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8 December 2021
Chicago Man Sentenced to 5 Years on Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marcus Catchings, 43, Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to five years in prison for possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute. Catchings pleaded guilty to this charge on September 14, 2021.
On April 9, 2021, a Wisconsin Dells police officer pulled over a black Lexus SUV for excessively dark window tint. Marcus Catchings was the passenger in the Lexus and his wife was driving. After a positive K-9 alert, officers searched the Lexus and found a grocery bag containing approximately 381 grams of cocaine behind the driver’s seat. In the same area, officers found a cereal box containing approximately 533 grams of cocaine. During his plea hearing in September, Catchings admitted that he intended to distribute the 914 grams of cocaine in the Wisconsin Dells area.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley noted that Catchings had previously been convicted of murder and had served over 20 years in prison as a result. Judge Conley also noted that Catchings was released from prison for the murder conviction in 2019 and was on parole at the time of his arrest.
The charge against Catchings was a result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Dells Police Department, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner handled the prosecution.
Carthage Couple Sentenced for Embezzling from Joplin BusinessesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Carthage, Missouri, husband and wife were sentenced in federal court today for their involvement in a five-year-long scheme to embezzle more than $235,000 from a Joplin, Mo., business owner.
Jeanine A. Poe, 52, and William Poe, 58, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. Jeanine Poe was sentenced to two years in federal prison without parole. William Poe was sentenced to five years of probation. The court also ordered Jeanine and William Poe to pay $235,744 in restitution to the victim of their thefts.
On June 30, 2020, Jeanine Poe pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and William Poe pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony.
Jeanine Poe was hired by a friend in 2014 to manage two Doc Stop convenience stores in Joplin, for which she was paid more than $50,000 per year. The owner had little to do with the businesses, according to court documents, except to invest his money into both to ensure their financial success. In 2015, Jeanine Poe told the owner the businesses weren’t doing well financially and asked him to invest even more money. The owner invested much of his salary to financially support the businesses.
According to court documents, Jeanine Poe’s criminal activity over a five-year period included hundreds, if not thousands, of individual instances of theft and fraud.
In October 2019, after the businesses continued to lose money, the owner asked a friend to review the financial affairs of the businesses and learned that Jeanine Poe was embezzling money from his businesses. She had obtained at least seven credit cards in the name of the businesses, conducted transactions on the credit cards, and paid for such transactions with funds from the businesses. All of the credit cards opened by Jeanine Poe had reached their maximum allowable credit limit, and many times were used by Jeanine and William Poe for expenses that were entirely unrelated to the operation of the businesses (such as trips and personal expenses). One of the credit cards was in William Poe’s name. The owner also discovered that large amounts of cash were being fraudulently electronically transferred from his businesses’ bank account to Jeanine Poe’s personal bank account.
The two convenience stores were intended to become the victim’s retirement plan and source of future income. However, the business owner had to file for bankruptcy and actually lost one of his two businesses due to the embezzlement scheme.
William Poe admitted that he was aware of his wife’s embezzlement. He concealed these thefts by convincing the owner his wife was not embezzling, when he knew she was stealing from him. His concealment allowed Jeanine Poe to continue to conduct fraudulent credit card transactions and withdrawals from the business accounts.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI.
Canadian Citizen Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Canadian man was sentenced to 78 months for possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully in the United States, announced Acting United States Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
According to court documents, on January 10, 2021, Dayne Adrian Sitladeen, 29, and co-defendant Muzamil Aden Addow, 29, were stopped by a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper near Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The defendants were traveling between 95-100 miles per hour in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with Texas license plates. When the Trooper approached the vehicle, Muzamil Aden Addow, the driver, provided an Ontario, Canada, driver’s license with a false name.
According to court documents, after detecting the odor of marijuana in the vehicle and receiving suspicious and inconsistent statements from Sitladeen, the Trooper searched the vehicle. As a result of the search, law enforcement officers recovered a total of 67 firearms and numerous magazines, including 15 high-capacity magazines, from four bags in the truck—one magazine was partially loaded with live ammunition rounds. Law enforcement later discovered a provisional federal arrest warrant from the United States Marshals Service for Sitladeen, which was based on a 2019 Canadian arrest warrant for first degree homicide, fentanyl distribution, and possession of proceeds of crime.
Sitladeen, who pleaded guilty on June 23, 2021 to one count of aiding and abetting firearm possession by aliens unlawfully in the United States, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Nancy E. Brasel.
Co-defendant, Muzamil Aden Addow, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2021 at 10:00 am.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minnesota State Patrol.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Bates.
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CEO of Private Jet Charter Company Convicted of Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted a Reston businessman yesterday on a series of fraud charges relating to a bankruptcy case in which he discharged over $6 million in personal debt.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on July 13, 2017, President and CEO of Metropolitan Aviation, Alan Russell Cook, Sr., 64, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in his individual capacity. In anticipation of the filing, Cook transferred over $350,000 to his former girlfriend. He directed her to open accounts in her name and in the name of a fake company, Metro Aire, to receive his personal property and revenue from Metropolitan Aviation.
In connection with his bankruptcy case, Cook failed to disclose several bank accounts and over $50,000 in casino cash-outs. In addition, at the meeting of his creditors, Cook made several false statements under oath, including that his company was shut down for four to five months and generated no money in 2017. In actuality, Metropolitan Aviation generated revenue every month of 2017, totaling more than $1 million. Cook further failed to disclose making payments for his girlfriend’s luxury vehicle and his access to the fraudulent entity’s bank account, including writing checks for personal expenses, withdrawing cash, and paying for hotel stays.
Cook faces a maximum of 20 years in prison when sentenced on April 22, 2022. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Greg Thompson, Mid-Atlantic Region Acting Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamar K. Walker and Alexander E. Blanchard are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-72.
Brooklyn Park Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Brooklyn Park man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on March 6, 2020, Tyaireon Martez West-Porter, 24, was found to be in possession of a .40 caliber Glock 22 Gen 4 semi-automatic pistol. Because West-Porter has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Acting United States Attorney Charles Kovats made the announcement after West-Porter was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin A. Wesley prosecuted the case.
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Bloomfield Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking HeroinRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANNY RHODES, also known as “Big D,” 63, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force began investigating a Hartford area narcotics trafficking operation that involved the use of the U.S. Mail to ship parcels of drugs and drug proceeds. Investigators determined that Israel Mendoza, also known as “D-Nice,” supplied Michael Copeland with large quantities of cocaine, and that Copeland, at Mendoza’s direction, mailed parcels containing cash to individuals in California. In September and October, U.S. Postal Inspectors in California intercepted and seized two parcels, each containing approximately $13,000 in cash, that Copeland mailed in Connecticut to addresses in the Fresno area. Investigators analyzed postal records and identified dozens of additional parcels connected to this drug trafficking network that are suspected to have contained narcotics or drug proceeds.
The investigation further revealed that Mendoza worked with others, including Rhodes and Neliobet DeJesus, also known as “Colorado,” in the Hartford area to distribute narcotics. In late 2018 and early 2019, investigators made controlled purchases of heroin, totaling nearly 1.7 kilograms, from Rhodes.
Rhodes’ criminal history includes numerous felony convictions, including a federal firearm conviction that resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.
Rhodes has been detained since his arrest on November 13, 2019. On May 21, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.
Copeland, of Bloomfield, and DeJesus, now residing in Orlando, Florida, have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Mendoza, last residing in Reading, Pennsylvania, is being sought by law enforcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that, as to Mendoza, charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police and Hartford Police Department assisted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
Bergen County Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Distributing and Conspiring to Distribute Crystal MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for distributing and conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Henry Nieves, 45, of Rutherford, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and one count of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in court:
In September 2019, Nieves distributed and conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine in New Jersey. In September 2019, law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Nieves. Subsequent laboratory testing showed that the substance contained 55.9 grams of pure methamphetamine. This high purity indicates that Nieves distributed crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” which is a particularly dangerous form of methamphetamine. In September 2019, law enforcement officers observed Nieves engage in other apparent narcotics transactions, and later seized additional amounts of methamphetamine from Nieves’ belongings, vehicle, and apartment. In all, law enforcement seized approximately 86 grams of methamphetamine from Nieves during the investigation.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced Nieves to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Pesce of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
Bergen County Company Admits Price Gouging KN95 Masks During COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, company today admitted its role in price gouging a chain of New Jersey grocery stores in connection with the sale of KN95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
TSC Agency LLC (TSC), a logistics and freight forwarding company based in Mahwah, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen to an information charging it with price gouging in violation of the Defense Production Act.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In March 2020, TSC and two partners purchased 250,000 KN95 filtering facepiece respirators from a foreign manufacturer. TSC and one of those partners then sold 100,000 masks to a chain of New Jersey grocery stores at prices in excess of prevailing market prices. TSC sold the masks at a price of $5.25 per mask, which amounted to a markup of more than 400 percent from its acquisition cost. Prior to the spread of COVID-19, TSC had no history of selling personal protective equipment.
