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Friday 29 October 2021
Albuquerque man appears in court on robbery chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thomas Kelly Fadgen, 41, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 28 facing charges of bank robbery and interfering with commerce by threats or violence. Fadgen will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Nov. 1.
According to a criminal complaint, on Aug. 31, Fadgen allegedly entered a Walmart on Wyoming Boulevard in Albuquerque and approached the money services counter. He allegedly placed an orange bag on the counter, along with a demand note with which the service counter clerk complied. Fadgen allegedly fled the scene, leaving the demand note behind.
On Oct. 5, Fadgen allegedly entered the First Convenience Bank inside the Walmart on Carlisle Boulevard in Albuquerque. He allegedly presented a demand note to a teller and lifted his shirt to display a handgun in the waistband of his pants. The teller complied and Fadgen allegedly fled the scene.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Fadgen faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico Corrections Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting the case.
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200 kilograms of methamphetamine seized from Gwinnett County homeRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Almarud Duarte, David Garcia, Kevin Tello, and Eduardo Penaloza-Pacheco have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to sell methamphetamine by the kilogram. When law enforcement searched their residences, they seized approximately 200 kilograms of methamphetamine, the bulk of it coming from Garcia’s residence in Duluth.
“This case highlights the great work resulting from a partnership between federal law enforcement and state/local authorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “We believe countless lives have been saved now that this meth is not plaguing our communities.”
“This is a significant amount of poison that will not make it into our communities, driving crime and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners are committed to finding arresting and prosecuting everyone involved in this illicit trade.”
“Removing these four defendants from our streets for their alleged drug trafficking activity, immediately makes our communities safer,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners work tirelessly to rid communities of dangerous drugs that threaten our citizens lives.”
“When investigations like these have such extraordinary outcomes, they make headlines, and rightly so,” said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “Drugs taken off the streets and criminals in jail can only make our communities safer. I do, however, want to commend our MANS Unit agents and assisting agencies for the extremely hard work they put into the case. Without these men and women, the headlines wouldn’t be possible.”
“The Georgia State Patrol will continue working collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners in identifying and arresting people who purchase and distribute illegal drugs. This case represents teamwork among all the agencies involved and demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to getting dangerous drugs off the streets of our communities,” said Lt. W. Mark Riley, Georgia Department of Public Safety, Georgia State Patrol.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the indictment, and other information presented in court: From May 2021 to August 2021, Almarud Duarte allegedly sold methamphetamine by the kilogram, shortly after obtaining the methamphetamine from Kevin Tello or David Garcia. On June 28, 2021, Eduardo Penaloza-Pacheco allegedly sold a kilogram of methamphetamine, shortly after obtaining the methamphetamine from Kevin Tello.
Almarud Duarte, 25, of Oakwood, Georgia, David Garcia, 40, of Duluth, Georgia, Kevin Tello, 26, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Eduardo Penaloza-Pacheco, 36, of Gainesville, Georgia, were indicted on October 26.2021. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Gwinnett Metro Task Force, the DEA, the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, and the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Thursday 28 October 2021
Washington Man Sentenced to Almost Three Years for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A former resident of Olympia, Washington was sentenced today in federal court for transmitting threatening interstate communications, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jesus W. Kong, 28, to a sentence of time served and one year of supervised release. Kong has been custody since his arrest on these charges in Olympia, Washington, on December 4, 2018. He pleaded guilty on May 26, 2021.
According to court records, Kong made several threatening and harassing posts on Facebook between about November 24, 2018, and January 22, 2019. In some of those posts, he threatened to harm employees of a Maine organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities. In other posts, he threatened a shooting at a Maine high school.
The FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Augusta Police Department, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Skowhegan Police Department investigated the case.
Washington D.C. Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Diego E. Aleman-Lozano, age 22, of Washington D.C., was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 27, 2021, with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on September 27, 2021, in York County, Aleman-Lozano was in possession of a 9mm Self Made Firearm (SMF), Polymer80 Semi-Automatic Pistol, and various rounds of ammunition as a prohibited person.
The matter was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Miovas, Jr. is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a nonimmigrant offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Vallejo Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — William Michael Nitschke, 52, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 22, 2019, Nitschke was found to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun. Nitschke has sustained multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Ulster County Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nicholas Rockwell, age 27, of Hurley, New York, was sentenced today to serve 210 months in prison for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Rockwell admitted that on October 11, 2019, he used a social media messaging application to send and receive numerous child pornography videos to another man over the Internet. Rockwell also admitted that at the time of his federal arrest on December 19, 2019, he possessed on his iPhone, and in two cloud-based storage accounts, approximately 2,000 images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
In additional to the term of imprisonment, Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will follow the term of incarceration, and ordered Rockwell to pay a total of $18,000 in restitution to six victims. Rockwell will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
U.S. Attorney's Office Launches "FED-UP,” a School-Based Program Addressing Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
As part of an ongoing effort to address gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with Project Longevity, Bridgeport Hospital, the Bridgeport Police Department and several community organizations, has developed “FED-UP: Working Together For A Safer Community,” a school-based anti-gun violence program.
FED-UP is designed to address and help stop increasing gun violence that is destroying the lives of students, their families and friends, and their community. Geared toward students in the 6th through 10th grades, the FED-UP presentation includes a representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office presenting statistics on gun violence around the country and in the local community, and techniques that law enforcement use to investigate gun crimes; a hospital representative describing the trauma room, the victim experience, gunshot wounds, and statistics on death and survival; a parent or relative of someone who has been lost to gun violence; a formerly incarcerated person; and a representative from Project Longevity discussing community options and programs to lead students away from gun violence.
“FED-UP is a valuable program that teaches kids not only about the current state of gun violence in their community, of which they are well aware, but it encourages them to understand that what they are experiencing with gun violence is not normal or acceptable, that there is nothing wrong with being angry or scared by it, and that they can help put an end to it,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle. “We hope that FED-UP will stimulate students to engage, provide ideas on how to end gun violence, and learn about how their community can provide alternative, positive options.”
FED-UP launched in September in Bridgeport and, to date, the presentation has reached more than 500 students. Additional presentations in Bridgeport schools are scheduled through the remainder of the school year. FED-UP will soon be made available to schools in Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. School administrators in those cities who would like to learn about FED-UP and schedule a presentation are encouraged to contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis at [email protected] or 203-821-3700.
Two Men Indicted for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment today against Juan Manriquez, 20, of Antioch, and Andrew Tuma, 19, of Sacramento, charging them with unlawful manufacturing and dealing in firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Tuma used the Snapchat app to advertise narcotics and guns for sale. Law enforcement used undercover officers and a confidential informant to buy guns from Tuma. Tuma is 19 years old and cannot legally purchase a gun in the state of California. Instead, Tuma ordered kits from the internet, including from a company called Polymer80, a licensed firearms manufacturer in Nevada, and manufactured his own firearms and then sold the guns. As part of the undercover investigation, law enforcement purchased firearms from Manriquez. Manriquez sold both commercially manufactured guns that had been converted to machine guns and privately made firearms without serial numbers (commonly called “ghost guns”).
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Western El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Tuma and Manriquez face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Two Members of the Violent Extremist Group “the Base” Each Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Firearms and Alien-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced two members of the racially motivated violent extremist group “The Base” each to nine year in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for firearms and alien-related charges arising from federal charges in Maryland and Delaware. Judge Chuang found that, based on additional evidence presented by the government at a hearing on October 25, 2021, the defendants committed these crimes with the intent to promote federal terrorism crimes.
Brian Mark Lemley, Jr., age 35, of Elkton, Maryland, and Newark, Delaware, previously pleaded guilty to the Maryland charges of conspiracy to transport certain aliens, to transporting certain aliens, to disposing of a firearm and ammunition to an illegal alien, and to transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; and for the Delaware charges of harboring certain aliens, aiding and abetting an alien in possession of a firearm, and obstruction of justice.
Canadian national Patrik Jordan Mathews, age 29, recently of Newark, Delaware, previously pleaded guilty to the Maryland and Delaware charges of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition; for the Maryland charge of transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; and for the Delaware charge of obstruction of justice.
A third co-defendant and member of “The Base,” William Garfield Bilbrough IV, age 21, of Denton, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport an alien and to transporting the alien, specifically, The Base member Patrik Mathews, and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Today’s sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
“Lemley, Mathews and others in The Base were assembling firearms and collecting thousands of rounds of ammunition with the intent to commit violence in furtherance of white nationalism and the downfall of the American state” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “Detecting, disrupting, and deterring terrorist threats continues to be a top priority of the Justice Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will use all of the tools at our disposal to investigate and prosecute violent extremists.”
U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss stated, “Violence predicated on racial hatred lies at the core of the Base philosophy. Defendants embraced that philosophy and made preparations— through planning, training and manufacturing weapons—to execute that philosophy. These actions, designed to promote terror, deserve harsh punishment. Today’s sentence delivers that punishment.”
“Brian Lemley and Patrik Mathews betrayed their countries and forfeited their freedom when they conspired, with others, to attack and murder innocent civilians, children, police officers and federal agents. Today’s sentence ensures they never achieve those goals,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Identifying and disrupting terrorist plots, both foreign and domestic, is one of the FBI’s top priorities, and the round-the-clock teamwork with our partners saved innocent lives and kept Lemley and Mathews’ endgame of civil war out of reach.”
