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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 8 October 2021
262-Month Federal Prison Sentence for South Florida Veterinarian Who Sexually Abused Dogs, Created Animal Crush VideoRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A licensed veterinarian based in Aventura, Florida who recorded himself sexually abusing dogs, shared the bestiality videos on-line, and collected on-line child pornography, was sentenced today in Miami federal court to over 21 years in prison.
Prentiss K. Madden, is guilty of producing videos of himself engaged in sexual activity with dogs and sharing them with others in chats. Madden kept these bestiality videos, as well as chats about bestiality, in his cellular telephones. Madden also is guilty of accessing a Dropbox account containing images of child pornography, receiving child pornography photographs and videos through social media chats, talking about child sexual abuse during chats, and storing thousands of child pornography images in his Dropbox account and cellular telephones.
On July 29, Madden pleaded guilty to three counts of receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2); one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B); and one count of creation of an animal crush video, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 48(a)(2)(B), a federal statute that punishes acts of animal torture, including bestiality.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office; and Alfredo Ramirez, III, Director, Miami Dade Police Department, announced the sentence.
HSI Miami and Miami Dade Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from Hialeah Police Department, U.S Customs and Border Protection, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hudock prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
If you have information regarding this case, or you believe you or a family member may have been a victim, please contact the HSI tip line at 1-866-347-2423.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 21-cr-20248.
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'Stranded Bandit' meth traffickers sentenced to substantial federal prison termsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A gang member and leader in a major methamphetamine trafficking operation and a codefendant each have been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison for spreading drugs into coastal and south Georgia.
David Hamilton Sharpe, a/k/a “David Dukkedoff,” 28, of Pembroke, Ga., was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison, and Jose Zepeda, 36, of Gray, Ga., was sentenced to 235 months in prison, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Both men pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine, and U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also recommended that Sharpe serve his sentence outside the Southern District, and ordered each defendant to serve five years of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Violent, armed drug traffickers and criminal gang members are a clear and present danger to our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make our streets safer by identifying these criminals and holding them accountable.”
Sharpe and Zepeda were among 35 defendants indicted as part of Operation Stranded Bandit, as described in the indictment unsealed in December 2020 in USA v. Baker et al. Sharpe, a member of the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang, was incarcerated in state prison during the three years of the investigation and used contraband cell phones to direct shipments of methamphetamine from the Atlanta area and into the Southern District. During a search of his residence in October 2019, just one month after his release from state prison, Sharpe was arrested after agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found him in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and multiple firearms. The arrest took place in Bryan County, from which Sharpe previously had been judicially banished.
Zepeda was arrested in Jones County, Ga., along with other members of the conspiracy in June 2019 as he was delivering four pounds of methamphetamine.
Operation Stranded Bandit grew from other major gang-related drug trafficking prosecutions in Operation Vanilla Gorilla and Operation Who’s Laughing Now. The investigations and prosecutions, coordinated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), targeted widespread, gang-related drug trafficking organizations in the Southern District and beyond.
Of the 35 defendants charged in Operation Stranded Bandit, at least 26 have entered guilty pleas with 17 of them sentenced to prison terms of up to 292 months, while nine are awaiting trail and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“These sentences are the direct result of our partnership with state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies across Georgia” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Violent criminal organizations such as the Ghostface Gangsters impact both large and small communities across our state, and we will continue to target this and similar the organizations and disrupt their criminal enterprises.”
“The coastal and South Georgia communities celebrate these defendants’ sentences,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “These notorious, gang-related drug dealers who distributed poison throughout the region caused fear through means of violence and intimidation. Investigative skill and cooperative partnerships left this once-thriving drug distribution network disrupted and dismantled. This effort would not have been successful without the spirited level of cooperation between our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts.”
“Illegal drugs and criminal street gangs have no place in Georgia. These defendants were part of a criminal enterprise that has been threatening the safety of communities for years,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and criminal street gangs.”
The case is being investigated by agencies including the ATF, the DEA, the GBI, and the Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Richmond Hill Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Jennifer J. Kirkland.
Thursday 7 October 2021
Worcester Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Terrence Kenol, 24, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Sept. 3, 2021, Kenol was arrested and is currently in state custody. He will make an appearance in federal court in Worcester at a later date.
According to the charging documents, on Sept. 3, 2021, Kenol was found in possession of a firearm and a loaded magazine in his vehicle. At the time of the offense, Kenol was on probation for a prior state conviction for kidnapping and assault and battery.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Crimes against ChildrenRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Blair Root House, age 63, of Towaoc, Colorado, was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison for one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of sexual abuse against two different children below the age of 12. The offenses occurred while the children were in his care at his home in Towaoc, Colorado.
“Sexual offenses against children create harms that last a lifetime,” said Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. “While we can’t undo the harm and pain of these crimes, we have ensured that Mr. House will harm no more children while he is in federal prison.”
“The FBI and our partners work diligently to investigate and bring to justice individuals engaged in the exploitation and sexual abuse of minors. This 20-year sentence rightly holds Mr. House accountable for his actions while bringing a greater measure of security to the community,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “The FBI is grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for their efforts in this case and our shared commitment to protecting children.”
United States District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn sentenced Blair Root House on October 5, 2021, for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian County. The crimes took place between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2008.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney R. Josh Player handled the prosecution of the case.
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United States Attorney's Office District of Arizona September 2021 Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
I. Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
238 individuals were charged in September with illegal reentry
A. 196 of those 238 individuals had previously been convicted of non-immigration criminal offenses in the U.S.
Of the 196 individuals with non-immigration criminal records:
1. 52 had violent crime convictions, including:
2 individuals had homicide convictions
11 individuals had sex offense convictions
15 individuals had domestic violence convictions2. 6 had property crime convictions
3. 40 had DUI convictions
4. 113 had drug crime convictions
B. 116 of those 196 individuals had been deported three or more times
II. Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
47 individuals were charged in September with alien smuggling
III. Illegal Entry (Criminal Consequence Initiative) (8 U.S.C. 1325)
0 individuals were charged in September with illegal entry on the CCI calendar
Criminal conviction information is based on preliminary criminal history reports provided by the arresting agency.
These numbers represent United States Attorney's Office prosecutions only. These numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-067_September Immigration and Border Crimes Report
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Two Men Federally Indicted in Spree of Armed Robberies Throughout the Quad CitiesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 21, 2021, that was unsealed today following the arrests and initial court appearances of two Quad City men for allegedly committing five armed robberies and an armed carjacking between July and October of 2020.
The indictment alleges that Emmanuel Lance Howard, 21, of Davenport, Iowa, and Evander Allen Jordan, 37, of Rock Island, Illinois, robbed five local businesses, all while brandishing a firearm. The businesses listed in the indictment include Little Caesar’s Pizza, Midwest Title Loans, Papa John’s Pizza, Pawn King, and Domino’s Pizza. In addition to the five armed robberies, the indictment alleges Howard and Jordan committed a carjacking, also while brandishing a firearm.
The indictment further alleges that a firearm was discharged during the Domino’s Pizza robbery.
Howard was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, and Jordan was arrested in Davenport, Iowa. Both Howard and Jordan remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending a December 6, 2021 trial.
If convicted, Howard and Jordan each face a maximum statutory penalty of up to life imprisonment.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Rock Island Police Department, the Moline Police Department, the Davenport Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyssa Raya and Jennifer Mathew are representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Two Executives Plead Guilty to Large-Scale Visa Fraud Employment SchemeRead the Press Release
Two Florida business executives pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Georgia to charges related to their roles in a scheme to recruit and hire foreign nationals who were not authorized to work in the United States to fill temporary housekeeping and food service positions and commit various other criminal immigration offenses for profit.
According to court documents, Educational World Inc. (Ed World), a visa processing company based in North Point; and Larisa Khariton, 73, and Jon Clark, 71, also of North Point, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Georgia on April 8. The 36-count indictment also contained allegations against Regal Hospitality Solutions LLC (RHS), a Louisiana-based staffing company, and seven current and former RHS employees. Each defendant was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud and commit offenses against the United States, including encouraging and inducing an alien to reside in the United States, as well as alien harboring, alien transporting, and visa fraud. In addition, the RHS defendants were charged with wire-fraud related offenses.