A violation of the Defense Production Act carries a maximum fine of $200,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing for TSC Agency is scheduled for April 13, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Peter Fitzhugh in New York, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich of the Government Fraud Unit in Newark and Nicholas P. Grippo, Chief of the Criminal Division in Newark.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Belgrade meth trafficker sentenced to eight years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Belgrade man who admitted to supplying methamphetamine to a local dealer was sentenced today to eight years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Buddy Jonathan Shaw, Jr., 49, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that in May 2020, U.S. Probation officers and agents with the Missouri River Drug Task Force went to Shaw’s residence after receiving complaints that Shaw was distributing meth. After knocking for several minutes, the probation officers breached the door because they had an arrest warrant for Shaw. Shaw told the officers where his meth was hidden, and officers found approximately 230 grams of meth and $1,700. Shaw admitted that he had sold meth for the past year and sold most of it to a local dealer. When Shaw received meth, it was kilograms at a time.
The Bozeman Missouri River Drug Task Force, FBI, Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Probation Office investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Atlanta man sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Brandon Ridge has been sentenced for obtaining a $160,000 fraudulent loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), a portion of which he then used to purchase a Range Rover.
“Ridge thought he could unjustly enrich himself by defrauding a program designed to support struggling businesses during an international pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “His sentence should serve as a warning to others that there are serious consequences for engaging in this type of fraud.”
“Ridge’s personal greed affects every tax paying citizen in this country and takes away from government funds intended to provide relief to small business and employees who desperately need it during this pandemic”, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence serves as a message that the FBI and our federal partners remain vigilant during this pandemic to make sure funds provided by programs like PPP are used as intended.”
“It’s unfortunate that criminals continue to abuse the funds set aside to aid those impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. IRS-CI will continue to use our financial expertise to identify fraud, trace the funds, and bring the criminals to justice,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey. “Hopefully the continued prosecution of individuals seeking to abuse funds intended to help those most impacted by the pandemic, will serve as a deterrent to others.”
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”) is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. Additional funding was authorized by Congress in December 2020.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within eight weeks of receipt and use at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount for payroll.
Ridge submitted two false PPP loan applications for his business, “Barking Rose Solutions,” requesting loan amounts totaling $449,917.50. The applications contained materially false information, including fabricated banking statements that inflated the company’s deposits and expenditures to make it appear that the company qualified for PPP relief. One of these loan applications was accepted and the defendant received $162,467.50 in fraudulent loan proceeds. The defendant then used the proceeds for his own personal benefit, which included purchasing a Range Rover.
Brandon Ridge, 37, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two years of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and to forfeit his interest in the Range Rover and over $100,000 seized from his bank accounts. Ridge previously entered a plea of guilty to bank fraud. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit his interest in the Range Rover as well as over $100,000 seized from his bank accounts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas J. Krepp and Tiffany R. Dillingham prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 211 Months for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Eric Neville, age 40, of Arizona, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and using a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Neville to 211 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Neville will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On February 28, 2020, officers executed a search warrant at Neville’s hotel room in Omaha. Officers located 399 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, an AR-15 rifle, more than $6,645, drug packaging, and a drug scale. Officers searched a Mercedes related to the trafficking and located another 304 grams of methamphetamine. Neville and others were trafficking narcotics in the Omaha area. Prior to this narcotics trafficking in Omaha, Neville had a conviction in Arizona for aggravated assault (2009) and a conviction for possession of heroin for sale and misconduct involving weapons (2014). His 2014 Arizona drug and firearm conviction resulted in a 3.5 year prison sentence.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Acting U.S. Attorney Warns of Increasing Danger of Counterfeit Prescription Opioids Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOISE – Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III today highlighted the danger that counterfeit prescription pills pose to our community. They seek to warn of the significant nationwide surge in counterfeit pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans, and Idahoans, at an unprecedented rate.
An estimated 100,306 people died as the result of a drug overdose in the United States from April 2020 through April 2021 and more than 75 percent of those deaths involved an opioid. This is an increase of nearly 28.5 percent year over year. Idaho overdose deaths increased for the third year in a row to 280 with the incidents of overdose nearly 20 times the number of deaths.
Historically, the opioid epidemic began with a rapid increase in the prescribing of opioids starting in the 1990s. It continued when those addicted to opioids began to use heroin because it was cheaper and more readily available. Now, the most recent part of this epidemic is the increase in availability of counterfeit pills. Counterfeit pills are illicitly manufactured in clandestine labs, mostly using fentanyl as the active ingredient, and are made to look like legitimate prescription opioids commonly prescribed to alleviate pain or anxiety. These counterfeit pills are then illegally sold by street drug dealers as Oxycodone, Xanax, Percocet, or other similar drugs. Counterfeit pills are also being sold over the internet and delivered by mail. It is important to note that there is no concern of counterfeit pills entering the legitimate prescription supply chain.
“Prescription opioid abuse has already taken a devastating toll on our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez. “But we have also seen a terrifying rise in the prevalence of counterfeit prescription pills being sold on the street and online. The public must be aware that while these pills may look like prescription drugs, they likely contain the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.” He went on to emphasize that, “a lethal dosage of fentanyl is just two milligrams, equivalent in size to a few grains of salt, as compared to a lethal dose of heroin at 30 milligrams, and that’s why communities everywhere have tragically experienced more fatal overdoses. That pill you bought off the street could be the last one you ever take.”
Counterfeit pills are incredibly dangerous because these imitation pills often look exactly like prescription Oxycodone in size, shape, color, and markings. In other words, there is no way to tell whether a pill purchased illicitly on the internet or the street is actually Oxycodone or a more powerful drug. The picture below on the left is an image of a legitimate Oxycodone pill. The picture on the right is an image of counterfeit Oxycodone pills.
These counterfeit pills have been seized by DEA in every U.S. state in unprecedented quantities. More than 9.5 million counterfeit pills were seized so far this year, which is more than the last two years combined. DEA laboratory testing reveals a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills containing at least two milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a lethal dose. A deadly dose of fentanyl is small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil. “Frankly, if it weren’t for the outstanding work of first responders administering naloxone (an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverse opioid overdose) and saving lives of those who have overdosed, the number of deaths would be much, much higher,” said Gonzalez.
“The availability and seizure of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills has exploded in the region,” said Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent In Charge of DEA’s Seattle Field Division. “Criminal drug networks in Mexico are mass-producing fentanyl which is driving the increase in overdose deaths. The DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to stemming the tide of this surge of lethal pills on our city streets by targeting the criminal networks who are profiteering while causing death in our communities.”
Unless prescription drugs are obtained from an authorized medical provider or pharmacy, the public should not consume or even handle these pills. The synthetic opioids contained in them are often lethal if consumed even if in the smallest amounts. All Idahoans are urged to only use prescription drugs prescribed to them by legitimate health care providers and obtained from their pharmacy. “I’m urging you to share this potentially life-saving message with friends and family today. Help us save a life,” concluded Gonzalez.
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A Las Cruces, New Mexico, Drug Leader Sentenced to 270 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking in Sitka, AlaskaRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – A Las Cruces, New Mexico woman was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess today to 270 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to the plea agreement, Christina Quintana aka “Lete,” 35, conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in Sitka, Alaska and she possessed and discharged a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Beginning about May 2, 2017, and continuing until April 3, 2018, Quintana, along with her co-conspirators Andrea Avalos, Peter Krovina, Porter Treadway, Holly Chambers, Aaron Didrickson and Eric Morisky distributed methamphetamine and heroin in Sitka. Quintana and Avalos, who did not reside in Alaska, were responsible for the transportation and distribution of methamphetamine and heroin as well as coordinating and collecting drug debts. The other members of the conspiracy assisted Quintana and Avalos in their illicit activities. All member of the drug organization possessed firearms to facilitate their drug trafficking activities, as well as to extract retribution against members who owed drug debts. For example, the defendants organized and perpetrated a violent home invasion and robbery where Quintana shot an individual in both legs and Treadway attacked another individual with a claw hammer, to collect a drug debt owed to them. In issuing today’s sentence Chief Judge Burgess said Quintana’s conduct was beyond the pale on that day.
“Illicit narcotics are a cancer in our society and many Southeast Alaska communities have suffered at the hands of this epidemic for years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “The violence committed in this case has shaken the community of Sitka and is one of the worst drug offenses committed in Southeast Alaska in the last few decades.”
“The defendant came to Alaska for the sole financial motivation of trafficking illicit narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Drug traffickers who believe they can operate with impunity, while bringing poison and violence to Alaska’s communities, will be held accountable by the FBI and our local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners.”
“The brazenness of Quintana’s actions clearly warrant this significant sentence,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Olson. “She showed a complete disregard for the law and jeopardized the community as a whole. The removal of Quintana and her co-conspirators from the streets will help make our communities safer.”
Quintana’s co-conspirators also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced:
- Andrea Avalos, aka “Josie,” 25, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
- Peter Krovina, aka, “Lil’ Pete,” 42, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearms charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
- Holly Chambers, 28, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to time served.
- Aaron Didrickson, 32 of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to time served.
- Eric Morisky, aka “Curly,” 33, of Juneau pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to four years in prison.
- Porter Treadway, 39, of Sitka pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Sitka Police Department investigated the case with assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) initiative’s ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. The case is also part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the South East Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force. HIDTA was established in 2018 to enhance and coordinate efforts among local state and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska.
