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Friday 29 October 2021
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison Following Federal Gun and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 27, 2021, Daryl Tyrone Gray, 38, from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and the factual basis contained in the plea agreement, on February 20, 2019, the Montgomery Police Department responded to a shots-fired call. When officers arrived, they made contact with Gray and found him in possession of a .40 caliber handgun. Gray is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Later in 2019, law enforcement suspected Gray was engaging in the illegal sale of controlled substances. On April 11, 2019, agents discovered that Gray had made arrangements with another individual to purchase a quantity of cocaine in the parking lot of a Montgomery restaurant and was subsequently arrested.
Gray pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance on November 19, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Russell T. Duraski prosecuted the case.
Member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe sentenced to two years in federal prison for domestic assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Drew Beck, 36, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 4 to two years and five months in prison for domestic assault by a habitual offender.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 2, 2020, Beck assaulted Jane Doe, his girlfriend at the time, at their shared residence in Otero County, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Beck grabbed the victim as she was trying to leave and dragged her by her leg into the living room. Beck threw the victim over the couch and started strangling her and stopped after law enforcement arrived. Jane Doe was taken to a medical center where she received care and a domestic violence examination.
Beck was convicted for similar incidents previously, on Aug. 4, 2011, for battery on a household member and on Nov. 9, 2017, for domestic violence.
Upon his release from prison, Beck will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Arson Related to a 2017 Fire that Destroyed a Pasadena BarRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Jamie Clemons, age 36 of Pasadena, Maryland, to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for malicious destruction of a property by fire, in connection with the fire on July 28, 2017, at Coconut Charlie’s, a bar in Pasadena. Judge Bennett also ordered Clemons to pay restitution in the amount of $560,346.26. As a result of the arson, Coconut Charlie’s sustained over $500,000 in damage; the building was razed and the business was forced to permanently close.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; the Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford; and the Anne Arundel County Fire Marshal Division Chief John Lane.
“This defendant not only endangered our brave firefighters who responded to the arson that he set, he caused devastating damage to a longtime Maryland business, forcing it to close,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “The fire arsons often cause are indiscriminate in the lives and property they put in jeopardy. Arsons are also often difficult crimes to uncover and prove in court, and I am grateful to our investigative and prosecution teams for their dedication and persistence.”
According to the indictment and the government’s plea letter, on July 28, 2017, Clemons maliciously damaged and destroyed by fire a bar known as Coconut Charlie’s, located in the 9100 block of Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena, in order to conceal evidence of an assault he had committed there on July 22, 2017.
As detailed in the statement of facts filed as part of the government’s plea letter, on July 22, 2017, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Clemons assaulted his girlfriend on the patio area of Coconut Charlie’s. An Anne Arundel County Police officer witnessed the assault and it was also captured on Coconut Charlie’s video surveillance system. As a result, Clemons was charged with second degree assault and theft of less than $100 in the District Court for Anne Arundel County, and was served with a summons for the case on July 27, 2017.
Clemons admitted that in the early morning hours of July 28, 2017, he assembled multiple incendiary devices akin to Molotov cocktails, then lit the wicks for the devices on fire, and threw them at the exterior of Coconut Charlie’s in an attempt to burn the structure and destroy the video surveillance system, which had captured his assault on his girlfriend the week prior.
Due to the size of the fire, several agencies responded in an attempt to control and extinguish the fire, and a firefighter sustained injuries due to the force of a Backdraft that caused him to fall off a ladder. A fire scene examination was conducted, and the area of origin of the fire was determined to be the west exterior of the restaurant. Investigators reviewed the exterior camera footage from the video recording system, which remained operational after the fire, and were able to observe multiple flashes of light (at least three), followed by a sustained fire on the west exterior of the structure.
Charred melted plastic cups, which had been filled with gasoline, and a burnt cloth used as a wick material were located on the roof and exterior grounds of the building, and most were found to contain the presence of gasoline. Clemons admitted that he set the wicks on fire prior to throwing the devices on the roof. An accelerant detection K-9 dog also alerted to the presence of gasoline on the west side of the exterior just on the other side of the fence surrounding Coconut Charlie’s. This is the area where Clemons launched the devices at Coconut Charlie’s. A short distance away, along the north side of the exterior of the property fence line, a glove was found which tested positive for the presence of an ignitable liquid and contained Clemons’ DNA.
On November 30, 2017, a federal search warrant was obtained for Clemons’ text messages on his cell phone. The contents of those messages revealed that after the assault and in the days leading up to the fire, Clemons sent multiple text messages expressing concern as to whether police would obtain the video surveillance of the assault, and what the video had captured.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, and the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Mary W. Setzer, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man Who Claimed He Gave Guns to Children Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
An Amarillo man who said he gave guns to children has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a firearm crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham.
Roaryrious “Buddy” Perkins, 31, was convicted in June of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk.
According to court documents, in September 2018, law enforcement officers found a Smith & Wesson .45 caliber handgun in the wall of a hotel room occupied by Mr. Perkins and two associates. A National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) examination of the gun revealed that it had been used in four different drive-by shootings in Amarillo. A lab test of the weapon indicated a 1 in 1.2 trillion chance that one of the four DNA profiles found on the gun belonged to Mr. Perkins.
Four months later, in January 2019, law enforcement arrested Mr. Perkins at the scene of a trespass in progress. Inside the home, they found a Springfield 9mm pistol. During a subsequent interview with police, Mr. Perkins admitted that he’d purchased the Springfield pistol, claiming he’d had a “white dude” buy the gun for him in order to give it to his girlfriend for protection.
Mr. Perkins – who was previously convicted of robbery and possession of a controlled substance – admitted that he handled the pistol in spite of federal laws that prohibit convicted felons to possess firearms.
At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors read from a statement Mr. Perkins made to law enforcement in September 2018, in which he claimed he provided firearms and money to “young kids” to commit shootings on his behalf. He even admitted he offered the children money to shoot at a particular individual.
“They got no momma, no house, no money. You give them a $1,000 and a gun – what do you think they are going to do?” Mr. Perkins told law enforcement.
It is unclear what, if anything, the minors did with the weapons Mr. Perkins said he provided to them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Dallas Field Office, the United States Marshal Service, and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Marie Bell prosecuted the case.
Lead defendant in dog-fighting operation sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
DUBLIN, GA: The operator of a dog-fighting facility and two codefendants have been sentenced in federal court, wrapping up the prosecution of a dog-fighting operation in Dodge County.
James Lampkin, a/k/a “Pookie,” 44, of Eastman, Ga., was sentenced to 46 months in prison and fined $5,000 after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. also ordered Lampkin to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Judge Bowen sentenced two of Lampkin’s co-defendants. Joe Ford, 33, of Elgin, S.C., was sentenced to 18 months in prison, fined $1,500, and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence after he pled guilty to a related felony. Xavier Simmons, 34, of Sandersville, Ga., was sentenced to five years’ probation and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Misprision of a Felony.
“Every defendant charged in this barbaric dog-fighting operation has now been held accountable after admitting to the charges,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our vigilant law enforcement partners did outstanding work in identifying and shutting down this reprehensible activity.”
“These callous individuals were attracted to an activity which is both disturbingly cruel and illegal,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General. “Our agency and law enforcement partners will be relentless in our pursuit of individuals who maliciously find pleasure in harming these creatures.”
In March 2018, Georgia State Patrol troopers and Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens conducted traffic stops in Eastman after the Oconee (Georgia) Drug Task Force received reports of dog fights at Lampkin’s property. During those traffic stops, officers discovered a dog in one of the vehicles that appeared to have been injured while fighting. Later, while serving a search warrant at Lampkin’s residence, investigators seized 63 dogs chained in the back yard and discovered a disassembled pit and bloodied carpet where fights were held, along with equipment used to train dogs for fighting.
While the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated a civil forfeiture action, an animal rescue operation took custody of the dogs.
Three other co-defendants, Benjamin Shinhoster III, a/k/a “Benji,” 41, of Louisville, Ga.; Deveon Hood, 34, of Tennille, Ga.; and Andre Archer, 24, of Sandersville, Ga., previously were sentenced to prison terms after pleading guilty to related felony charges, while Dwight McDuffie, 44, of Eastman, Ga., was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Rock with assistance from U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Attorney Ethan Eddy and Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.
Latin Dragons Nation Member Sentenced to 204 Months of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Ralph Mendez, 47, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity as a member of the Latin Dragons Nation street gang, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Mendez was sentenced to 204 months of in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Mendez, a Latin Dragon since approximately 1995, engaged in trafficking firearms, cocaine, and marijuana on behalf of the gang. He fought rival gang members, ordered beatings of gang members for rule violations, and recruited a former member to rejoin the gang. He illegally possessed firearms in furtherance of gang activity, and in 2017 he drove another Latin Dragon member from Hammond to a rival gang neighborhood in Chicago where the other member shot at two individuals, believing they were rival gang members. Mendez has prior felony convictions for murder, armed robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Chicago Police Department Criminal Enterprise Unit; the Cook County Sheriff’s Office; the Bartlett Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the East Chicago Police Department; the Merrillville Police Department; the Hobart Police Department; the Lake County Sheriff’s Department; and the Calumet City Police Department, with assistance from the Lake County, Indiana Prosecutor’s Office, the Cook County, Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office, the Indiana Department of Corrections, and the Illinois Department of Corrections. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria N. Lerner, Michael J. Toth, and Kevin F. Wolff, with prior assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Cooley.
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.
Justice Department and FTC File Suit to Stop Deceptive Marketing of Nasal Spray Product Advertised as Purported COVID-19 TreatmentRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Thursday announced a civil enforcement action against defendants Xlear Inc. and Nathan Jones for alleged violations of the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the FTC Act.