“These individuals had a mission to terrorize and harm innocent people, and destroy infrastructure to cause chaos, all in an effort to advance their White nationalist beliefs. They spent months obtaining firearms and ammunition in preparation to execute it,” said ATF Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. “ATF is proud to be part of FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force where we can lend our expertise in firearms and explosives investigations to the greater goal of identifying and preventing violent extremism. Strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are crucial in ensuring we stop these individuals, no matter what state or jurisdiction they are in.”
According to court filings, Lemley, Mathews, and Bilbrough were members of The Base, a racially motivated violent extremist group. Since 2018, The Base has built a coalition of white supremacist members within the United States and abroad through, among other things, online chat rooms, in-person meetings, propaganda, and military-style training. The Base’s accounts on social media repeatedly posted content promoting terrorism, lone-wolf attacks, and a white ethno-state.
As detailed in their plea agreements, Lemley and Bilbrough traveled in Lemley’s vehicle to participate in a regional training camp conducted by members of The Base in Georgia from August 2 through August 4, 2019, including participating in tactical training and firearms drills. Later in August, Lemley and Bilbrough attended another The Base training camp in a different state.
As detailed in the plea agreements for Lemley and Mathews, on August 19, 2019, the Winnipeg (Canada) Free Press published an article regarding one of its reporter’s infiltration of The Base that led to the identification of Mathews as a member of The Base. Mathews then fled Canada and illegally entered the United States. At some point thereafter, Lemley and Bilbrough learned that Mathews had unlawfully crossed the border.
On August 30, 2019, Lemley and Bilbrough traveled in Lemley’s truck from Maryland to southern Michigan to pick up Mathews in order to transport him to the East Coast where he could safely reside and continue his participation in The Base. Lemley later drove Mathews to the area of Chincoteague, Virginia, in order to conceal Mathews’ presence in the United States.
On Saturday, September 14, 2019, Lemley traveled in his vehicle from his residence in Elkton, Maryland, to Chincoteague Island, Virginia, where he picked up Mathews. Lemley and Mathews then traveled south, through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to Rome, Georgia, in the vicinity of the residence of a known member of The Base. Approximately five hours later, Lemley departed for Maryland and Mathews stayed at the Georgia property.
According to court documents, on October 30, 2019, Lemley and Bilbrough drove to Georgia to attend a training camp at the property of another member of The Base. Mathews, who was already residing at the Georgia property, also attended the training camp. While in Georgia, on November 2, 2019, Lemley and Bilbrough purchased approximately 1,550 rounds of 5.56 ammunition. Later that day, Lemley, Mathews and Bilbrough traveled from Georgia to Maryland. The next day, Lemley and Mathews dropped Bilbrough off at his house and traveled to Elkton, Maryland, where Mathews spent the night at a motel a few minutes from Lemley’s residence. On November 4, 2019, Lemley and Mathews rented an apartment in Newark, Delaware, where they resided until their arrests on January 16, 2020.
As detailed in the government’s sentencing memorandum, on December 13, 2019, law enforcement agents executed a court authorized delayed-notification search warrant of the Delaware residence. Agents located Base propaganda flyers, notes suggesting that Mathews had vetted an applicant to The Base, a large number of military style Meals-Ready-to-Eat (“MREs”), and obtained images of electronic devices. Agents found several videos of Mathews espousing violent, anti-Semitic, and racist language. Many of the videos discussed killing people in furtherance of “the movement.”
Intercepted communications obtained from a court-authorized closed circuit television camera and microphone installed in the Delaware residence and other evidence showed that the defendants believed that a pro-firearms rally in Richmond, Virginia on January 20 , 2020, would begin the collapse of the United States government, which white nationalists often refer to as the Boogaloo. After the November 2019 state elections both chambers of the Virginia legislature and the Governor were controlled by elected representatives from the Democratic Party. The defendants believed that the Democrats intended to use their power to pass a variety of gun control and other legislation anathema to the white nationalist cause. The defendants believed that at the rally on January 20, they and other like-minded confederates would begin systematically murdering and destroying to force the capitulation and demise of the U.S. government. The evidence showed that the defendants began preparing for the Virginia violence weeks before the scheduled rally.
According to their plea agreements, on December 20, 2019, Mathews took steps to construct a rifle out of various weapons parts and watched a video on his phone that provided directions on constructing the rifle. Lemley and Mathews also discussed the rifle and parts that needed to be obtained to finish constructing the rifle. Lemley and Mathews admitted that they held and manipulated the rifle.
On December 21, 2019, the defendants discussed the Virginia plan. They wanted to “create f*****g some instability while the Virginia situation is happening,” “derail some rail lines,” “…shut down the highways,” “shut down the rest of the roads,” and “kick off the economic collapse of the US within a week after the Boog starts.” Lemley stated, “I mean even if we don’t win, I would still be satisfied with a defeat of the system…”
The evidence further showed that on December 23, 2019, the defendants discussed murdering a law enforcement officer in order to obtain additional gear for the Virginia plan. For example, after Lemley discussed with Mathews what a good shot he was, “My shot group my grouping at 300 yards is an inch and a half…,” Lemley stated, “Guy is the guy is just like sitting there he just parked in his in his car and sitting in his in his driver’s seat and not moving he’s just sitting there…An all I have to do is is plink him right through the f*****g windshield…and everything is now mine.”
As detailed in court documents, on December 25, 2019, the defendants discussed killing guards at the federal prison in Indiana where a convicted mass murderer was being held, in order to break that person out of jail.
On December 26, 2019, the defendants continued discussing how Base members should take out power lines in Virginia and kill “the system.” Specifically, Mathews wanted Base members to “get to every single thing you can take out---power lines, everything. We need to f*****g escalate this and spread that idea and just say ‘f*****g bring the system down.’ When Virginia happens, we f*****g kill the system.”
Lemley and Mathews acknowledged that on December 29, 2019, they discussed visiting a gun range to test fire the newly constructed rifle. On January 2, 2020, Lemley took the rifle from the apartment in Delaware to a public gun range in Maryland, where he was observed by an FBI agent. On January 5, 2020, Mathews and Lemley left the Delaware residence with at least one firearm and went to the same public gun range previously visited by Lemley. Prior to their arrival, the FBI had set up a stationary camera in a vehicle near the range and an ATF agent was in the vicinity of the range. Agents observed, and the camera recorded, Mathews in possession of, and firing a firearm. Lemley observed Mathews’ shots through an unattached rifle scope.
Lemley admitted that on January 7, 2020, he ordered approximately 1,500 rounds of 5.56 mm and 6.5 mm ammunition, which fit two rifles possessed by Lemley and Mathews. On January 11, 2020, Lemley drove Mathews from their Delaware residence to the Maryland gun range they had visited previously. Mathews admitted that while at the range, he handled and fired the rifle. On the way back to Delaware, the men stopped at Lemley’s prior residence in Elkton, where they retrieved some of the 1,500 rounds of ammunition Lemley had ordered on January 7. Mathews admitted that he knew he was an alien illegally present in the United States at the times he possessed the firearm and ammunition in Maryland and Delaware.
As detailed in court documents, that same day, the defendants told an undercover FBI employee about what was happening in Virginia and that they “expected 60,000 militia to show up in the capitol” on January 20, 2020 and that they were “rolling for chaos.” Lemley further stated, “It’s just that we can’t live with ourselves if we don’t get somebody’s blood on our hands…” Later that day Lemley stated, “If we’re not ambushing feds, and we’ve got nothing better to do, we might as well go disable that infrastructure…” Per Lemley, “I’ll be kind of like on the ground in Richmond. Not in the front, but way int eh back, just kind of looking at things, seeing how things are going, and if it turns into a shoot-out, I’ll immediately retreat from the city and then start organizing all the people that are going to come and respond.” Lemley established the Shenandoah valley as the base camp.
On January 15, 2020, Lemley and Mathews had an extensive conversation about Virginia, including the possibility of going to jail for their conduct. During the conversation, Mathews told Lemley, "Right now, if I ever get captured, I am going to jail for the rest of my life. You realize they’re just gonna call us terrorists…."
Early in the morning on January 16, 2020, federal agents executed federal arrest warrants on Lemley and Mathews at the Delaware residence. Before Lemley and Mathews submitted to the agents, however, Lemley repeatedly directed Mathews to smash his cell phone. Lemley and Mathews smashed their cell phones and dumped them into the toilet. Lemley and Mathews admitted that by doing so, they intended to obstruct or impede the administration of justice with respect to the investigation, prosecution, and sentencing of their offenses. Their activity was fully captured on video and audio surveillance equipment installed in the Delaware residence, pursuant to a federal court order. From the residence, agents recovered two firearms, ammunition, magazines, radios, camping gear, tactical gear, and MREs.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and United States Attorney David C. Weiss commended the FBI Baltimore Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and the ATF for their work in the investigation, and thanked U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland State Police, and the Delaware State Police for their assistance. Mr. Barron and Mr. Weiss thanked their offices’ national security prosecutors, who are handling the case.
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Troy Men Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms for Trafficking Kilograms of HeroinRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Two men were sentenced today for conspiring to distribute kilograms of heroin that they acquired in New York City and sold on the streets of Troy, New York.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo.