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7 December 2021
Watertown Man Sentenced to 68 Months for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Kavon Mason, age 33, of Watertown, New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Binghamton to 68 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to distributing and conspiring to distribute illegal drugs in Central New York, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Matthew J. Scarpino, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), SAC Buffalo, New York, and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
In pleading guilty previously, Mason admitted that between January 2019 and July 2020, he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in and around Watertown, New York. Mason would travel to Arizona and other locations to purchase the drugs, and he and others would mail the drugs back to central New York using the U.S. Postal Service. The packages were sent to various addresses, often using false names, and Mason and others would retrieve the packages and distribute the drugs.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Mason was ordered to serve four years of supervised release and to pay a money judgment of $42,000, representing Mason’s proceeds from the drug trafficking conspiracy. He was also sentenced to pay a $5,000.00 fine. The sentence was pronounced by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.
This case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with Assistance from the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force (“Met-Jeff”), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
United States Prevails in Actions to Seize and Forfeit Iranian Terror Group’s Missiles and PetroleumRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced the successful forfeiture of two large caches of Iranian arms, including 171 surface-to-air missiles and eight anti-tank missiles, as well as approximately 1.1 million barrels of Iranian petroleum products. The U.S. Navy seized the weapons from two vessels in the Arabian Sea while conducting routine maritime security operations. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, orchestrated the arms shipments, which were destined for Houthi militants in Yemen. The U.S. government similarly seized the Iranian petroleum products from four foreign-flagged tankers in or around the Arabian Sea while en route to Venezuela. These actions represent the government’s largest-ever forfeitures of fuel and weapons shipments from Iran.
The U.S. government sold the seized petroleum products pursuant to a court order. The net proceeds of that sale, $26,681,397.67 before interest, may be directed, in whole or in part, to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund now that the case has concluded.
“The actions of the United States in these two cases strike a resounding blow to the Government of Iran and to the criminal networks supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to use all available tools to combat the threats posed by terrorist organizations and all those who seek to harm the United States and its allies.”
“These two cases demonstrate that not only can we disrupt the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ ability to finance its operations through petroleum sales, but we can also thwart its ability to use the proceeds of such sales to arm its terrorist proxies and export terrorism abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Given our expertise and special statutory authority, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is uniquely positioned to support its law enforcement partners in such terrorism cases. We are deeply committed to this mission.”
“The combined efforts of the FBI and our partners to seize missiles and over a million barrels of petroleum demonstrate our commitment to defend against foreign terrorist organizations and enforce U.S. sanctions,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The Government of Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism has left innocent victims in its wake and its attempts to support regimes dangerous to the United States and our allies will be met with the full force of the law. The FBI has a continued resolve to hold the Government of Iran accountable for its illegal actions, and we urge anyone with information about violations of sanctions on Iran to contact the FBI.”
“This case is a success because of the hard work and dedication of a joint agency team including agents, analysts and prosecutors who, by securing illegal petroleum, have helped curtail Iran’s campaign of violence and unrest throughout the Middle East,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office.
“The results announced today by the Department of Justice represent another significant victory for HSI in its ongoing efforts to thwart the nefarious criminal activities of the Iranian regime and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Special Agent in Charge Ray Villanueva of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington. “Protecting our homeland from transnational threats of any kind remains a top priority for HSI. The actions conducted by HSI and our partner organizations, both at home and abroad, demonstrate that no matter where in the world Iran attempts to violate sanctions and arm dangerous entities, HSI stands ready to disrupt their activities and defend the national security of the United States.”
“The illegal transfer of Iranian-made weapons poses a significant and immediate threat to our national security,” said Director Kelly P. Mayo of the Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General’s criminal investigative arm, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “The judgement announced today is an important step in our efforts to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who imperil resources vital to our safety.”
U.S. Navy Central Command (NAVCENT) seized the weapons from two flagless vessels in the Arabian Sea on Nov. 25, 2019 and Feb. 9, 2020, respectively. The weapons included 171 guided anti-tank missiles, eight surface-to-air missiles, land attack cruise missile components, anti-ship cruise missile components, thermal weapons optics, and other components for missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
On Aug. 20, 2020, the Justice Department filed a complaint seeking to forfeit the seized weapons in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleged that the arms shipments were part of an IRGC trafficking network designed to distribute illicit weapons to the Houthi movement in Yemen. The court granted the government’s motion for default judgment and entered a final order of forfeiture on Nov. 15. In its opinion, the court found that the government had adequately alleged that the weapons belonged to the IRGC and that the IRGC constitutes an entity engaged in planning or perpetrating a federal crime of terrorism against the United States.
On Feb. 9, 2020, U.S. authorities seized three type “358” surface-to-air missiles. On Feb. 9, 2020, U.S. authorities seized 150 “Dehlavieh” anti-tank guided missiles.On July 2, 2020, the United States also filed a complaint in the District of Columbia seeking to forfeit all petroleum-product cargo aboard four foreign-flagged oil tankers. The complaint alleged that the petroleum originated in Iran, and the sale of that petroleum benefitted the IRGC, a sanctioned Iranian entity. On Oct. 1, the court granted the government’s motion for default judgment and entered an order of forfeiture. In its opinion, the court found that the United States had sufficiently alleged that the petroleum products provided a source of influence over the IRGC because those properties were critical to furthering the affairs of the terrorist group’s enterprise.
These successful forfeiture actions are a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated efforts to enforce U.S. sanctions against the IRGC and the Iranian regime.
HSI’s Washington Field Office and DCIS’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office led the investigation of the IRGC weapons smuggling network, with substantial assistance from NAVCENT in conducting the seizures. HSI Denver and FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office led the investigation of the Iranian petroleum sales, again with substantial assistance from NAVCENT during the seizures.
Both cases were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Hudak, Stuart D. Allen, and Michael P. Grady for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney David Lim of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the cases, with support from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided extensive assistance in the forfeiture and sale of the seized petroleum.
The cases are United States v. All Petroleum-Product Cargo Aboard the Bella, et al., 1:20-cv-1791-JEB, and United States v. 171 “Dehlavieh” Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, et al., 20-cv-2299-JEB.
United States Prevails in Actions to Seize and Forfeit Iranian Terror Group’s Missiles and PetroleumRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the successful forfeiture of two large caches of Iranian arms, including 171 surface-to-air missiles and eight anti-tank missiles, as well as approximately 1.1 million barrels of Iranian petroleum products. The U.S. Navy seized the weapons from two vessels in the Arabian Sea while conducting routine maritime security operations. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, orchestrated the arms shipments, which were destined for Houthi militants in Yemen. The U.S. government similarly seized the Iranian petroleum products from four foreign-flagged tankers in or around the Arabian Sea while en route to Venezuela. These actions represent the government’s largest-ever forfeitures of fuel and weapons shipments from Iran.
The U.S. government sold the seized petroleum products pursuant to a court order. The net proceeds of that sale, $26,681,397.67 before interest, may be directed, in whole or in part, to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund now that the case has concluded.
“The actions of the United States in these two cases strike a resounding blow to the Government of Iran and to the criminal networks supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to use all available tools to combat the threats posed by terrorist organizations and all those who seek to harm the United States and its allies.”
“These two cases demonstrate that not only can we disrupt the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ ability to finance its operations through petroleum sales, but we can also thwart its ability to use the proceeds of such sales to arm its terrorist proxies and export terrorism abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Given our expertise and special statutory authority, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is uniquely positioned to support its law enforcement partners in such terrorism cases. We are deeply committed to this mission.”
“The combined efforts of the FBI and our partners to seize missiles and over a million barrels of petroleum demonstrate our commitment to defend against foreign terrorist organizations and enforce U.S. sanctions,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The Government of Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism has left innocent victims in its wake and its attempts to support regimes dangerous to the United States and our allies will be met with the full force of the law. The FBI has a continued resolve to hold the Government of Iran accountable for its illegal actions, and we urge anyone with information about violations of sanctions on Iran to contact the FBI.”
“This case is a success because of the hard work and dedication of a joint agency team including agents, analysts and prosecutors who, by securing illegal petroleum, have helped curtail Iran’s campaign of violence and unrest throughout the Middle East,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office.
“The results announced today by the Department of Justice represent another significant victory for HSI in its ongoing efforts to thwart the nefarious criminal activities of the Iranian regime and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Special Agent in Charge Ray Villanueva of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington. “Protecting our homeland from transnational threats of any kind remains a top priority for HSI. The actions conducted by HSI and our partner organizations, both at home and abroad, demonstrate that no matter where in the world Iran attempts to violate sanctions and arm dangerous entities, HSI stands ready to disrupt their activities and defend the national security of the United States.”
“The illegal transfer of Iranian-made weapons poses a significant and immediate threat to our national security,” said Director Kelly P. Mayo of the Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General’s criminal investigative arm, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “The judgment announced today is an important step in our efforts to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who imperil resources vital to our safety.”
U.S. Navy Central Command (NAVCENT) seized the weapons from two flagless vessels in the Arabian Sea on Nov. 25, 2019, and Feb. 9, 2020, respectively. The weapons included 171 guided anti-tank missiles, eight surface-to-air missiles, land attack cruise missile components, anti-ship cruise missile components, thermal weapons optics and other components for missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
On Aug. 20, 2020, the Justice Department filed a complaint seeking to forfeit the seized weapons in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleged that the arms shipments were part of an IRGC trafficking network designed to distribute illicit weapons to the Houthi movement in Yemen. The court granted the government’s motion for default judgment and entered a final order of forfeiture on Nov. 15. In its opinion, the court found that the government had adequately alleged that the weapons belonged to the IRGC and that the IRGC constitutes an entity engaged in planning or perpetrating a federal crime of terrorism against the United States.