According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for District of Utah, the defendants advertised that their saline nasal spray product could prevent or treat COVID-19, without competent or reliable scientific evidence to support those claims. Further, the defendants allegedly made deceptive statements about several scientific studies to bolster their unproven COVID-19 claims. The COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, passed by Congress in December 2020, prohibits deceptive acts or practices associated with the treatment, cure, prevention, mitigation or diagnosis of COVID-19. The complaint also alleges violations of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive conduct, as well as false advertising. The complaint seeks civil penalties and injunctive relief to stop the defendants from continuing to make deceptive advertising claims.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate individuals or companies attempting to profit from the current public health emergency by unlawfully and deceptively advertising unproven products,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to working with the FTC to enforce the FTC Act and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act against those who unlawfully market unproven COVID-19 treatments.”
“Companies can’t make unsupported health claims, no matter what form a product takes or what it supposedly prevents or treats,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “That’s the lesson of this case and many others like it, and it’s why people should continue to rely on medical professionals over ads.”
This matter is being handled by Trial Attorneys Noah Katzen and Alisha Crovetto of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Ferre from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. Keith Fentonmiller and Courtney A. Estep represent the FTC.
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 fraud related to COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.
Inglewood Police Officer and an Informant Arrested on Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal authorities have arrested an Inglewood Police officer on narcotics trafficking charges that allege two cocaine transactions, one involving a kilogram of the drug, the Justice Department announced today.
A second man who was once approved to work as an informant for the police officer also has been arrested after authorities discovered over a kilogram of heroin and more than a half-kilogram of suspected cocaine at his residence.
Officer John Abel Baca, 45, of Whittier, a 21-year veteran of the Inglewood Police Department and their police union representative, was arrested October 21, two days after a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging him with distribution of cocaine.
The indictment alleges two transactions, the first occurring on April 29, when Baca allegedly delivered cocaine to a witness cooperating with law enforcement. Baca allegedly delivered approximately one kilogram of cocaine to the same cooperating witness during another meeting on May 4, in exchange for $22,000 in cash.
Baca’s case was unsealed today following the arrest of an alleged confederate – Gerardo Ekonomo, 42, of South Los Angeles. Ekonomo was taken into custody Thursday after FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at his residence and seized narcotics buried in his yard, as well as a firearm and ammunition inside his residence.
Ekonomo was named in a criminal complaint filed today that charges him with possession with intent to distribute heroin. Ekonomo is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Monday, November 1, in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Baca obtained approval for Ekonomo to purportedly work as a confidential source five years ago, but Ekonomo conducted no documented operations after he was signed up as an informant.
The affidavit filed today notes that Ekonomo was arrested by officers with the City of North Las Vegas Police Department (NLVPD) on June 16 after they found 3 kilograms of heroin in his vehicle. On July 13, Baca contacted a NLVPD officer to inquire “about the status of Ekonomo’s criminal case with the North Las Vegas Police Department, and offering that Ekonomo could ‘work off’ the case by cooperating,” according to the affidavit authored by an FBI special agent.
Baca’s alleged intervention in Ekonomo’s case demonstrates that “Baca is willing to abuse his position as a law enforcement officer in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities and to assist and protect his co-conspirators,” according to the affidavit. The NLVPD officer did not dismiss the charges against Ekonomo and that case remains pending.
During his initial court appearance and arraignment on October 22, Baca was ordered detained without bond after the court found that he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. Baca’s trial is currently set for December 14 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
If convicted on the charges in the indictment, Baca faces a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a maximum sentence of 60 years of imprisonment. If convicted of the charge in the complaint, Ekonomo faces a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Indictments and criminal complaints contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is investigating this matter. The Inglewood Police Department provided its full cooperation during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Veronica Dragalin and Cassie D. Palmer of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Gina Kong of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Oct. 28 was:
Aaron Todd Williams, 36, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Williams faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Williams was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-90.
Yvonne Tina Schlichting, 48, of Oregon, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schlichting faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Schlichting was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-64.
Appearing on Oct. 26 was:
Douglas Campbell Raleigh, 46, a transient, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. A not guilty plea was entered on Raleigh’s behalf. If convicted of the most serious crime, Raleigh faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Raleigh was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-77.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Oct. 27 was:
Rosemarie Murrow, 61, of Helena, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth, distribution of meth, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Morrow faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory five years in prison consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the charge of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Morrow was detained pending further proceedings. The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missouri River Drug Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-11.
Appearing on Oct. 26 was:
Michael James Lamere, 39, of Box Elder, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lamere faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Lamere was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Tri-Agency Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-77.
Moises Zamora, 36, of Colorado, on charges of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime, Zamora faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge and a mandatory 10 years to life consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,00 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearms crime. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-78.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Houma Man Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the Federal Gun Control Act, and Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOSHUA BOGEN, age 30, a resident of Houma, Louisiana, was charged October 28, 2021, in a four-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a drug trafficking offense in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A), felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), and assaulting a federal officer in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(b), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, on October 18, 2021, BOGEN possessed with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. BOGEN, having previously been convicted of a felony, illegally possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. He also used this firearm, a Glock Model 26 Gen 4, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, to forcibly assault a Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer.
If convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, BOGEN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a drug trafficking offense, BOGEN faces a statutory minimum sentence of seven years of imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, BOGEN faces up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release. If convicted of assaulting a federal officer, BOGEN faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years supervised release. For each of the four counts of the indictment, BOGEN faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ben Myers.
Home Invasion Robberies, Murders, Other Violent Crimes Lead to Federal Charges Against Alleged Members of Gang-Based Criminal EnterpriseRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – In a 15-count superseding indictment, a South Florida grand jury charged alleged members of a gang called “Onsight” with racketeering, armed robbery, conspiracy, murder, and other crimes following a rash of violence that plagued Broward County from 2015 to 2021.
Eric Hunter (aka “E” or “Onsight Eno”), 28, and Derrick Slade (aka “D” or “Solja”), 27, were arraigned today in federal magistrate court in Ft. Lauderdale. Gregory Stickney (aka “Gucci Greg”), 31, was arraigned on October 18.
According to the superseding indictment, from 2015 through October 2021, the Onsight gang operated as a criminal enterprise, with an identity, a hierarchy, and a multi-layered purpose. The gang’s name (Onsight) reflected its identity: an enterprise with members who would kill and commit other extreme acts of violence without hesitation, says the charging document. It is alleged that Hunter was a leader of the enterprise, at the top of the hierarchy, and that he planned, organized, and supervised the gang’s criminal ventures. Slade, Stickney and others executed those criminal ventures, which included armed home invasions, armed robberies, assaults, attempted murders, and murders, says the superseding indictment. The purpose of the criminal enterprise was to, among other things, make money through drug-dealing, robberies, and other crimes; advance the gang’s prestige and reputation among rivals both on the street and social media; and maintain control over their territory, it is alleged.
Hunter, Slade, and Stickney are each charged with RICO conspiracy, Hobbs Act conspiracy, conspiracy to use or carry a firearm during a crime of violence, causing the death of a person by using a firearm, various counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and various counts of using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Each defendant faces a statutory maximum of life imprisonment or death.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Broward Sheriff’s Office, Hollywood Police Department, Lauderhill Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Davie Police Department, and Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey N. Kaplan and Paul F. Schwartz are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution was part of Operation Blood Pressure, which is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.
A superseding indictment is only an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 20-cr-60107.
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Heroin and Cocaine Suppliers for Bloods Gang Members SentencedRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. –A New Jersey couple was sentenced yesterday to 125 and 30 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine to members of the Bloods gang.
According to court documents, from at least 2015 to 2017, Stephen Price, 48, and Dominique Waller, 33, both of Freehold, New Jersey, participated in a conspiracy to traffic drugs from New Jersey for distribution in the Hampton Roads region. Price was one of the sources of supply for members of the Bloods criminal street gang on the Virginia Peninsula. Price traveled to Virginia and provided gang members with distribution quantities of cocaine and heroin. Price also would distribute cocaine and heroin to Bloods gang members who traveled from Virginia to New Jersey to obtain the narcotics for redistribution on the Virginia Peninsula. When Price was unavailable, Waller would meet with the gang members and provide them with narcotics. Price and Waller would then launder the proceeds from the sale of the narcotics, which in total amounted to almost $550,000.
Price and Waller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin on May 27 and June 1, respectively. Price was sentenced to 125 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy and Waller was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in the conspiracy.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Peninsula Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership that includes the FBI, Virginia State Police, Hampton Police Division, James City County Police Department and Newport News Police Department. This task force investigates the most violent criminal enterprises operating on the Virginia Peninsula. Tips regarding gang activity and other violent crimes in the region can be reported to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://tips.fbi.gov/.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-40.
Hartford Man Charged with Offenses Stemming from Theft of Firearms from South Windsor WarehouseRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and South Windsor Police Chief Kristian Lindstrom today announced that SHAMEIK CAMARA, 32, of Hartford, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with offenses related to the theft of firearms from a South Windsor warehouse in August.
Following his arrest, Camara appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond. A follow-up bond hearing is scheduled for November 1 at 10:30 a.m.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in August 2021, a shipment of 50 Zigana, Model PX-9G2 pistols was stolen from R&L Carriers, a national freight shipping company with a warehouse located at 540 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor. Even though R&L employees were aware of the theft shortly after it occurred in mid-August, they did not notify law enforcement. Officials at R&L carriers reported the theft to law enforcement on September 16, 2021. Earlier this month, investigators identified Camara after seeing Facebook Marketplace and Offer Up posts selling high-end speakers and sports trading cards that were similar to items stolen from the R&L warehouse at about the same time of the firearm shipment theft.
It is alleged that Camara, a previously convicted felon, possessed one of the stolen firearms at the time of his arrest. Two additional stolen firearms have been recovered by law enforcement.