Khariton and Clark pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud and commit offenses against the United States.
According to the indictment and other court documents, the individual defendants enriched themselves by participating in a scheme to recruit and hire noncitizen laborers without authorization to work for RHS. RHS provided hospitality-related businesses with laborers to work in housekeeping, retail, and food service positions, using noncitizens who were unauthorized to work in the United States to fill the positions. In some cases, the RHS defendants arranged for and provided housing and transportation to the workers.
The defendants and other co-conspirators also encouraged and induced noncitizen laborers on expiring and expired J-1 exchange visitor visas to obtain B-2 tourist visas and to work in the United States for RHS, knowing that employing such laborers on B-2 visas was illegal. According to admissions made in connection with their guilty pleas, Khariton and Clark prepared and submitted applications for B-2 visas on behalf of the workers after charging noncitizen laborers approximately $650 per application. The application contained false and misleading statements indicating the noncitizens intended to obtain the B-2 visa for the purpose of engaging in tourism. In fact, Khariton and Clark knew that those noncitizens were already present in and intended to stay in the United States for employment, not tourism.
The indictment also alleges that Khariton and Clark submitted petitions for H-2B temporary work visas on behalf of defendant RHS that contained false and misleading information about the location where noncitizen laborers allegedly were to be employed. In connection with their guilty pleas, Khariton and Clark admitted that they engaged in deceitful and dishonest conduct to impede and obstruct the functioning of, among other things, the H-2 non-immigrant visa program. Khariton and Clark also admitted that they were paid a commission by RHS for noncitizens Ed World recruited to work for RHS, including those who were not authorized to work for RHS in the United States.
Khariton and Clark will be sentenced at a later date. Khariton and Clark face a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison; A federal district court judge will determine the sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against defendant RHS and the individual RHS defendants who are considered innocent unless and until found guilty
The U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General is investigating the case with assistance provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Trial Attorneys Frank Rangoussis and John-Alex Romano of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Lee of the Southern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
Two Canonsburg Residents Indicted on Fentanyl Possession and Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Two residents of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotic laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The six-count Indictment, returned on Sept. 21, 2021, and unsealed yesterday following their arrests, named Troy Terrell, age 32, and Angel Barton, age 36, as the defendants.
According to the Indictment, from in and around April 2020 and continuing thereafter until in and around June 2020, Terrell and Barton possessed and distributed fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years, a fine of $1,000,000 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 defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Risacher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Canonsburg Police Department 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.
Transient Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a transient man convicted of failure to register as a sex offender was sentenced on October 4, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Daniel James Cooper, age 55, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cooper was indicted for failure to register as a sex offender by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2021. He pled guilty on June 21, 2021.
Cooper was convicted in Minnesota in 1994 for criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. As a result, Cooper is required to register as a sex offender for life. Beginning in October 2020, Cooper moved from the location of his registration with the South Dakota Sex Offender Registry and knowingly failed to update his sex offender registration. He was arrested by law enforcement on February 16, 2021, at a residence, and had traveled between Codington County, South Dakota, and the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation between October 20, 2020, and February 16, 2021, evading law enforcement during that timeframe.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Cooper was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Toledo Man Charged with Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jermell Toney, 35, of Toledo with one count of escape.
According to court records, on September 17, 2021, the Defendant is accused of failing to report to a re-entry program required to complete the service of a 13-month federal prison sentence imposed for violation of supervised release. The Defendant surrendered himself to the United States Marshals Service on September 28, 2021.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the Defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the Defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation was conducted by United States Marshals Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deyana Unis.
Tioga County Man Sentenced for Failing to Register E-mail AccountsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Paul Wyak, age 49, of Spencer, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 21 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York
In addition to the term of imprisonment for failing to update his sex offender registration, Wyak was sentenced to a 14-month consecutive term of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release by committing new criminal conduct, failing to answer truthfully questions from his probation officer, having unapproved contact with a victim of a prior offense, and possessing an undisclosed internet capable device.
As part of his previously entered plea agreement, Wyak admitted that in 2008 he was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York of distribution of child pornography. That conviction required Wyak to register as a sex offender for 25 years, and to keep that registration current with personal identifying information, including email accounts. Wyak admitted that although he maintained registration as a sex offender in the State of New York, he did not register at least one email account that he created despite knowing he has a continuing obligation under the law to do so.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service Sex Offender Investigation Branch with assistance from the United States Probation Office for the Northern District of New York, and was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle
This case was prosecuted as part of 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Ticket Broker Convicted in Scheme to Fraudulently Sell Chicago White Sox TicketsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a ticket broker on fraud charges for scheming to sell thousands of discounted Chicago White Sox tickets without the team’s authorization.
BRUCE LEE, who owned Chicago-based Great Tickets, provided more than $100,000 to two White Sox ticket sellers in exchange for receiving complimentary and discounted game tickets that Lee would then sell on the online marketplace StubHub. The ticket sellers – JAMES COSTELLO and WILLIAM O’NEIL – fraudulently generated the tickets without the team’s authorization.
During the 2016 to 2019 baseball seasons, Lee earned approximately $868,369 by selling more than 34,000 tickets that he fraudulently obtained from Costello and O’Neil. As a result of the scheme, the White Sox suffered a loss of approximately $1 million.
Evidence presented at the four-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago revealed that when questioned by the FBI, Lee stated that he considered the payments the “American way, take care of a guy, and you get taken care of.”
The jury on Wednesday convicted Lee, 35, of Chicago, on all eleven counts of wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly set sentencing for Jan. 10, 2022.
The conviction was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Schneider and David Green.
Costello and O’Neil, both of New Lenox, Ill., previously pleaded guilty and admitted their roles in the scheme. They are awaiting sentencing.
Three iCore Global LLC Executives Charged with FraudRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment yesterday charging three executives of iCore Global LLC (“iCore”) with fraud.
According to court documents, Samantha L. Mueting, 56, of San Antonio, Josephus De Laat, aka Jos De Laat, 60, of Spicewood and Vodrick L. Perry, 52, of San Antonio are charged with scheming to defraud investors.
As noted in the indictment, Mueting owned and operated iCore and touted the company as being a multi-national commercial real estate provider; De Laat served as iCore’s chief financial officer; and Perry was iCore’s operations manager.
Together the three are alleged to have conspired to perpetrate a series of frauds upon couples nearing retirement in which the defendants promised to allocate victim funds into a commercial real estate hedge fund, using them instead for their own personal gain. According to the indictment, they made fraudulent misrepresentations that iCore was a multi-national commercial real estate provider that employed 5,500 local employees and contracted agents across more than 300 worldwide offices, operating in 371 cities, 64 countries and six continents. The worldwide offices consisted of two registered addresses in the U.S., both of which were mailboxes at a shipping company store. In sum, the defendants are accused of defrauding investors of more than $2.1 million.
Mueting, De Laat and Perry are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Mueting and Perry also are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In addition, Mueting is charged with seven counts of wire fraud. The defendants will be scheduled for their initial court appearance later this week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each charged count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Special Agent in Charge Paul Duran made the announcement.
The USSS is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew W. Kinskey 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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Three Michigan Men Named in Superseding Indictment Alleging Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Three residents of Detroit, Michigan and one of Ambridge, Pennsylvania have been indicted by superseding indictment before a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug trafficking laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The seven-count Superseding Indictment, returned on October 5, 2021, named Dvonte Amos, age 21, Darryl Junior Ballard, age 26, and Andrew Brent Steel, age 30, as defendants.
This Superseding Indictments comes after the four defendants were indicted on July 20, 2021. According to the Superseding Indictment, from in and around May 2020, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2021, the defendants conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of acetyl fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, The Superseding Indictment further alleged that Ballard, Steel, and Wilson distributed controlled substances and that Amos and Wilson possessed with intent to distribute controlled substances at various times during the conspiracy.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of ten years, a fine of $20,000,000 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Beaver County Drug Task Force and Ambridge Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three Men Charged with Laundering Proceeds of a Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging three individuals with money laundering and aggravated identity theft as part of a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
According to allegations in the superseding indictment, Onyewuchi Ibeh, 21, of Bowie, Maryland, Jason Joyner, 42, of Washington, D.C., and Mouaaz Elkhebri, 30, of Alexandria, Virginia, participated in a scheme to launder the proceeds of a BEC scheme. In a BEC scheme, conspirators infiltrate the computer systems of a victim company, including their email servers and email accounts, through phishing attacks or the use of malware. Once there, the conspirators impersonate the victim’s business partner and claim the business partner’s bank account information has changed. Intending to send the money to the business partner, the victim business instead sends the money to bank accounts controlled by the conspirators.
