls emissions of a harmful air pollutant,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This agreement demonstrates the Justice Department’s and EPA’s continuing efforts, together with our local partners, to reduce harmful air pollution caused by poor air pollution control practices.”
“By establishing a permanent limit on emissions of sulfuric acid mist from Louisville Gas & Electric’s Mill Creek facility, this settlement will help protect future air quality for local communities,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “An additional provision of the settlement will improve local air quality, including in historically underserved communities, by reducing diesel emissions from the company’s truck fleet.”
“These permanent emissions limits continue the work of protecting the air for the people of Louisville,” said Director Rachael Hamilton of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD). “This settlement will have a positive impact on air quality, and it could not have been done without the combined efforts of the Justice Department, EPA, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell and his office, and our own staff at LMAPCD.”
As part of the settlement, the company will also pay a $750,000 civil penalty and will incorporate into its service fleet trucks that use battery rather than diesel power when performing power line maintenance or construction. The project will reduce ground-level emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxides and other pollutants. The project also will reduce emissions of approximately 180,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Because the settlement requires all of the trucks to be stationed at LG&E’s service center in Auburndale, the benefits of the project will be realized in the surrounding communities, including historically underserved communities.
The consent decree, lodged in the Western District Court of Kentucky, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Louisiana Construction Company Employee Pleads Guilty to Tax ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
According to court documents, from 2011 to April 2018, Randall Lackey of Jefferson Parish conspired to defraud the IRS by concealing his own income and the income of others. Lackey worked as an employee for two commercial construction companies, SES Construction Consulting Group (SES) and Global Technical Solutions (GTS). To hide his income from the IRS, Lackey had his SES and GTS wages paid to R&O Renovations and Reconstructions (R&O), a company he owned. For the 2012 through 2017 tax years, Lackey did not file corporate income tax returns for R&O or personal income tax returns with the IRS. Lackey’s co-conspirators furthered the scheme by falsely classifying Lackey as a contractor of SES and GTS rather than an employee. As a result, Lackey had no taxes withheld from his paycheck and SES and GTS avoided paying employment taxes on his wages. Lackey and other members of the conspiracy also hired workers who lacked proper documentation and were not authorized to work in the United States, and then paid them in cash “off the books.”
Lackey is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Other members of the conspiracy, Randy Farrell, the current owner of SES and GTS; Mathew Reck, the former co-owner of SES and GTS; and two other employees of SES and GTS, Dawn Farrell Ruiz and David Farrell (Randy Farrell’s sister and brother), all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Reck is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2022. Randy Farrell, David Farrell, and Farrell Ruiz are all scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2022.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys William Montague and Parker Tobin of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses of the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
Louisiana Construction Company Employee Pleads Guilty to Tax ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
According to court documents, from 2011 to April 2018, Randall Lackey of Jefferson Parish conspired to defraud the IRS by concealing his own income and the income of others. Lackey worked as an employee for two commercial construction companies, SES Construction Consulting Group (SES) and Global Technical Solutions (GTS). To hide his income from the IRS, Lackey had his SES and GTS wages paid to R&O Renovations and Reconstructions (R&O), a company he owned. For the 2012 through 2017 tax years, Lackey did not file corporate income tax returns for R&O or personal income tax returns with the IRS. Lackey’s co-conspirators furthered the scheme by falsely classifying Lackey as a contractor of SES and GTS rather than an employee. As a result, Lackey had no taxes withheld from his paycheck and SES and GTS avoided paying employment taxes on his wages. Lackey and other members of the conspiracy also hired workers who lacked proper documentation and were not authorized to work in the United States, and then paid them in cash “off the books.”
Lackey is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Other members of the conspiracy, Randy Farrell, the current owner of SES and GTS; Mathew Reck, the former co-owner of SES and GTS; and two other employees of SES and GTS, Dawn Farrell Ruiz and David Farrell (Randy Farrell’s sister and brother), all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Reck is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2022. Randy Farrell, David Farrell, and Farrell Ruiz are all scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2022.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys William Montague and Parker Tobin of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses of the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
Local Media Production and Political Consulting Firm Sentenced on Wire Fraud ConvictionRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that LSA Strategies LLC, a media production and political consulting firm located in Buffalo, NY, which was convicted of wire fraud, was ordered to pay restitution totaling $8,283.59 by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who handled the case, stated that Steven M. Casey organized LSA Strategies under the laws of New York State on June 6, 2012. Between August 20 and September 19, 2012, LSA Strategies devised a scheme to defraud a candidate (Candidate 1) running for the New York State Senate 60th District.