Camara is charged with receipt and possession of items from an interstate shipment, possession of firearms by a felon, and possession of stolen firearms. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the South Windsor Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.
The ATF Boston Field Division and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of persons involved in this theft of firearms. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact investigators immediately at 860-935-8080 or call 888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), or send an email to [email protected].
Gree Appliance Companies Charged with Failure to Report Dangerous Dehumidifiers and Agree to $91 Million ResolutionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Chinese appliance manufacturer and two of its subsidiaries have agreed to resolve criminal charges for failing to notify the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that millions of dehumidifiers they sold to U.S. consumers were defective and could catch fire, the Justice Department announced today.
The resolutions are the first corporate criminal enforcement actions ever brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).
Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai (Gree Zhuhai), a global appliance manufacturer headquartered in Zhuhai, China, and Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co., Ltd. (Gree Hong Kong) entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed in federal court in Los Angeles. A criminal information filed along with the DPA charges the companies with one felony count under the CPSA of willfully failing to report consumer product safety information to the CPSC. Under the terms of the DPA, Gree Zhuhai and Gree Hong Kong agreed to a total monetary penalty of $91 million and agreed to provide restitution for any uncompensated victims of fires caused by the companies’ defective dehumidifiers.
Gree USA, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary based in the City of Industry, also is charged in the criminal information. Gree USA has agreed to plead guilty to the same charge of willfully failing to report consumer product safety information to the CPSC.
According to court filings, Gree Zhuhai, Gree Hong Kong and Gree USA (collectively, the Gree Companies) knew their dehumidifiers were defective, failed to meet applicable safety standards and could catch fire, but the companies failed to report that information to the CPSC for months. The companies only reported and recalled the dehumidifiers after consumer complaints of fires and resulting harm continued to mount.
Prosecutors with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division previously indicted Charley Loh, 63, of Arcadia, and Simon Chu, 66, of Chino Hills – respectively, the chief executive officer and chief administrative officer of Gree USA – on felony CPSA and wire fraud charges for their alleged roles in the failure to report the defective dehumidifiers. Loh and Chu have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial on March 15, 2022, in Los Angeles.
“No one should live in fear that a properly used consumer product might cause injury or death to their loved ones,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “Gree’s months-long delay in reporting known problems with their dangerous and defective dehumidifiers was both criminal and costly. Gree’s decision to delay the reporting of its defective dehumidifiers has resulted in the recall of millions of those products and the payment of millions of dollars. We will not allow companies to profit at the expense of consumers’ health and safety.”
“Manufacturers and distributors must immediately report dangerous consumer products to the CPSC so that actions to protect consumers may be taken as soon as possible,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Companies and executives that purposefully delay reporting to maintain profits will be prosecuted. The Department of Justice will continue to work closely with the CPSC to ensure consumers’ safety.”
“This historic criminal enforcement action should serve notice that the CPSC will use its authority to the fullest to keep American families safe,” said Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric of the CPSC. “Failing to report dangerous products puts consumers at an unnecessary risk and will not be tolerated.”
“Inferior goods represent a serious threat to the integrity of the consumer product supply chain that the public needs to rely on with confidence,” said Special Agent in Charge David A. Prince for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “Defective products like these pose a dangerous threat to consumers, who assume the products they buy are safe and reliable. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively target and investigate those who knowingly jeopardize public safety in the name of profit.”
As part of the DPA and plea agreement, the Gree Companies admitted that, between 2007 and 2013, they sold in the United States more than 2 million dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree Zhuhai and imported by Gree Hong Kong. In September 2012, employees of the Gree Companies, including high-level executives, learned that the Gree dehumidifiers had defects that could cause them to overheat and catch fire, and that consumers had reported fires caused by the dehumidifiers. Those same employees also knew of the obligation to report dangerous consumer products to the CPSC. Despite this knowledge, Gree USA continued to sell the defective dehumidifiers in the United States for at least another six months. The Gree Companies delayed reporting knowledge of the fires to the CPSC for approximately six months, and did not report the defects in the dehumidifiers for approximately nine months. Ultimately, Gree Zhuhai recalled the defective dehumidifiers almost a year after learning about the products’ dangerous defects.
As part of the criminal resolutions, the Gree Companies have agreed, among other things, to continue to cooperate with the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and the United States Attorney’s Office in any ongoing or future investigations and prosecutions. The Gree Companies also agreed to strengthen their compliance programs and to enhanced reporting requirements that will require the submission of yearly reports to the Justice Department regarding the status of their compliance programs and internal controls, policies and procedures aimed at improving product safety and deterring and detecting violations of the CPSA, as well as the status of remediation efforts. Consistent with Justice Department policy, the DPA with Gree Zhuhai and Gree Hong Kong credits the Gree Companies’ earlier payment of $15.45 million in civil penalties to the CPSC against the agreed-upon $91 million total monetary penalty.
Representatives of Gree USA have agreed to appear in United States District Court in Los Angeles on November 8 for an initial appearance in this case.
HSI of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Johns and Dennis Mitchell of the Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section, and Senior Litigation Counsel Allan Gordus and Trial Attorneys Natalie Sanders and Maryann McGuire of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case with the assistance of Patricia Vieira of the CPSC’s Office of General Counsel.
Gree Appliance Companies Charged with Failure to Report Dangerous Dehumidifiers and Agree to $91 Million ResolutionRead the Press Release
A Chinese appliance manufacturer and two of its subsidiaries have agreed to resolve criminal charges for failing to notify the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that millions of dehumidifiers they sold to U.S. consumers were defective and could catch fire. The resolutions are the first corporate criminal enforcement actions ever brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).
Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai (Gree Zhuhai), a global appliance manufacturer headquartered in Zhuhai, China, and Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co. Ltd. (Gree Hong Kong) entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A criminal information filed along with the DPA charges the companies with one felony count under the CPSA of willfully failing to report consumer product safety information to the CPSC. Under the terms of the DPA, Gree Zhuhai and Gree Hong Kong agreed to a total monetary penalty of $91 million and agreed to provide restitution for any uncompensated victims of fires caused by the companies’ defective dehumidifiers.
Gree USA Inc., a U.S. subsidiary based in City of Industry, California, also is charged in the criminal information. Gree USA has agreed to plead guilty to the same charge of willfully failing to report consumer product safety information to the CPSC.
According to court filings, Gree Zhuhai, Gree Hong Kong and Gree USA (collectively, the Gree Companies) knew their dehumidifiers were defective, failed to meet applicable safety standards and could catch fire, but the companies failed to report that information to the CPSC for months. The companies only reported and recalled the dehumidifiers after consumer complaints of fires and resulting harm continued to mount.
The Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California previously indicted Charley Loh, 63, of Arcadia, California, and Simon Chu, 66, of Chino Hills, California — the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Gree USA, respectively — with felony CPSA and wire fraud charges for their alleged roles in the failure to report the defective dehumidifiers. Loh and Chu have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial starting March 15, 2022, in Los Angeles.
“Manufacturers and distributors must immediately report dangerous consumer products to the CPSC so that actions to protect consumers may be taken as soon as possible,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Companies and executives that purposefully delay reporting to maintain profits will be prosecuted. The Department of Justice will continue to work closely with the CPSC to ensure consumers’ safety.”
“No one should live in fear that a properly used consumer product might cause injury or death to their loved ones,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison for the Central District of California. “Gree’s months-long delay in reporting known problems with their dangerous and defective dehumidifiers was both criminal and costly. Gree’s decision to delay the reporting of its defective dehumidifiers has resulted in the recall of millions of those products and the payment of millions of dollars. We will not allow companies to profit at the expense of consumers’ health and safety.”
“This historic criminal enforcement action should serve notice that the CPSC will use its authority to the fullest to keep American families safe,” said Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric of the CPSC. “Failing to report dangerous products puts consumers at an unnecessary risk and will not be tolerated.”
“Inferior goods represent a serious threat to the integrity of the consumer product supply chain that the public needs to rely on with confidence,” said Special Agent in Charge David A. Prince for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “Defective products like these pose a dangerous threat to consumers, who assume the products they buy are safe and reliable. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively target and investigate those who knowingly jeopardize public safety in the name of profit.”
As part of the DPA and plea agreement, the Gree Companies admitted that, between 2007 and 2013, they sold in the United States more than two million dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree Zhuhai and imported by Gree Hong Kong. In September 2012, employees of the Gree Companies, including high-level executives, learned that the Gree dehumidifiers had defects that could cause them to overheat and catch fire, and that consumers had reported fires caused by the dehumidifiers. Those same employees also knew of the obligation to report dangerous consumer products to the CPSC. Despite this knowledge, Gree USA continued to sell the defective dehumidifiers in the United States for at least another six months. The Gree Companies delayed reporting knowledge of the fires to the CPSC for approximately six months, and did not report the defects in the dehumidifiers for approximately nine months. Ultimately, Gree Zhuhai recalled the defective dehumidifiers almost a year after learning about the products’ dangerous defects.
As part of the criminal resolutions, the Gree Companies have agreed, among other things, to continue to cooperate with the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in any ongoing or future investigations and prosecutions. The Gree Companies also agreed to strengthen their compliance programs and to enhanced reporting requirements that will require the submission of yearly reports to the Justice Department regarding the status of their compliance programs and internal controls, policies and procedures aimed at improving product safety and deterring and detecting violations of the CPSA, as well as the status of remediation efforts. Consistent with Justice Department policy, the DPA with Gree Zhuhai and Gree Hong Kong credits the Gree Companies’ earlier payment of $15.45 million in civil penalties to the CPSC against the agreed-upon $91 million total monetary penalty.