Mario Figueroa-Portalatin, age 41, of Troy, was sentenced to 151 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered him to forfeit $34,001 in drug trafficking proceedings and a Hi-Point model JHP .45 caliber pistol.
In pleading guilty, Figueroa-Portalatin admitted that for two years ending in March 2020, he sold at least 10 kilograms of heroin, which he acquired from a source of supply in New York City. From March 2018 to March 2020, he and co-conspirators traveled to New York City once a month, on average, and each time purchased between 500 grams and 1 kilogram of heroin that they brought back to Troy, packaged, and sold.
On March 30, 2020, Figueroa was the subject of a traffic stop in Troy. Police officers seized a black canvas bag, on the front passenger floorboard of his vehicle, that contained approximately 200 grams of heroin that Figueroa intended to sell that day to a customer.
Carlos Leon Rivera, age 63, of Troy, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Chief Judge Suddaby also ordered him to forfeit $7,150 in drug proceeds, a Ruger model EC9S, 9mm handgun, and a Glock 30 .45 caliber handgun.
In pleading guilty, Leon admitted to working with Figueroa to sell heroin in and around Troy, from January 2019 to March 2020. Leon admitted to regularly traveling to New York City,ere he would acquire at least 500 grams of heroin at a time from Figueroa’s source of supply. Leon also admitted that when DEA and other law enforcement searched his apartment on March 30, 2020, he possessed approximately 31 grams of heroin, 23.7 grams of fentanyl (in tablet form), and 60 grams of cocaine.
A third co-conspirator, Jose Leon Roldan, age 42, of Troy, pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2021.This case was investigated by the DEA and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Tattoo Shop Owner Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Unlicensed Firearms at his BusinessRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKeesport has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine on his conviction of possessing unlicensed firearms, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Richard Watson, age 33, of McKeesport, PA.
According to information presented to the court, Watson possessed unregistered firearm silencers at his place of business, Omerta Ink in McKeesport. The Court also heard and relied upon evidence that Watson had engaged in the covert and unlawful manufacture and sale of firearms, including two home-milled, AR-style pistols, which were effectively untraceable ghost-guns.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Watson.
State Contractor Sentenced in $3 million Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Detroit woman was sentenced today to 58 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty for her role in a multi-million dollar unemployment insurance fraud scheme aimed at defrauding the State of Michigan and the U.S. Government of funds earmarked for unemployment assistance during the COVID19 pandemic, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge John R. Marengo, US Secret Service, Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Thomas, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Liza Estlund Olson, former acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency.Brandi Hawkins, 40, was sentenced before United States District Judge Paul D. Borman. As part of her sentence, Judge Borman ordered Hawkins to pay restitution to the State of Michigan in the amount of $3,793,186.
According to court records, Brandi Hawkins was a contract employee for the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Her duties included reviewing, processing and verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims. Between April and June of 2020, HAWKINS worked with outside actors, known and unknown to law enforcement. Daily, those actors entered numerous false claims into the State of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency system, many of which were filed using stolen identities. These actors communicated with HAWKINS by cellular telephone calls and texts. HAWKINS accepted bribes in return for releasing many of these claims. HAWKINS used her insider access to fraudulently release payment on over seven-hundred claims, more than ten of which involved claims filed using stolen identities. HAWKINS’s actions resulted in the fraudulent disbursement of approximately $3.8 million of federal and state funds intended for unemployment assistance during the pandemic. Had every fraudulent claim released by HAWKINS been disbursed in full, the resulting loss of federal and state funds would have been over $12 million.
During the execution of a search warrant at Hawkins’ residence, over $200,000 in cash was seized. Hawkins used proceeds from her crimes to purchase high-end handbags and other luxury goods.
“Hawkins exploited the pandemic to defraud the State of Michigan and United States for her own personal gain,” said Acting US Attorney Mohsin. “This sentence should send a message to those who seek to divert funds intended for those in need during what has been a very difficult period of unemployment – you will be prosecuted”
“Hawkins used her position with the state of Michigan to steal millions from Michigan taxpayers and today’s sentencing should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of committing a similar crime.” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Thomas, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “IRS-Criminal Investigation is steadfast in protecting Covid-19 Pandemic related programs geared toward assisting people and businesses in need.”
“Brandi Hawkins while employed as a contractor used her position to take advantage of the public and defraud the State of Michigan. She was able to manipulated the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency system for her and others’ personal gain. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners throughout Michigan to bring criminals like Hawkins to justice,” said John R. Marengo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Detroit Field Office.
"Brandi Hawkins used her insider access as a State of Michigan contract employee to fraudulently disburse millions of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. Today's sentencing affirms the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General’s commitment to vigorously pursue those who steal funds intended for individuals who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to protect the integrity of unemployment insurance benefit programs," stated Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
"Brandi Hawkins used her position as a contractor with the state of Michigan to manipulate the unemployment insurance system to benefit herself and her co-conspirators," said Timothy Waters, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Detroit Division. "The FBI is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to hold wrongdoers accountable and to protect the integrity of vital federal assistance programs."
“Ms. Hawkins betrayed the trust given to her by her employer when she used her access to privileged information in a scheme to steal from the government and the people of Michigan. Today’s sentencing represents the commitment of law enforcement to bring those to justice who disrespect the rule of law, hurting the American public,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins.
“People who willfully commit unemployment insurance fraud should know that the State of Michigan and the Unemployment Insurance Agency are serious about identifying and holding them accountable for their actions,” said Liza Estlund Olson, former acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. “Through the great work of our federal and state partners along with UIA investigators, we’re are working to root out fraudulent schemes like this one and protect unemployment benefits for those who are legitimately entitled to them.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Wyse. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
St. Petersburg Man Who Distributed over 18 Kilograms of Cocaine Is Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Ahmad Rashad Weston, a/k/a “Blood,” (42, St. Petersburg) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of a drug mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, as well as 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Weston had pleaded guilty on May 19, 2020.
According to court documents and evidence presented at his sentencing hearing, Weston served as the hub of a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in the greater Tampa Bay area between at least August 2018 and November 2019. Law enforcement began the investigation by conducting 17 undercover hand-to-hand heroin purchases from co-defendant Quincy Turner. Further investigation determined that Weston, who had served more than five years in prison for a prior federal felony drug conviction, was Turner’s supplier. Between July and October 2019, law enforcement intercepted calls and text messages from Weston’s cellphone and established that Weston was responsible for distributing more than 18 kilograms of cocaine, over 161 grams of heroin, and over 89 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues during just that three-month period. Ultimately, the investigation of Weston led to 11 other defendants being charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.
These cases were investigated by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Agencies involved in this OCDETF operation include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.
St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on February 5, 2019, officers with the St. Paul Police Department observed Michael Antonio Miller, 38, and his girlfriend leave a residence and drive away together in a vehicle. At the time, there was an active Domestic Abuse No Contact Order in place between Miller and his girlfriend. The officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. As officers approached the driver’s side of the vehicle where the girlfriend was seated, she opened the center console and moved some papers out of the way to reveal a loaded Smith and Wesson, .40 caliber pistol. In an interview following his arrest, Miller admitted that the firearm was his. Because of his prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Miller is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time.
Miller pleaded guilty yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing has been set for December 14, 2021.
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.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates and Ruth S. Shnider are prosecuting the case.
South Carolina Man Charged with Robbing Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG, - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 27, 2021, Christopher Demarcus Bethea, age 47, of South Carolina, was indicted by a federal grand jury for robbing a Cumberland County jewelry store.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on January 30, 2019, Bethea robbed the Kay Jewelers Store in South Middleton Township, Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Keating is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
Indictments, Criminal Informations and Criminal Complaints are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is term of incarceration of 20 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Seven Defendants Sentenced Resulting from Drug and Firearm Trafficking Investigation at MotelsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Seven defendants guilty of various crimes related to a multi-agency drug and firearms investigation at several Southwest Georgia motels were sentenced for their crimes this week in federal court.
The following defendants were sentenced today:
Robert Scott Kennedy aka Robbie, 37, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he was convicted by a federal jury on June 30, of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
Emanuel Cobb aka Fresh, 37, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 140 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine; and,
Joshua Walls, 36, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a machine gun.
The following defendants were sentenced on Wed., Oct. 27:
Donald Hammock, 57, of Shellman, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 182 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
Daniel Landon Knight, 30, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and attempt to escape from custody;
Haley Roberts, 33, of Leesburg, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 77 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and,
Cody Harman, 36, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.
All sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner in Albany, Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The people involved in this crime ring are now held accountable for trafficking very dangerous weapons and illegal drugs into our region,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Federal, state and local law enforcement officers successfully ended this criminal organization and are continuing the work daily to curb violence and crime in Southwest Georgia and across the Middle District of Georgia.”
“These sentences wrap up a combined effort by local, state and federal law enforcement partners to remove a double-edged threat of drugs and guns circulating in the Albany community,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The results of this diligent investigation send a message to criminals that their life choices have very serious consequences.”
“Illegal guns and drugs have no place in Georgia. They are a danger to the community and breed fear amongst hardworking citizens. We value our partnership with federal and local agencies to work these cases that lead to successful prosecutions,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
According to court documents, from Jan. 2020 through Aug. 2020, law enforcement agents investigated methamphetamine and heroin distribution activities of the defendants at six motels in Albany. In the course of this investigation, agents learned that not only were the members of the group regularly dealing in controlled substances but were also often in possession of or selling firearms. Further, they learned that some of the firearms were fully automatic and in the process of being converted to fully automatic or otherwise altered.