The superseding indictment alleges the defendants laundered over $1.1 million fraudulently obtained from at least five victim businesses as a result of a BEC scheme. As alleged, the co-conspirators, laundered the proceeds of the BEC scheme through various financial transactions using dozens of bank accounts that they directly and indirectly controlled. Ibeh’s alleged role in the scheme was to manage the money laundering by causing conspirators to open bank accounts, which he used to wire money domestically and internationally. Joyner’s alleged role in the scheme was to withdraw the proceeds of the fraud in cash, which he delivered to other conspirators, including Ibeh. Elkhebri’s alleged role in the scheme was to open bank accounts in his name and use his position as a bank employee to facilitate the opening of bank accounts in the name of both co-conspirators and victims.
Ibeh and Joyner are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. If convicted, Ibeh and Joyner each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Elkhebri is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, false entries in a bank’s books, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of all charges, Elkhebri faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum penalty of 52 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher A. Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Analytics and Cyber Group of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Matthew S. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hood is 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-200.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Three Former NYPD Police Officers Plead Guilty to Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Robert Hassett, a former New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in a scheme to sell the personal information of automobile accident victims in exchange for bribes (the “Victim Database Scheme”). Hassett also admitted that he participated in a scheme to steer vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to a tow truck company in contravention of NYPD’s Direct Accident Response Program (“DARP”) in exchange for bribes (the “Tow Truck Scheme”).
On August 5, 2021, former NYPD officer Heather Busch pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in connection with her participation in the Tow Truck Scheme. On October 6, 2021, a third defendant, retired NYPD officer Robert Smith, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in connection with his participation in the Tow Truck Scheme; Smith also pleaded guilty to attempted distribution of at least one kilogram of heroin. As part of his plea, Smith also admitted that he participated with Hassett in the Victim Database Scheme. At the time that they participated in the Tow Truck Scheme and the Victim Database Scheme, the defendants were NYPD officers assigned to the 105th Precinct in Queens, New York.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the guilty pleas.
“The defendants’ guilty pleas to accepting bribes are also acknowledgements that they abused the public trust and dishonored the NYPD by their actions,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “This Office will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute corrupt police officers.”
According to court filings and facts presented at the plea proceeding, between 2016 and 2017, Hassett and Smith received thousands of dollars of bribe payments in exchange for referring business to a towing company, contrary to DARP. Smith resumed the corrupt scheme without Hassett in late 2019 and when Smith retired from the NYPD in March 2020, Smith enlisted Busch to take his place in the scheme.
In early 2020, Smith and Hassett also sold the names and contact information of automobile accident victims whose accidents occurred within the confines of the 105th Precinct for thousands of dollars in bribe payments, ostensibly so that the purchaser could resell that personal information to physical therapy businesses and personal injury lawyers who would contact the automobile accident victims as prospective customers.
After Smith’s retirement in March 2020, he also agreed to transport what he believed to be one kilogram of heroin for a drug trafficking organization.
Since their arrests in May 2021, Busch and Hassett have resigned from the NYPD.
When sentenced, Smith faces up to 25 years in prison, while Hassett and Busch each face up to five years in prison. As part of their respective pleas, Smith has agreed to forfeit $20,000, Hassett has agreed to forfeit $10,000 and Busch has agreed to forfeit $6,000.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan C. Harris and Nicholas J. Moscow are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
HEATHER BUSCH
Age: 34
Massapequa, New YorkROBERT HASSETT
Age: 36
Farmingville, New YorkROBERT SMITH
Age: 44
Plainview, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-254 (RPK)
Three Defendants Sentenced to Prison in Multi-State Dog Fighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in an interstate dog fighting network across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey.
According to court documents, from at least 2013 to 2018, Chester A. Moody, Jr., 47, of Glenn Dale, Maryland; Emmanuel A. Powe, Sr., 46, of Frederick, Maryland; and Odell S. Anderson, Sr., 52, of the District of Columbia, sponsored and exhibited dogs, as well as participated in almost every other aspect of dog fighting: selling, buying, possessing, training, transporting, delivering and receiving dogs so that those dogs could be used in dog fighting ventures. The defendants also possessed significant dog fighting equipment, such as dog treadmills, medical veterinary kits, breeding stands used to forcibly immobilize female fighting dogs, dog collars with embedded weights and chains weighing several pounds used to restrain the dogs.
“Dog fighting is a form of cruelty with no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This cruelty will not be tolerated, nor will exposing a child to such horrific acts.”
“The violent and cruel act of dog fighting is a heinous form of animal abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia. “These defendants served as leaders, breeders and trainers for a multi-year dog fighting operation and brazenly promoted this barbaric form of ‘entertainment’ for illegal personal gain. We must treat these animals — who are among society’s most vulnerable victims — with dignity and respect. As this prosecution demonstrates, those who engage in this intolerable and abhorrent conduct will be brought to justice in our courts.”
“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures.”
Throughout the conspiracy, the defendants participated in multiple dog fights, from “roll” or “play” fights used to test a dog’s willingness to fight, to full-blown dog fighting shows planned months in advance and limited to known attendees. One of these dog fight events occurred in King George, Virginia, in April 2016 where most of the participants were led to the fight’s secret location. The event involved two separate dog fights with dogs owned and sponsored by Anderson, Powe and Moody. The two losing dogs died following their injuries sustained in the fights. Both Anderson and Moody trained and fought dogs who attained Champion and/or Grand Champion status – terms used to indicate a dog who has won three and five contract matches respectively, with no losses.
Moody will serve one year and one day in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and 120 hours of community service. Moody pleaded guilty on April 28 to one felony count of conspiracy to engage in dog fighting activities over several years.
Powe will serve 18 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. Powe pleaded guilty on May 10 to one felony count of conspiracy to engage in dog fighting activities over several years.
Anderson will serve 18 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release. Anderson pleaded guilty on June 1 to the same felony count of conspiracy to engage in dog fighting activities as the other two defendants. Anderson also pleaded guilty to one count of causing a child under the age of 16 to attend an illegal animal fight venture.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Shennie Patel of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Grand Champion, a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dog fighting. The Humane Society of the United States, along with other entities, assisted with the care of the dogs seized by federal law enforcement.
Three Defendants Sentenced in Multi-State Dog Fighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in an interstate dog fighting network across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey.
“The violent and cruel act of dog fighting is a heinous form of animal abuse,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “These defendants served as leaders, breeders, and trainers for a multi-year dog fighting operation and brazenly promoted this barbaric form of ‘entertainment’ for illegal personal gain. We must treat these animals—who are among society’s most vulnerable victims—with dignity and respect. As this prosecution demonstrates, those who engage in this intolerable and abhorrent conduct will be brought to justice in our courts.”
According to court documents, from at least 2013 to July 2018, Chester A. Moody, Jr., 47, of Glenn Dale, Maryland; Emmanuel A. Powe, Sr., 46, of Frederick, Maryland; and Odell S. Anderson, Sr., 52, of the District of Columbia, sponsored and exhibited dogs, as well as participated in almost every other aspect of dog fighting: selling, buying, possessing, training, transporting, delivering and receiving dogs so that those dogs could be used in dog fighting ventures. The defendants also possessed significant dog fighting equipment, such as dog treadmills, medical veterinary kits, breeding stands used to forcibly immobilize female fighting dogs, dog collars with embedded weights, and chains weighing several pounds used to restrain the dogs.
“Dog fighting is a form of cruelty with no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This cruelty will not be tolerated, nor will exposing a child to such horrific acts.”
“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity,” Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) said. “Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures.”
Throughout the conspiracy, the defendants participated in multiple dog fights, from “roll” or “play” fights used to test a dog’s willingness to fight, to full-blown dog fighting shows planned months in advance and limited to known attendees. One of these dog fight events occurred in King George, Virginia, in April 2016 where most of the participants were led to the fight’s secret location. The event involved two separate dog fights with dogs owned and sponsored by Anderson, Powe and Moody. The two losing dogs died following their injuries sustained in the fights. Both Anderson and Moody trained and fought dogs who attained Champion and/or Grand Champion status – terms used to indicate a dog who has won three and five contract matches respectively, with no losses.