Senior Litigation Counsel Allan Gordus and Trial Attorneys Natalie Sanders and Maryann McGuire of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Johns and Dennis Mitchell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California prosecuted the case with the assistance of Patricia Vieira of the CPSC’s Office of General Counsel. HSI of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Georgia man admits submitting false information to obtain COVID-19 disaster relief fundingRead the Press Release
DUBLIN, GA: A Laurens County, Georgia man has admitted lying to obtain a COVID-19 disaster relief loan and using a large portion of the money to buy a collectible trading card.
Vinath Oudomsine, 31, of Dublin, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with one count of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Oudomsine’s plea subjects him to a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines, followed by up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The unlawful taking of taxpayer dollars is always disgusting, but in this context, the taking from emergency relief funds intended to help our neighbors and their businesses is outrageous,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “I want the hard working citizens of this District to know that this Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who would fraudulently obtain and misuse these relief funds.”
As described in the Information and court proceedings, starting on or around July 2020, Oudomsine applied to the SBA for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) ostensibly for an “entertainment services” business in Dublin with 10 employees and gross revenues of $235,000 in the 12 months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of fraudulent representations on Oudomsine’s application, the SBA deposited $85,000 into Oudomsine’s bank account on Aug. 4, 2020. Oudomsine later used $57,789 of the funds to purchase a Pokémon trading card.
“COVID-19 disaster relief loans are issued by the government to help legitimate businesses who are struggling to survive during the pandemic,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to holding accountable anyone who would abuse taxpayer dollars and divert them from citizens who desperately need them.”
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Oudomsine is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler.
Georgia Couple Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Georgia couple has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.
Jayson E. Wright, 35, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Louis S. Sands on Oct. 28. Co-defendant Kara Wright, 32, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty before Judge Sands to one count of production of child pornography on June 10. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years up to a maximum sentence of thirty years imprisonment to be followed by no less than five years up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count. In addition, both defendants will have to register as a sex offender for life upon release from prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24.
“Jayson Wright and his wife committed heinous and unthinkable acts upon innocent children and did so repeatedly over a number of years. We will seek a sentence commensurate with the egregious conduct involved in this case,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold Jayson and Kara Wright--along with all child predators--fully accountable for exploiting and victimizing the most vulnerable.”
“Wright will now answer for his years-long pattern of abuse and exploitation thanks to great work by HSI and its law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama.
“This case is another example demonstrating the success of the close working relationship between the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the federal agencies that allow us to take really bad people off the streets. To the victims in this case—I hope that knowing that people do care and will work for justice will help bring them some peace of mind,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
According to court documents, Jayson and Kara Wright exploited and manipulated children to engage in sexually explicit acts which were filmed or photographed. Information gathered during the investigation uncovered that Jayson Wright was involved in the Valdosta area Boy Scouts of America from Aug. 2015 until Aug. 2020. Parents and guardians of children whose children may have come into contact with Jayson or Kara Wright are encouraged to contact the following hotlines to share any concerns related to this investigation:
Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Investigations Division: (229) 671-2950
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales is prosecuting the case with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim.
Gaithersburg Brothers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money Laundering in Connection with Elder Romance SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced David Annor, age 28 and Lesley Annor, age 23, both of Gaithersburg, Maryland to federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with a romance scheme in which conspiracy members induced elderly and isolated victims to send money to co-conspirators based on romantic assertions and other misrepresentations. David Annor, Lesley Annor, and their co-conspirators received and laundered the payments from the victims. David Annor was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Lesley Annor was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered the Annors to pay $6,278,250 in restitution.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Director in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS); and Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office (USSS).
“David and Lesley Annor preyed on hundreds of elderly victims around the world. They took advantage of their trust to selfishly obtain millions of dollars in fraud proceeds. Now, they will spend time in federal prison for the severe financial fraud they have inflicted on vulnerable elderly victims,” said United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “This sentencing should serve as a deterrent from others conspiring to defraud our elderly citizens.”
“This investigation is yet another example that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is strongly committed to ensuring the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and will hold those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens accountable for their actions.” said Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s and our law enforcement partners’ commitment to pursuing justice for victims of elder fraud,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “We will continue to track down criminals like Annor and his co-conspirators—who coldheartedly prey on their elderly victims’ isolation, loneliness, and vulnerability and then pocket their hard-earned money—and hold them to account for their cruel scams.”
“We are pleased to see justice served here. These individuals preyed on the elderly making their crimes particularly egregious. The outcome of this collective investigative effort should send a clear message that these types of scams will not be tolerated.” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office.
According to their guilty pleas, between May 2017 and October 2020, David Annor, Lesley Annor, and a co-conspirator participated in a romance scheme that targeted elderly victims online, typically through social media, dating websites, e-mail, and online applications. Once the conspiracy members convinced the victims to trust them, the conspiracy members would instruct the victims to send money to bank accounts and physical addresses linked to David Annor and conspiracy members. Conspirators often received 10 percent of the victim’s money and sent the remainder of the money to co-conspirators located in Ghana.
For example, in September 2018, Victim 2, a woman born in 1957, met an individual claiming to be Brett Fernley on a social media platform. Fernley told Victim 2 that he was an underwater welder from Canada, who resided in Florida and worked near Ireland. After engaging in what Victim 2 thought to be romantic conversations, and gaining Victim 2’s trust, Fernley began asking Victim 2 for money.
In December 2018, Fernley instructed Victim 2 on how to send money to a bank account in the name of Ravid Enterprise, a business bank account opened and controlled by David Annor. Bank records show that Victim 2 wired over $44,800 to the Ravid Enterprise bank account.
Over the course of the scheme, the conspiracy members laundered over $6,200,000 through approximately 34 bank accounts at 11 different financial institutions. At least $3,909,396 in victim payments were made into personal and business bank accounts controlled by David Annor.
The Annor brothers have remained in custody since their arrest on November 16, 2020.
The Department of Justice runs the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), has an interactive tool for elders who have been financially exploited to help determine to which agency they should report their incident, and also a senior scam alert website. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised FBI, USPIS, and the USSS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Windom and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica C. Harvey from the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Gillette Man Indicted for Tax and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that DAVID A. JACKSON, a/k/a GERALD DAVID JACKSON, a/k/a GERALD D. RODERICK-JACKSON, of Gillette, Wyoming was charged by indictment with multiple counts of wire and tax fraud. Jackson appeared for an arraignment hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin on October 27, 2021 and pled not guilty to the charges. A trial has been set for December 31, 2021.
According to charges outlined in the indictment, Jackson was employed as an office manager for two Gillette businesses between October 2017 and April 2019. Part of Jackson’s duties included handling all financial aspects of his employer’s businesses, including collecting, accounting for, and paying over trust fund taxes to the IRS on behalf of his employer. Additionally, Jackson operated a taxi business in Casper and Gillette.
It is alleged that Jackson committed wire fraud by engaging in a scheme to defraud his employer by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises and diverting the financial assets of his employer for his own personal use. It is further alleged that Jackson withheld the trust fund taxes for his employer’s employees but failed to pay these taxes to the IRS. Instead, Jackson caused electronic transfers of payments from his employer’s bank accounts to bank accounts Jackson controlled. Jackson allegedly did not report any of the at least $111,761 of embezzled funds as income on his personal 2018 federal income tax return.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count of willful failure to collect or pay over tax carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge of false statement on a tax return carries a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.Founder of Russian Bank Sentenced for Felony Tax Conviction Arising from Scheme to Evade Exit Tax while Renouncing his U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
The founder of a Russian bank was sentenced today for his felony conviction for filing a false tax return. As required under his plea agreement, prior to sentencing, Oleg Tinkov, aka Oleg Tinkoff, paid $508,936,184, more than double what he had sought to escape paying to the U.S. Treasury through a scheme to renounce his U.S. citizenship and conceal from the IRS large stock gains that he knew were reportable. This includes $248,525,339 in taxes, statutory interest on that tax and a nearly $100 million fraud penalty. Tinkov was additionally fined $250,000, which is the maximum allowed by statute, and sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release.
Tinkov was indicted in Sept. 2019 for willfully filing false tax returns, and was arrested on Feb. 26, 2020, in London, United Kingdom (UK). The United States sought extradition, and Tinkov contested on medical grounds. In public records, Tinkov has disclosed that he is undergoing a UK-based intensive treatment plan for acute myeloid leukemia and graft versus host disease, which has rendered him immunocompromised and unable to safely travel in the foreseeable future.
On Oct. 1, 2021, Tinkov entered a plea to one count of filing a false tax return. According to the plea agreement, Tinkov was born in Russia and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1996. From that time through 2013, he filed U.S. tax returns. In late 2005 or 2006, Tinkov founded Tinkoff Credit Services (TCS), a Russia-based branchless bank that provides its customers with online financial and banking services. Through a foreign entity, Tinkov indirectly held the majority of TCS shares.
In October 2013, TCS held an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange and became a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded company. As part of going public, Tinkov sold a small portion of his majority shareholder stake for more than $192 million, and his assets following the IPO had a fair market value of more than $1.1 billion. Three days after the successful IPO, Tinkov went to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, to relinquish his U.S. citizenship.
As part of his expatriation, Tinkov was required to file a U.S. Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement. This form requires expatriates with a net worth of $2 million or more to report the constructive sale of their assets worldwide to the IRS as if those assets were sold on the day before expatriation. The taxpayer is then required to report and pay tax on the gain from any such constructive sale.