Harman, Walls and Cobb admitted their involvement in drug sales and Walls admitted that he sold a rifle equipped with a bump stock and a 30-round magazine, which falls under the category of machine gun under federal law. Such firearms allow a shooter to initiate a continuous firing cycle with a single pull of the trigger.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies took Knight into custody on a state probation warrant violation on July 15, 2020. Knight was previously convicted in Lee County Superior Court in April 2014 of a four-count felony and sentenced to serve 12 years in jail; he was on probation at the time of his arrest. From jail, Knight was recorded giving Roberts instructions to relocate “bangers” which agents believed to be code for firearms. On July 20, 2020, law enforcement officers arrested Roberts on a state probation warrant violation. Roberts was previously convicted in Lee County Superior Court in April 2017 of a three-count felony violation and was on probation at the time of her arrest. During a search of a motel room she was staying in, officers found 12 firearms, including five AK-15 style rifles without any visible make, model or serial number markings. Further investigation revealed that Walls had assisted Roberts in moving the firearms from Florida to Albany.
On July 25, 2020, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on routine patrol and observed a vehicle driven by Hammock crossing the center line and entering the oncoming lane of traffic. During the stop for suspected DUI, the deputy found quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, pills, stolen property and two firearms including a loaded handgun and a shortened barrel shotgun. Hammock admitted that he was a felon and knew that he could not have guns. He said he had purchased the firearms from Walls.
Kennedy was taken into custody on Aug. 21, 2020, for multiple outstanding arrest warrants. Kennedy was found in possession of a .40 caliber Glock 23 pistol and a distribution amount of heroin. Kennedy also swallowed a quantity of heroin and required medical attention at the scene. Kennedy has a significant criminal history including felony convictions for burglary, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and obstruction of an officer.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, ATF, GBI, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Randolph County Sherriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.
Selma Man Sentenced to 112 Months for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A federal judge sentenced a Selma, Alabama man today to 112 months in prison for possessing a firearm while being a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, John Ashley Jones, Jr. aka Baby Junior, of Selma, was approached by police on June 4, 2020. Dallas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were responding to a call about a suspicious person with a firearm at 200 Landsend Avenue in Selma. When Deputies arrived, they saw a man, later identified as John Ashley Jones, Jr., standing next to a tan SUV. A deputy observed Jones make a motion as though he had thrown something under the vehicle as deputies approached the SUV. Jones was secured and deputies recovered a Ruger .380 caliber pistol from under the SUV. Jones was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a result of his multiple prior felony convictions, including discharging a firearm into an occupied building, assault, manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, and the 4th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Arrington prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Launched in 2001, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
Selma Duo Convicted in Federal Gun, Drug, and Witness Tampering TrialRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Selma, Alabama man and woman today for witness tampering and the man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during a federal drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Darick “Booman” Dillard, 43, of Selma, was in possession of an AK-47 style firearm and a semi-automatic pistol that he sold to another individual in the summer of 2020. Dillard is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition as a result of his previous felony convictions for assault with a firearm, assault of a peace officer, and possession of marijuana. The two separate incidents of Dillard selling firearms were recorded by the individual while under the supervision of law enforcement. When law enforcement served Dillard with a federal indictment on March 3, 2021, he was found to be in possession cocaine and other narcotics packaged for sale, and yet another firearm, a stolen Beretta pistol. On March 4, 2021, Dillard was arraigned in federal court and learned enough details of the charges to determine who had provided evidence against him, and contacted his sister, Lametrius Dillard. Lametrius Dillard, at the direction of her brother, then attempted to intimidate the individual into changing their testimony.
The jury convicted Darick Dillard of two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and witness tampering. Lametrius Dillard was convicted of witness tampering. They will be sentenced January 14th, 2022.
U. S. Attorney Sean P. Costello said, “Violent felons in our community have no business possessing or selling firearms. In partnership with our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, we will continue to hold criminals accountable for their actions. The jury’s verdict reinforces the message that threatening and intimidating witnesses is as utterly unacceptable as gun and drug crime.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Arrington is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Second Former State Employee Pleads Guilty in $2 Million Scheme to Defraud the Office of AIDSRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christine M. Iwamoto, 47, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in relation to a scheme to divert funds from the California Department of Public Health, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Iwamoto was employed by the Office of AIDS within the California Department of Public Health until March 2018. The Office of AIDS is responsible for working on behalf of the State of California to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Between December 2017 and November 2018, Iwamoto participated in a scheme that was coordinated by Schenelle Flores, also employed at the Office of AIDS, to defraud the Office of AIDS. Flores, Iwamoto, other participants in the scheme, and their families and friends obtained at least $2 million in personal benefits, including cash and purchased items.
According to court documents, as part of the scheme, Flores directed a state contractor to make payments allegedly on behalf of the Office of AIDS and caused the contractor to charge those payments to the state. Flores caused the contractor to pay for personal expenses on its debit cards, order gift cards for personal use, and pay false invoices to shell companies for services allegedly provided to the Office of AIDS.
According to her plea agreement, Iwamoto set up a shell company and coordinated with Flores to submit invoices to the state contractor. Those invoices falsely claimed that Iwamoto’s company had provided various consulting and meeting facilitation services to the Office of AIDS. Iwamoto received $450,000 in payments as a result of the invoices. Iwamoto then gave thousands of dollars in cash and blank checks to another employee of the Office of AIDS who was participating in the scheme. Iwamoto also participated in obtaining the gift cards from the state contractor and received hundreds of the gift cards for her personal use.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was referred by the California Department of Public Health and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miriam R. Hinman and Christopher S. Hales are prosecuting the case.
Iwamoto is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Feb. 24, 2022. For the wire fraud count, Iwamoto faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. For the count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, Iwamoto faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the property involved in the transactions, whichever is greater.
On Feb. 11, 2021, Flores pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a related case, United States v. Flores, 2:21-cr-025 TLN. Flores is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Jan. 20, 2022. Flores faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Saugus Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 for drug and firearm offenses.
Vinicius Teixeira, a/k/a “Vinny,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Sept. 14, 2021, Teixeira pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including marijuana and psilocyn, and being a user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In March 2019, a search of Teixeira’s residence recovered at least one kilogram of marijuana, over 400 grams of mushrooms (dry) containing psilocyn, drug trafficking paraphernalia and an American Tactical 9mm semiautomatic pistol containing 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and the Revere, Everett and Chelsea Police Departments provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
San Antonio Woman Charged with Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was arrested Tuesday on criminal charges related to her alleged involvement in drug distribution.
According to court documents, on October 26, 2021, Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Karen Lastiri, 31. After consent to search the vehicle, deputies found approximately 63 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Lastiri is charged by a criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, Lastiri faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux made the announcement.
DEA, along with assistance from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Ella Spears is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint 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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Rwandan Genocide Suspect Permanently Leaves the United States After DenaturalizationRead the Press Release
A Rwanda native, most recently residing in Buffalo, New York, has been denaturalized by consent and departed from the United States under an order of removal following the filing of a complaint citing his suspected involvement in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
According to court documents, Peter Kalimu, aka Pierre Kalimu, aka Fidele Twizere, was living in Rwanda in 1994, when violent conflict erupted between the country’s two major ethnic groups, the Hutus and the Tutsis. During the conflict, often referred to as the Rwandan genocide, members of the majority Hutu population persecuted the minority Tutsis, committing mass murder and looting their property, among other crimes. An estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed during the three-month genocide. The complaint against Kalimu alleged that he participated in two attacks on Tutsi families in his neighborhood during the genocide, and that he looted property from Tutsi families whose houses he then destroyed. Kalimu denied these allegations.
According to the civil denaturalization complaint, while living in Rwanda, Kalimu went by the name Fidèle Twizere. After he left Rwanda, he used a different name – Pierre Kalimu – and provided only that name, and a new date of birth, on his U.S. immigration forms. Throughout the process of applying for permanent residence and U.S. citizenship, Kalimu never disclosed to the U.S. government his previous identity as Fidèle Twizere or his prior use of a different date of birth. The complaint further alleged that Kalimu’s misrepresentations about his identity precluded U.S. government officials from investigating him and determining that he was not qualified to obtain immigration and naturalization benefits.
Kalimu admitted that he was ineligible for citizenship because he engaged in welfare fraud in New York in 2003-2004 – one of the allegations in the civil denaturalization complaint – and agreed to denaturalization. The Justice Department obtained an order from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, effective Sept. 1, revoking Kalimu’s naturalized U.S. citizenship by consent, and the court entered judgment in favor of the United States on Sept. 30.
In a separate prosecution, in 2018, Kalimu pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of, one felony count of making materially false statements about his true name to federal investigators of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
On Oct. 12, a U.S. Immigration Judge in Buffalo, ordered Kalimu’s removal for making materially false statements to procure immigration and naturalization benefits. Kalimu agreed to the entry of the order against him. On Oct. 21, Kalimu departed the United States.
“In seeking to escape his past in Rwanda, Kalimu obscured his true identity and repeatedly lied to immigration officers in order to become a U.S. citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the plJustice Department’s Criminal Division.