Moody will serve one year and one day in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and 120 hours of community service. Moody pleaded guilty on April 28 to one felony count of conspiracy to engage in dog fighting activities over several years.
Powe will serve 18 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. Powe pleaded guilty on May 10 to one felony count of conspiracy to engage in dog fighting activities over several years.
Anderson will serve 18 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. Anderson pleaded guilty on June 1 to the same felony count of conspiracy to engage in dog fighting activities as the other two defendants. Anderson also pleaded guilty to one count of causing a child under the age of sixteen to attend an illegal animal fight venture.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division; Bethanne M. Dinkins, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG); and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Shennie Patel, of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Grand Champion, a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dog fighting. The Humane Society of the United States, along with other entities, assisted with the care of the dogs seized by federal law enforcement.
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. 3:21-cr-24, 25, and 26.
Staten Island Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud in Scheme to Exploit the COVID-19 CrisisRead the Press Release
This afternoon, in federal court in Brooklyn, Kevin J. Lipsitz pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to mail fraud in connection with his sale of large quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. When sentenced, Lipsitz faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as forfeiture, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution to his victims.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the guilty plea.
“With today’s guilty plea, Lipsitz admits to making blatantly false promises and providing fabricated shipping confirmations to thousands of customers who were in urgent need of life-saving PPE,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “This Office will vigorously prosecute defendants who shamelessly seek to profit from an unprecedented national crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“As our nation was getting its initial glimpse into the COVID-19 Pandemic that was wreaking havoc on our communities and way of life, Kevin Lipsitz took the opportunity to capitalize and profit from people’s fears,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “Lipsitz advertised and sold PPE at exorbitant prices to vulnerable people who were willing to do almost anything to keep themselves and families safe. Working with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, the FBI, and the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI New York will continue to pursue those in our society who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of those around them.”
“At one of the worse times this country has seen, Mr. Lipsitz devised a scheme to not only price-gouge, but steal from those who needed much sought after PPE supplies. During times of crisis, our citizens must join together for the greater good. His conduct is shameful and he will now pay the price for his greed,” stated USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Bartlett.
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, Lipsitz operated SuperGoodDeals.com Inc. (SGD), an online storefront that was based in Staten Island and sold various types of merchandise to customers across the United States. Between March 2020 and May 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the United States, Lipsitz accumulated huge quantities of PPE, including surgical masks and N-95 and KN-95 filtering facepiece respirators. During that same time period, Lipsitz took advantage of the increased public demand for medical equipment by making false statements to thousands of customers regarding SGD’s inventory and ability to quickly fill and ship orders of PPE. For example, Lipsitz prominently featured statements on the SGD website that customers could “pay today” and that their orders would “ship tomorrow.” After customers placed orders relying on these statements, Lipsitz would issue false same-day shipping confirmations, which included tracking numbers that customers could purportedly use to monitor the shipment of their orders. Despite these promises, Lipsitz did not fulfill orders for PPE on the promised timeline for hundreds of customers. In addition, Lipsitz further took advantage of the demand for PPE by selling it at large markups, ranging from 150 percent to over 500 percent above what he paid for the goods.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business & Securities Fraud and International Narcotics & Money Laundering Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Julia Nestor and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
KEVIN JAY LIPSITZ
Age: 62
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-394 (KAM)
South Florida Resident Guilty of Threatening to Kill Derek Chauvin’s LawyerRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A 42-year-old Coral Gables, Florida man pled guilty yesterday in federal district court to threatening the defense attorney of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted earlier this year of murdering George Floyd.
During yesterday’s hearing before U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham, William John Hartnett admitted that on April 6, from his location in Miami, he called the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (“MPPOA”) in St. Paul, an organization that funded Chauvin’s defense. Hartnett left an 18-second message on MPPOA’s voicemail in which he threatened to kill Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s defense lawyer. In his message, Hartnett yelled: “Hey you and your whole f------ family are going to f------ die, you motherf-----, for representing Chauvin, a f------ murderer. Now, you all are going to f------ die a worse death than Floyd, you motherf-----. All of you piece of s----.”
Hartnett pled guilty to one count of transmitting a threat through interstate communications. Judge Graham, who sits in Miami, will sentence Hartnett on December 15. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the guilty plea.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the MPPOA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20412.
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South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Consecutive Health Care Fraud ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Patsy Truglia (53, Parkland) has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of making a false statement in a matter involving a health care benefit program. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, beginning in January 2018 and continuing into April 2019, Truglia and other conspirators, including co-defendant Ruth Bianca Fernandez (who worked under Truglia’s supervision), generated medically unnecessary physicians’ orders via their telemarketing operation for certain orthotic devices—i.e., knee braces, back braces, wrist braces, and other braces—referred to as durable medical equipment (“DME”). Through the telemarketing operation, federal health care program beneficiaries’ (i.e., Medicare beneficiaries’) personal and medical information was harvested to create the unnecessary DME brace orders.
The brace orders were then forwarded to purported “telemedicine” vendors that, in exchange for a fee, paid illegal bribes to physicians to sign the orders, often without ever contacting the beneficiaries to conduct the required telehealth consultations. The fraudulent, illegal brace orders were then returned to Truglia’s telemarketing operation, which used the orders as support for millions of dollars in false and fraudulent claims that were submitted to the Medicare program. To avoid Medicare scrutiny, Truglia and Fernandez spread the fraudulent claims across five DME storefronts operated under Truglia’s ownership and control, and Fernandez’s day-to-day management. In all, through their five storefronts, Truglia, Fernandez, and other conspirators caused approximately $25 million in fraudulent DME claims to be submitted to Medicare, resulting in approximately $12 million in payments.
On April 9, 2019, multiple federal law enforcement agencies participated in a nationwide action referred to as “Operation Brace Yourself.” The Operation targeted ongoing schemes, such as Truglia’s, in which companies were paying illegal bribes to secure signed physicians’ DME brace orders for use as support for fraudulent claims that were submitted to the federal programs. In the Middle District of Florida, the Operation included, among other efforts, the execution of search warrants at several of Truglia’s DME storefronts and a civil action which, among other ramifications, enjoined Truglia and (by extension) his five storefronts from engaging in any further health care fraud conduct. Undeterred by this action, beginning in or around April 2019, and continuing into July 2020, Truglia and other conspirators—some who had worked with Truglia in the earlier conspiracy, as well as some new conspirators—carried out a similar conspiracy using three new DME storefronts and different “telemedicine” vendors. Through this conspiracy, Truglia and his conspirators caused an additional approximately $12 million in fraudulent DME claims to be submitted to Medicare, resulting in approximately $6.3 million in payments.
This case was investigated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay G. Trezevant, Tiffany E. Fields, and James A. Muench. The civil action is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn B. Tapie and Sean P. Keefe.
South Dakota Man Who Served as an Arsenal for Individuals Involved in Criminal Activity Sent to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes was sentenced October 6, 2021 to four years in federal prison.
Brandon Christiansen, age 40, from McCook, Lake, South Dakota, received the prison term after a May 12, 2021, guilty plea to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at the detention, plea, and sentencing hearings showed that from about February 6, 2013 to June 30, 2020, Christiansen illegally acquired and illegally distributed as many as 56 firearms, all while he was also an unlawful user of illegal drugs. Christiansen acquired the weapons by lying about his own drug use. He then traded firearms to individuals involved in criminal activity in exchange for access to illegal drugs. Some of these weapons were semiautomatic firearms capable of accepting large capacity magazines.
On June 29, 2020, defendant’s home was searched, and defendant was interviewed. At that time defendant estimated he had purchased approximately 56 firearms over the preceding five years. Despite claiming he collected firearms, not one firearm was still in his possession at the time of his interaction with law enforcement. Purchase records confirmed defendant acquired at least 23 firearms, from five different gun stores in Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Six of the guns were recovered by law enforcement after defendant purchased them. Five were recovered in the course of unrelated narcotics investigations, and the sixth was recovered in another unrelated police action.