Tinkov was told of his filing and tax obligations by both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and his U.S.-based accountant. When asked by his accountant if his net worth was more than $2 million for purposes of filling out the expatriation form, Tinkov lied and told him he did not have assets above $2 million. When his accountant later inquired whether his net worth was under $2 million, rather than answer the question, Tinkov filled out the expatriation form himself falsely reporting that his net worth was only $300,000. On Feb. 26, 2014, Tinkov filed a 2013 individual tax return that falsely reported his income as only $205,317. In addition, Tinkov did not report any of the gain from the constructive sale of his property worth more than $1.1 billion, nor did he pay the applicable taxes as required by law. In total, Tinkov caused a tax loss of $248,525,339, which he has paid in full with substantial penalties and interest as part of his plea, together with tax liabilities for other years.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California and Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement partners in the UK secured Tinkov’s arrest overseas.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle J. Kane and Colin Sampson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Olivares of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney Peter Anthony and former Assistant Chief Yael T. Epstein of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Former Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Insurance Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Illinois man was sentenced yesterday for defrauding insurance companies in relation to a high-priced drug made by Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company Aegerion Pharmaceuticals Inc., and for using the identities of physicians to carry out the fraud.
Mark Moffett, 49, of Springfield, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2019, Moffett was convicted by a federal jury of nine counts of wire fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft.
“Mr. Moffett exploited his personal relationships with medical staff, stole doctors’ identities, falsified medical documents and deceived insurance companies – all in pursuit of sales bonuses,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “His prison sentence is a reminder that those who engage in healthcare fraud schemes, no matter how sophisticated, will pay for their crimes.”
“Today’s sentence holds Mark Moffett accountable for gaming the healthcare system to line his own pockets. He deceived doctors and patients to boost sales of this powerful drug, and defrauded Medicare in the process. Fraud of this magnitude will not be tolerated because it drives up healthcare costs for all of us,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.
“Today’s sentence shows that fraudsters like Mark Moffett who try to enrich themselves at the expense of federal health care programs and the well-being of beneficiaries will be held accountable for their greed-fueled schemes. Such scams threaten patient health, waste taxpayer funds, and drive-up healthcare costs for all of us,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively root out health care fraud and bring criminals to justice.”
“Working with our law enforcement partners, the Employee Benefits Security Administration continues to investigate and vigorously pursue cases in which participants and private sector health benefit plans are victimized by unscrupulous and illegal pharmaceutical sales practices,” said Carol S. Hamilton, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office.
In 2014 and 2015, Moffett, a pharmaceutical sales representative for Aegerion, marketed the company’s cholesterol drug Juxtapid. Juxtapid was approved by the FDA only to treat high cholesterol in patients with a rare genetic disease called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). The FDA approved the drug only to treat HoFH patients because the drug carried serious risks of side effects, including liver damage. The drug’s label included a black box warning.
Moffett nonetheless convinced doctors to prescribe Juxtapid, which costs over $300,000 per year, for patients without HoFH. In order to defraud Medicare and private sector employee health plans into paying for a drug they only covered for FDA-approved uses, Moffett obtained fraudulent prescriptions and falsified numerous documents, including statements of medical necessity and other insurance documents. This included false patient test results, false clinical histories and false diagnoses. Moffett used the identities of several cardiologists to carry out the fraud. He was paid bonuses by Aegerion of up to $11,000 for each prescription of Juxtapid.
Acting United States Attorney Mendell, FBI Boston SAC Bonavolonta, HSI-OIG SAC Coyne and DOL-EBSA Regional Director Hamilton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil, of Mendell’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit, and Rachel Y. Hemani, of Mendell’s Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
Former Maverick County Detective Indicted for BriberyRead the Press Release
DEL RIO – An Eagle Pass man was arrested yesterday by the FBI in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged role in a bribery scheme.
According to court documents, Fernando Leonel Chacon Jr., 41, allegedly devised a scheme to use his position with the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office to enrich himself by soliciting and accepting bribes of money and other things of value in exchange for removing pending tickets and arrest warrants against citizens.
Chacon is charged by a federal indictment with two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Chacon faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kam is prosecuting the case.
The FBI, Texas Rangers and the Eagle Pass Police Department are investigating this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Florida Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Florida man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Martin Gerardo Perusquia, 55, of Hollywood, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel on October 28, 2021, in Gulfport. Perusquia pleaded guilty to the felony offense on July 27, 2021.
According to court documents, on May 14, 2021, an agent of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team (SMMET), who also is a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy, was on duty along Interstate 10 westbound in Jackson County. The agent conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Perusquia was the driver and sole occupant. Perusquia had in his possession a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver with ammunition. Record checks revealed that he was a felon who had previous convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and bank robbery.
Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The SMMET, a multi-jurisdictional Federal, State and Local, Law Enforcement Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s crime reduction efforts, PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together and develop comprehensive solutions. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Father and Son Convicted of Scheme to Transport Minor Child Between Croatia and Florida for Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Jordan Jysae Pulido (27, Trinity) guilty of enticement and coercion of minor, traveling out of the country to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and transporting a minor into the United States to engage in sexual activity. The jury also found Pulido and his father, Roberto Santana Jimenez (62, Trinity), guilty of conspiracy to transport a minor into the country to engage in sexual activity. Pulido and Jimenez face a minimum mandatory of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. The sentencing hearings are scheduled for January 13, 2022.
Pulido and Jimenez were indicted on September 24, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in September 2017, then 23-year-old Pulido met a 14-year-old child on an online social networking website. At the time, Pulido lived in Florida and the child resided in Croatia. Pulido began a teacher-student relationship with the child and promised to teach the child to play the guitar. After a few months of guitar lessons, Pulido began to pursue a romantic and sexual relationship with the child. For nearly a year, Pulido used the internet to entice and coerce the child to engage in sexual activity with him. During this time, Pulido and Jimenez planned Pulido’s trip to Croatia, and Pulido sought Jimenez’s advice on how to persuade the child to have sex with him when he (Pulido) traveled to Croatia. Jimenez coached Pulido on what to do and say to the child and communicated directly with the child about her relationship with Pulido in an effort to further persuade and coerce her.
On June 14, 2018, Pulido traveled from Florida to Croatia, proposed marriage to the child on her 15th birthday, and engaged in sexual activity with the child. In the month that followed, Pulido and his father conspired to transport and traffic the child from Croatia to Florida so that Pulido could engage in sexual activity with the child. On or about July 23, 2018, Pulido transported the child victim from Croatia to Florida for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the child. Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement rescued the child victim from the Pulido/Jimenez family home in Trinity on August 12, 2018.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Koprivnica-Križevac County Police Administration of the Republic of Croatia Ministry of the Interior Criminal Police, and the International Criminal Police Organization. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Facilitator of Drug Trafficking in Brattleboro SentencedRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Dean Gero, 54, formerly of Brattleboro, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont in connection with his drug trafficking activity. Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford sentenced Gero to a time-served term of incarceration and three years of supervised release.
According to court records and proceedings, in April 2019, Gero sold fentanyl-laced heroin in his apartment at 50 Central Street in Brattleboro. Gero also hosted drug traffickers at the residence in early 2020, providing them a place to cook, store, and sell their narcotics. In March 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the 50 Central Street residence and found approximately 38 grams of cocaine base as well as a handgun and a magazine containing live ammunition.
Gero was initially arrested on August 20, 2020. On August 28, 2020, Gero was released on conditions including a requirement he attend residential treatment for substance misuse, with additional outpatient counseling as recommended by the United States Probation Office to follow. On January 22, 2021, Gero pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl, and remained on release conditions until his sentencing.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police Southern Vermont Drug Task Force, and the Brattleboro Police Department in this matter. “People who assist drug traffickers by permitting them to distribute dangerous narcotics out of their homes play an important role in supporting the for-profit drug trade. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to target for prosecution armed drug trafficking organizations and the people who assist them, while recognizing that successful treatment remains the best tool for reducing both demand for illicit substances and the number of Vermonters willing to support the drug trade.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate handled the prosecution. Gero was represented by Paul Volk, Esq.
Erie Man, 21, Sentenced to 5 Years for Distributing MethRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to five years in jail on his conviction of violating federal drug laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Rodney Domanick Evans, 21.
According to information presented to the court, on or about December 19, 2019, Evans distributed sixty-five grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Erie County Detective Bureau, Erie Police Department and the Millcreek Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Evans.
El Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal Re-Entry of a Deported Alien Previously Convicted of a FelonyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that HECTOR RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ, age 55, was charged in a one-count bill of information for reentry of a deported alien previously convicted of a felony, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)and (b)(2).
According to the bill of information, HECTOR RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ reentered the United States after he was previously deported on October 27, 1992. Furthermore, on or about May 29, 2019, the defendant was convicted of illegal possession of less than two grams of cocaine and aggravated battery in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
If convicted, HECTOR RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Irene Gonzalez is in charge of the prosecution.
East Alton Woman Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Stealing Disabled Daughter’s Social Security FundsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An East Alton, Illinois, woman was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison
for stealing her disabled daughter’s Social Security funds. The sentencing hearing was conducted
this morning in Federal Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.The Social Security Administration administers the Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”)
program. SSI provides a minimum level of income to aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have
limited resources. Disabled children are eligible to receive SSI benefits. For children, SSI
benefits are paid to a representative payee, who is responsible for handling the funds and
reporting to the Social Security Administration. Federal law requires that all SSI funds must be
used for the benefit of the disabled child.According to court documents, Melissa D. Wasylak, 49, applied for her disabled daughter
to receive SSI benefits. Wasylak was appointed as her daughter’s representative payee. In
2008, Wasylak’s daughter stopped living with her and went to live with Wasylak’s ex-husband.
Despite this fact, Wasylak continued to receive her daughter’s SSI funds. As part of
her guilty plea, Wasylak admitted that she did not use those funds for her daughter’s expenses,
but instead used the SSI monies to pay her own personal expenses. This continued until the
situation was reported to the Social Security Administration in May of 2019.In addition to the 14 month prison term, the court also ordered Wasylak to serve a two year period
of supervised release following her release from prison. The court further ordered Wasylak to pay
$58,345 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.The case was investigated by the St. Louis Office of the Social Security Administration – Office of
the Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Scott Verseman prosecuted the case.Dutch National Faces Charges for Participation in Terror Financing RingRead the Press Release
After more than seven years of extradition proceedings in the Netherlands, a Dutch woman brought by the FBI to the United States yesterday made her initial appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to face charges stemming from her alleged participation in a terrorist financing ring in support of the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab.