“The United States will not be a safe haven for suspected human rights violators,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department is dedicated to preventing those who commit human rights violations from evading our immigration laws.”
“Kalimu’s misrepresentations to the U.S. government paved the way for the defendant to avoid discovery of his past transgressions and to establish a life in the United States, which included benefits afforded to all citizens,” stated U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross of the Western District of New York. “Because of the diligent work of the various government agencies involved with this investigation to uncover the truth and make amends for the lies and omissions of the defendant, he was rightly prosecuted, was removed from our country, and can no longer escape his actual past.”
“HSI special agents will not cease in our pursuit of identifying and bringing to justice those individuals who have participated in unthinkable war crimes and human rights abuses,” said Executive Associate Director Steve Francis of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “In coordination with the HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center in Washington, D.C., our special agents and prosecutors continue to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and denied safe haven in the United States.”
This matter was litigated by the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) Enforcement Section; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) HSI Buffalo and HSI’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit investigated this matter. Valuable consultation and support were provided by ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Human Rights Law Division and the Buffalo Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
The civil denaturalization case was prosecuted by Senior Counsel Steven Platt of OIL; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Moar for the Western District of New York; Trial Attorney Susan Masling, and Director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy Eli Rosenbaum of HRSP, supported by HRSP Chief Historian Dr. Jeffrey Richter. The removal case was litigated by ICE’s Buffalo Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals or naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged to call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form.
Russian National Extradited to United States to Face Charges for Alleged Role in Cybercriminal OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Russian national, residing in the Yakutsk region of Russia and in Southeast Asia, had his initial appearance in federal court today after his extradition from the Republic of Korea to the Northern District of Ohio to face charges for his alleged role in a transnational, cybercriminal organization.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Bridget M. Brennan and FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Field Office Eric B. Smith made the announcement.
According to court documents, Vladimir Dunaev, 38, was a member of a transnational, cybercriminal organization that deployed a computer banking trojan and ransomware suite of malware known as “Trickbot.”
“Trickbot attacked businesses and victims across the globe and infected millions of computers for theft and ransom, including networks of schools, banks, municipal governments, and companies in the health care, energy, and agriculture sectors,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “This is the second overseas Trickbot defendant arrested in recent months, making clear that with our international partners, the Department of Justice can and will capture cyber criminals around the world. This is another success for the Department's recently launched Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force in dismantling ransomware groups and disrupting the cybercriminal ecosystem that allows ransomware to exist and to threaten our critical infrastructure.”
“The FBI is determined to utilize our unique tools and capabilities to disrupt transnational cybercriminal organizations, such as the group that developed and delivered Trickbot, and remains committed to imposing risk and consequence upon these criminals,” said Deputy Director Paul Abbate of the FBI. “Pursuing cyber criminals requires considerable patience, expertise, and resources, but the FBI has a long memory and will ensure that these malicious actors cannot evade detection or avoid the full weight of law enforcement actions.”
“The Trickbot malware was designed to steal the personal and financial information of millions of people around the world, thereby causing extensive financial harm and inflicting significant damage to critical infrastructure within the United States and abroad,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan of the Northern District of Ohio. “Today’s announcement underscores the great lengths federal law enforcement officials and our international partners will go to hold these alleged cybercriminals accountable for their actions.”
“This indictment reflects the dynamic landscape in which international criminals utilize sophisticated cyber methods to take advantage of and defraud, unsuspecting victims anywhere in the world,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office. “This multi-year investigation demonstrates the commitment by the FBI to aggressively pursue these individuals despite the complexity and global character cyber investigations can so often bring. The FBI encourages any victim of cyber fraud to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”
The indictment alleges that beginning in November 2015, and continuing through August 2020, Dunaev and others stole money, confidential information, and damaged computer systems from unsuspecting victims, including individuals, financial institutions, school districts, utility companies, government entities, and private businesses. To perpetuate their criminal scheme, the defendants allegedly used a network of co-conspirators and freelance computer programmers, known as the Trickbot Group, to create, deploy, and manage the Trickbot malware, which infected millions of computers and computer systems worldwide.
Dunaev is alleged to have been one such co-conspirator, working as a malware developer for the Trickbot Group. Dunaev allegedly performed a variety of developer functions in support of the Trickbot malware, including managing the malware’s execution, developing popular browser modifications and helping to conceal the malware from detection by security software.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department announced the arrest and arraignment of Alla Witte, a Latvian national charged for her role in the Trickbot Group.
According to court documents, the Trickbot malware was designed to capture online banking login credentials and harvest other personal information, including credit card numbers, emails, passwords, dates of birth, social security numbers, and addresses from infected computers through the use of web injects and keystroke logging. Later versions of Trickbot were adapted to facilitate the installation and use of ransomware.
According to the indictment, the defendants used these stolen login credentials and other personal information to gain access to online bank accounts, execute unauthorized electronic funds transfers and launder the money through U.S. and foreign beneficiary accounts.
Dunaev was extradited from the Republic of Korea on Oct. 20. He is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Dunaev entered a plea of not guilty and waived his detention hearing.
If convicted of all counts, Dunaev faces a maximum penalty of 60 years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is the result of a four-year investigation by the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided invaluable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Dunaev to the United States, with substantial support provided by the Republic of Korea.
Senior Counsel C.S. Heath of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Duncan T. Brown of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force, which was created to combat the growing number of ransomware and digital extortion attacks. As part of the Task Force, the Criminal Division, working with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, prioritizes the disruption, investigation, and prosecution of ransomware and digital extortion activity by tracking and dismantling the development and deployment of malware, identifying the cybercriminals responsible, and holding those individuals accountable for their crimes. The department, through the Task Force, also strategically targets the ransomware criminal ecosystem as a whole and collaborates with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as private sector partners to combat this significant criminal threat.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Click to view the indictment.
Russian National Extradited to United States to Face Charges for Alleged Role in Cybercriminal OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Russian national, residing in the Yakutsk region of Russia and in Southeast Asia, had his initial appearance in federal court today after his extradition from the Republic of Korea to the Northern District of Ohio to face charges for his alleged role in a transnational, cybercriminal organization.
According to court documents, Vladimir Dunaev, 38, was a member of a transnational, cybercriminal organization that deployed a computer banking trojan and ransomware suite of malware known as “Trickbot.”
“Trickbot attacked businesses and victims across the globe and infected millions of computers for theft and ransom, including networks of schools, banks, municipal governments, and companies in the health care, energy, and agriculture sectors,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “This is the second overseas Trickbot defendant arrested in recent months, making clear that, with our international partners, the Department of Justice can and will capture cyber criminals around the world. This is another success for the Department’s recently launched Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force in dismantling ransomware groups and disrupting the cybercriminal ecosystem that allows ransomware to exist and to threaten our critical infrastructure.”
“The FBI is determined to utilize our unique tools and capabilities to disrupt transnational cybercriminal organizations, such as the group that developed and delivered Trickbot, and remains committed to imposing risk and consequence upon these criminals,” said Deputy Director Paul Abbate of the FBI. “Pursuing cyber criminals requires considerable patience, expertise, and resources, but the FBI has a long memory and will ensure that these malicious actors cannot evade detection or avoid the full weight of law enforcement actions.”
“The Trickbot malware was designed to steal the personal and financial information of millions of people around the world, thereby causing extensive financial harm and inflicting significant damage to critical infrastructure within the United States and abroad,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan of the Northern District of Ohio. “Today’s announcement underscores the great lengths federal law enforcement officials and our international partners will go to hold these alleged cybercriminals accountable for their actions.”
“This indictment reflects the dynamic landscape in which international criminals utilize sophisticated cyber methods to take advantage of and defraud, unsuspecting victims anywhere in the world,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office. “This multi-year investigation demonstrates the commitment by the FBI to aggressively pursue these individuals despite the complexity and global character cyber investigations can so often bring. The FBI encourages any victim of cyber fraud to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”
The indictment alleges that beginning in November 2015, and continuing through August 2020, Dunaev and others stole money, confidential information, and damaged computer systems from unsuspecting victims, including individuals, financial institutions, school districts, utility companies, government entities, and private businesses. To perpetuate their criminal scheme, the defendants allegedly used a network of co-conspirators and freelance computer programmers, known as the Trickbot Group, to create, deploy, and manage the Trickbot malware, which infected millions of computers and computer systems worldwide.
Dunaev is alleged to have been one such co-conspirator, working as a malware developer for the Trickbot Group. Dunaev allegedly performed a variety of developer functions in support of the Trickbot malware, including managing the malware’s execution, developing popular browser modifications and helping to conceal the malware from detection by security software.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department announced the arrest and arraignment of Alla Witte, a Latvian national charged for her role in the Trickbot Group.
According to court documents, the Trickbot malware was designed to capture online banking login credentials and harvest other personal information, including credit card numbers, emails, passwords, dates of birth, social security numbers, and addresses from infected computers through the use of web injects and keystroke logging. Later versions of Trickbot were adapted to facilitate the installation and use of ransomware.
According to the indictment, the defendants used these stolen login credentials and other personal information to gain access to online bank accounts, execute unauthorized electronic funds transfers and launder the money through U.S. and foreign beneficiary accounts.
Dunaev was extradited from the Republic of Korea on Oct. 20. He is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of all counts, Dunaev faces a maximum penalty of 60 years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided invaluable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Dunaev to the United States, with substantial support provided by the Republic of Korea.