On Feb. 9, 2020, U.S. authorities seized three type “358” surface-to-air missiles (above) and 150 “Dehlavieh” anti-tank guided missiles (below).
On July 2, 2020, the United States also filed a complaint in the District of Columbia seeking to forfeit all petroleum-product cargo aboard four foreign-flagged oil tankers. The complaint alleged that the petroleum originated in Iran, and the sale of that petroleum benefitted the IRGC, a sanctioned Iranian entity. On Oct. 1, 2021, the court granted the government’s motion for default judgment and entered an order of forfeiture. In its opinion, the court found that the United States had sufficiently alleged that the petroleum products provided a source of influence over the IRGC because those properties were critical to furthering the affairs of the terrorist group’s enterprise.
These successful forfeiture actions are a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated efforts to enforce U.S. sanctions against the IRGC and the Iranian regime.
HSI’s Washington Field Office and DCIS’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office led the investigation of the IRGC weapons smuggling network, with substantial assistance from NAVCENT in conducting the seizures. HSI Denver and FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office led the investigation of the Iranian petroleum sales, again with substantial assistance from NAVCENT during the seizures.
Both cases were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Hudak, Stuart D. Allen, and Michael P. Grady for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney David Lim of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the cases, with support from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided extensive assistance in the forfeiture and sale of the seized petroleum.
The cases are United States v. All Petroleum-Product Cargo Aboard the Bella, et al., 1:20-cv-1791-JEB, and United States v. 171 “Dehlavieh” Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, et al., 20-cv-2299-JEB.
Two Influential Members of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood Admit to Participating in a Racketeering Enterprise and Drug Conspiracy from PrisonRead the Press Release
Two Universal Aryan Brotherhood influential gang members pleaded guilty Tuesday for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise that committed acts of murder, kidnapping, the trafficking of methamphetamine and firearms, money laundering, assault, and robbery throughout the State of Oklahoma, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
The UAB is a “whites only” prison-based gang with members operating inside and outside of state prisons throughout Oklahoma.
Christopher K. Baldwin, 42, and Robert W. Zeidler, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and to drug conspiracy, but both men refused to cooperate with the government.
The plea agreements, if accepted by U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan, stipulate that Baldwin and Zeidler will each serve 22 years in federal prison. The men will be sentenced April 6, 2022.
“The Universal Aryan Brotherhood is a criminal enterprise responsible for countless violent crimes and narcotics distribution throughout Oklahoma. The gang orchestrates a prolific drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing an estimated 2,500 kilograms of methamphetamine per year,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office and our local, state, federal, and tribal partners will continue to pursue and prosecute criminal organizations, like the UAB, who wreak havoc in northeastern Oklahoma. Baldwin and Zeidler’s guilty pleas are another step forward in dismantling this criminal organization and ensuring justice for victims.”
Baldwin and Zeidler were key players involved in UAB operations while imprisoned in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester. Incarcerated UAB members used contraband cell phones, social media and “kites” to carry out their operations. Kites are written communications, or notes, passed to intended recipients.
In their plea agreements, Baldwin and Zeidler stated that when joining the UAB they understood that members took part in racketeering activities to further the gang’s enterprise.
Baldwin admitted to being part of the gang from at least 1999 to 2017 and that during part of that time, he sat on the “Main Council,” the UAB’s highest governing body. Baldwin stated that he was involved directly or indirectly as a coconspirator in crimes of drug dealing, witness intimidation, money laundering and other crimes of violence.
Zeidler admitted to joining the gang and to committing or causing to be committed crimes related to the racketeering enterprise and drug conspiracy. Zeidler helped lead the gang’s methamphetamine operation.
Both men also admitted to knowingly and willfully agreeing with others to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine. As part of the UAB’s operations, members and associates participated in a significant and widespread methamphetamine distribution scheme directed by incarcerated UAB leaders.
In conjunction with the gang’s large-scale methamphetamine operation, members also laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal drug proceeds for the benefit of the UAB enterprise, using cash transfers, stored value cards, PayPal, Green Dot, and Walmart money transfers. Investigators from the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) helped trace the money trail.
According to court documents, multiple kidnappings were also ordered in an effort to leverage and expand the UAB’s power and operations throughout Oklahoma. Members and associates of the enterprise used kidnapping as a way to enforce discipline, recoup drugs and other debts, and to ensure the individuals were not cooperating with law enforcement. Additionally, nine individuals were murdered as part of the UAB’s racketeering operations, often upon the orders of the Main Council.
“The guilty plea of these conspirators sends a strong message that those involved in criminal enterprises committing heinous acts of violence and drug trafficking will face swift prosecution,” said Christopher Miller, acting Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “Working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, our agency is relentless in the pursuit of dismantling transnational criminal organizations wherever they operate.”
Both men were charged in an indictment along with 16 other members and associates of the UAB in December 2018. You can find the press release announcing charges in February 2019 here.
The UAB was established in 1993 within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and modeled itself after the principles and ideology of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that formed in the 1960s.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation led the investigation with assistance from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Tulsa and Enid Police Departments, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis A. Fries is prosecuting this case.
Two Defendants Charged with Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fraud Combined Actual Losses in Excess of $3.2 MillionRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Two defendants have been charged in criminal complaints for their roles in unemployment insurance benefit fraud schemes, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Joining in this announcement are Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Sarah Kull, Special Agent-in-Charge Internal Revenue Service Detroit and Julia Dale, Director, Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Tauheed Salik Wilder, 39, of Detroit, MI, and Shuqueni Renee Franklin, 30, of Shelby Township, MI are charged in separate complaints with mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Wilder and Franklin were arrested today.
Between them, according to the complaints, Wilder and Franklin are responsible for filing at least 470 claims for fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits in at least 5 States, including Michigan. Their illegal activity caused actual losses of over $4 million and attempted losses of over $13 million. It is alleged that both Wilder and Franklin filed numerous false claims using their own names and false social security numbers. Wilder and Franklin also used the stolen identity of other individuals to file false claims for unemployment insurance benefits. Both Wilder and Franklin were caught on bank surveillance cameras using ATM cards in names of individuals whose identity they had stolen to withdraw the illegally obtained unemployment benefits.
“The funds stolen by these defendants were intended to be used to ease the burden of unemployment suffered by residents of Michigan and other States. Those who steal unemployment benefits steal from all taxpayers and jeopardize the safety net Congress enacted to protect employees who lost jobs during the pandemic. These arrests reflect our ongoing commitment to investigating these schemes and bringing the people who commit these crimes to justice,” stated Acting US Attorney Saima M. Mohsin.
"An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations involving unemployment insurance fraud. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“When someone loses their job, they trust that help will be there to get them through rough times. Thieves jeopardize that trust and threaten the safety net for those truly in need. We won’t let that happen,” said Juila Dale, Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. “Through the tireless work of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force, we are bringing these criminals to justice and the Task Force partners should be commended for their efforts. I would also urge anyone who knows of any UI fraud scheme to go to Michigan.gov/UIA and click on the Report Fraud link.”
"Unemployment insurance was designed to provide much needed financial assistance to those in need during a global pandemic. IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating those who steal government assistance for their personal benefit,” stated Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull, IRS-CI Detroit Field Office.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigations are completed, determinations will be made whether to seek felony indictments.
Torrington Man Charged with Kidnapping MinorRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHRISTOPHER JESUS CONSTANZO, 19, of Torrington, has been charged by a federal criminal complaint issued in the District of Connecticut with kidnapping a minor.
Constanzo was originally charged with this offense in the District of Vermont. He appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in Vermont and agreed to remain in custody pending his transfer to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.
As alleged in court documents, on December 2, 2021, at approximately 7:27 a.m., Constanzo and a minor female (“minor victim”) arrived by car at the U.S. Port of Entry at Highgate Springs, Vermont. Just prior to their arrival, officials at the St-Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing in Canada had refused Constanzo and the minor victim entry into Canada. After U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers separated Constanzo from the minor victim, the victim reported that she met Constanzo the night before at Stillwater Pond State Park in Torrington. Constanzo then sexually assaulted the minor victim, forced her into the trunk of the minor victim’s car, restrained her with a shoelace, and then began driving. At some point during the night, Constanzo removed the minor victim from the trunk and sexually assaulted her again. As they neared the Canadian border, Constanzo has the minor victim sit in the front passenger seat of the car. Constanzo instructed her to “act normal” and “go along with the story.” Constanzo then told Canadian Border Services Agency officials that the minor victim was his sister and they intended to go into Canada for four days to visit friends. However, due to their lack of COVID tests, Constanzo and the minor victim were denied entry into Canada.
The complaint alleges that Constanzo is the subject of a pending sexual assault investigation in Connecticut for another incident that occurred earlier this year.
The complaint charges Constanzo with kidnapping, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. The penalties this matter are enhanced because the victim is a minor.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Vermont State Police and the Torrington Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel and Nancy V. Gifford in the District of Connecticut, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher in the District of Vermont.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
St. Petersburg Postal Clerk Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Mail and Passport Applications to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jasmine Wynne (31, Ruskin) to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of a postal key.
According to court documents, Wynne, a Postal Clerk with the United States Postal Service (USPS) at the St. Petersburg Retail Post Office location, conspired with others to defraud federally insured financial institutions. Wynne used her status and the special access she had as a USPS employee to open First-Class mail and to photograph personal identifying information (“PII”) and bank account information. Wynne then forwarded the photographs to co-conspirators for use in a bank fraud scheme. Wynne also photographed United States Passport applications that were processed at her post office location to gain applicants’ PII and bank account information. She then forwarded that information to co-conspirators.