Steven Casey provided consulting services to Candidate 1, including arranging for campaign mailings to be printed by Company 1. In doing so, Casey requested that Company 1 increase each of its invoices to Candidate 1 by a specified amount. However, Casey did not inform Candidate 1 of the increase in the amount of the invoices, rather Casey led the candidate to believe that he was working on a voluntary basis. Candidate 1 was unaware that Company 1’s invoices were being increased to provide sums of money to Casey and LSA. After Candidate 1 paid the invoices, Company 1 paid LSA the amount by which the invoices had been increased. In total, Company 1 paid LSA $8,283.59.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
# # # #
Lebanon County Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on November 30, 2021, Luis Mercado, age 44, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, to wire fraud for fraudulently claiming pandemic unemployment assistance funds.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Mercado began claiming Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in August 2020 despite being employed with the United States Department of Agriculture as a poultry inspector. Mercado falsely claimed that he was unemployed due to the pandemic or a major disaster, and he received benefits based on this false claim. Mercado reaffirmed his unemployment status on a weekly basis and ultimately received $37,555 in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits. Mercado pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud based on his course of conduct.
“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals who explicitly apply for aid to exploit taxpayer funded pandemic relief programs,” said Bethanne M. Dinkins, Special Agent in Charge, USDA-Office of Inspector General. “We appreciate the partnership with our federal partners in pursuing this type of fraud and holding these bad actors to account in this great time of need.”
“Luis Mercado fraudulently applied for and received Pennsylvania Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits,” stated Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “Mercado submitted weekly certifications where he falsely certified that he was unemployed due to COVID-19 while he was actively employed as a food inspector by the United States Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will continue to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and our federal law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of unemployment compensation benefits programs.”
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.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Miovas, Jr. is prosecuting the case.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is twenty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
# # #
KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Following High-Speed Police ChaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm after leading police officers on a high-speed chase through oncoming traffic and crashing into several police vehicles.
Kyle K. Kessler, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole.
On Oct. 15, 2020, Kessler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kessler admitted he was in possession of a Jimenez Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Dec. 18, 2019.
Kansas City, Mo., police officers attempted to stop Kessler, who was driving a stolen Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, shortly after noon on Dec. 18, 2019. When officers activated their emergency lights, however, Kessler refused to stop. Kessler’s vehicle struck several police cars as he fled from the area at a high rate of speed.
According to court documents, Kessler fled in a stolen vehicle at speeds averaging 80 miles per hour, up to 100 miles per hour. Kessler ran two stoplights on Blue Ridge Cutoff at Sni-A-Bar road and at E. 55th Street. Kessler weaved into oncoming traffic, which caused motorists to take evasive action to avoid colliding with Kessler’s vehicle. At E. 80th Street and Raytown Road, Kessler drove through a school zone without slowing. At E. 85th Street and Hickman Mills Road, Kessler lost control and drove off the road, striking a concrete pillar.
Two officers parked their vehicles behind the pickup. Kessler put the pickup in reverse and accelerated rapidly toward one of the officers. The officer dove out of the path of the truck, which struck the officer’s police car and pushed it back. Kessler continued accelerating into another officer’s vehicle. After striking both police cars, Kessler struck a guardrail and stopped. Two more police officers used their vehicles to block the truck and keep Kessler from fleeing.
Kessler refused to follow instructions to get out of the vehicle, so officers had to break the passenger window and pull him out. Kessler continued to resist officers until they handcuffed him. Officers then found the loaded Jimenez Arms pistol in Kessler’s left front jacket pocket.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Kessler has 11 prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle as well as prior felony convictions for burglary of a motor vehicle, tampering with an airplane or motor boat, theft, resisting arrest, and fraudulent use of a credit device.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Announce Agenda for Dec. 6 and 7 Workshop ‘Making Competition Work: Promoting Competition in Labor Markets’Read the Press Release
The Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an agenda for their upcoming virtual workshop regarding competition in labor markets.
First announced on Oct. 27, “Making Competition Work: Promoting Competition in Labor Markets,” will take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 7, and will be webcast on the FTC’s website.
Over two days, a series of panels, presentations, and remarks will address competition issues affecting labor markets and the welfare of workers, including: labor monopsony; the increased use of restrictive contractual clauses in labor agreements, including non-competes and non-disclosure agreements; the perspectives of workers on the state of competition; information sharing and benchmarking activity among competing employers; the role of other federal agencies in ensuring fair competition in labor markets; and the relationship between antitrust law and collective bargaining efforts in the “gig economy.” Panelists will be invited to discuss potential steps antitrust enforcers can take to better target enforcement resources, improve public guidance, and pursue a whole-of-government approach to ensuring fair competition for workers and consumers by leveraging interagency resources. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Antitrust Division, FTC Chair Lina Khan, and Special Assistant to the President Tim Wu will deliver remarks, among others.
“The Department of Justice is thrilled to work alongside its colleagues at the FTC to address these timely issues that are fundamental to the health of our economy and the livelihoods of American workers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kanter.
A recording of the workshop will be available on the Antitrust Division’s website and the FTC’s website. In addition to the agenda, a list of speakers, and instructions for accessing the webcast will be available on the event page. The Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the FTC invite comments from the public on the topics covered by this workshop. Interested parties may submit public comments online through Dec. 20 at Regulations.gov.