Senior Counsel C.S. Heath of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Duncan T. Brown of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force, which was created to combat the growing number of ransomware and digital extortion attacks. As part of the Task Force, the Criminal Division, working with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, prioritizes the disruption, investigation, and prosecution of ransomware and digital extortion activity by tracking and dismantling the development and deployment of malware, identifying the cybercriminals responsible, and holding those individuals accountable for their crimes. The department, through the Task Force, also strategically targets the ransomware criminal ecosystem as a whole and collaborates with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as private sector partners to combat this significant criminal threat.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley man whose conviction on a previous sex offense ended his career in education was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity over the internet.
Albert Pinedo, 78, of Alhambra, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu.
At the conclusion of a four-day trial that ended on July 23, a federal jury found Pinedo guilty of one felony count of attempting to persuade, induce or entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on February 26, 2020, Pinedo placed an ad on Craigslist that stated, “I’m a retired senior looking for casual contact with young men.” An undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent answered the ad and responded as a fictitious 14-year-old boy. Pinedo and the undercover agent chatted online for approximately one week, before making plans to meet and engage in oral sex. In a series of emails that were presented at trial, Pinedo acknowledged the boy’s age and described sexual acts he wanted to perform. Pinedo also asked the undercover agent to take naked photos and send them.
On March 4, 2020, Pinedo traveled to meet with the undercover agent at the designated meeting place, where he was arrested. A search of his vehicle revealed that he had brought lubricant and a sex toy to their meeting.
Pinedo was a Los Angeles Unified School District middle school teacher and administrator who previously was convicted in 2003 of distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for that felony offense. Pinedo resigned his position at LAUSD following the allegations in that case.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Amy E. Pomerantz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Randolph County man sentenced to 10 years for methamphetamine and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Casey Warren Lang, of Huttonsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 121 months of incarceration for drug and firearms charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Lang, 30, pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute at Least Fifty Grams of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Lang, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and 13 firearms in June 2019 in Randolph County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Quincy Man Arrested for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man was arrested today for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Charles Reid, 67, was indicted on one count of theft of public funds. Reid was released on conditions following an initial appearance today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein.
According to the charging documents, from approximately April 2013 through September 2017, Reid allegedly stole approximately $38,601 in Social Security disability benefits.
The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and John Cremonini, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Possession and Trafficking of Drugs Sends Two Men to PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two men from north Louisiana were sentenced to prison today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.
Keaton Lamar Shaw, 34, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 27, 2019, Shaw was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation. When officers approached the vehicle, they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside and asked the occupants to exit the vehicle. Shaw exited the vehicle wearing a black backpack. Officers saw a pistol in plain view between the passenger seat and the center console of the truck and found it to be loaded. Officers were aware that Shaw was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition and he was arrested. Law enforcement officers found inside Shaw’s backpack 6 grams of powder cocaine, 3,017 tablets containing 639 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, 226 grams of marijuana, and a scale. In addition, a search warrant was executed at Shaw’s residence where approximately 18 grams of marijuana was found in the dresser next to his bed.
Shaw has two previous felony convictions for attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in 2008 and 2018, and as such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The DEA, ATF and Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.
Jamie William Hill, 42, of Mansfield, Louisiana, was sentenced to 121 months (10 years, 1 month) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Law enforcement agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking activities in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Through their investigation, they learned on October 25, 2020, that Hill was going to sell methamphetamine at a local motel in Shreveport. Based on that information, agents set up surveillance at the motel. Agents observed Hill drive into the motel parking lot and stay there for a period of time and leave. Deputies with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Hill for having an altered temporary registration tag. Hill denied having any drugs in the vehicle and gave deputies consent to search it. Deputies found approximately 263.7 grams of methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag underneath the gear shift. Hill was arrested and later admitted to having more drugs in a nearby hotel room. During the search of the room, law enforcement agents found and seized methamphetamine hidden in a freezer, and in the air conditioning unit, and found a 9mm pistol in his luggage. The methamphetamine was tested by the DEA Lab and determined that the total weight of all that was seized was 263.7 grams.
The DEA, ATF and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.
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Physical Therapy Provider to Pay $4 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – RehabAuthority, LLC, a physical therapy company with operations in Minnesota, has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims for payment for outpatient physical therapy services in violation of the False Claims Act.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, RehabAuthority clinics submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for payment to the government for outpatient physical therapy. The clinics, located in Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, and Wyoming, improperly billed Medicare Part B, Minnesota Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Veterans Health Administration for one-on-one outpatient physical therapy, including therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, ultrasounds, therapeutic activities, and gait training. The resolution centered on allegations that the company billed the government for direct, one-one-one care with physical therapists, but did not provide it when it overbooked government beneficiaries for certain outpatient physical therapy services.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act against RehabAuthority. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and the State of Minnesota ex rel. Cami Lane v. RehabAuthority, LLC, et al., No. 17-cv-5103 (DWF/ECW).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Defense Health Agency, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk of the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Bildtsen handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Reese Inman, 39, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to nine years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on October 16, 2019 at a residence on Dempsie Avenue in Parkersburg. Inman was located in the living room and a loaded .22 Rohm revolver and a quantity of heroin were nearby. Law enforcement officers also located between 14 and 15 grams of heroin, a Chiappa .22 revolver and ammunition, an iPad that was payment for heroin Inman had sold, a black digital scale, $384 in U.S. currency and some marijuana. Inman admitted that he had been selling heroin in Wood County and that he intended to distribute the heroin in his possession to others.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner 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. 2:20-cr-00090.
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Owner of the Taxman Financial Services Pleads Guilty to Aiding in Filing False TaxesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LEROI G. JACKSON, age 49, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to a bill of information charging him with one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
According to court records, JACKSON is the owner and operator of The Taxman Financial Services LLC (“Taxman”), a business that prepares federal and state tax returns for customers. Taxman has an office in New Orleans and in LaPlace. Through the course of this investigation, federal agents determined that JACKSON filed false income tax returns for numerous Taxman customers. For example, JACKSON would create false business losses or false education credits, all without his clients’ knowledge. JACKSON had several employees obtain an IRS Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN), which allowed the employees to file customer taxes. However, many of these employees never used their EFINs. JACKSON would then use his employees’ EFINs to file false tax returns for customers. JACKSON profited by charging at least $500 per return, which would be deducted from a customer’s refund. From tax years 2014 through 2016, JACKSON admitted that he caused a tax loss to the United States of $241,214.00. JACKSON charged each taxpayer
JACKSON faces a maximum sentence of three years of imprisonment, a $100,000.00 fine, up to one (1) year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Further, as part of his plea agreement, JACKSON agreed to a permanent injunction against preparing tax returns for other taxpayers. Judge Morgan scheduled the sentencing hearing for Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 2 pm.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, which handled this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Payne is in charge of the prosecution.
Ohio Man Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint in Connection with Suspected Explosive Devices Found on Tug BoatsRead the Press Release
Defendant charged with possession of unregistered destructive devices
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Nathaniel Blayn Becker, 42, of Marietta, Ohio, was charged today in a federal criminal complaint with possession of one or more unregistered destructive devices. Becker was arrested by law enforcement authorities yesterday in Marietta.
According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement officers recovered suspected destructive devices from two different tugboats on the Ohio River on October 21 and October 25, 2021. The criminal complaint alleges that Becker purchased pipes and other relevant components of the suspected destructive devices from a Lowe’s store in Marietta on four separate occasions.
“The cooperation of Lowe’s was instrumental in Becker’s arrest and I thank them for their assistance,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the many law enforcement agencies for their swift investigation leading to Becker’s arrest.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is conducting the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington County, Ohio, Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is handling the prosecution.
Note: The charge contained in the complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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-mj-00206.
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Nicholas County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Nicholas County man was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ralph Floyd Barnett, Jr., 61, of Birch River, possessed a .22 caliber handgun on August 17, 2019, and used the firearm to shoot multiple times at another man. Barnett admitted that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his prior federal conviction for aiding and abetting in maintaining a drug-involved premises. Deputies with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department initially responded to Barnett’s residence in Birch River after he made a series of 911 calls in which he threatened to shoot somebody and threatened to assault certain Deputies in the Sheriff’s Department.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nowles Heinrich prosecuted the case.
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-00066.
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New York City Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jason Safford, age 46, of Queens, New York, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to bank fraud, attempted wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Safford was ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from incarceration and to pay restitution to his victims in the total amount of $1,322,295.
Safford, who holds himself out as a Wealth Architect, Investor, and Executive Coach, admitted in pleading guilty previously that he applied for a mortgage refinance loan in October 2016 on behalf of Safflyn Green Industries, Inc., a company in which he had an ownership interest. In support of that loan application, Safford submitted false bank statements, false deposit verification documentation, and a false appraisal for the property at issue, which is located at 350 Galina Lane in Mohawk, New York, and is commonly referred to as the “Gelston Estate.” RS Lending, a financial institution then operating in San Francisco, approved the loan application and funded it for more than $1.3 million in December 2016. The loan is now in default status, and nearly $1.2 million remains outstanding.