In addition, Wynne used her position as a USPS employee to access and steal restricted postal arrow keys – special master keys that open USPS collection boxes, banks of mailboxes at apartment complexes, and any other mailbox keyed with an arrow lock. Wynne then provided the postal arrow keys to co-conspirators for use in the charged conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Gestring.
St. Albans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A St. Albans man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime.
According to statements made in court, on August 14, 2021, Austin Nathaniel Miller, 24, was stopped by an officer with the St. Albans Police Department for riding a dirt bike on a city street. Miller admitted to possessing a gun and the officer recovered a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun from Miller’s waistband. In searching Miller’s backpack, the officer found two packages of suspected methamphetamine with a combined approximate weight of 238.22 grams. Drug lab analysis determined that the methamphetamine was approximately 98% pure.
Miller pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 7, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Miller is prosecuting 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-00204.
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South Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A South Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug trafficking crime.
According to statements made in court, Marquise Culbreath-Claytor, 26, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped in Boone County by a trooper with the West Virginia State Police on April 1, 2021. Culbreath-Claytor possessed 134 grams of methamphetamine, which he admitted he intended to sell.
Culbreath-Claytor pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison when he is sentenced on February 3, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nowles Heinrich is prosecuting 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-00190.
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Six Mexican Nationals Charged with Participating in Cross-Border Kidnap-for-Ransom Conspiracy Responsible for Six MurdersRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against six members of a Tijuana, Mexico-based hostage-taking organization that allegedly kidnapped nine victims and murdered six of them – including three United States citizens – some of them after their families paid ransom for their release.
The five-count indictment charges all six defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, and one count of extortion. The charged defendants, all Mexican nationals, are:
- German Garcia Yera Hernandez, 37, the indictment’s lead defendant and the alleged ringleader of the hostage-for-ransom organization;
- Gilberto Omar Avila Lopez, 27, a.k.a. “Luis Enrique Avila Moreno” and “Omar;”
- Aylin Estrada Reyes, 24;
- Joel Eduardo Mascorro Delgado, 22;
- Victoria Camila Espinoza Ballardo, 22; and
- Oscar Bautista Valencia, 30
Yera, Lopez and Ballardo each face an additional count of hostage taking resulting in death and extortion. All six defendants are in custody in Mexico facing charges filed by authorities there.
According to the indictment, from January 2020 to April 2020, Yera led the hostage-taking organization that extorted money from victims by taking hostage and holding for ransom United States nationals and Mexican nationals with relatives in the United States.
The hostage-taking group generally lured their victims into meetings under false pretenses and took them hostage, the indictment states. The group allegedly held the victims at gunpoint, tied them up, and often brutally beat them. Members of the group then called victims’ family members in the United States and demanded money and vehicles as ransom in return for the release of their loved ones, according to the indictment. If victims did not have family members who could pay ransom, they were murdered, as happened with what the indictment calls “Victim A,” “Victim B” and “Victim I.”
In other instances outlined in the indictment in which ransoms were paid, Yera and other conspirators allegedly killed the victims to protect the conspiracy. Other members of the organization traveled from Mexico into the United States to locations selected by Yera and others to collect the ransom payments made by the victims’ family members. For example, on March 28, 2020, a co-conspirator traveled to collect ransom payment on Yera’s behalf at a McDonald’s in San Ysidro. After the murder of this victim, the indictment alleges that Yera sent Lopez a message depicting a large amount of cash and wrote “this was good job done.”
On April 11, 2020, Yera and co-conspirators allegedly orchestrated the hostage taking of a victim identified in court documents as “Victim E,” a United States national who resided in Norwalk and who was at the time visiting a family member in Tijuana. Victim E was forced to call his mother, say he was in trouble and instruct her to call an individual to pay $25,000 for his release. The victim’s mother struggled to obtain the ransom money but agreed to pay the hostage takers $1,000 and Victim E’s vehicle in exchange for Victim E’s release and met up with a ransom collector in Norwalk on April 13, 2020 – the same day Victim E was murdered. His body was recovered in Mexico the next day.
On April 22, 2020, a Pasadena woman called law enforcement to report a family member, identified in the indictment as “Victim H,” had been kidnapped in Mexico with a ransom demand of $20,000. One of the kidnappers, calling from a Mexican phone number, informed the victim’s family that a woman would pick up the ransom money at a Food 4 Less parking lot in Lynwood. That same day, law enforcement in Mexico rescued the victim, who was being held hostage at a Tijuana hotel.
If convicted of all charges, the defendants would face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is investigating this matter and believes there may be victims who have not yet been identified. The FBI asks that anyone contacted by the defendants relative to a kidnapping or a ransom payment call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Joseph D. Axelrad of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Sibley Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed guns pled guilty December 2, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Levi Dimmitt, 34, from Sibley, Iowa, was convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of multiple firearms.
At the plea hearing, Dimmitt admitted that he was a user of marijuana and methamphetamine while possessing the guns. As a user of controlled substances, Dimmitt is prohibited from possessing guns. Reports show that law enforcement executed a search warrant on April 24, 2021, at Dimmitt’s residence. Officers searched the residence and located drug paraphernalia, a drug ledger, marijuana, methamphetamine, and four guns.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Dimmitt remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Dimmitt faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Sibley Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4062. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Schenectady Woman Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a Defaced Firearm and Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nakia Barber, age 46, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to time served (approximately 3 months), followed by 3 years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a defaced firearm and possessing with intent to distribute and distributing heroin.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
Barber previously pled guilty to unlawfully possessing a defaced Walther P22 .22 caliber pistol and to possessing and distributing heroin on October 30, 2018. She had been in custody on unrelated New York State charges since September 2020.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Michael A Clemence, 36, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of child pornography, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in February of 2020, the Homeland Security Investigations New Hampshire office received information that on April 28, 2019, an individual originating from an IP address at a Rochester residence had accessed a website known for sharing child sexual abuse and exploitation material. Clemence was identified as the subscriber of the target IP address.
On May 26, 2021, agents conducted a consensual interview with Clemence. They advised him they were investigating internet activity associated with child exploitation material and that some of the activity occurred in April of 2019 from the IP address associated with his previous address. Clemence made no admissions but volunteered that his wife had previously found disturbing material on their home computer and that they subsequently wiped the computer’s hard drive and gave the computer away. Clemence’s wife later confirmed that in May of 2019, she discovered thousands of images of what appeared to be child exploitation material on Clemence’s laptop computer.
After further investigation, a search warrant was executed at Clemence’s residence, which resulted in the seizure of numerous electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devices confirmed the presence of child exploitation material. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified 1,351 images as depicting known minor victims.
Clemence is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2022.
“Protecting vulnerable young people from exploitation is among the most significant duties of law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Those who possess or distribute sexually explicit images of children are further exploiting the innocent youths who were abused during the creation of these images. To protect young children from exploitation, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit crimes related to child pornography.”
“Child exploitation material is an enduring record of the terrible abuse of children. Those who seek out and collect that material create a market for its production and the continued exploitation of children,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations’ Boston Field Office. “Homeland Security Investigations will continue our work alongside our partners at the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children task force to ensure those like this individual face the consequences for their participation in these horrible crimes.”
This matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Rochester Police Department and Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Repeat Offender Admits Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Andrew Ramey, 34, of Brick, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 13, 2020, through June 8, 2020, Ramey downloaded and shared material containing images of child sexual abuse, via the BitTorrent Network, a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network of linked computers. Users must download P2P software, which is widely available for free on the Internet. The software allows the user to place files into a designated “shared” folder on his or her hard drive, from which other BitTorrent users can then download those files directly to the “shared” folders of their own computers. Users can then search, select, and directly download, those files.
Law enforcement used investigative software to access the BitTorrent Network and downloaded video files containing images of child sexual abuse from a device or devices assigned to an IP address at Ramey’s residence. On Nov. 13, 2020, law enforcement searched Ramey’s residence and seized mobile phones belonging to Ramey. Analysis revealed the phones contained thousands of images and videos containing images of child sexual abuse, as well as BitTorrent software.
In a prior federal prosecution in 2018, Ramey was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. For a repeat offender, the possession charge in the information carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, along with a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for April 12, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Atlantic City, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina in Newark; detectives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; the Brick Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Riccio; and the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief Stephen Riedener, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander E. Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
Queens Pharmacist Indicted for Conspiring to Accept Kickbacks and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Bruce Snipas, the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of B&E Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“B&E”) in Rego Park, New York, with conspiracy to make false statements in health care matters, making false statements in health care matters and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Snipas was arrested this morning and arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. The defendant was released on a $150,000 bond.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, the defendant, a pharmacist and health care professional, engaged in a fraudulent scheme to take advantage of the Medicaid program and profit by accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is committed to protecting the integrity of government programs, including health insurance programs like Medicaid that benefit the district’s most vulnerable residents.” United States Attorney Peace also thanked the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General.