The time between defendant’s purchase and law enforcement’s recovery of the guns ranged from five years (for a weapon that was recovered in Colorado in connection with a multi-pound drug investigation) to just 66 days (for a weapon recovered locally by law enforcement).
Christiansen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Christiansen was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Christiansen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, the North Sioux City, South Dakota Police Department, the Union County, South Dakota Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Department of Justice --United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4020.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Smith County Woman Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Theresa Cecelia Soliz, 37, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, Soliz was arrested in December 2019 following a traffic stop near Canton, during which she was found to be in possession of almost a kilogram of methamphetamine along with various pills, THC oil, and heroin. Soliz admitted to obtaining the methamphetamine from a supplier in Dallas, and that she intended to return to Tyler and distribute it to her customers, who would then repackage and sell it to users.
Soliz and three others were indicted for federal drug trafficking violations on July 15, 2020. Nasir Saleh-Saad Jabr, of Tyler, was sentenced to 140 months in prison on May 20, 2021; Ralph Paul Pressley, III, of Troup, was sentenced to 135 months in prison on April 23, 2021; and Tammy Lynn Dilbeck, of Troup, was sentenced to 100 months in prison on May 13, 2021.
“Today’s sentence ensures that this group of people will no longer be able to distribute their poison to East Texans for the foreseeable future,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “We remain grateful to our law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to eradicating illegal drug distribution everywhere.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tyler Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Sisseton Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Robbery and Aiding and AbettingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sisseton, South Dakota, man convicted of Robbery and Aiding and Abetting was sentenced on October 4, 2021 by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Brendon Javon Jacob Rodlund, age 29, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rodlund was indicted for assault with intent to commit murder, maiming, robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and aiding and abetting by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2020. He pled guilty on May 11, 2021.
During the night between November 16 and 17, 2015, Rodlund, along with three co-conspirators, while aiding and abetting each other, assaulted a victim in an effort to rob the victim of property and things of value. The robbery and assault took place at Dry Wood Lake near Sisseton, South Dakota.
Rodlund is also serving a separate federal sentence of approximately 13 years for sexual assault. His robbery sentence will be served consecutively to his prior sentence for sexual assault.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Rodlund was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Signal Peak Energy admits violating health, safety regulations at Roundup area coal mineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – Signal Peak Energy, LLC, which operates an underground coal mine near Roundup, today admitted to criminal charges that it willfully violated health and safety standards and has agreed to pay a $1 million fine as part of proposed plea agreement, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Signal Peak Energy, through a representative, pleaded guilty during an initial appearance and plea hearing to an information charging it with four counts of willful violation of a health and safety standard, a misdemeanor. The maximum penalty is a $250,000 fine.
A plea agreement recommends that a criminal fine of $250,000 for each count of conviction, for a total fine of $1 million, is the appropriate disposition of the case. The parties further agree that a sentence of probation is appropriate. If the court accepts the plea agreement, the company does not have an automatic right to withdraw its guilty pleas. If the court rejects the plea agreement, the company can withdraw its guilty pleas and proceed to trial.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters has not yet been set.
“Signal Peak’s conduct showed a blatant and callous disregard for its own workers’ health and safety and for protecting the environment. Companies that habitually and willfully violate regulations will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.
The Signal Peak Energy prosecution is part of a broad corruption investigation into mine management and operations that resulted in not only worker safety and environmental misdemeanor convictions, but also in individual convictions and charges for some former mine officials and associates for embezzlement, tax evasion, bank fraud, money laundering, drugs and firearms violations.
Individual convictions of former mine officials included Larry Wayne Price, Jr., former vice president of surface operations, who was sentenced to prison for defrauding companies of $20 million; and Zachary Ruble, former surface mine manager, who was sentenced to probation for conspiring to defraud Signal Peak Energy of $2.3 million.
A third former mine official, Dale Lee Musgrave, former vice president of underground operations, has pleaded not guilty to an indictment alleging cocaine trafficking and false statements in mine records and is pending trial.
Associated individual cases include Stephen P. Casher, a former Rocky Mountain Bank loan officer, who was sentenced to prison and fined on bank fraud and money laundering charges for a loan scheme involving Larry Price Jr.; James and Timilynn Kisling, owners of Kisling Quality Builders, who were sentenced to probation and fined for conviction of tax evasion in a scheme involving the construction of Larry Price Jr.’s Billings residence; Mark Luciano, a Nevada resident who was sentenced to prison for conviction on trafficking cocaine; and Todd Alan Irwin, a secretary to Larry Price, Jr., who was sentenced to probation for conviction of felon in possession of firearms.
Robert Wayne Ramsey, owner of Peters Equipment Company, has been charged by an information with wire fraud in an alleged equipment sale scheme involving Signal Peak Energy and is pending arraignment.
In the Signal Peak Energy case, the government alleged in court documents that from 2013 through 2018, Signal Peak Energy habitually violated mandatory health and safety standards in the Mine Safety and Health Act during the mine’s operation. These violations included both environmental safety and worker safety standards. These violations also occurred with the full knowledge, direction and participation of the mine’s most senior management during that period, including the president and CEO, the vice president of surface operations, the vice president of underground operations and the safety manager.
The government further alleged that during the summer of 2013, Signal Peak Energy’s senior managers directed mine employees to improperly dispose of mine waste by pumping the waste into abandoned sections of the mine. This waste, known as “slurry,” consisted of wastewater, industrial chemicals used in the mining process and unprocessed soil containing heavy metals, including arsenic and lead over groundwater tolerances. Mine employees pumped this slurry into the abandoned section of the mine for about two weeks, until the section was full. Disposing mine waste in this manner required approval of both the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which Signal Peak Energy did not obtain.
In the spring of 2015, the government alleged, Signal Peak Energy agents commissioned the drilling of two bore holes through the ground that led to another abandoned section of the mine. Senior mine managers directed employees to pump more slurry into the abandoned section through the bore holes. This slurry was similar to the slurry improperly disposed of in 2013. Estimates vary, but this pumping occurred for up to six weeks. The pumping stopped after a witness discovered that seals between the abandoned mine works and the operating mine had been breached, causing flooding in the areas of the operating mine. Signal Peak Energy obtained a permit to inject water into the ground through the bore holes, but this permit did not allow for the disposal of slurry waste.
In January 2018, Signal Peak Energy failed to report as required the injury of an employee, identified as John Doe 1, who was working at the mine when his finger was crushed and required amputation. Doe 1 was moving large mining equipment as part of his duties when some of this equipment fell onto his hand. Doe 1met with the safety manager, who began driving him to the hospital for medical treatment. On the way, Doe 1 had a telephone conversation with the vice president of underground operations. The vice president of underground operations pressured Doe 1 not to report the injury as work related and said that he would make it worthwhile for Doe 1. The safety manager witnessed this but did not intervene. The safety manager then dropped off Doe 1 at the hospital rather than accompanying him inside pursuant to mine policy. Doe 1 falsely stated that the injury had occurred at home and was not work related. When Doe 1 returned to work sometime later, the vice president of underground operations gave Doe 1 an envelope containing $2,000.
In May 2018, Signal Peak Energy again failed to report an injury as mandated. An employee, identified as John Doe 2, was working in the underground portion of the mine when rock sluffed off the wall and onto Doe 2’s head, causing a severe laceration. The shift manager immediately called the safety manager. The safety manager met Doe 2 and drove Doe 2 away from the mine with the stated intention to take Doe 2 to the hospital. Instead, the safety manager drove Doe 2 home. Doe 2 waited until the next morning to seek medical attention and falsely stated the injury had been caused by a shelf falling on his head in the garage of his home. Doctors treated the laceration and Doe 2 returned to work for his next scheduled shift. Doe 2 was unable to complete the shift or several of the following shifts because of his injuries. Doe 2’s lost time was charged against his vacation leave without his approval.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin M. Rubich, Zeno B. Baucus and Timothy Tatarka are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the IRS, FBI and Environmental Protection Agency.
PACER case reference. 21-79.
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Shonto Man Sentenced to Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Monday, Landis Grant Yellow, 29, of Shonto, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Yellow previously pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter.