Safford also admitted in his guilty plea that in 2018 he applied for a $2 million mortgage refinance loan for the Gelston Estate through an upstate New York brokerage firm. Once again, Safford created and submitted false bank statements and a falsified appraisal in support of this loan application. When questioned about the appraisal by the brokerage firm about the appraisal, Safford obtained a letter from a licensed appraiser confirming that the appraiser had appraised property located at 980 Robinson Road in Mohawk, New York—which is next to the Gelston Estate—for $325,000 on September 16, 2014. Safford modified and forged this letter to say, falsely, that the appraiser had appraised the property located at 350 Galina Lane on January 31, 2018, for $2,448,500.00, and Safford sent the falsified letter to the brokerage firm, along with modified and falsified copies of the appraiser’s license and professional liability coverage information. This loan was never funded.
Finally, Safford admitted that he assisted in obtaining investments from multiple investors to develop the Gelston Estate and 980 Robinson Road properties and that the investors’ money was not all used to develop the properties. The restitution Safford was ordered to pay will go to four individual investors and to the company that purchased RS Lending when it went out of business.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
New Orleans Resident Sentenced to 42 Months for Trafficking Heroin with His Uncle and Six OthersRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KEVIN COFFIL, age 25, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on October 26, 2021 to 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan for conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. The Court imposed a term of supervised release of 36 months. COFFIL must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, COFFIL conspired with codefendant Arthur Johnson, his uncle, and six others to distribute heroin throughout the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.
A search warrant executed on Arthur Johnson’s residence in New Orleans East on December 28, 2017, resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.3 kilograms of heroin, a kilo press which is used to package heroin, digital scales, and other tools of the drug trade.
That evening, agents established surveillance in the vicinity of the 7500 block of Vanderkloot Avenue in New Orleans. Agents observed a blue Jeep Wrangler park in the driveway of an address in the area. COFFIL exited the car and began walking around the back carrying a Lululemon bag. Agents approached the car and detained COFFIL. Agents advised COFFIL of his rights. Agents searched the bag and saw that it contained over $113,000 in US currency. COFFILL, Arthur Johnson, and the other codefendants were charged in 2018 with conspiring to distribute heroin in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI’s New Orleans Gang Task Force in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Illegal Narcotics and to Providing a Co-Defendant with a Loaded AK-47 Found in a Mercedes During a Traffic StopRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that LIONEL COOLEY, age 45, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack and to providing an AK-47 firearm to codefendant Blake Monroe that was used to facilitate crack sales.
COOLEY is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years up to forty (40) years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least four (4) years of supervised release upon his release from prison, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for the drug distribution offense, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. COOLEY also faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release from prison, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for the firearm offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o).
According to court records, COOLEY and four others, Joseph Brown, Kendrick Demourelle, Kevin Gray, and Blake Monroe, conspired to sell illegal narcotics in New Orleans, including using a broken-down yellow school bus in the ‘Goose’ neighborhood in New Orleans East as a stash house. All five were indicted in February 2020, and, according to court records, a seized GMC Sierra pickup truck used by a member of this conspiracy contained nearly two kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams of crack.
During a December 11, 2019 traffic stop, New Orleans Police Department Officers also observed in plain sight a loaded AK-47, with the selector switch in the fire position, on the back floor of a white Mercedes driven by Blake Monroe. COOLEY had given Monroe this AK-47 so Monroe could sell crack cocaine.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter will sentence COOLEY on February 1, 2022 at 2pm. COOLEY, Brown, Demourelle, Gray, and Monroe were charged in February 2020 with conspiring to distribute cocaine, crack, and heroin in the New Orleans area.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Hammond Police Department, New Orleans Police Department, and Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.
New Jersey Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A New Jersey man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with attempting to produce child pornography.
Jordan Winczuk, 36, of Bellmawr, N.J., pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of commission a felony offense involving the sexual exploitation of minor as a registered sex offender. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 18, 2022. Winczuk was indicted in April 2019.
In January 2018, Winczuk, a Level 3 sex offender, contacted a Worcester boy through social media. Over a period of weeks, Winczuk attempted to convince the victim, who had disclosed that he was only 11 years old, to photograph his genitals and send those pictures to Winczuk via Instagram. During his contact with the victim, Winczuk posed as a teenage girl, the brother of the purported teenage girl and a first responder. In February 2018, a search of Winczuk’s New Jersey residence recovered cell phones that contained child pornography and included multiple conversations in which he requested sexually explicit images from other apparent minors. At the time, Winczuk was on parole following a state conviction in New Jersey for sexually assaulting a boy and endangering the welfare of a child through the distribution of child pornography.
The charge of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. At sentencing, the court could find that Winczuk’s prior convictions subject him to a mandatory minimum of 35 years and up to life in prison for this charge. The charge of committing felony offense involving the sexual exploitation of minor as a registered sex offender provides for an additional sentence of 10 years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey State Parole Board. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Noto and Danial Bennett of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Attempted Possession of Nearly Two Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Jersey man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with attempting to retrieve narcotics from two Stoughton storage units.
Carlos Miguel Concepcion-Guilam, 30, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 4, 2021, Concepcion-Guilam was convicted by a federal jury of attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
On June 19, 2019, staff at a storage facility in Stoughton opened a storage unit to auction its contents and found drug paraphernalia inside. A search of that unit and a second related storage unit by law enforcement resulted in the recovery of nearly two kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, nearly a kilogram of cocaine and drug distribution paraphernalia including cutting agents, blenders and packaging materials. Agents subsequently began surveilling the units to identity the owner of the drugs.
On June 20, 2019, Concepcion-Guilam arrived at the storage facility and opened the unit that previously contained nearly three kilograms of narcotics. Upon seeing that the drugs had been seized, Concepcion-Guilam sprinted away from the storage facility and attempted to flee in his vehicle. Concepcion-Guilam deliberately crashed his vehicle into a marked police cruiser before he was arrested. At the time of his arrest, Concepcion-Guilam was found in possession of additional fentanyl in his pocket.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hassink, Lauren Graber and Benjamin Tolkoff of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Navajo Nation member sentenced to 24 years in prison for sexual abuse of a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jeremiah Elijah Jim, 31, of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 27 to 24 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Jim pleaded guilty on April 5.
According to his plea and other court documents, on June 3, 2019, Jim and co-defendant Bryan Bull, also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, threatened the 14-year-old victim with serious bodily injury and sexually abused him. The abuse took place in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
Bull pleaded guilty on Aug. 30 and remains in custody pending sentencing.
Upon his release from prison, Jim will be subject to seven years of supervised release and will have a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
Muldrow Resident Sentenced for the Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hunter Jacob James Hope, age 21, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 290 months’ imprisonment and 25 years of supervised release for seven counts of production of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251, and one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252.
According to court documents, Hope engaged in a pattern of conduct that involved threatening to share sensitive (typically undressed or partially undressed) images of minors unless the minors either engaged in sex acts with him or provided him with sexually explicit images of themselves over the internet.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sallisaw Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations “(HSI)”.
Acting United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson said, “Justice was delivered to multiple minor victims who were forced to acquiesce to this Defendant’s perverse desire to threaten and sexually abuse them for his own twisted gratification. Without their bravery in choosing to come forward, this Defendant would have been free to continue his pattern of criminal conduct.”
“This deviant predator will no longer pose a threat to children, earning every minute of his 24-year sentence for his callous acts of sexual exploitation of vulnerable minors," said Christopher Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas." Through our collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will never relent in bringing the full weight of justice against sexual predators for the lasting harm they inflict on children.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Special Assistant United States Attorney Gwendelynn Bills represented the United States. Hope was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await commitment to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Monroe Man Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief Funds and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging a Monroe, Louisiana man with fraudulently obtaining more than $1.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program loans, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, along with James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG).
According to the indictment, Michael Ansezell Tolliver, 56, of Monroe, submitted nine fraudulent PPP and EIDL Program loan applications on behalf of several purported companies that Tolliver owned, including Tolliver Oil & Gas Corporation of Louisiana Inc. and Tolliver Petroleum Corporation of Louisiana. According to the indictment, Tolliver falsified information in the loan applications and supporting documents, including falsely claiming that some of his businesses had over 100 employees. He also submitted falsified federal tax returns. In total, Tolliver sought more than $7.6 million in PPP and EIDL Program loans and obtained more than $1.1 million. Tolliver then allegedly laundered and misused the loan proceeds, including by transferring the funds to personal bank accounts and purchasing cars and luxury goods.
Tolliver is charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. A summons will be issued and he will make his initial appearance at a later date before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kayla D. McClusky of the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Louisiana. If convicted, Tolliver faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison per count of money laundering.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The IRS-CI and SBA-OIG are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg and Trial Attorney Justin M. Woodard of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $65 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
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 of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Minnesota Man Charged with Computer Intrusion and Illegally Streaming Content from Four Major Professional Sports LeaguesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that JOSHUA STREIT, a/k/a “Josh Brody,” was charged with conducting intrusions into Major League Baseball (“MLB”) computer systems, and illegally streaming copyrighted content from MLB, the National Basketball Association (“NBA”), the National Football League (“NFL”), and the National Hockey League (“NHL”), in connection with a website STREIT operated that offered the illegally streamed content to the public for profit. In addition, STREIT is charged with extortion for attempting to extort approximately $150,000 from MLB. STREIT is expected to be presented today before a U.S. magistrate judge in the District of Minnesota.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joshua Streit is alleged to have illegally streamed sports content online from MLB, the NHL, the NBA, and the NFL for his own personal profit. Furthermore, Streit allegedly hacked MLB’s computer systems and attempted to extort $150,000 from the league. Thanks to this Office’s teamwork with all four major American sports leagues and the FBI, Streit has struck out on his illegal streaming and extortion scheme.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “We allege Mr. Brody hacked into the systems of several of our country's biggest professional sports leagues and illegally streamed copyrighted live games. Instead of quitting while he was ahead, he allegedly decided to continue the game by extorting one of the leagues, threatening to expose the very vulnerability he used to hack them. Now instead of scoring a payday, Mr. Brody faces the possibility of a federal prison sentence as a penalty.”