“Snipas, as alleged, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks while helping a health care company cover up their processing of fraudulent claims totaling more than $30 million. The FBI will continue our efforts to protect government-sponsored programs that exist to serve the interests of those within our community who need them most and private insurance programs that are adversely affected by this type of fraud,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
As alleged in the indictment, from approximately April 2015 to February 2018, Snipas conspired with a Florida-based health care company (the “Health Care Company”) to conceal the Health Care Company’s involvement in processing over $30 million in fraudulently obtained prescription claims by B&E from various health care programs, including New York Medicaid. Snipas repeatedly made false claims to Federal and State regulators and pharmacy boards concealing the Health Care Company’s involvement in the operations of B&E. In exchange for assisting the Health Care Company in processing the prescriptions through B&E, Snipas received approximately $650,000 in kickbacks from the Health Care Company.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Health Care Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin E. Argo and Brian Morris are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
BRUCE SNIPAS
Age: 68
West Islip, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-605 (MKB)
Pennsylvania State Prison Inmate Charged with Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – An inmate of SCI - Pine Grove, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of obstruction of justice, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Dhaque Jones, 25, incarcerated in Indiana, PA, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, beginning on or about February 14, 2020 and continuing thereafter until on or about July 13, 2021, the defendant did obstruct justice during a federal civil case by submitting materially false documents submitted as exhibits to Jones’ habeas petition with the federal court.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Risacher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pennsylvania Doctor Sentenced for Unlawfully Distributing OxycodoneRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to three years in prison for his unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
According to court documents, Timothy F. Shawl, M.D., 62, of Garnet Valley, wrote prescriptions for controlled substances totaling approximately 20,811 oxycodone pills for certain patients without seeing, treating, or examining them. One patient overdosed and died on Jan. 7, 2019, just three days after Shawl last prescribed oxycodone for her despite not treating or examining her in at least five years. Shawl pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances on Jan. 21, 2020.
“By prescribing controlled substances to patients without any medical oversight, the defendant violated his professional and moral obligation to his patients,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s conduct had devastating consequences including to at least one patient who suffered an overdose and death as a result of the defendant’s prescriptions. The Department of Justice is committed to combating the opioid epidemic and that includes prosecuting the people who enable it.”
“The defendant in today’s case neglected his sworn responsibility to do no harm and recklessly contributed to the nation’s opioid epidemic,” said Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The human consequences in these cases are tragic, and the FBI is devoted to investigating doctors who prescribe controlled substances without legitimate medical reason to do so. Rest assured, the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to bring justice to victims and those who have tragically lost loved ones because of unlawful distribution.”
The FBI’s Philadelphia Division investigated the case, with assistance from Health Care Fraud Task Force officers from the Philadelphia Police Department and Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
Trial Attorney Debra Jaroslawicz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Pathology Practice Agrees to Pay $2.4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey pathology practice will pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by making false representations in connection with submissions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
According to the government’s contentions in the settlement agreement:
Princeton Pathology Services P.A. (Princeton Pathology) submitted claims to Medicare under Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 85390-26 from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2020. This CPT code requires written analysis by a pathologist, but Princeton Pathology submitted claims using this code without written substantiation in medical records. As a result, Princeton Pathology billed Medicare for analysis of tests that did not require analysis, causing Medicare to significantly overpay.
Contemporaneous with the civil settlement, Princeton Pathology also entered into a three-year Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which requires, among other things, training, auditing, and monitoring designed to address the conduct at issue in the case as well as evolving compliance risks on an ongoing basis.
“Federal health care programs rely on practitioners to accurately bill for services they perform,” Acting U.S. Attorney Honig said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey will hold accountable physician practices that seek payment for unnecessary or unsubstantiated services.”
“Submitting claims for unsubstantiated services threatens the integrity of the Medicare program and will not be tolerated,” Scott J. Lampert, HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge said. “We will continue to protect patients and taxpayers by holding accountable providers who endanger the integrity of federal health care programs and the beneficiaries they serve.”
The allegations arose from a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Jayant Barai M.D. The False Claims Act permits private parties to sue for false claims on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Dr. Barai will receive $456,000 from the federal share of the settlement.
The government’s pursuit of this lawsuit illustrates its efforts to combat healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the HHS-OIG, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Lampert; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the settlement.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Meyler of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Barai v. Princeton Pathology Services, P.A., et al. (D.N.J.). The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Impersonating a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Jeffrey Thomas Ostdiek, 56, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for impersonating a federal officer. The Honorable Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Ostdiek to 17 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Ostdiek will serve a 1-year term of supervised release.
Between October 2016 and at least January 2017, Ostdiek went to multiple locations in the Omaha area claiming to be a Postal Inspector or Postmaster General. Ostdiek wore identification that he made from Postal Service receipts along with a body-worn video camera. On one of these occasions, Ostdiek convinced an actual United States Postal Service employee to accompany him to the Douglas County Courthouse where he demanded to meet with a government official, all under the pretense of being a Postal Inspector investigating a legal matter concerning his brother.
In September 2020, Ostdiek went to multiple locations in the Omaha area claiming to be a United States Marshal. Ostdiek wore a six-pointed star belt buckle along with a body-worn video camera. On one of these occasions, Ostdiek went to a business in Omaha seeking contact information for a former employee. Ostdiek left a note to pass on to the former employee asking her to call “Marshal Thomas.”
“This defendant impersonated a Postal Inspector, a U.S. Marshal, and the Postmaster General, but Postal Inspectors in Nebraska worked with their local and federal partners to bring him to justice,” said Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division, which includes Nebraska. “Today’s sentence affirms the importance of the law enforcement oath to protect and serve. All Postal Inspectors carry badges and credentials which identify them as federal agents. Postal Inspectors have immense authority entrusted to them by the American Public. If an individual has concerns, a call can be placed to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service or their local law enforcement agency to verify that a person is a Postal Inspector on official business,” said Mendonça.
The United States Marshal Service also noted that their agency is seeing an increase in impersonation investigations and urged the public to continue to report such incidents.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshal Service, and United States Postal Inspection Service.
Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Morphine at Moses Lake ClinicRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Esther Rae Tuller, age 40, of Moses Lake, Washington, has pleaded guilty to tampering with morphine medication while working as a registered nurse. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian accepted Tuller’s guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 17, 2022, in Spokane.
According to court documents and information disclosed during Tuller’s change of plea hearing, between August 2019 and April 2020, Tuller was a Washington-licensed registered nurse employed at the Confluence Health Clinic in Moses Lake. Her position as a nurse provided her with access to medications, including opioid narcotics such as morphine, an opioid derivative commonly prescribed by hospitals and health care facilities to relieve pain.
While working at Confluence Health, Tuller used syringes to remove morphine from at least 17 vials, and then ingested that morphine as part of her own opioid addiction. She then replaced the morphine with a saline solution that was essentially salt dissolved in water, and attempted to glue the caps back onto the vials to make them appear intact. Before Tuller was apprehended by law enforcement, at least one Confluence Health patient who was prescribed morphine had to be rushed to the emergency room; that patient continued to be in excruciating pain after receiving only saline from what was supposed to be morphine vials.
United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref emphasized that part of her mission to ensure a safe and strong community in Eastern Washington includes addressing the opioid epidemic in all of its forms. “While Ms. Tuller’s addiction to opioids is both tragic and far too common, her decision to take advantage of her access to medical-grade morphine was an egregious breach of trust. It is deeply troubling that she compounded her misconduct by secretly replacing that morphine with saline in vials that she knew would be distributed to patients. She recklessly and seriously endangered the safety of patients who rely on the judgment and integrity of health care professionals every day.”
The drug tampering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of court supervision after release.
United States Attorney Waldref underscored how important it is to detect crimes like these. “I commend the outstanding investigative work by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Group as well as the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations. This case demonstrates that DEA, FDA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will work tirelessly to protect and strengthen our communities both by combatting opioid abuse wherever it occurs, and by holding accountable anyone who abuses a position of trust to access dangerous drugs or put vulnerable patients at risk.”
Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Seattle Field Division, highlighted DEA’s ongoing work against the abuse of opioids. “Ms. Tuller’s reckless actions violated her oath as a medical professional, and undermined the trust and confidence of the public. During this national opioid crisis, people are depending on health care and law enforcement professionals to keep our communities safe from anyone who seeks to exploit the system designed to provide care and treatment for those in need.”
“The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that it is safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper with medicines put patients’ health at risk,” added Special Agent in Charge Lisa L. Malinowski of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. “We will continue to protect public health and bring to justice any health care professionals who take advantage of their unique positions or compromise their patients’ health and comfort by tampering with needed drugs.”
This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Diversion Group in the Seattle Field Office, and the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Seattle Domicile. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting this matter on behalf of the United States.
New York Man Indicted in Credit Card ‘Bust Out’ Scheme to Defraud BanksRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in connection with a scheme to defraud banks by using stolen and altered identities to fraudulently obtain credit cards and then using those cards to make millions of dollars in charges that were never repaid, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Mohammad Mushtaq, 56, of Valley Stream, New York, is charged with one count of conspiring to defraud financial institutions, five counts of bank fraud, one count of access device fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Mushtaq and his conspirators engaged in a scheme to use stolen and altered identities to obtain credit cards from financial institutions and then use those credit cards to make purchases that they had no intention to repay, leaving the financial institutions to bear the losses.
Mushtaq and his conspirators used the personal identifying information of people, including dates of birth, drivers’ license numbers, and Social Security numbers, to create “synthetic identities,” sometimes by pairing the name and Social Security number of actual persons with a fictitious birthdate, and sometimes by pairing the person’s Social Security number with a fictitious name and birthdate. They often used the name and Social Security number of a minor and altered the birthdate to make the identity appear to be that of an adult. Mushtaq altered the personally identifying information of his own spouse and minor child in this fashion to create fraudulent identities that were then used in furtherance of the scheme.