In December 2017, Yellow stabbed the victim with a knife, killing him. The stabbing took place on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, where Yellow is an enrolled tribal member.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Chang and Sharon Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-08194-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-065_Yellow# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.San Antonio Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DEL RIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Julio Enrique Rodriguez, 48, was previously convicted and sentenced to prison in 2012 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On March 12, 2018, defendant was found in possession of a Baretta 9mm pistol.
On April 11, 2019, defendant pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Working in collaboration with our local and federal law enforcement partners, we are committed to ensuring that felons are not endangering our communities by unlawfully possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff.
“The fifteen-year sentence in this case sends a clear message that the judicial system takes seriously the possession of firearms by convicted felons,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski. “ATF will continue to aggressively investigate these types of cases and ensure that violators receive justice.”
The ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Del Rio Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Hail and Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence- based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Rosebud Man Sentenced for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on October 4, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Phillip Gene Beck, age 25, was sentenced to ten months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100, and forfeiture of a handgun and ammunition
Beck was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 11, 2020. He pled guilty on July 12, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on October 21, 2017, in St. Francis, South Dakota. Beck, an unlawful user of methamphetamine, knowingly possessed a handgun and ammunition.
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.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Beck was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on October 4, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Anthony Edward Farmer, age 37, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Farmer was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 14, 2020. He pled guilty on July 29, 2021.
Farmer was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact With a Child in June 2010. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. In June 2020, Farmer was released from prison and began a period of supervised release, but failed to update his sex offender registration. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and on May 28, 2021, Farmer was arrested in Rosebud.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Farmer was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Involvement in Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced yesterday for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
Daniel Barbosa, 26, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 12, 2021, Barbosa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.
The charge arises from Barbosa’s delivery of a substance containing fentanyl in October 2017. Barbosa was charged as part of an investigation into a drug trafficking organization distributing large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances in the greater Boston area.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Steinberg and John Mulcahy of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to over 9 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Violating Court SupervisionRead the Press Release
Spokane – Today, Joseph H. Harrington, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Randy D. McReynolds, age 51, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced after having been convicted by a jury on June 30, 2021 of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Senior United States District Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen sentencing McReynolds to a 92-month term of imprisonment, to be following by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Judge Nielsen also imposed an 18-month term of imprisonment, to run consecutive to the sentence imposed in the firearm case, after finding that McReynolds violated court supervision stemming from previous federal drug-related convictions.
According to court documents, after receiving a tip, federal probation officers conducted a search of McReynolds’ residence and found a .357 revolver and multiple rounds of ammunition. McReynolds was under federal court supervision at the time.
Acting United States Attorney Harrington said, “To keep our neighborhoods safe, it is essential that we keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will prosecute aggressively individuals who illegally possess firearms. I commend the law enforcement officers with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who investigated this case.”
This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for violent crime in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Michael J. Ellis and Timothy J. Ohms, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Remembering a hero, and a family’s gratitude toward witnessesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On October 7, 2002, Robert L. Bolden, Sr., and two other men attempted to rob the Bank of America located in the Halls Ferry Circle in St. Louis City. Bolden, armed with a revolver, contacted Nathan Ley, 25, the security guard stationed outside one of the bank entrances. Ley refused to surrender his firearm to Bolden. Bolden shot Ley in the jaw and incapacitated him. Bolden then stepped back and as Ley was going down, Bolden shot him in the head a second time. Ley died as a result of the second gunshot wound to his head.
Investigators located three witnesses who identified Bolden as the shooter. One of the witnesses also identified Bolden’s vehicle at the scene of the bank robbery. Bolden’s DNA was recovered from a head covering seized at the crime scene. The murder weapon was recovered outside Bolden’s residence.
In May 2006, after a lengthy trial, a federal jury found Bolden guilty and recommended sentences of death for the offenses of attempted bank robbery resulting in the death of Nathan Ley, and for using a firearm to murder Nathan Ley.
During the sentencing phase of the proceedings, a witness at the scene with a law enforcement and military background recounted his efforts to comfort Nathan as he was dying on the parking lot of the bank. The citizen comforted and prayed with Nathan. The citizen, who was inside the bank during the shooting, also said that Nathan was a hero for having kept the robbers out of the bank. After the crime, the citizen kept a photograph of Nathan over his family’s fireplace because he and his wife viewed Nathan as their hero. Bank of America also honored Nathan Ley by placing an engraved memorial stone at the bank that recognized him as a hero.
On September 22, 2021, Bolden’s counsel and the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued one of Bolden’s appeals before the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. Within the next week, Bolden died of natural causes while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons.
Tom, Linda, and Clint Ley recently released the following statement to the U.S. Attorney’s Office: On October 7, 2002, our hearts were shattered when our son and Clint’s brother Nathan was shot and killed by Robert Bolden. Nathan was kind, funny, responsible, and hard-working. He wanted to go into law enforcement to help people and make life safer for everyone. He was 25 years old.We will be forever grateful to the witnesses who identified his killer, the police who investigated, the U.S. Attorney’s Office who prosecuted the case … and the jurors who found justice for Nathan. We were fortunate that his killer was brought to justice. Too many families are not so fortunate. And until witnesses step forward and cases are tried, this terrible scourge of violence will continue.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Red Lake Man Indicted for First Degree Murder, Assault with Intent to Murder in the Shooting Death of a Red Lake Tribal Police OfficerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against a Red Lake man for fatally shooting a Red Lake tribal police officer, assaulting with intent to murder four other officers, and firearms violations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on July 27, 2021, officers with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department (“RLTPD”) responded to a call to conduct a welfare check on an armed man, David Brian Donnell, Jr., 28, at his residence in Redby, Minnesota. Five RLTPD officers responded to Donnell’s residence. Upon arrival, the officers found Donnell standing outside on the porch and attempted to have him walk towards the officers, but Donnell instead went inside the residence. Because Donnell had an active tribal warrant and was refusing to comply, the officers made the decision to breach the door. As soon as the door was breached, Donnell opened fire on the officers. Officer Ryan Bialke was immediately struck by gunfire through the front door and fell. Donnell continued shooting, firing several rounds from an Izhmash Saiga 7.62 caliber rifle at the four other officers on the scene. One RLTPD officer returned fire to allow the officers to escape into the woods. Donnell continued firing at the officers as they fled into the woods. Officer Bialke succumbed to his injuries and died on the scene. Donnell then fled the scene, taking the rifle with him. Shortly thereafter, officers arrested Donnell at a nearby residence.
Donnell is charged with one count of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to commit murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of discharging, carrying, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possessing firearms as an unlawful controlled substance user.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams and Joseph S. Teirab are 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.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on October 5, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Louis Andrew Rabbitt, Jr., age 40, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Rabbitt was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2019. He pled guilty on July 29, 2021.
Rabbitt was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in August 2001. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. On July 19, 2019, Rabbitt began a period of supervised release and initially registered at a residence in Rapid City. Rabbitt subsequently moved from his registered address, and failed to update his sex offender registration. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and on April 1, 2021, Rabbitt was arrested in Mission, South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Rabbitt was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Reality Television Star Brittish “Cierrah” Williams Indicted for Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Brittish “Cierrah” Williams had her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley P. Mensah. Williams was indicted on September 22, 2001 with five felony charges of misuse of a social security number, four charges of bank fraud, three charges of making false statements to the IRS, three charges of wire fraud, and three charges of aggravated identity theft.
According to the Indictment, during 2017, Williams used false social security numbers in order to obtain a number of loans, lines of credit, and other funds from banks and financial institutions. Further, during 2018 and 2019, Williams deposited checks, without the knowledge and authority of the actual checking account holders, into several bank accounts she controlled and then withdrew the funds before those deposited checks were returned to the issuing banks for insufficient funds. The Indictment also alleges that Williams deposited fraudulent checks into bank accounts which she controlled and then withdrew those funds in cash before the fraudulent nature of the checks was discovered. Additionally, Williams is charged with submitting false information, including the names and social security numbers of individuals, to the IRS during tax years 2017, 2018, and 2019 falsely claiming that those individuals were her dependents on those submitted tax returns.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane Klocke is handling the case for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Public Official Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Peever, South Dakota, man convicted for his role in a bribery scheme was sentenced on October 4, 2021 by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Public official Daniel Thomas White, age 46, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
According to court documents, the Dakota Nations Development Corporation (“DNDC”) was an agency of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe, a tribal government that received federal assistance in excess of $10,000 during the one-year period between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2018. At that time, White served as the Director of the DNDC. White’s duties included, among other things, overseeing housing and construction projects of the DNDC.