According to allegations in an indictment, Farhia Hassan, 38, was involved with a group of women from more than a dozen countries around the world who ran a fundraising ring to provide financial support to al-Shabaab from in or about February 2011 through in or about July 2014. Through conduits in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hargeisa, Somalia, the group of women allegedly funneled cash payments via money remitters directly to members of the terrorist group. According to members of the conspiracy, the money was used to fund safehouses and to purchase trucks and weaponry in support of al-Shabaab. The women allegedly coordinated the payments using online chatrooms.
Hassan, in particular, was allegedly involved in fundraising in the Netherlands under false pretenses by representing to donors that money was being collected to fund charitable ventures, such as schools for orphans, when it was in fact being funneled to terrorists. Two U.S.-based members of the fundraising ring, Muna Osman Jama, 41, of Reston, and Hinda Osman Dhirane, 51, of Kent, Washington, were convicted in 2016 for their participation and were sentenced to 12- and 11-years imprisonment, respectively.
Hassan is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Gillis and Danya E. Atiyeh for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kathleen Campbell of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from the Netherlands.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dutch National Faces Charges for Participation in Terror Financing RingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – After more than seven years of extradition proceedings in the Netherlands, a Dutch woman brought by the FBI to the United States yesterday made her initial appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to face charges stemming from her alleged participation in a terrorist financing ring in support of the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab.
According to allegations in an indictment, Farhia Hassan, 38, was involved with a group of women from more than a dozen countries around the world who ran a fundraising ring to provide financial support to al-Shabaab from in or about February 2011 through in or about July 2014. Through conduits in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hargeisa, Somalia, the group of women allegedly funneled cash payments via money remitters directly to members of the terrorist group. According to members of the conspiracy, the money was used to fund safehouses and to purchase trucks and weaponry in support of al-Shabaab. The women allegedly coordinated the payments using online chatrooms.
Hassan, in particular, was allegedly involved in fundraising in the Netherlands under false pretenses by representing to donors that money was being collected to fund charitable ventures, such as schools for orphans, when it was in fact being funneled to terrorists. Two U.S.-based members of the fundraising ring, Muna Osman Jama, 41, of Reston, and Hinda Osman Dhirane, 51, of Kent, Washington, were convicted in 2016 for their participation and were sentenced to 12 and 11 years imprisonment, respectively.
Hassan is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark J. Lesko, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Steven M. D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Gillis and Danya E. Atiyeh are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-230.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Prison for Abusing Teenage GirlRead the Press Release
A Lubbock sex offender has been sentenced to life in federal prison for abusing a 15-year-old girl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Jason Lee Guthrey, who was already a registered sex offender at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty in June to enticement of a minor. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.
“Today’s life sentence is a commitment from law enforcement that we will not allow the defendant to intimidate, coerce or assault a child again,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “I am grateful for the work of the investigative team on this specific case, and their continued pursuit for justice as they work to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”
According to plea papers, a truck driver discovered the young girl sitting on the side of the road in freezing weather on Nov. 30, 2020. Jane Doe later told law enforcement she’d left her home to get away from Mr. Guthrey, who was dating one of her relatives and who had sexually assaulted her in her sleep on several occasions.
In text messages, Mr. Guthrey, then 44, pleaded with the girl not to reveal the abuse:
“l'm am [sic] truly sorry for that I don't want you to be mad at me,” he wrote in a series of texts in early November. “Please keep this between you and me please.”
“I’m sorry about the things that I have wanted to do with you but I will never do anything that will hurt you. I am sure that I can be a great guy,” he continued a few weeks later. "And please keep this between us.”
At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued that Mr. Guthrey was a dangerous child predator who refused to take responsibility for his actions. In fact, as an attempt to excuse his behavior at the hearing, Mr. Guthrey claimed he was “still friends” with a prior minor victim of his, and further claimed his advances on the current victim were simply the result of drug use.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Lubbock Resident Agency and the Lubbock Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
Convicted Money Launderer Sentenced for Second Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hingham man who was previously convicted of money laundering was sentenced on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 in connection with a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
Yannick A. Minang, a/k/a “Africa,” 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Sarris to 52 months in prison. In September 2020, Minang pleaded guilty five counts of wire fraud, one count of unlawful monetary transactions and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Minang conspired with co-conspirator Bintu Toure and others to open numerous bank accounts in Massachusetts in the name of sham companies, as part of an apparent business email compromise (BEC) scheme. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated scam often targeting businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques to cause employees of the victim company (or other individuals involved in legitimate business transactions) to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers.
Through the use of fraudulent invoices and spoofed email accounts, Minang conspired to trick the victims of the scheme into wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts under his control. Minang and his co-conspirators then transferred funds from the accounts to others located overseas.
On April 16, 2021, Toure was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and forfeiture after previously pleading guilty to a separate wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
In September 2019, Minang was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to his role in a separate BEC scheme.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Brady of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Convicted Corporate Securities Fraudsters Sentenced to 22 and 12 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Nathaniel A. Brown and Benjamin J. Wylam and were sentenced to 22 months and 366 days in prison, respectively, for their separate roles in a scheme to engage in transactions in corporate securities using material nonpublic information about Sunnyvale-based Infinera Corporation (“Infinera”), announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair. The sentences were handed down by the Honorable Edward M. Chen, United States District Judge, following their guilty plea.
Brown, 49, and Wylam, 42, both of San Jose, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charges in separate plea agreements on July 14, 2021. Further, in a related case, on March 31, 2021, Naveen Sood, 49, of Campbell, Calif., signed a written agreement in connection with submitting his guilty plea.
According to Brown’s plea agreement, Brown admitted that, between 2011 and 2017, he was employed as a Senior Revenue Manager at Infinera. The technology company’s common shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol INFN. During Brown’s employment at Infinera, he was regularly privy to material nonpublic information about Infinera’s financial performance and financial projections. Beginning in or about April 2016 and continuing until the termination of his employment from Infinera in November 2017, Brown admitted that he regularly shared material nonpublic information that he obtained during his employment with Wylam. Brown admitted he knew Wylam intended to, and did, use the material nonpublic information to purchase Infinera securities in advance of Infinera’s quarterly public earnings announcements.
According to Wylam’s plea agreement, Wylam admitted that between April 2016 and November 2017, he obtained material nonpublic information about Infinera, and then engaged in transactions in Infinera securities. Wylam admitted that he obtained this material nonpublic information directly from Brown. As with Brown, Wylam admitted Infinera’s common shares were registered pursuant to section 12(b) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol INFN. Wylam acknowledged the gross gains he made from trading based on material nonpublic information belonging to Infinera that he received from Brown amounted to approximately $999,959.
The plea agreements further revealed the steps Brown and Wylam took to conceal their actions and relationship. Both men admitted to having begun using the messaging application WhatsApp to communicate with each other because of its encrypted communications and as an extra measure to conceal the facts that Brown was providing Wylam with material nonpublic information and that the two were friends. Both men admitted that Wylam also “unfriended” Brown on Facebook to achieve these ends.
According to Sood’s plea agreement, Sood admitted he used his own and another person’s brokerage accounts to execute trades based upon material nonpublic information and that he acquired no less than $215,000 in criminal proceeds from violations of the law that are described in his plea agreement.
Brown, Wylam, and Sood each were charged with one count of securities fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1348, and each defendant pleaded guilty to the count.
During Brown’s and Wylam’s sentencing proceedings, in addition to prison terms, Judge Chen also ordered forfeiture money judgments against the two defendants. As to Wylam, the court ordered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $999,000; as to Brown, the court ordered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $30,000. In addition, both defendants were ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release to begin after their prison term. The defendants will begin serving their prison terms on or before January 10, 2022.
Judge Chen scheduled Sood’s sentencing for December.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Waldinger of the Special Prosecutions Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California is prosecuting the case with assistance from Kathy Tat. This case was investigated by the FBI. The Department of Justice appreciates the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Stolen Firearms Offenses and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Connecticut man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield in connection with stealing 17 firearms from a West Springfield gun shop and making false statements to federal agents.
Christian Castro, 31, of New Britain, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 14, 2021, Castro pleaded guilty to one count each of theft of a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee; being a felon in possession of firearm; interstate transportation of a stolen firearm; receipt, possession, concealment, storage, barter, sale, or disposition of a stolen firearm in interstate commerce; and making false statements to a federal official.
Shortly after midnight on or about Aug. 29, 2020, Castro and co-defendant Fernando Rivera engaged in a crime spree in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts that included seven ATM thefts or attempted thefts and culminated in the theft of 17 firearms from a federal firearms licensee in West Springfield. At the time of his offenses, Castro was on state probation and had two prior convictions in Connecticut for larceny and possessing narcotics with intent to distribute.
On Sept. 18, 2020, federal agents arrested Castro and Rivera at their homes in Connecticut. During his interview with investigators, Castro admitted that he drove to and from several ATM robberies and the gun store robbery, but falsely stated he never received, kept or even touched any of the stolen guns. However, during a search of Rivera’s phone, investigators learned that Castro had received at least one of the stolen firearms and that he and Rivera traveled to New York City to sell at least three others to another felon whom Castro had met in a Connecticut prison.
On May 5, 2021, Rivera pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield, Hadley, West Springfield, New Britain (Conn.) and Middletown (Conn.) Police Departments; Connecticut State Police; Connecticut Department of Correction; and Connecticut Judicial Branch Adult Probation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Clay County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding FEMARead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Rebecca F. Bragg, 37, was sentenced to one month in federal prison for fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits. Bragg will also serve a three year term of supervised release, seven months of which will be served on home confinement. She also paid $4,900 in restitution to FEMA.