Mushtaq and his conspirators used the stolen and synthetic identities to obtain lines of credit, primarily through opening credit card accounts at financial institutions (the “fraud cards”). The fraud cards were maintained in good standing with the financial institutions long enough to establish the creditworthiness of the stolen and synthetic identities. Mushtaq and his conspirators then “busted out” the fraud cards by making large purchases and never repaying the debts.
Mushtaq’s conspirator, Asif Ali, also established numerous purported companies that did little or no legitimate business (the “sham companies”). Mushtaq and Ali used these sham companies to make hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of charges to the fraud cards, which were then deposited in bank accounts opened in the sham companies’ names.
The charge of conspiring to defraud financial institutions and the bank fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. The access device fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed.
Asif Ali, Tassadiq Hussain, and Shahid Akhtar previously pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in this and related schemes. Ali is awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson. Hussain and Akhtar were sentenced by Judge Thompson to 41 months and a sentence of time served, respectively.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until convicted.
The government is represented by Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for December 2019 Uptown Home Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane Evans announced today that JOSEPH HERBERT BARLOW Jr. (BARLOW), age 52, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to a one-count Indictment for bank robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a) before U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter on July 27, 2021.
In papers filed in open court, BARLOW admitted to robbing the Home Bank located on Magazine Street New Orleans, Louisiana on December 19, 2019, stealing approximately $6,676.00.
BARLOW entered the bank and told the teller “I am here to rob this bank. Do not press any button or notify the police. I have a gun so give me all the money.”
Judge Vitter ordered BARLOW to pay $6,676.00 in restitution, serve three (3) years supervised release after his prison term and pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
New Castle Felon Charged with Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on two charges of violating federal firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The two-count Superseding Indictment named Angel Cruz II, age 32, as the sole defendant.
According to the Superseding Indictment, on or about June 16, 2021 and on or about November 4, 2021, Cruz possessed a firearm and/or ammunition by a convicted felon. It is prohibited under federal law for a convicted felon to be in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition.
The law provides for a term of imprisonment not more than ten years, a fine not to exceed $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proved 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.
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Montgomery Resident Sentenced to 37 Months for Financial Fraud CrimesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Montgomery woman was sentenced to 37 months in prison for embezzlement, bank fraud, and wire fraud convictions.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a federal jury trial in June 2021, Tiffany Culliver Franklin, 41, committed a series of financial fraud crimes over a period of several years. In particular, between June 2015 and July 2017, Franklin embezzled $202,000 from Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), where she was employed as a vault teller. Franklin gave a written statement to a BB&T investigator admitting that she stole the money from a local branch in Montgomery and gambled with it at casinos.
Before embezzling money from BB&T, Franklin also worked as a banker at a Wells Fargo branch in Montgomery from January 2012 to December 2014. In that capacity, Franklin used her Wells Fargo credentials to create and obtain a debit card linked to an elderly customer’s account. Franklin then used the debit card to deposit worthless checks into and immediately withdraw cash from the elderly customer’s account, causing a financial loss to Wells Fargo.
Finally, between September 2017 and June 2018, Franklin worked as a bookkeeper for Goodwyn Middle School (GMS) in Montgomery. During that period, Franklin stole more than $13,000 in money and property belonging to GMS, including funds taken in from classroom teachers and proceeds from school athletic events. Franklin also used a GMS-issued store credit card to buy various unauthorized personal items. Franklin admitted to state investigators that she used the money she stole from GMS to gamble at casinos.Chief United States District Judge L. Scott Coogler ordered Franklin to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will be subject to credit restrictions and prohibited from working in the financial-services industry. The court also ordered Franklin to pay $216,416 in victim restitution and $600 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Montgomery Man Sentenced for Committing a String of Bank Robberies in Central AlabamaRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Friday, December 3, 2021, Jamie Josuhnta Ryans, 27, from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
In September of this year, Ryans pleaded guilty to robbing banks in four different counties in central Alabama, including: BB&T Bank in Montgomery, Alabama, robbed on October 17, 2019; BanccorpSouth Bank in Hayneville, Alabama, robbed on October 25, 2019; Community Neighbor Bank in Greenville, Alabama, robbed on November 6, 2019; and First National Bank of Dozier in Dozier, Alabama, robbed on December 11, 2019.
During each of the robberies, Ryans entered the bank and gave the teller a note demanding money but did not produce a firearm or show that he had one. However, during the December 11throbbery, Ryans did imply to the teller that he had a gun in his pocket. While investigating the robberies, law enforcement learned that during the First National Bank robbery in Dozier, Ryans was assisted by Kendrick Deantay Flynn, a 31-year-old also from Montgomery, who served as Ryan’s getaway driver. Flynn was previously sentenced to 38 months for his role in that robbery.
Ryans’ prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered that Ryans pay $7,853.70 in restitution to the banks.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Hayneville Police Department, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Assistant United States Attorney Russell Duraski prosecuted the case.
Mobile Woman Sentenced in Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Sheedah Majeedah Carson, 25, was a passenger in a car driven by her codefendant, Michael Campbell, who led police on a chase after refusing to yield for a traffic stop. Campbell eventually drove the car to a parking lot behind a church and ran into a nearby wooded area. Meanwhile, as security footage from the church showed, Carson got out of the passenger seat of the car and dropped a stolen .40-caliber pistol over a nearby fence before police arrived and arrested her. Police also found a .40-caliber magazine in the car, which had a young child in the backseat. Carson had previously been convicted of felony offenses, including chemical endangerment of a child, which made it illegal for her to possess firearms or ammunition under federal law.
Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Carson to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Carson to pay $100 in special assessments. Campbell’s case is pending in federal court.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oliver McDonald and Deborah Griffin prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Mexican Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering the U.S. after RemovalRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Morelia, Mexico pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to 16 months in jail on his conviction of illegal reentry of a removed alien, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Miguel Castillo-Lara, 44.
According to information presented to the court, on or about October 20, 2020, Castillo-Lara was found to be unlawfully present within the United States. Castillo-Lara had been previously ordered deported and removed from the United States on March 14, 2012 and was removed from the United States on April 16, 2012. The defendant subsequently reentered the United States and was found to be present in this country without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Castillo-Lara.
Mexican Businessman Arrested for $30M Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican businessman was arrested yesterday in Houston and a Mexican businesswoman is in federal custody on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Juan Carlos Martinez Cecias Rodriguez (Martinez), 51, is the owner of Mobile Coatings Management (MCM) and part owner and president of Uberwurx, doing business as RhinoPro, a spray-on truck bedliner and truck accessory company. Karina Hernandez, 41, is part owner of Texas Franchise and Business Consulting (TFBC). TFBC mainly targets and markets to Mexican nationals interested in starting businesses in Texas.
Martinez marketed himself and Uberwurx as providing a mechanism for investors to gain E-2 visas for legal entry into the U.S. An E-2 visa is reserved for foreign entrepreneurs that allows them to work inside of the U.S. based on a substantial investment in a bona fide enterprise.
Martinez worked with Hernandez to market and sell the Uberwurx franchise to Mexican national investors but failed to make many guaranteed payments to investors. Martinez’s company, MCM, managed the Uberwurx franchises instead of the investors doing so in violation of E2 visa requirements. Martinez instructed investors to omit from their E2 visa applications the fact that MCM managed the franchises.
Martinez and Hernandez perpetrated this scheme on at least 120 different investors between January 2017 and December 2021 with a loss of more than $30 million.
Rodriguez and Hernandez are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of encouraging and inducing illegal immigration for private gain. If convicted, Rodriguez and Hernandez face up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud counts and up to 10 years in prison on each of the encouraging illegal immigration counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daphne Newaz is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Antwone Francis, 31, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 15, 2020, a cooperating source told a Nashua police detective that Francis was selling fentanyl in Nashua and provided pricing and a telephone number. On October 7, 2020, an undercover law enforcement officer called Francis and arranged to purchase fentanyl from Francis at a fast food restaurant in Merrimack.
Francis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2021.
“Fentanyl is a deadly substance that continues to cause grave damage in communities throughout New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “By identifying and prosecuting the drug dealers who are selling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, we are seeking to improve public safety in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Man from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal firearm chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Juan Torres Flores, 23, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 23 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Torres will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 2, Torres entered an Albuquerque laundromat and pointed his gun at a victim while chasing him around the building. Torres fled the scene and was shortly apprehended by law enforcement after absconding from a high-risk traffic stop. During the arrest, law enforcement discovered a loaded firearm.
As a previously convicted felon, Torres cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. By the terms of the plea agreement, Torres faces up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez is prosecuting the case.
Man Who Robbed a Sand Springs Gas Station and Assaulted the Owner Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A Sand Springs man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court for robbing and assaulting a gas station owner, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Camaran Blake Breazeale, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery in Indian Country and carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The defendant will be sentenced on May 25, 2022.
“Camaran Breazeale maliciously assaulted a gas station owner, hospitalizing the man,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My thoughts are with the victim as he continues his long-term recovery following Breazeale’s violent attack. Individuals who commit acts of violence against community members will be held accountable.”
Breazeale admitted in his plea agreement that he entered A&S Fuels gas station in Sand Springs and demanded money from the cash register. When the victim didn’t give Breazeale the money, he punched him, grabbed a shotgun from under the counter, and repeatedly struck the victim with the shot gun. He then took the money from the register and fled.