DNDC established an entity called the SWO Elderly Village Limited Partnership. The purpose of the entity was to obtain tax credit financing to build an elderly village complex on tribal land. On April 22, 2016, SWO’s tribal council passed a resolution, committing nearly $3,000,000 to the project.
On October 27, 2017, DNDC contracted with Tatanka Contracting to do the earthwork associated with the elderly village project. The contract was for a guaranteed price of $1,070,740, although a change order increased the total of the contract to $1,129,679.
To secure the dirt work contract, owners of Tatanka bribed White and White accepted the agreed amount of $30,000 as the bribe or kickback. Specifically, in November 2017, White did corruptly solicit, demand, agree, and agree to accept a thing of value from a person or persons working for and on behalf of Tatanka Contracting, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a transaction and series of transactions of the DNDC.
White pleaded guilty to his role in the bribery scheme on August 24, 2020. He was ordered to self-report to the U.S. Marshal’s Service or Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his term of imprisonment at a date to be determined.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
The case was brought pursuant to The Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspector Service; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
For additional information about The Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.
Prominent North Country Hunting Guide Sentenced for Selling Guided Waterfowl Hunts over BaitRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - William “Bill” Saiff III, age 57, of Henderson, New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to 3 years of probation after previously pleading guilty to a felony violation of the Lacey Act for hiring guides to lead paying hunters on illegal waterfowl hunts over baited ponds. The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Ryan Noel, Regional Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement; and Captain Jesse Paluch, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations (BECI).
Saiff is a professional hunting guide and fishing charter captain whose website advertises that for eighteen years he “hosted the popular hunting and shooting sports program Cabin Country as seen on Public Television Stations across the country.” In pleading guilty previously, Saiff admitted that in 2018 he repeatedly baited ponds in Jefferson County and sent hunting guides and paying clients to hunt wild ducks over those ponds while they were baited. Saiff admitted that he violated the Lacey Act[1] by charging a total of more than $350 for hunts in which he knew the wild ducks killed by the hunters were taken over bait in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”). According to the plea agreement, Saiff charged each hunter $300 per day of hunting, and the four illegal guided hunts to which he admitted in the plea agreement involved a total of 17 hunters.
As part of his sentence, Saiff was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and to serve the first 120 days of his probation sentence on home confinement. While on probation, Saiff is prohibited from hunting, guiding, or operating a hunting or guiding business while he is on probation, though this prohibition does not extend to fishing charters. This sentence was pronounced by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue, who presides over the case.
In a separate proceeding before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, Saiff admitted that he was on federal probation in 2018 when he committed the offenses described above, having been convicted in federal court in Syracuse in 2017 for guiding illegal waterfowl hunts over bait in violation of the MBTA. Judge Dancks sentenced Saiff on the probation violation to an additional 90 days of home confinement (consecutive to the 120 days ordered by Judge Mordue), to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release, during which Saiff will be required to wear an ankle bracelet monitored by the Probation Department.
This case was investigated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations (BECI), and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
[1] The Lacey Act makes it a crime “to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States . . . .” 16 U.S.C. § 3372(a)(1).
Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Gun and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Marco Sweat, 40, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Watkins, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that on June 9, 2019, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Buffalo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on Langfield Drive in Buffalo. During the search, investigators seized three firearms and 125 rounds of ammunition. Sweat, having previously been convicted in Erie County Court of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The plea is result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 15, 2021, before Judge Vilardo.
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Pittston Man Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John T. Stuchkus, age 59, of Pittston, Pennsylvania was sentenced yesterday to 18 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, for failing to pay federal income and payroll taxes.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Stuchkus is the owner and operator of The Chicken Coop, a restaurant located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The Chicken Coop employed several people during tax years 2013 through 2017. Although Stuchkus deducted and collected F.I.C.A. and other taxes from his employee’s payroll checks, Stuchkus failed to pay the collected taxes to the United States as required by law. Stuchkus also paid employees cash “under the table” and failed to withhold federal employment and F.I.C.A. taxes. Stuchkus was ordered to pay $397,406.91 in restitution, representing the tax loss to the United States.
The case was investigated by the IRS and Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
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Pittsburgh Man Charged in Death of U.S. Postal Service WorkerRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Eric M. Kortz, 53, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged today with the murder of a United States Postal Service mail carrier, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The criminal complaint was filed just minutes ago in federal court in Pittsburgh. Kortz is expected to make an initial appearance before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia R. Eddy today at 5 p.m. at which time the government will request he be held without bond pending further criminal proceedings.
The complaint alleges that on October 7, 2021 United States Postal Inspectors and local law enforcement were informed that a shooting had occurred in Collier Township, located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Investigators arrived on scene and observed the victim of the shooting, Louis Vignone (“Vignone”). Vignone, who was a United States letter carrier, was in his marked United States Postal Services (USPS) vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head. At the time of the shooting, Vignone was wearing his USPS uniform and working his shift as a letter carrier. Investigators located a firearm and seven spent shell casings in a yard near the USPS vehicle.
Shortly after the shooting, Kortz arrived at the Carnegie Borough Police Department, where he stated that he shot someone and wanted to turn himself in. Kortz subsequently was transported to the Allegheny County Police Department Headquarters.
At the Allegheny County Police Headquarters, U.S. Postal Inspector Erik J. Bohin and Allegheny County Police Detective Patrick Kinavey interviewed Kortz. Prior to the start of the interview, Kortz agreed to be interviewed and signed the USPIS agency-issued Miranda Warnings and Waiver Form.
The interview was audio and video recorded. During the interview, Kortz informed Investigators that he shot Vignone. Kortz claimed that he shot Vignone because Kortz believed that Vignone and Vignone’s family had poisoned Kortz and Kortz’s family with cyanide when Vignone and Kortz were previously neighbors.
Kortz informed Investigators that Kortz was aware of where Vignone worked. Kortz stated that he located Vignone on his mail route, drove his vehicle toward Vignone’s USPS vehicle, and stopped in front of the vehicle to stop Vignone. Kortz then stated that he “went to put some bullets in him”, referring to shooting Vignone. Kortz stated that he then dropped the firearm at the scene, got into his van, and drove to the Carnegie Borough Police Department.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life imprisonment or death.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Collier Township Police Department.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pierre Woman Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, woman convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter was sentenced on October 4, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Emerald Plenty Chief, age 26, was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Plenty Chief was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021. She pled guilty on July 15, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in Hughes County, South Dakota, on April 26, 2020. On that date, Plenty Chief was at a gathering at the West Bend State Recreation Area east of Pierre, along with her four-year-old son, the victim. Plenty Chief was consuming alcoholic beverages and was intoxicated. At some point, Plenty Chief decided to leave and departed the area with the victim in the back seat of her vehicle. A short time later, Plenty Chief was traveling northbound on West Bend Road when she approached a curve at a speed of approximately 77 mph, in an area where the posted speed limit is 55 mph. Plenty Chief failed to negotiate the curve and overcorrected, at which point the vehicle left the roadway and rolled. Plenty Chief was not wearing seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. The victim was not secured in a child seat and was likewise ejected from the vehicle. The victim died as a result of the injuries suffered in the wreck. An adult passenger was also injured in the wreck.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Plenty Chief was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Peever Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Interstate Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Peever, South Dakota, man convicted of Interstate Domestic Violence was sentenced on September 20, 2021 by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Brandon Lee Renville, age 30, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Renville was indicted for interstate domestic violence, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021. He pled guilty on June 21, 2021.
According to the Indictment, on or about November 6, 2020, Renville caused his spouse to travel in interstate commerce by force and coercion. In the course of and as a result of that conduct, he intentionally committed or attempted to commit a crime of violence, that is, an assault or attempted assault with a dangerous weapon.
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.
This case was investigated by Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Renville was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Renville was also ordered to forfeit a firearm seized as a part of this case.