According to court documents, in June 2016, at the time of a major flood, Bragg resided in a home in Procious, Clay County, that was owned by her husband’s parents. On June 26, 2016, Bragg applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for both personal and rental assistance for the Procious residence. As a result of her application for rental assistance, Bragg received $2,472 from FEMA. Initially FEMA deemed Bragg ineligible for home repair assistance because she had not proven she owned the home at the time of the flood. On July 20, 2016, through her previous employer, Bragg applied for and obtained home insurance for the Procious residence, wherein she falsely claimed she was the home owner. On August 9, 2016, from her previous employer’s office in Spencer, Roane County, Bragg faxed to FEMA the home insurance policy that listed her as the property owner. As a result of Bragg’s false statements and misrepresentations, she received $4,900.85 in home repair benefits from FEMA.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson handled the prosecution.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.
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. 2:21-cr-00103.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty to a federal gun crime.
According to statements made in court, Emmanuel Lamont Covington, 30, pawned a stolen derringer pistol at a local pawn shop. Covington admitted to possessing the firearm and pawning it to pay bills, and also admitted to knowing that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of having a prior felony conviction. Covington was convicted of a felony drug conspiracy in 2016.
Morris pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on February 17, 2022.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is handling the prosecution.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.
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. 2:21-cr-00128.
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Capitol Heights Narcotics Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Distribution and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Larry Francis Newman, Jr., age 37, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on September 5, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Newman’s Capitol Heights, Maryland residence. As a result of the search warrant, officers recovered a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, 28.22 grams of crack cocaine divided into 547 individual baggies, 40.19 grams of cocaine, 106 vials of PCP, a bottle containing 21.71 grams of PCP, several empty vials containing PCP residue, and a digital scale from Newman’s bedroom.
Newman knowingly possessed the crack cocaine, cocaine, and PCP with the intent to distribute them. Newman possessed the loaded firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Newman and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Newman will be sentenced to between 61 months and 96 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for March 16, 2022 at 10 a.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Michael Morgan, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Canton Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Exploiting a Child and Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jacob Leonard, age 31, of Canton, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 25 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child and distributing and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his previous guilty plea, Leonard admitted that he sexually exploited a minor child and focused the camera of his cellular telephone on the victim’s vaginal area for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the victim’s genitals. A week later Leonard sent that digital picture to another individual using a social media messaging application over the internet. A subsequent search of Leonard’s cellular telephone revealed that he was also in possession of 33 images and 18 video files depicting child pornography including videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 25 year term of supervised release, which will start after Leonard is released from prison, and ordered Leonard to pay a $300 special assessment. Leonard will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Leonard’s case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Camden County Woman Admits Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, woman today admitted attempting to bribe a witness to steal a gun from a car that was in the custody of the Camden County Police Department, pending the execution of a search warrant, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Saidah A. Davis, “Sacha,” 41, of Woodlynne, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to an indictment charging her with witness tampering.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Davis admitted that on April 16, 2021, she and codefendant Anthony D. Parker, aka “Papa Smurf,” 37, of Camden, went to the home of an individual who she knew worked at a Camden tow lot that impounded vehicles that were seized by the Camden County Police Department for criminal investigations. Davis, an acquaintance of a relative of the tow lot employee, explained that Parker had a problem, and she asked the employee if he could help Parker. Parker said that his vehicle had been seized by the police pending a search warrant application, and that there was a gun and cash inside the vehicle. Parker offered the tow lot employee $2,000 to break into the vehicle and remove the gun and cash. The tow lot employee refused the bribe, and Davis took the employee’s phone number and said, “we’ll be in touch.”
Parker is charged by indictment with witness tampering and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 29, 2021.
The witness tampering charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing for Davis is scheduled for March 3, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Herrick in Philadelphia; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; and officers of the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez; with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Harberg of the Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations against Parker are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COVID-19 Task Force Nets Florida Duct Cleaning Company; Settles False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Sextant Marine Consulting LLC (Sextant), a Florida-based duct cleaning company, has agreed to pay $30,000 in damages and civil penalties to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining more than one Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2020. Sextant also repaid the duplicative PPP funds in full to its lender, relieving the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) of liability to the lender for the federal guaranty of approximately $170,000 on the improper loan.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. Throughout 2020, PPP loan applicants were required to certify that they would not receive more than one PPP loan prior to Dec. 31, 2020. This settlement resolves allegations that Sextant applied for and received a second, duplicative PPP loan in 2020.
“When the Paycheck Protection Program was implemented over one year ago, our Office committed to protecting South Floridians from those trying to exploit the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “Our work is not done. We will continue to hold accountable those who wrongfully obtain funds intended to help struggling small businesses survive the current health and economic crisis.”
“PPP loans were intended to provide critical relief to small businesses so that they could retain employees and keep their doors open,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will ensure that those who improperly obtain federally guaranteed PPP loans are held accountable.”
“The Paycheck Protection Program is intended to provide a lifeline to the nation’s small businesses and its employees” said Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG). “OIG will aggressively investigate allegations of wrongdoing in SBA’s pandemic response programs. I want to thank the Department of Justice for its dedication to achieving this settlement.”
“The settlement in this matter demonstrates the excellent results achieved through the combined efforts of SBA and the Department of Justice to uncover and forcefully respond to Paycheck Protection Program fraud,” said General Counsel Peggy Delinois Hamilton of the SBA Office of the General Counsel. “SBA is strongly committed to identifying and aggressively pursuing instances of fraud perpetrated by those taking advantage of SBA COVID-19 assistance programs.”
Wednesday’s civil settlement includes the resolution of a claim brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by J. Bryan Quesenberry. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Mr. Quesenberry will receive $4,500. The matter remains under seal as to allegations against entities other than Sextant.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Weinkle of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jared S. Wiesner of the Civil Division.
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.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also 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 claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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.
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Colorado Man Sentenced to Prison for Investment Fraud and Securities FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that a Colorado man was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to federal crimes arising from two schemes to defraud investors in Wyoming and around the country. On October 15, 2021, ROBERT WILLIAM MITCHELL, a.k.a. BOB MITCHELL, age 53, of Centennial, Colorado, was sentenced to serve a total of 65 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne for mail fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud.
Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a Wyoming natural gas production venture. According to court records, Mitchell solicited investments he claimed would be used to create a publicly traded, natural gas production company in Wyoming. Instead of developing any company or safeguarding the investors’ money as promised, Mitchell used the money to pay his personal expenses and to finance the scheme. Mitchell stole over $1.3 million dollars from about three dozen investors, most of whom lived in and around Gillette, Wyoming. For this crime, Mitchell was sentenced to 65 months in prison.
Mitchell also previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in relation to the common stock of NuTech Energy Resources Inc. Specifically, Mitchell conspired to pump and dump NuTech stock. A “pump and dump” is a form of securities fraud where the conspirators manipulate demand for a stock and the stock’s price, and then sell their worthless shares of the stock to the public at the artificially high price. In this case, the conspirators bought control of a publicly traded shell company called EcoEmissions Solutions Inc. and changed the company’s name to NuTech Energy Resources, and the company’s stock was sold under the ticker symbol NERG. The conspirators released information online to create a false image for NuTech as a company located in Gillette that was operating gas wells in Wyoming using a patented technology. In reality, NuTech had no business, no revenue, and no paid employees in Wyoming or elsewhere. The conspirators used altered, backdated and forged documents to acquire 13 billion free-trading shares of NuTech common stock. The conspirators then artificially inflated the market price of NuTech common stock by manipulative trading and by releasing to the public false and misleading information about NuTech’s business prospects. When the market price increased based on this false information, the conspirators then sold their worthless NuTech shares to unwitting investors in the public market, including investors in Wyoming and around the world. For his part in this crime, Mitchell was sentenced to 60 months in prison. This sentence is to be served concurrent to the 65-month sentence for mail fraud.
Two of Mitchell’s co-conspirators, Justin Herman and Charles “Chuck” Winters Jr., were convicted on October 8, 2021, following a jury trial in Cheyenne of crimes arising from the NuTech pump-and-dump conspiracy. A third man, Florida attorney Ian Horn, was acquitted of charged fraud crimes but convicted of making a false statement to the grand jury during the investigation of the NuTech pump and dump. Herman, Winters, and Horn are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Johnson in Cheyenne on January 5, 2022.
“The prison sentence imposed on Mr. Mitchell is a measure of justice for his victims,” said Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray, “and sends a clear message that criminals who defraud investors in Wyoming will be tracked down, prosecuted, and severely punished.”
“This sentence serves as a strong deterrent to anyone who considers using the U.S. Mail to further their criminal schemes,” said Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Denver Division, which includes Wyoming. “Postal Inspectors never relent in their search for bringing justice to victims of deceptive scams like those perpetrated by Mr. Mitchell, and we’re glad that the victims in this case can rest assured Mr. Mitchell will serve prison time for his offenses,” said Mendonça.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Heimann and Thomas Szott prosecuted the defendants. The Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) assisted in the investigation and prosecution.Casper Man Sentenced in Conspiracy Involving Methamphetamine and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that JOSEPH ANTHONY HOOKER, age 29, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 20, 2021 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hooker received 120 months on the drug count and 60 months consecutive on the gun count, for a total sentence of 180 months. In addition, the court ordered him to serve five years of supervised release, to pay $400 in restitution, and to pay a $200 special assessment.
Hooker was involved in bringing substantial amounts of methamphetamine into Casper from the Cheyenne, Wyoming area. Hooker would then redistribute the methamphetamine through numerous other people, largely in the Casper area. Hooker’s actions were significant, not only for the amount of methamphetamine involved, but also for the use of firearms throughout the conspiracy.