On July 13, the Sand Springs Police Department responded to a male loitering at a gas station. An officer arrived and notified Breazeale to leave the property’s premises.
Approximately twenty minutes later, the defendant returned to the gas station and said to the owner, “This is my land. Give me everything now.” According to the affidavit, video footage showed Breazeale striking the defendant with his fist multiple times and knocking him down. Then, he grabbed a shotgun and used the butt of the firearm to strike the victim repeatedly in the head saying, “Stop don’t move, or I will shoot you.” Breazeale then took cash from the register and exited the station.
The same police officer who responded to the initial loitering call was in the area when he heard a driver in a parked car yell at Breazeale on the north side of the store. As he approached Breazeale, a customer came running out to the store saying a man was on the floor covered in blood.
Breazeale then allegedly walked up to the officer and handed over the money saying “he gave me that.” His right hand appeared to have blood on it. The officer secured the defendant and rendered aid to the victim who was unconscious in the store with multiple injuries. The victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
Breazeale is a Cherokee Nation citizen, and the crime occurred within the Muscogee Nation Reservation.
The FBI and Sand Springs Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas E. Buscemi and Victor A.S. Régal are prosecuting the case.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Gas Pump Skimming Fraud Scheme in Nevada and CaliforniaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme to steal thousands of credit and debit card numbers from victims at gas pumps in Nevada and California.
According to court documents, between November 2018 and June 2019, Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez was personally involved in installing at least ten skimmer devices at several gas stations, and also assisted co-conspirators in acquiring skimmer devices. After obtaining the stolen account information, Rodriguez Gonzalez and his co-conspirators re-encoded that information onto counterfeit cards to fraudulently make purchases and ATM cash withdrawals. Collectively, Rodriguez Gonzalez and his co-conspirators obtained at least 3,120 stolen credit and debit card account numbers and caused a loss of at least $157,695.51.
Rodriguez Gonzalez pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, one count of use of unauthorized access devices, and one count of aggravated identity theft. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Rodriguez Gonzalez to three years of supervised release.
Co-conspirators Juan Luis Sosa Tamayo and Adrian Leyva Tamayo await a jury trial on July 12, 2022. Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez was sentenced to 61 months in prison in November 2021 for his role in the conspiracy.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Brian Spellacy for the U.S. Secret Service made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale prosecuted the case.
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Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission Issue Joint Statement Following the Inaugural EU-U.S. Joint Technology Competition Policy DialogueRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission launched the EU-U.S. Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (Joint Dialogue) to reaffirm a longstanding tradition of close cooperation in antitrust enforcement and policy.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the inaugural EU-U.S. Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue. Through the Joint Dialogue, and other cooperation efforts, the agencies are committed to ensuring and promoting fair competition and vigorous enforcement which benefits consumers, businesses and workers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Justice Department Settles with Microsoft to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced it has reached a settlement agreement with Microsoft Corporation resolving allegations that the company discriminated against non-U.S. citizens based on their citizenship status during the early stages of Microsoft’s hiring process by asking them for unnecessary, specific immigration documents to prove they could work for the company without needing its sponsorship for work visas. The settlement also resolves claims that the company discriminated against lawful permanent residents whom the company asked for more or different documents than legally required, to reverify their continuing permission to work in the United States.
The department’s independent investigation began after a Microsoft applicant’s spouse called IER’s hotline to report that the company asked her husband for his Permanent Resident Card while he was applying for a job at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, facility. The investigation found evidence that the company repeatedly asked lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees to undergo an evaluation of their need for Microsoft to sponsor them for an employment-based visa even though they do not require sponsorship to work in the United States. The investigation determined that the company discriminated against at least six lawful permanent residents based on their immigration status during this visa evaluation process, by asking them to show a Permanent Resident Card to prove they had permission to work without employer sponsorship. The investigation also determined that from at least June 2019 until at least January 2020, Microsoft routinely sent emails to lawful permanent residents asking them for documents to confirm their continued work authorization even though they had already provided documents showing permanent work authorization.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires employers to verify a worker’s permission to work in the United States. But the law also prohibits employers from asking for documents when not required or from limiting or specifying the types of valid documentation a worker is allowed to show to prove permission to work, because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status, or national origin. Under the settlement, Microsoft will overhaul parts of its hiring process to ensure the company is not unlawfully requiring non-U.S. citizen job applicants, including those with permanent authorization to work, to provide specific immigration documents to prove they do not require sponsorship for a work visa. The settlement also requires the company to stop sending emails requesting documents to reverify work authorization to workers whose work authorization should not be reverified. Additionally, the settlement requires the company to allow workers who need to show their continued work authorization to provide their choice of documentation that is acceptable for that purpose. Microsoft also must pay civil penalties to the United States and train its employees who are responsible for verifying and reverifying workers’ permission to work in the United States. The settlement also requires Microsoft to be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
“The Department of Justice will continue, through investigations and settlements such as this one, to ensure that all non-U.S. citizens who are authorized to work can pursue job opportunities without facing unlawful discrimination,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department also hopes that this settlement will inspire other employers to ensure that their own policies and practices are not discriminatory.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. More information on how employers can avoid unfair documentary practices is available here. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER. View the Spanish translation of this press release here.
Jersey City Gang Member Admits Gang-Related ShootingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A member of a neighborhood street gang that identifies as “300” operating in Hudson County, New Jersey, today admitted his role in a gang-related shooting, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Marc Taylor, aka “Bando,” 20, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On the July 7, 2020, Taylor and two others, all of whom are associated with violent street gangs in Jersey City, drove to rival gang territory and approached a group of individuals standing on a sidewalk. Taylor fired numerous rounds with a .45 caliber handgun through the front passenger seat window while another individual simultaneously attempted to fire a Tec-9 assault pistol through the sunroof. A 12-year-old was shot in the leg. This targeted assault in rival gang territory was a retaliation for prior gang violence.
The count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. The count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, which must run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed on any other charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea; the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Matthews in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.
The government is represented by Desiree Grace, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey
Jefferson County Agencies Awarded Cold Case Homicide Investigation GrantRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The District Attorney’s Office of Jefferson County (Birmingham Division) and the Jefferson County Memorial Project (JCMP) have been awarded $498,933 of funding through the Department of Justice’s Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Training and Technical Assistance Program. The grant will support cold case homicide investigations by the District Attorney’s Office, as well as a community education and truth and reconciliation process implemented by JCMP.
The Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations Program was launched in 2020 to provide support to law enforcement and prosecutors in their investigations and prosecutions of cold case murders associated with civil rights violations occurring no later than December 31, 1979. The Emmett Till Cold Case program complements the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Acts, which have led to the closing of 118 homicide investigations by federal and local law enforcement and prosecutor agencies across the country. Ten of the civil rights era homicides closed through the earlier acts are from Alabama and can be found at Civil Rights Division Emmett Till Act (Cold Case Closing Memoranda).
“The people and communities of Jefferson County are forever shaped by the crime and terror that occurred here to prevent the full equality of all people before the law. The legacy of that era, including possible unresolved crimes, deserve the full sunlight of day and a comprehensive review”, said District Attorney Danny Carr. “I’m grateful for the resources that can assist my office’s efforts to bring healing and justice in our time to the families of victims and our community that were forever harmed by the hate, terror, and violence that once lived among and around us.”
“For most of Jefferson County’s existence, racial terror and violence pervaded our community. Lynchings, bombings, violence, and terror were the means that criminals brazenly wielded with impunity”, said Joi Brown, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Memorial Project. “The telling of this history of violence and harm will and should make us uncomfortable. It was reprehensible and an abomination to every value that our society says it holds dear”, added Brown. “However, we still have in our community the decedents and surviving family members of victims of this violence. JCMP will care for the victims of violence, their families, and our community by ensuring that their story is told, so that our community will never forget and will never go back to being the place of hate, violence, and terror that it once was.”
“The mission of law enforcement and prosecutors to seek justice for the victims of homicides and their families does not have an expiration date. We will ardently partner with and support efforts of the District Attorney’s Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners to bring relief to families of victims and our community,” said United States Attorney Prim Escalona. “The Department of Justice was founded in 1870 for the express purpose of combatting civil rights terror and violence. That mission and charge have never left the Department of Justice or federal law enforcement. The support brought by the Emmett Till program is a sobering reminder both of the cruel harm once done in our community and our charge to endlessly seek justice in response to it.”
The Jefferson County Memorial Project will partner with Northeastern University’s Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ) to provide technical and training assistance to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, as well as community-oriented truth and reconciliation conversations related to the Emmett Till Project. Founded in 2018, the Jefferson County Memorial Project is a grassroots multi-racial, multi-faith, multi-sector, multi-generational coalition working toward educating the public on the difficult history of racial terror and placing markers in memory of Jefferson County’s lynching victims. Northeastern University’s Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project was founded by and is led by Birmingham native Margaret Burnham. The CRRJ supports the academic and teaching projects of scholars within and beyond Northeastern University, and the restorative justice efforts in communities to honor this history.
Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PATRICK DADE, age 27, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced on December 2, 2021 by United States Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon after previously pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
Specifically, DADE previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. According to court documents, DADE conspired to distribute over 100 grams of heroin, and was arrested in Kenner, Louisiana on May 6, 2019 in possession of over 600 grams of heroin.
In total, Judge Lemmon sentenced Dade to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 8 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.