Parmelee Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer was sentenced on October 4, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Matthew M. Horned Eagle, Jr., age 31, was sentenced to time served through October 21, 2021, to equal 12 months in federal custody, three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Horned Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021. He pled guilty on July 15, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on April 13, 2020, in Todd County, South Dakota. Horned Eagle forcibly assaulted a law enforcement officer, who was employed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, by knocking a body camera off the law enforcement officer’s vest during a physical struggle and later spitting on another officer.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Horned Eagle was immediately released.
Parkersburg Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg woman was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for using the United States Mail to facilitate fentanyl distribution. Audrey Mae Thompson, 40, previously admitted allowing Robert Lamar Bates-Porter to use her residence as a receiving address for shipments of drugs to be distributed in and around Parkersburg.
According to court documents and statements made in court, drug task force officers executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence on Roselyn Avenue in Parkersburg on September 13, 2019, where they seized a kilogram of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of heroin. The search warrant was the culmination of a long-term investigation conducted by the Major Crimes Task Force in Washington County, Ohio and the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force. Along with the Roselyn Avenue search warrant, police executed warrants at several locations in Ohio where they recovered more than 200 grams of heroin, additional quantities of fentanyl and several firearms. Bates-Porter was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 400g or more of fentanyl and sentenced to 130 months in federal prison.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Major Crimes Task Force, the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Senior United States District Judge John. T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00050 and 2:20-cr-00080..
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Oklahoma City Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Violating the Clean Air Act by Tampering with the Emissions Control Systems on Heavy-Duty Diesel TrucksRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JAMES LOVE, 52, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to a single-count felony Information charging him with Tampering with a Monitoring Device and Method Required to be Maintained Under the Clean Air Act, announced Robert J. Troester, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
"By causing the removal of pollution control devices, Love caused diesel trucks to spew pollutants into the air at a rate of up to 300 times caused by normal operating vehicles," said Acting U.S. Attorney Troester. "This conduct increased toxins in our environment linked to cancer and pulmonary, neurological, cardiovascular, and immune system damage. To engage in this conduct for financial gain will not be tolerated."
"Today, the defendant pled guilty to tampering with diesel truck monitoring systems required under the Clean Air Act" said Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Brooks of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Texas. "He knowingly directed others to reprogram the trucks’ Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) systems to prevent the detection of alterations to the emission controls, thereby exposing the public to significant levels of air pollution."
Public records reflect that, on September 20, 2021, Love was charged by Information with violating the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act was enacted by Congress to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation’s air resources to promote the public health and welfare and the productive capacity of its population. In enacting the Clean Air Act, Congress found that the increasing use of motor vehicles has resulted in mounting dangers to the public health and welfare. The Clean Air Act protects the Nation’s air quality by, among other things, reducing vehicle emissions that pollute the air with toxins such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. The Clean Air Act limits the emission of air pollutants from various classes of motor vehicle engines, including heavy-duty diesel engines.
Public records further reflect that Love owned and operated Southwest Diesel Service, a heavy-duty diesel engine full-service garage located in Oklahoma City. Love admitted that between February 2015 and April 2019, he directed his employees to modify the emissions control systems on heavy-duty diesel trucks. Specifically, Love directed these employees to alter the emissions control components, including removing the diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and plating the exhaust gas recirculation systems (EGRs). He then instructed others to reprogram the vehicles’ on-board computers so that the emissions control systems’ sensors failed to detect the alterations. These modifications prevented the trucks from accurately recording the pollutants they discharged into the atmosphere. They also ensured that the trucks continued to travel on public roads despite operating illegally.
At sentencing, Love faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing hearing will occur in approximately 90 days.
The investigation was conducted by the Oklahoma Environmental Crimes Task Force to include the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s Criminal Investigation Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown.
Reference is made to the court filings for further information.
Office Manager Is Sentenced to Four Years for Embezzling More Than $1 Million from His Former EmployerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Richard Allen Clark, 55, of Lenoir, N.C., was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for embezzling more than $1 million from his former employer, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Clark to serve three years of supervised release, and to pay $980,000 as restitution to his victims and $194,750 to the IRS.
Mona Passmore, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court, from 2013 to 2019, Clark was employed as an office manager for two family-owned businesses in Lenoir, and was responsible for, among other things, handling the companies’ bookkeeping and financial records, making payments to vendors and the IRS, and reconciling the companies’ bank accounts. Clark used his position and his access to the companies’ financial records and bank accounts to embezzle more than $1 million from his employers. Court records show that Clark stole money from a company bank account the owner had directed Clark to close. Instead of closing the account, Clark used it to steal from his employer, by instructing customers to make payments to that account.
Clark also admitted that he laundered the funds he embezzled from his employer by withdrawing customer funds from the company’s bank account through multiple fraudulent checks payable to himself, which he deposited into personal bank accounts. Clark then used the stolen funds to pay for his personal lifestyle, including to make payments for his home mortgage, to make auto loan payments for an F-150 truck and other vehicles, to install a home theater system, and to pay for travelling and shopping expenses, among other things.
Clark also filed a fraudulent U.S. income tax return for tax year 2018 by deliberately failing to claim the additional income he stole from his employers.
At today’s sentencing hearing, representatives of the victim company spoke in Court about the detrimental impact of Clark’s fraud on their company, and the personal and financial hardship they sustained as a result of the defendant’s criminal conduct.
On June 3, 2021, Clark pleaded guilty to mail fraud, money laundering, and making a false statement on his tax return. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer commended IRS-CI and USPIS for their investigation of the case and thanked the Caldwell County Sheriff’s office for their invaluable assistances.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
North Dakota Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Wahpeton, North Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on October 4, 2021 by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Vincent Chasing Hawk, age 40, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Chasing Hawk was indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2020. He pled guilty on July 16, 2021.
The conviction stems from an incident on September 5, 2020, in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, when Chasing Hawk and the victim had been drinking. Chasing Hawk, unprovoked, stood up and started punching the victim. All totaled, Chasing Hawk punched the victim approximately 30 times. During the assault, the victim fell onto the floor. After the victim was on the floor, Chasing Hawk then stomped on the victim. During the assault, Chasing Hawk knocked a clothes iron off a table. After knocking the iron off the table, Chasing Hawk picked up the iron, and hit the victim at least four times with the iron.
This case was investigated by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Chasing Hawk was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Nicholas County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Walker, 41, of Craigsville, was sentenced today to six months in prison for possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an officer with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department arrived at Walker’s residence in August 2019 in response to a domestic battery in progress call. Two witnesses informed the officer that Walker had gotten into an altercation and threw an object at his girlfriend that missed her and struck a juvenile. Walker then assaulted the juvenile by choking him with both hands and later striking the juvenile in the face. Walker, who had a prior conviction for domestic battery of a household member, was arrested at the scene for domestic battery of the juvenile. A search warrant was executed and a loaded firearm was located inside the residence where the altercation occurred.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00018.
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New York Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for heroin and fentanyl possession and distribution charges.
James De La Cruz, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 7, 2021, De La Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
In September and October 2019, De La Cruz spoke with a cooperating witness several times and met with the cooperating witness to arrange a large drug shipment from New York to the Boston area. On Oct. 21, 2019, De La Cruz and his co-defendant Juan Santos Roque drove from New York to Peabody, Mass. with approximately 10 kilograms of fentanyl and six kilograms of heroin in a hidden compartment in Santos Roque’s vehicle. After meeting with the cooperating witness, law enforcement agents arrested both men.
Santos Roque pleaded guilty in October 2020 and was sentenced on May 12, 2021 to 63 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Peabody Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
New York Accountant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
A New York certified public accountant pleaded guilty today to conspiring with a small business owner to defraud the IRS.
According to court documents, John Savignano, of White Plains, conspired with co-defendant Rocco Manzione, who owned and operated several companies that sold concrete, to evade the assessment of individual income taxes. For the tax years 2012 through 2014, Manzione received income from his concrete companies but did not file individual returns with the IRS or pay the taxes due. In 2015, Manzione sought to borrow money in connection with the purchase of a condominium in Miami. As part of the loan application process, the financial institutions requested that Manzione supply three years of filed tax returns. Thereafter, Manzione contacted Savignano, who helped him prepare and file false individual tax returns with the IRS that substantially underreported Manzione’s true income. In total, the conspiracy caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $400,000.
Savignano is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The defendant also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Manzione previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion and employment tax fraud on Sept. 23.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis for the Eastern District of New York made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Kathryn Carpenter of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.