“We are determined to dismantle armed drug trafficking rings” said Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray. “Carrying a gun increases the already intolerable threat drug trafficking brings to the law-abiding citizens of our communities. That increased threat is reflected in this sentence by adding a consecutive term of five years in federal prison.”
This prosecution and related prosecutions were the result of a long-term investigation by the Wyoming Division of Investigation Central Enforcement Team. Hooker was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Blonigen.Casper Felon Sentenced on Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that EVAN AUBREY ARMSTRONG, age 40 of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced on October 21, 2021 by Federal District Court Chief Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, to 86 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 60 months for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The sentences will run consecutively followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered Armstrong to pay $250 in community restitution and a $200 special assessment.
During the surveillance at his residence and a traffic stop, law enforcement discovered Armstrong, a previously convicted felon, was in possession of $1,700 in cash, 17.4 grams of methamphetamine on his person and a backpack with materials consistent with redistribution of methamphetamine. In addition, there was a loaded Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun next to him in the vehicle. A search of his residence unveiled additional methamphetamine and firearms.
“All the evidence in this case points to an ongoing criminal enterprise that involved large amounts of methamphetamine and illegal firearms,” said Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray. “The community of Casper should feel a little safer with one less violent criminal off the streets.”
This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Casper Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Blonigen.Bulgarian National Sentenced for ATM SkimmingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Bulgarian national was sentenced yesterday in connection with a scheme to create counterfeit ATM cards and to withdraw money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting customers.
Anatoli Mitrev, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 19 months in prison and was ordered to pay $199,624 in restitution. On Aug. 16, 2021, Mitrev pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
Mitrev and co-conspirator Georgi Kanev installed skimmers and cameras on two Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank ATMs over a period of approximately four weeks in July and August 2013. The devices allowed the defendants to obtain magnetic strip information from ATM customers as well as obtain their PIN numbers. The information was then used to create counterfeit ATM cards to withdraw funds from the compromised accounts.
In May 2021, Judge Sorokin sentenced Kanev to 30 months in prison, one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $199,624.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Frederick J. Regan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Edgartown Police Department and the Oak Bluffs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Bond Denied for Chinese Businessman Charged in South Florida Federal Court with Visa FraudRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A 57-year-old Chinese businessman who is charged in a federal grand jury indictment with entering the United States using fraudulently-obtained visas will remain behind bars pending trial in Miami.
Jianxiang Shi was arrested this week at a convention in Las Vegas, Nevada where he was promoting a cryptocurrency venture. He made his first federal court appearance yesterday before a magistrate judge in Las Vegas. During the appearance, the federal magistrate judge ordered Shi detained pending his trial in Miami, finding that Shi presents a risk of flight if released. Future court proceedings will occur in the Southern District of Florida.
According to the superseding indictment unsealed yesterday, Shi lied in order to obtain two non-immigrant visas, which he then used to enter the United States, at Miami International Airport, in 2016. Shi represented in both applications that he had never used another name when, in fact, he had an alternate identity and travel documents under the name “Long Niu,” it is alleged. Shi used travel documents with the Long Niu identity to enter the United States in February 2017, and has been living in California and Nevada as “Morgan Shi” since leaving China, prosecutors alleged during yesterday’s court hearing.
The superseding indictment charges Shi with two counts of fraud and misuse of United States nonimmigrant visas. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jessica Moore, Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), made the announcement.
DSS investigated this matter with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Operations Division (DEA-SOD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Zloch is handling asset forfeiture.
A superseding indictment is only an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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-20421.
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Bloomington Physician Charged with Fifteen Counts of Unlawful Dispensing and Distributing of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A federal grand jury indicted a Bloomington, Illinois, doctor, Richard Sabbun, 61, on September 21, 2021, for allegedly unlawfully dispensing and distributing controlled substances from February 3, 2017 through February 6, 2020, in McLean County and elsewhere within the Central District of Illinois. The indictment was unsealed on October 28, 2021, during Sabbun’s initial appearance in federal court in Peoria, Illinois.
The indictment alleges that Sabbun was employed as an emergency room physician during the relevant time period. As part of his employment, Sabbun received a “DEA Number” that allowed him to write prescriptions for controlled substances. A valid prescription must be signed and issued by an authorized physician in the usual course of professional practice and for legitimate medical purpose. Each of the fifteen counts against Sabbun allege that he provided prescriptions for controlled substances that were outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
Sabbun was released on bond, and his next court appearance is set for December 15, 2021.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each count charged are up to 40 years of imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years of supervised release. Special assessments also apply.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Beckley Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Heroin DistributionRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for distribution of heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Greg Anthony Waters, Jr., 27, sold approximately 3.5 grams of heroin to a confidential informant working with law enforcement on January 9, 2020. Waters admitted to meeting the informant in Beckley to sell the drugs. Waters also admitted to selling cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl on several other occasions between January 9, 2020 and September 18, 2020. Multiple firearms were seized by law enforcement during a search of Waters’ apartment on September 30, 2020. Waters admitted that he was prohibited from possessing the firearms due to a prior felony conviction in Illinois.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which is comprised of officers from the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley Police Department and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00012.
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Austin Construction Company and Owner Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas announced today that Muniz Concrete and Contracting, Inc. (“Muniz Concrete”) and its owner, Jose Juan Muniz, have agreed to pay $188,879.59 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying their compliance with certain requirements of the Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) program.
The DBE program is designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the continuing effects of past discrimination in federally assisted highway, transit, airport, and highway safety financial assistance transportation contracts. Only small businesses that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may participate in the program.
The United States alleged that Jose Muniz was no longer “economically disadvantaged” beginning in 2017, when his personal net worth exceeded the threshold to qualify as a DBE. According to the United States, Jose Muniz made several false certifications concerning his personal net worth after 2017 so that Muniz Concrete could obtain federally assisted DBE contracts awarded by the City of Austin and the Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority.
The civil settlement of these allegations includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Mark Williamson. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Williamson v. Muniz Concrete & Contracting, Inc., et al., 1:20-cv-00530-LY (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Parnham represented the United States in this matter, with the assistance of the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Restores the Office for Access to JusticeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the restoration of a standalone Office for Access to Justice within the Justice Department dedicated to improving the federal government’s understanding of and capacity to address the most urgent legal needs of communities across America.
“Making real the promise of equal justice under law was the founding principle of the Department of Justice and is the mission for which it must always stand,” said Attorney General Garland. “There can be no equal justice without equal access to justice. And because we do not yet have equal access to justice in America, the task before us is urgent.”
Today’s announcement is the first step in the Attorney General’s phased strategic plan to restore and expand the emphasis on access to justice within the department and throughout the federal government. The plan, which was submitted to the President last month, resulted from a strategic review process launched by the Attorney General in May, which engaged a wide range of stakeholders across all levels of government and beyond nationwide – including civil legal aid and public-defender organizations; pro bono practitioners; bar associations; data scientists; and leaders in environmental justice, economic justice and immigration reform. The review revealed that longstanding justice gaps in our country have been exposed and exacerbated by COVID-19. It identified a clear and immediate need for the restoration of a standalone office within the Justice Department dedicated to the mission of closing those gaps.
“As the only agency in our federal government that bears the name of a value, the Justice Department has a unique charge,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Justice exists only if it is accessible to all. For this reason, the Attorney General’s decision to rebuild the Office for Access to Justice and expand our efforts to remove the barriers to equal justice under law is a critical step.”
In addition to restoring the Office for Access to Justice within the Justice Department, in his capacity as co-chair of the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (Roundtable), Attorney General Garland also released the Roundtable’s 2021 report together with White House Counsel Dana Remus. The Roundtable, which the President reconvened earlier this year, brings together more than two dozen federal departments and agencies across the federal government to address the most pressing legal services challenges that low-income communities, communities of color, and many others across our country face today. The report released today details efforts across the federal government to drive innovation and expand access to justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anchorage Businessman Agrees to Pay $397,990 for COVID-Relief Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage businessman has entered into a global resolution with the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Alaska to resolve federal investigations into his fraudulently obtaining $164,000 in small business loans and advances under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The global resolution includes a criminal non-prosecution agreement and civil settlement agreement.
According to the settlement documents, Robert Gross, 65, submitted fraudulent and misleading information to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) loans and advances, a source of relief under the CARES Act. While applying for the EIDL program between April 6 and September 3, 2020, Gross made false statements about the revenue, number of employees and related wages of the six entities in which he had ownership interests, specifically:
- Glacier State Services, Inc.
- Bistro IT, LLC
- RB Enterprises, LLC
- Meritage Management Co.
- AK Denali Group, LLC
- 32 Mile Investments, LLC.
As part of the criminal non-prosecution agreement, Gross admitted making fraudulent statements and agreed to terms in lieu of criminal prosecution. In the civil settlement agreement, Gross agreed to repay the loans in full, plus damages in the amount of $242,990 to the United States.
“During a global pandemic, the defendant took advantage of aid programs designed as a lifeline providing critical relief for hardworking people in our communities impacted by COVID,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who exploit the CARES Act.”
“Making false statements to fraudulently gain access to SBA program funds is deplorable,” said SBA Office of Inspector General’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “SBA OIG will relentlessly pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its leadership and dedication to pursuing justice.”
“While small businesses across the nation, including here in Alaska, continue to suffer due to the ongoing pandemic, the defendant chose to exploit the relief programs designed to help businesses in time of need,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our federal partners will continue to work closely to detect and hold accountable those who take advantage of public health emergencies.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General, Western Regional Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Fonstad and Michael Heyman prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-Relief can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL program funds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses. The CARES Act was enacted on March 27, 2020, to provide emergency assistance to individuals, families and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Among other things the CARES Act simplified the EIDL program application process and allocated additional funding to the EIDL program.
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