According to the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
Beginning in or about 2017, to in or about August 2021, JOSHUA STREIT a/k/a, “Joshua Brody,” the defendant, operated a website that streamed copyrighted content, primarily livestreamed games from major professional sports leagues, including MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL, which STREIT had no authorization to stream. STREIT obtained the copyrighted content by gaining unauthorized access to the websites for those sports leagues via misappropriated login credentials from legitimate users of those websites. One of the victim sports leagues sustained losses of approximately $3 million due to STREIT’s conduct.
In addition, at the same time STREIT was illicitly streaming copyrighted content from MLB, STREIT was engaged in an attempt to extort approximately $150,000 from MLB via a threat from STREIT to publicize alleged vulnerabilities in MLB’s internet infrastructure. STREIT initiated the extortion scheme at the same time that he was exploiting MLB’s computer systems to gain unauthorized access to copyright content that he streamed for profit.
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STREIT, 30 of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is charged with: (1) one count of knowingly accessing a protected computer in furtherance of a criminal act and for purposes of commercial advantage and private financial gain, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (2) one count of knowingly accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (3) one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; (4) one count of illicit digital transmission, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and (5) one count of sending interstate threats with the intent to extort, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. He also thanked MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL for their ongoing support and assistance with the case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dina McLeod is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Milton Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Prostitution and Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Erick Donnell Metzger, age 53, of Milton, Pennsylvania, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on an attempted enticement of a minor charge.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on October 23, 2021 Metzger knowingly attempted to persuade, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in prostitution and sexual activity.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Miami Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Nationwide Gas Station Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joan Jesus Manso Dieguez, age 35, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty today to a superseding indictment charging him with taking part in an access device fraud conspiracy and a related money laundering conspiracy.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco Ward, Boston Division, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The conspiracies involved a nationwide gas station skimming scheme in which the members of the access device fraud conspiracy stole banking and personal information of gas station customers in and around the Northern District of New York, as well as multiple other parts of the country, who used the “pay at the pump” feature to make gasoline purchases. Gift cards, money orders, and cash obtained using the stolen card information were then laundered by the members of the money laundering conspiracy.
As part of his guilty plea, Dieguez admitted to conspiring with others to commit access device fraud, between December 2015 and July 2019, by building skimming devices designed to steal gas station customer information, installing those devices inside gas pumps in Albany, Broome and Montgomery Counties, and elsewhere, and then using the information collected by those devices to create fake credit and debit cards; the fake cards were then used to obtain money orders, gift, cards, cash, and other things of value.
Dieguez also admitted to being part of a conspiracy to launder funds obtained through the access device fraud conspiracy. In facilitating that conspiracy, Dieguez caused the deposit of at least $505,739 into bank accounts he controlled. Dieguez further admitted to withdrawing $473,754 in cash from those same banking accounts, and to selling gift cards worth $1,731,169. The gift cards had been purchased using information stolen from approximately 2,900 cardholders. As part of his plea agreement, Dieguez agreed to be subject to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1,421,200.
Dieguez is the last of eight arrested defendants to plead guilty for their roles in this scheme. Four other defendants have been charged but remain fugitives.
A sentencing hearing is set to take place on March 1, 2022, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Dieguez faces up to 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater; and up to 3 years of supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office and USPIS Boston Division, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Miami, Pittsburgh, and San Juan, the USPIS Miami Division, the United States Secret Service Miami Field Office, as well as the New York State Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures and the New York State Cyber Command Center. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Emily C. Powers.
Medfield Man Pleads Guilty to Two Online Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Medfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with an international business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded companies of more than $850,000 and a romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of at least $7,000.
Paul M. Iwuanyanwu, 41, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and unlawful monetary transactions. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17, 2022. Iwuanyanwu was charged in a superseding indictment in July 2020.
With respect to the BEC scheme, Iwuanyanwu participated in a plan to breach the email systems of companies and install unauthorized computer programs that diverted company emails to accounts controlled by Iwuanyanwu and his co-conspirators. As a result, all emails sent by or to the companies were first routed through the conspiracy’s email accounts, where co-conspirators could view and respond to the messages as if they were representatives of the companies. Iwuanyanwu, and others, used this unauthorized access to cause the companies to redirect more than $850,000 in payments intended for legitimate business operations to bank accounts controlled by Iwuanyanwu and others.
With respect to romance fraud, Iwuanyanwu participated in a scheme to use fraudulent online relationships to deceive victims and persuade them to send money to Iwuanyanwu and others, or to receive money on Iwuanyanwu and other’s behalf. Victims wired at least $6,000 to accounts controlled by Iwuanyanwu and others and sent at least $1,000 via money orders to Iwuanyanwu.
The charge of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Benjamin Alfredo Saltzman of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Maryland Man Indicted on Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG, - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 27, 2021, Melton Montgomery, age 27, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by prohibited person.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Montgomery possessed a loaded Rossi .38 caliber revolver and ammunition, as a previously convicted felon, on November 20, 2020, in Adams County.
The case was investigated by the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Adams County District Attorney’s Office and the Littlestown Borough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Keating is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.”
Indictments, Criminal Informations and Criminal Complaints are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Martinsburg man admits to role in drug trafficking and firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Sean Amos Robinson, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Robinson, also known as “Zoo,” pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Eutylone.” Robinson admitted to working with others to distribute Eutylone from June 2019 to December 2020 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and elsewhere.
Robinon faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Harpers Ferry Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. investigated. The EPDTF consists of the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Ranson Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Martinsburg Police Department.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Mansfield Man Previously Convicted of Domestic Violence Crimes Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mansfield man who was convicted by a jury earlier this year of illegally possessing a firearm was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.
Orentha James Pea, 43, of Mansfield, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. It was also ordered that this sentence run consecutive to any state court sentence Pea receives if convicted for aggravated battery against his wife. Pea was convicted after a two-day jury trial in May 2021 on two firearms charges, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Evidence introduced at the trial showed the jury that Pea held a gun to his wife’s head in front of their children and threatened to kill her following an argument between the two of them. Pea was previously convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in 2017 and 2018 related to the domestic abuse battery of his daughter and the violation of his wife’s order of protection. Pea also has felony convictions for aggravated battery in 2005, related to shooting his pregnant wife with a firearm, and aggravated battery in 2014, related to striking his wife with a firearm. Testimony at trial revealed that Pea was commonly known to carry a firearm, despite knowing that he was prohibited from doing so as a convicted felon and a person convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. After threatening to kill his wife, who is the victim in this case, Pea went to a cousin’s house and returned back home later that evening. He locked himself and the victim in their bedroom, took her cell phone from her, and berated her for most of the night.
The next morning when they awoke, the victim was able to get away from Pea and call the police to report the threat that he made to kill her the day before and that he had a gun in his possession. Officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to their home and conducted a search and found the loaded firearm hidden in the house. Laboratory analysis determined that Pea’s DNA was present on the firearm.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JAIME PINTO, 45, of Manchester, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fraud and identity theft offenses stemming from his involvement in a scheme to use stolen identities to lease and purchase vehicles and motorcycles.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2017, Pinto, Domingo St. Hilaire Rosario and another individual conspired to use stolen identities to obtain vehicles and motorcycles at dealerships in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. As part of the scheme, Rosario arranged for a car or motorcycle to be purchased or leased from a dealership in the name of an identity theft victim, and Pinto or another co-conspirator impersonated the identity theft victim at the dealership to complete the paperwork. Rosario supplied Pinto and others with fraudulent identification documents bearing the victim’s personal identifying information, and with a fraudulent photo identification that contained the identifying information of the victim and a photograph of a co-conspirator. Rosario intended to sell or export the vehicles.
Through this scheme, Rosario, Pinto and their co-conspirators acquired at least 13 vehicles and attempted to acquire at least two more. Some of the vehicles were recovered by law enforcement and returned to the dealers.
On March 20, 2019, Pinto pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He has been detained since July 2019 after he violated conditions of his release and his bond was revoked.
On May 10, 2021, Rosario pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. On October 20, 2021, Judge Bryant sentenced him to 65 months of imprisonment.
Judge Bryant ordered Rosario and Pinto to pay $203,873.11 in restitution.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with substantial assistance from the Vernon Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Maine Tax Preparer Charged with Defrauding ClientsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean O’Hare, age 53, of South Portland, Maine, was arraigned today on an indictment accusing him of committing wire fraud.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The indictment alleges that O’Hare, a tax preparer and accountant, defrauded his clients by submitting false and fraudulent sales tax returns to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and diverting client funds for his own use. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A grand jury returned the indictment on September 16, 2021. O’Hare was arraigned today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel and released pending trial.
If convicted, O’Hare faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping.