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17 November 2021
San Francisco Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Pandemic Relief Loan Fraud and Impersonating AttorneysRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Miranda Devlin, aka Miranda M., aka Miranda P., was sentenced today in United States District Court to 18 months in federal prison for making false statements in a loan application for federal government pandemic relief funds and for mail fraud involving the stealing of California attorneys’ identities and practicing law, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair, and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney.
Devlin, 37, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty on July 21, 2021. In her plea agreement, Devlin described multiple crimes she committed from March 2012 through May 2020 to defraud individuals and the government. In one of her schemes, Devlin – who has never been an attorney – admitted she stole the identities of two female attorneys licensed by the State Bar of California and deceived people into believing she was a licensed attorney. Beginning in 2012, Devlin started to assume attorneys’ names and used their license numbers. She even paid one attorney’s State Bar dues, without knowledge of the attorney, to keep the attorney’s license active. Devlin further admitted to submitting change of address requests to the U.S. Postal Service in order to have other people’s mail forwarded to her, including one attorney’s State Bar license card. Several people hired Devlin as their attorney. Devlin admitted she represented multiple individuals in the courtrooms of Bay Area county Superior Courts.
Devlin further admitted engaging in a scheme to defraud the federal government’s pandemic relief program of $368,800. To commit one fraud, Devlin submitted a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrower application form requesting money from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) program. The PPP arose out of the CARES Act passed by Congress in March 2020 that authorized forgivable PPP loans to small businesses, to promote job retention and cover specified business expenses during the pandemic. Devlin’s PPP application contained several deliberately false statements that Devlin certified as true. Her statements included that she had a business named Common Nucleus of Cancer (CNC) and that it had 2019 payroll expenses and also had paid taxes in 2019. CNC was, however, only a shell company. In her plea agreement, Devlin admitted that CNC had no employees and no business expenses. Devlin admitted that with her PPP loan application she submitted false tax forms and records for 2019 as evidence of the salaries and business expenses she purportedly paid. As a result of that application, Devlin received a PPP loan of $32,700. Devlin admitted that she did not pay any purported business expenses or salaries with that money but rather used it for her own personal benefit.
Devlin further admitted that she continued the scheme and applied for and eventually received a larger, additional loan in the amount of $336,100 from the SBA. In all, Devlin admitted that she unlawfully received a total of $368,800 from the SBA in government pandemic relief loans.
In addition to her 18 month prison sentence imposed for mail fraud in violation of 18 USC § 1341 and making false statements in a loan application in violation of 18 USC § 1014, United District Judge Maxine M. Chesney ordered that Devlin pay restitution in the amount of $565,355. The sentence also included a 5 year period of supervision following Devlin’s release from prison.
Devlin has been in custody since March 2, 2021, and begins her sentence immediately.
The United States Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Joseph Elijah Cuaron, 21, of Sacramento, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to five years in prison for a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Cuaron supplied approximately 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone M‑30 pills containing fentanyl to two co-conspirators, Joshua Cabanillas, of Woodland, and Gregory Tabarez, 23, of Sacramento, on July 13, 2020, for them to distribute 500 pills to an FBI confidential source. After Cabanillas and Tabarez sold 500 pills to the confidential source, law enforcement stopped them and seized the remaining approximately 500 pills that Cuaron had supplied to them.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Woodland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Spencer prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl distribution and conspiracy charges remain pending against co-defendants Tabarez and Severo Reyna. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Charges against Cabanillas were dismissed following his death in November 2020.
Roanoke Doctor Sentenced to Three Years’ Imprisonment for Over-Prescribing OpioidsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Virginia doctor was sentenced to 36 months in prison, a fine of $10,000, and a forfeiture money judgment of $500,000 yesterday for distributing and dispensing Schedule II controlled substances to patients outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The controlled substances charged included high dosages of morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the sentence today, stating, “Ms. Lewis violated her patients’ trust by placing her own greed before their very real needs. This significant sentence sends a strong message that our office will continue to investigate and prosecute any in the health care system who seek to illegally profit from the opioid crisis.”
According to evidence presented in court, Verna Mae Lewis, 70, profited over $523,000 from her illegal prescribing. The evidence also demonstrated that she prescribed patients the same regimen of opioids month after month without tapering and, in some cases, escalated dosages without any medical justification. She issued these prescriptions following little to no medical examination, without supporting records or diagnostic studies, and in contravention of guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Virginia Board of Medicine.
Lewis continued to prescribe opioids to patients in spite of their documented histories of substance abuse, accidental overdoses, and previous terminations from other medical practices for testing positive for cocaine and other illicit drugs.
As part of her guilty plea, Lewis agreed to surrender her medical licenses and registrations, to never apply for their reinstatement, and to never practice medicine in the future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration–Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Virginia State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.Rhode Island Woman Sentenced for Phishing SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island woman was sentenced yesterday for sending phishing emails to candidates for political office and others.
Diana Lebeau, 21, of Cranston, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal to two years’ probation and was ordered to forfeit computer equipment that she used to facilitate her offense. On July 27, 2021, Lebeau pleaded guilty to one count of attempted unauthorized access to a protected computer.
In or about January 2020, Lebeau sent phishing emails to approximately 22 members of the campaign staff of a candidate for political office. The emails, which purported to be from either the campaign’s managers or one of the campaign’s co-chairs, directed the recipients to put their account credentials into an attached spreadsheet, or to click a link that connected them to a Google Form that solicited the same credentials. Lebeau also sent several phishing emails to the candidate’s spouse and to others at the spouse’s workplace. The emails, which purported to be either from Microsoft’s “Security Team” or from an employee of the workplace’s technology helpdesk, requested that recipients provide account credentials or other information about their computers by adding it to attached spreadsheets or on a website that mimicked the appearance of the employer’s legitimate website.
In or about March 2020, Lebeau drafted and sent phishing emails targeting another candidate for political office. The emails, which purported to be from the candidate’s cable and internet provider, contained a false “login link” that the recipient could use to address an issue with his or her account by providing account credentials. Lebeau also impersonated this candidate in online chats with the cable and internet provider, in an attempt to reset and obtain the candidate’s account password.
Lebeau did not act with financial or political motive or to benefit any foreign government, instrumentality or agent.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
Queens Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and an Additional 100 Months for Slashing a Correctional Officer at a Federal Jail in BrooklynRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Ali Saleh, a U.S. citizen from Queens, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II, to 30 years’ imprisonment for attempting to provide material support and resources to the designated foreign terrorist organization the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Saleh pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2018.
Saleh was also sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment for assaulting a federal correctional officer and possessing contraband at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (the “MDC”) to run consecutive to the terrorism sentence. Saleh pleaded guilty to the charge in June 2019.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence demonstrates the strong commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to rooting out and prosecuting dangerous jihadists like Saleh and stopping their efforts to support terrorist attacks at home or abroad,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Saleh is also held accountable for his vicious and premeditated attack on a federal correctional officer while in pre-trial detention.”
“Saleh made numerous attempts to travel overseas to join ISIS, and when those efforts failed, attempted to assist others in joining the terrorist organization,” stated AAG Olsen. “Once arrested and detained, he attacked a correctional officer with an improvised weapon. With the sentences handed down today, he is being held accountable for these crimes. The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who seek to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and we will be unyielding in our efforts to bring to justice those who commit violence against the men and women in law enforcement and corrections. I want to thank the agents, analysts and prosecutors who are responsible for this case.”
“Ali Saleh’s attempts to support ISIS, and his subsequent attack on a federal correctional officer, resulted in the penalties enforced upon him today. The FBI’s JTTF here in New York, along with our partners, continues to lead the way in preventing and intercepting threats posed by those like Saleh, who seek to harm our citizens at home and overseas,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS
Starting in 2013 and thereafter, Saleh swore an oath of allegiance to ISIS and embraced ISIS’s directive to either travel to the Middle East to fight for ISIS or take action at home in support of ISIS. On August 25, 2014, Saleh stated online, “I’m ready to die for the Caliphate, prison is nothing.” On August 28, 2014, Saleh stated online, “Lets be clear the Muslims in the khilafah [caliphate] need help, the one who is capable to go over and help the Muslims must go and help.” That same day, Saleh made an airline reservation to travel from New York to Turkey, a country bordering Syria. Saleh was ultimately prevented from traveling because his parents took away his passport.
Saleh then redirected his efforts to facilitating others’ support of ISIS. In October 2014, Saleh communicated with an ISIS supporter in Mali through an online messaging platform and sent a wire transfer in the amount of $500 to fund that person’s travel to Syria. Around the same time period, Saleh communicated with several other individuals in an effort to facilitate their support of ISIS, including known ISIS supporters in the United Kingdom and Australia.
In July 2015, Saleh purchased 48 pyrotechnic mortars (large, tube-fired fireworks described as “artillery shells” on the packaging and containing explosive powder), stored them in a hidden area in the trunk of his car, and drove towards New York City. Law enforcement agents discovered on the cell phone that Saleh used at this time detailed instructions regarding how to create a bomb, including a hand thrown improvised explosive device, a pipe bomb, and a pressure cooker bomb, using explosive powder from fireworks. Saleh’s fireworks were sufficient to create multiple hand thrown IEDs or a pressure cooker bomb. As Saleh drove toward New York City with the explosive materials in his trunk, his car broke down, and he was forced to have it towed. Saleh later abandoned the car.
Saleh then made five separate attempts, over 10 days, to travel to the Middle East to fight for ISIS. On July 24, 2015, Saleh contacted an ISIS travel facilitator in Libya and made a same-day one-way booking to travel from New York to Cairo, Egypt. Notably, Egypt and Libya are bordering countries and it was relatively easy and common at that time for individuals to travel from Egypt to Libya to join ISIS. Saleh went to JFK and attempted to pay for the flight at the airline ticket counter, but he was informed by airline personnel that a message had come up on the screen and he left the ticket line. Saleh subsequently visited international airports in Newark, Philadelphia and Indianapolis, but continued to encounter travel restrictions. Saleh attempted to circumvent air travel restrictions by taking a train from Cleveland to Toronto, Canada, to fly to the Middle East from Canada. After law enforcement intervention, however, Saleh did not board the train and instead returned to New York.
After his encounters with law enforcement, Saleh changed his online social media moniker and expressed his support for ISIS under new usernames. On August 24, 2015, Saleh stated online, “I am a terrorist.” On September 1, 2015, Saleh stated online, “If they aren’t implementing shariah [Islamic law] grab ur gun and implement shariah and see how fast the world turns against u.”
In September 2015, Saleh was arrested at his home on charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. During a search of the home, agents recovered paper copies of an itinerary and Turkish visa issued in Saleh’s name for his September 2014 attempt to travel, and a duffel bag containing flashlights, headlamps, and other survival gear. Agents also recovered a black trunk containing 29 machetes. Saleh was subsequently detained at the MDC.
Assault on a Federal Correctional Officer
During his detention at the MDC, Saleh has assaulted numerous federal correctional officers and staff members, crafted weapons from materials in prison, broken cell windows and light fixtures, damaged property, initiated false emergency alarms, and set fires. In total, he has been cited on more than 90 separate occasions for disciplinary infractions at the MDC.
On July 13, 2018, at approximately 12:35 p.m., while a senior correctional officer was retrieving trash through an access slot of Saleh’s cell, Saleh reached through the slot and slashed the officer with an improvised knife, lacerating the officer’s right forearm and damaging the officer’s radial nerve. Saleh smiled at the officer and said, “I hope you die.” The correctional officer subsequently underwent surgery for his wound.
The government’s cases are being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Saritha Komatireddy, Margaret E. Lee and Alexander F. Mindlin are in charge of the terrorism prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Stephanie Sweeten of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas M. Pravda is in charge of the assault and contraband prosecution.
The Defendant:
ALI SALEH
Age: 28
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 15-CR-517, 18-CR-468 (WFK)
Pittsburgh Man Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of Production and Attempted Production of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Anthony Cerasi, age 46, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on April 13, 2021, Cerasi used and attempted to use Minor A, a minor female, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction, namely, videos depicting Minor A engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than fifteen years and not more than thirty years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The FBI Pittsburgh Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Pittsburgh Felon, 21, Charged with Violating Federal Drug and Gun LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - One resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Marquis McMeans, age 21, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 5, 2021, McMeans possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of this drug trafficking crime. McMeans, a convicted felon, is prohibited by Federal law from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 5 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $1,500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Cook is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 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.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Armed Robbery of Mount Airy Neighborhood Bar on Germantown AvenueRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Lawrence Laws, 29, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release for committing Hobbs Act robbery (robbery which interferes with interstate commerce) and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence arising from his participation in a robbery of a business in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia.
In February 2017 at approximately 1:15 a.m., the defendant and two co-defendants laid in wait for the owner of the Mermaid Bar located on Germantown Avenue, as he was closing the bar for the night along with his bartender. The victims approached their car and, after realizing that one of the defendants was hiding inside, holding what appeared to be an AK-47 assault rifle and waiting for the victims, they took off running. The defendants caught up to the bar owner, a 76-year old man, and his bartender and ordered them onto the ground.
The robbers forced the victims back into the bar at gunpoint, and proceeded to steal a firearm, cash, cartons of cigarettes, and a cell phone. Testimony at trial detailed how the defendants first took money from the bar owner’s pockets, money from the cash register, and a firearm hidden behind the bar, before two of the robbers forced the elderly business owner to the basement to steal money hidden there. When the owner initially resisted, Laws pointed a gun to his head, threatened to kill him, and also threatened to go to his home if he did not comply with their demands. While in the basement, one of the robbers took the owner’s debit card and PIN number, which they used to make multiple cash withdrawals from the bank ATM across the street before fleeing the scene together. Laws’ co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to charges related to this incident.
“Lawrence Laws and his co-defendants traumatized an elderly business owner and his employee, preying on them when they were most vulnerable – at the end of their shift, in the early morning hours when the hustle and bustle of Germantown Avenue stops,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Today’s sentence should serve as an example to others who use guns to terrorize business owners: our ‘All Hands on Deck’ initiative uses every law enforcement tool at our disposal to find and stop the most violent criminals in their tracks. If you rob any kind of business in Philadelphia with a firearm, you are going to face serious federal charges.”
“What Laws and the others put their victims through was horrifying,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “People shouldn’t have to fear being ambushed at gunpoint at their workplace, home, or anywhere else. Our Violent Crimes Task Force is working hard to put dangerous armed robbery crews like this behind bars and make Philadelphia safer. Today’s sentence ensures Laws won’t be terrorizing anyone else like he did that night in Mount Airy.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alison Donahue Kehner.
Passaic County Man Admits Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County man admitted today to receiving and possessing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Vaughn Tiedeman, 48, of West Milford, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between July 2018 and April 2019, Tiedeman downloaded and possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse, including images of young children and depictions of violence.
The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah A. Sulkowski of the Violent Crime Unit and Francesca Liquori, Chief of the Narcotics/Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit, in Newark.
Ohio man admits to drug traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Lee Edgell, of Belmont, Ohio, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Edgell, 32, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Edgell admitted to distributing methamphetamine in January 2021 in Ohio County. Law enforcement seized 191 grams of methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” and 89 grams of fentanyl during a search of Edgell’s vehicle. They also recovered $12,380.00, which Edgell agreed to forfeit.
Edgell faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 110 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jonathan L. Wells, 48 years old, of Hicksville, Ohio, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Wells was sentenced to 110 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on May 10, 2020, Wells was pulled over by law enforcement. During that stop, the officer saw baggies of drugs in plain view, which were later confirmed to contain 23 grams of methamphetamine. Wells had over $1,000 cash on his person despite being unemployed since 2012. Text messages found on Wells’ phone confirmed his drug dealing activities. Officers also located a loaded .40 caliber handgun under Wells’ seat and he admitted to being a convicted felon. Wells criminal history reveals he has been convicted of prior offenses involving drugs, violence and property crimes.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with the assistance of the Butler Police Department and the Auburn Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Nokes and Brent Ecenbarger.
This case was 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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North Versailles Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing 1,200 Images of Child Pornography on His PhoneRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 40 months in prison to be followed by 104 months of supervised release on his conviction of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Travis Kuhns, 28, of North Versailles, PA 15137.
According to information presented to the court, Kuhns was an active member of an online group called Yum Yum Trading, which was notorious for trading child pornography. While a member of the group, Kuhns posted child pornography links to the group and sent links directly to an undercover FBI Agent who had become a member. Kuhns also engaged in online chats with the Agent and expressed his sexual interest in children. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant on Kuhns’s residence and discovered in excess of 1,200 images of child pornography on his cell phone.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Kuhns. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for a Dog Fighting Offense and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for conspiracy to commit dog fighting offenses and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Delontay Moore, 26, of Concord, pleaded guilty to the charges on July 8. According to court documents, Moore sponsored and exhibited a dog in a dog fight in December 2019, after conspiring with others to prepare and train the dog for the fight. The dog lost and died of injuries sustained during the fight. In February, agents seized 25 dogs from Moore, many of which exhibited the types of scars that are observed in dogs that are used in dog fights. They also showed evidence of gross neglect, including infections where their ears had been cropped; inflamed or infected wounds; and dehydration. On the day of the seizure, three dogs required emergency treatment, including treatment for a fractured leg with exposed bone.
The felon-in-possession charge stemmed from an investigation by the Concord Police Department. According to court documents, the Concord Police Department received an anonymous tip that Moore — who had previously been convicted of drug and weapons felonies — was storing firearms around his property. In December 2019, a detective with the Concord Police Department conducted surveillance there and saw Moore carry what proved to be an AR-15 assault style rifle behind his house and stash it under a tarp. Concord Police Department subsequently recovered the weapon during a search.
Moore was sentenced to 75 months total incarceration: 63 months on the felon in possession charge and 60 months on the conspiracy to commit dog fighting charge, which is the statutory maximum. 48 months of the conspiracy to commit dog fighting charge will run concurrent with the felon-in- possession charge and 12 months will run consecutively.
“Dog fighting is not only inhumane and brutal, but also a federal crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Shutting down this criminal industry and holding accountable those who engage in it is part of our ongoing mission.”
“This case reveals the cruel truth of dog fighting: it brutalizes and exploits animals for the sake of trivial human entertainment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “We thank the law enforcement agents who investigated the case. Through their efforts, the defendant will serve a federal prison sentence for participating in this barbarous activity and for illegal possession of a firearm.”
"The intentional infliction of pain and suffering on animals for sport is unfathomable," said Special Agent in Charge Jason Williams of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “We appreciate the commitment of our law enforcement partners in pursuing these individuals who choose to participate in this heinous pastime while also committing other serious offenses in our communities.”
The USDA Office of Inspector General investigated the dogfighting case, with assistance from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and the Concord Police Department. The felon-in-possession case was investigated by the Concord Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Erica Pencak of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for a Dog Fighting Offense and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for conspiracy to commit dog fighting offenses and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Delontay Moore, 26, of Concord, pleaded guilty to the charges on July 8. According to court documents, Moore sponsored and exhibited a dog in a dog fight in December 2019, after conspiring with others to prepare and train the dog for the fight. The dog lost and died of injuries sustained during the fight. In February, agents seized 25 dogs from Moore, many of which exhibited the types of scars that are observed in dogs that are used in dog fights. They also showed evidence of gross neglect, including infections where their ears had been cropped; inflamed or infected wounds; and dehydration. On the day of the seizure, three dogs required emergency treatment, including treatment for a fractured leg with exposed bone.
The felon-in-possession charge stemmed from an investigation by the Concord Police Department. According to court documents, the Concord Police Department received an anonymous tip that Moore — who had previously been convicted of drug and weapons felonies — was storing firearms around his property. In December 2019, a detective with the Concord Police Department conducted surveillance there and saw Moore carry what proved to be an AR-15 assault style rifle behind his house and stash it under a tarp. Concord Police Department subsequently recovered the weapon during a search.
Moore was sentenced to 75 months total incarceration: 63 months on the felon in possession charge, and 60 months on the conspiracy to commit dog fighting charge, which is the statutory maximum. 48 months of the conspiracy to commit dog fighting charge will run concurrent with the felon in possession charge and 12 months will run consecutively.
“Dog fighting is not only inhumane and brutal, but also a federal crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Shutting down this criminal industry and holding accountable those who engage in it is part of our ongoing mission.”
“This case reveals the cruel truth of dog fighting: it brutalizes and exploits animals for the sake of trivial human entertainment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “We thank the law enforcement agents who investigated the case. Through their efforts, the defendant will serve a federal prison sentence for participating in this barbarous activity and for illegal possession of a firearm.”
“The intentional infliction of pain and suffering on animals for sport is unfathomable," said Special Agent in Charge Jason Williams of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “We appreciate the commitment of our law enforcement partners in pursuing these individuals who choose to participate in this heinous pastime while also committing other serious offenses in our communities.”
The USDA Office of Inspector General investigated the dogfighting case, with assistance from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and the Concord Police Department. The felon-in-possession case was investigated by the Concord Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Erica Pencak of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
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New York Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Brooklyn, New York man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for distributing heroin and cocaine base, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Henry Jean-Lord, aka “Doughboy” and “Doe Boi,” 34, to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Jean-Lord pleaded guilty in April 2021.
According to court records, Jean-Lord sold heroin to a confidential informant in March 2015 and heroin and cocaine base to another confidential informant in October 2018. Evidence presented at the sentencing revealed that Jean-Lord had been trafficking cocaine base in Maine since as early as 2005, and heroin since at least 2015.
The Portland and South Portland police departments, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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New York Man Charged with Multi-Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.
Wilkin Cedano, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.
According to charging documents, from approximately November 2019 through Dec. 2, 2019, Cedano conspired with others to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine in Lynn.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine provides a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. The Lynn Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Leah B. Foley of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are 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.
New United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania AppointedRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that John C. Gurganus, former Chief of the Criminal Division, has been appointed United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania effective November 17, 2021. Mr. Gurganus was appointed by order of United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. Mr. Gurganus’ interim appointment is for 120 days or until a Presidential appointment is made, whichever occurs first.
Mr. Gurganus began his legal career as a law clerk to the late Honorable Richard P. Conaboy, United States District Court Judge, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Thereafter, he began his 33-year legal career with the United States Department of Justice. He entered the Department through the Attorney General’s Honors Program in 1988, as a Trial Attorney with the Antitrust Division in the New York City Field Office. In 1989, he was appointed an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and has worked in the Scranton, Pennsylvania office since that time.
During his tenure with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Gurganus has held a number of positions including First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief, and Lead Task Force Attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
His experience includes the prosecution of a wide variety of cases, including public corruption, drug trafficking, violent crimes, tax evasion, child pornography, extortion, kidnapping, firearms offenses, and fraud crimes. Mr. Gurganus received two Department of Justice Director’s Awards for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S Attorney: one for work in prosecuting drug overdose cases, and the other for obtaining a guilty verdict for an individual who attempted to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Mr. Gurganus graduated from Villanova University in 1983 and received a B.A. with honors. He received his law degree in 1986 from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He resides in South Abington Township, Pennsylvania.
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New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking CompaniesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that CHANDRIKA BROWN (“BROWN”), age 30, of New Orleans, Louisiana, entered a plea of guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to today’s guilty plea, BROWN, along with her co-defendants, Doniesha Gibson (Gibson), of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Ishais Price (Price), of New Orleans, and a co-defendant driver conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged accident with a co-defendant driver. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” to twenty-nine (29).
According to court documents, BROWN claimed that on October 15, 2015, she was a passenger in a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned and driven by Gibson that was hit by a Hotard bus while traveling on the I-10 near the flyover of the I-510. Also in the vehicle was defendant Price. In truth, a co-defendant asked Gibson to recruit Brown and Price to ride along as a passenger and he then intentionally sought out a commercial vehicle to intentionally hit. After the staged accident, the co-defendant driver switched seats with Gibson, and they called the N.O.P.D. Gibson, along with the passengers, falsely stated that the Hotard bus illegally changed lanes and caused the accident. Thereafter, BROWN, Gibson, Price, and the co-defendant driver each retained counsel and made demands against Hotard’s owner and insurer for personal injury damages. As a result of the claims, the insurer utilized the U.S. mails to send the settlement drafts to BROWN, Gibson, Price, and the co-defendant driver’s counsel. The total settlement for the Hotard bus accident was approximately $677,500.
BROWN faces a maximum sentence of up to five (5) years of incarceration. Upon release from prison, BROWN also faces a term of supervised release of up to (3) three years, and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for February 16, 2022, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera; Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long.
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New Iberia Trucking Company Owner Sentenced for Distributing Cocaine and MarijuanaRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Rusty Ross Honore, 42, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Michael J. Juneau to 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release on drug trafficking charges. He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $10,000.
Honore pleaded guilty on July 21, 2021 to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and at the guilty plea hearing admitted that he conspired with two other co-conspirators to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana in the Western District of Louisiana.
Law enforcement agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) had information to believe that Honore was distributing cocaine in the Lafayette area and in March 2020, began an investigation into his drug trafficking activities. Through the investigation of law enforcement agents, including the use of surveillance and other investigative techniques, agents found that Honore and his co-conspirators possessed and distributed approximately 207 pounds of marijuana and 2 kilograms of cocaine.
Honore has a previous federal felony conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana from 2006. He was released from prison in 2012 and his period of supervised release ended in 2014.
The DEA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
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New Haven Gang Member Charged with Federal Firearm and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and New Haven Police Chief Renee Dominguez announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment today charging SHAVARIUS SMITH, 21, of New Haven, with firearm and drug offenses.
As alleged in court documents, on October 8, 2021, at approximately 11:15 p.m., New Haven Police recovered a 9-millimeter “ghost gun” equipped with a 31-round high-capacity magazine, and distribution quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, from a parked stolen vehicle that Smith had been driving. Smith, a known Bloods gang member, was released from prison on September 2, 2021, was serving a term of probation, and was wearing a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of his probation. Officers located and arrested Smith a short time later.
It is alleged that Smith’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for larceny and drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges with Smith with possession of ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Smith has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program and Project Longevity.
PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.
Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Nampa man pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on May 30, 2021, law enforcement and emergency medical services responded to a single vehicle crash in Nampa. Carlos Ballesteros, 28, of Nampa, was a passenger in the crashed vehicle. A Canyon County paramedic providing medical assistance on scene located a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in Ballesteros’ waistband. At the time of the crash, Ballesteros had previously been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho in 2020 and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. At the time he possessed the firearm, Ballesteros was still on supervised release for his 2020 conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Ballesteros is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine Ballesteros’ sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, which led to charges. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Nampa Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Boise Police Department; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; Meridian Police Department; and Idaho Department of Correction. “The contributions of these agencies to this multi-jurisdictional task for help make Idaho one of the safest states in the country. I heartily thank them for their spirit of collaborative public service,” said Gonzalez.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
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Moss Point Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
According to information presented to the Court, on February 8, 2021, Bayliss Morris Jenkins, 43, was taken into custody by Moss Point Police officers after a traffic stop for operating a vehicle with a switched tag. The defendant possessed two handguns in his vehicle.
Jenkins had prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, aggravated assault, and a felon in possession of a firearm.
Jenkins was indicted on June 15, 2021 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jenkins is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2022. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment. However, if Jenkins qualifies as an armed career criminal, he will face a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Moss Point Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Fourteen Counts of Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Mark Allen Hillis, 58, of Southgate, Michigan entered a plea of guilty before United States District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno to all charges against him in a 14-count Indictment, including one count of enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, one count of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct, nine counts of manufacturing and attempted manufacturing of child pornography, two counts of transferring obscene material to a minor, and one count of possessing child pornography. The charges arose from the defendant’s sexual exploitation of a 13-year old child over the internet and by text message over a period of months, his travel from Michigan to Pennsylvania to meet up with her for sex, and his sexual assault of her in a local hotel room when he arrived.
Hillis (also known by his screen name “Denverpolice#666” and the name “Daddy”) met his 13-year-old minor victim in a YouTube chatroom. After obtaining the child’s phone number, Hillis sent her hundreds of obscene images and hounded the minor at all times of the day and night, repeatedly requesting her to produce and send him sexually explicit images of herself via text message. After months of online and text communication, Hillis convinced the child to sneak out of her home in the middle of the night. Hillis, having traveled to Pennsylvania to meet the child victim for sex, then picked her up and took her to a hotel room, where he sexually assaulted her. In addition to the federal charges, Hillis faces state charges related to the sexual assault in Montgomery County.
“Mark Hillis not only manipulated a young child into providing him with explicit images of herself, he traveled across state lines, convinced her to leave her home, and assaulted her – every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “The defendant’s guilty plea ensures that he will be held accountable for being the predator that he is.”
“Online grooming and sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime that is happening far too often,” said HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael. “These investigations will continue to be one of our top priorities to ensure that children around the world are protected from sexual predators. Thanks to this investigation and our partnerships with the local police agencies involved, we were able to identify this predator and protect future children from falling victim.”
“Law enforcement in Montgomery County is ever-vigilant for online perpetrators who prey on children,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele. “We remain focused on protecting this most vulnerable population and working with our state and federal partners to prosecute these dangerous criminals. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their tireless work on this 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 United States 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.
The case was investigated by the Limerick Township Police Department, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Deal.
Miami Resident Sentenced to 42 Months’ Imprisonment for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Carlos Vazquez, 57, of Miami, was sentenced yesterday to 42 months’ imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining $921,875 through a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
On September 13, 2021, Vazquez pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents, Vazquez obtained a PPP loan worth $921,875 for his company, Big League LLC. Vazquez admitted that he submitted fraudulent tax documents and false information about the number of employees and average payroll.
On November 16, 2021, the Honorable United States District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks sentenced Vazquez to a term of imprisonment of 42 months, to be followed by a term of supervised release of 3 years. Vazquez was also ordered to pay $921,875 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden Patrick O’Byrne of the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda of the Southern District of Florida handled asset forfeiture. The IRS-CI investigated the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $65 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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-20231.
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Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Reentry by an Alien Removed After Conviction of a FelonyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry by an alien removed after conviction of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, and Jason E. Schneider, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
According to court documents, Margarito Ruiz-Aguillon, 41, of Mexico, was arrested on July 15, 2021, on Interstate 10 in Harrison County. A Border Patrol Agent conducted a vehicle stop and identified one of the passengers as Margarito Ruiz-Aguillon. Ruiz-Aguillon was determined to be illegally present in the United States. He was transported to the Gulfport Border Patrol Station, where his identity was positively confirmed. Official record checks documented that Ruiz-Aguillon was removed from the U.S. in 2001. He later reentered the U.S. and was convicted in Virginia for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was removed from the U.S. again and he unlawfully reentered the U.S. again on multiple occasions. He was removed back to Mexico in 2006, 2008, 2013, 2019 and 2020.
Ruiz-Aguillon is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2022. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. After completing any sentence of incarceration, he also is subject to Homeland Security proceedings to remove him from the United States.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Maryland man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Andrew Logan, of Dundalk, Maryland, has admitted to his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Logan, 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy.” Logan admitted to working with others to purchase, possess, and transfer firearms to persons who couldn’t legally purchase or possess firearms. The crimes took place from April 2019 to December 2020 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Logan faces up to five years of incarceration and fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Raheem Nigge Taylor, 28, of Manchester, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for possession of firearms by a prohibited person, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 2, 2021, investigators obtained a search warrant for Taylor’s residence after social media posts revealed he may have been in possession of firearms. The search revealed two firearms that matched the weapons Taylor displayed in photos on his social media account. Officers also recovered multiple rounds of ammunition. Taylor, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, admitted that the weapons belonged to him.
Taylor previously pleaded guilty on July 27, 2021.
“To keep Manchester safe from violent crime, it is imperative that we keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Despite being a convicted felon, Mr. Taylor had no respect for the law and continued to possess multiple firearms. Such unlawful conduct will not be tolerated. The law enforcement community in the Granite State will continue to work tirelessly to protect our community by identifying and prosecuting armed criminals.”
“Getting guns away from people who shouldn’t have them is a crucial part of our concerted effort to check violent crime in this city. If you’re a convicted felon, like Raheem Nigge Taylor, who blatantly brandished two firearms, along with multiple rounds of ammo on social media, you should know you’re not going to get away with it,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “We will continue to do all we can to make New Hampshire safer for the good folks who live, work, or visit here.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.
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.
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Man admits aiding assault of Wolf Point man in the head with a batRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Fort Peck Indian Reservation man suspected of aiding in attacking a man in the head with a bat in Wolf Point, on the reservation, admitted to an assault crime on Nov. 16, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Rick John Morales, Jr., 32, who resides in both Wolf Point and Poplar, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury, aiding and abetting. Morales faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for March 24, 2022. Morales was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that Morales aided and abetted codefendant Harry B. Azure in assaulting the victim, identified as John Doe, on Nov. 19, 2019, in Wolf Point. John Doe called 911 for medical assistance and told a responding tribal officer that three individuals kicked in the door to his residence, struck him multiple times in the head with a small baseball bat and left. Doe initially was treated at a Wolf Point hospital then flown to Billings because of the severity of his injuries. The victim later told law enforcement that the assault occurred days after an incident involving Morales. Azure pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and is pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy A. Johnson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Tribal Police.
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Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Role in International Lottery Fraud Scheme Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Joseph Andre Batts, 44, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 70 months in prison. Batts previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud.
Between 2013 and 2018, Batts participated in a scheme where Jamaican-based scammers and others called elderly victims in the United States, claiming the victims had won a lottery or other prize. To receive their winnings, the victims were told that they must first pay money for taxes and fees. Batts’ role in this scheme was to sell and distribute “lead lists,” which contained the names and personal information of thousands of primarily elderly individuals for the scammers to contact. Batts also distributed scamming scripts and template letters to teach others how to conduct the scheme. He then used others to help launder portions of the fraudulent proceeds.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations – Tucson Office, U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the Diplomatic Security Service, conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR18-2216-RCC-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021- 084_Batts# # #
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.Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A New York man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, aka ISIS. The defendant was also sentenced to 100 months, or more than eight years’, imprisonment for assaulting a federal correctional officer and possessing contraband at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, to run consecutive to the terrorism sentence.
Ali Saleh, 28, of Queens, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS in July 2018. According to court documents, starting in 2013, Saleh swore an oath of allegiance to ISIS and embraced ISIS’s directive to either travel to the Middle East or take action at home in support of ISIS. On Aug. 25, 2014, Saleh stated online, “I’m ready to die for the Caliphate, prison is nothing.” On Aug. 28, 2014, Saleh stated online, “Lets be clear the Muslims in the khilafah [caliphate] need help, the one who is capable to go over and help the Muslims must go and help.” That same day, Saleh made an airline reservation to travel from New York to Turkey, but was ultimately prevented from traveling because his parents took away his passport.
“Saleh made numerous attempts to travel overseas to join ISIS, and when those efforts failed, attempted to assist others in joining the terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Once arrested and detained, he attacked a correctional officer with an improvised weapon. With the sentences handed down today, he is being held accountable for these crimes. The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who seek to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and we will be unyielding in our efforts to bring to justice those who commit violence against the men and women in law enforcement and corrections. I want to thank the agents, analysts and prosecutors who are responsible for this case.”
“Today’s sentence demonstrates the strong commitment of this office and its law enforcement partners to rooting out and stopping their efforts to support terrorist attacks at home or abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Saleh is also held accountable for his vicious and premeditated attack on a federal correctional officer while in pre-trial detention.”
“Ali Saleh’s attempts to support ISIS, and his subsequent attack on a federal correctional officer, resulted in the penalties enforced upon him today,” said Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “The FBI’s JTTF in New York, along with our partners, continues to lead the way in preventing and intercepting threats posed by those like Saleh, who seek to harm our citizens at home and overseas.”
Saleh then redirected his efforts to facilitating others’ support of ISIS. In October 2014, Saleh communicated with an ISIS supporter in Mali through an online messaging platform and sent a $500 wire transfer to fund that person’s travel to Syria. Around the same time, Saleh communicated with several others to facilitate their support of ISIS, including known ISIS supporters in the United Kingdom and Australia.
In July 2015, the defendant purchased fireworks containing explosive powder, hid them in a concealed compartment in the trunk of his car, and drove from Indiana towards New York City. The fireworks contained approximately 1,196 grams of low explosive powder, consisting of both pyrotechnic material and black powder. Law enforcement agents located a cellphone belonging to Saleh during the time frame when he acquired the explosive powder and discovered on the phone an electronic pamphlet titled, “Muslim Gangs: The Future of Muslims in the West (Ebook 1: How to Survive in the West).” The pamphlet provided detailed instructions on how to create a bomb using explosive powder from fireworks. The pamphlet provided an example of a soda can grenade, and the instructions specifically stated that the soda can should be filled with “[e]xplosive powder (i.e. from Fireworks).” Saleh posted online the pamphlet’s image of a soda can hand grenade with instructions on how to build an improvised explosive device. Saleh’s car broke down on the way to New York City and was abandoned by the defendant.
Subsequently, on July 24, 2015, the defendant made a reservation to travel from New York to Egypt, a country bordering Libya, and went to JFK International Airport. The defendant was ultimately denied boarding. The defendant subsequently visited three additional international airports in Newark, Philadelphia and Indianapolis, but continued to encounter travel restrictions. The defendant attempted to circumvent the apparent restrictions on his air travel by planning to take a train from Cleveland to Canada, where he intended to fly out to the Middle East. After law enforcement intervention, however, the defendant did not board the train and instead returned to New York.
After his encounters with law enforcement, Saleh changed his online social media moniker and expressed his support for ISIS under new usernames. On Aug. 24, 2015, Saleh stated online, “I am a terrorist.” On Sept. 1, 2015, Saleh stated online, “If they aren’t implementing shariah [Islamic law] grab ur gun and implement shariah and see how fast the world turns against u.”
In September 2015, Saleh was arrested at his home on charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. During a search of the home, agents recovered paper copies of an itinerary and Turkish visa issued in Saleh’s name for his September 2014 attempt to travel, and a duffel bag containing flashlights, headlamps and other survival gear. Agents also recovered a black trunk containing 29 machetes. Saleh was subsequently detained at the MDC.
During his detention at the MDC, Saleh assaulted numerous federal correctional officers and staff members, crafted weapons from materials in prison, broke cell windows and light fixtures, damaged property, initiated false emergency alarms, and set fires. In total, he was cited on more than 90 separate occasions for disciplinary infractions at the MDC.
On July 13, 2018, at approximately 12:35 p.m., while a senior correctional officer was retrieving trash through an access slot of Saleh’s cell, Saleh reached through the slot and slashed the officer with an improvised knife, seriously lacerating the officer’s right forearm. Saleh smiled at the officer and said, “I hope you die.” The correctional officer subsequently underwent surgery for his wound. Saleh pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal correctional officer and possessing contraband in June 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Saritha Komatireddy, Margaret E. Lee and Alexander F. Mindlin for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Katie Sweeten of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the terrorism case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas M. Pravda is prosecuting Saleh’s assault and contraband case.
The FBI’s New York Field Office investigated the case.
Man Sentenced to 210 Years in Prison for Creating and Distributing Depictions of the Sadistic Sexual Abuse of ChildrenRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – A Spencer County, Indiana man was sentenced to 210 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting two young children and sharing the images and videos he created.
Trent Walker, 36, began sexually abusing one of the victims when she was a toddler. The abuse continued over a six-year period and was sadistic in nature. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Richard L. Young, who presided, noted that Walker’s abuse of the child could fairly be described as torture. Walker also abused a six-year-old child for a several-month period. Both victims were in Walker’s care when he abused them.
Walker created hundreds of images and videos of his sexual abuse of both victims, which he shared with an online group he ran. The group was dedicated to sadistically exploiting small children, some as young as infants. Walker served as the group’s moderator. He encouraged others to share sadistic abuse material, trained others how to conceal their identities online to avoid detection, and coached members of the group on how to abuse young children psychologically, physically, and sexually.
“The vile conduct that Walker inflicted on his victims is reprehensible and will impact these children for the rest of their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “This sentence ensures that Trent Walker will never have another opportunity to victimize another child and hopefully bring some peace to his victims.”
“The defendant’s repeated sadistic abuse clearly demonstrates he cannot be allowed to be free in the community,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Middleton. “This investigation demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protect those who can’t protect themselves and ensure individuals who commit such heinous acts are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Indiana State Police investigators work diligently every day, all across Indiana, and in close collaboration with its law enforcement partners, to help bring to justice those who seek to perpetuate the victimization of children,” said Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter.
“The cooperative team effort with our state and federal law enforcement partners, allowed for the successful prosecution of this dangerous predator. The damage that he inflicted in this world cannot be undone, but this sentence ensures that he will never burden a child with his evil ever again,” said Spencer County Sheriff Kelli Reinke.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted the case, said Walker will serve consecutive prison sentences totaling 210 years and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to each victim.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.justice.gov/psc
Man Convicted of Kidnapping, Interstate Domestic Violence and Firearms Charges Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Dillon James Merritt, 54, of Many, Louisiana was sentenced today by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to life imprisonment, plus 600 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, on kidnapping, interstate domestic violence, and firearms charges. This sentence is the result of two separate cases in which Merritt was charged and convicted.
In the first case, Merritt was charged in December 2019 with two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement officers with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, learned that Merritt, who had several felony convictions, had firearms in his possession. On January 12, 2018, law enforcement officers arrested Merritt on a warrant based on his illegal possession of a firearm. Merritt went to trial in April 2021 and was convicted by a federal jury on both of those counts.
In the second case, Merritt was charged in September 2020 with one count of kidnapping, two counts of interstate domestic violence, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was convicted by a federal jury after a three-day trial in July of this year on all four counts. Evidence at the jury trial revealed that on December 12, 2017, Merritt kidnapped a woman in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and took her across state lines to Texas and held her against her will for four days. Merritt and the woman (victim) briefly dated in the fall of 2017, but after Merritt punched the victim in the stomach following an argument, she severed the relationship with Merritt. Following the breakup, he continually called the victim and harassed her.
During the evening hours of December 12, 2017, Merritt found the victim walking back home from visiting with a friend near the Walmart parking lot in Natchitoches and struck her in the head and put her in a truck and left. The victim was bound and gagged and hidden under clothing in the vehicle and for the next several days, was taken by Merritt to various locations in Louisiana and remote locations in Texas near Toledo Bend. Merritt repeatedly raped the victim, doused her with lighter fluid and tried to set her on fire, and severely beat her with his fists, elbows, feet and with a Maglite flashlight over this four-day period causing serious bodily injury to the victim. In addition to the brutal beatings, aggravated sexual assault, and sexual abuse on the victim committed by Merritt, he possessed with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Additional evidence was introduced at today’s sentencing hearing of Merritt’s past victims who have suffered at his hand, including three young children and four other women besides the victim in this kidnapping case. Those crimes are as follows:
- In 1999, Merritt was convicted of simple battery after beating his then nine-year-old son with a coat hanger.
- In 2000, Merritt was again convicted of simple battery after beating his former girlfriend.
- In 2001, Merritt tortured his then two-year-old stepdaughter by spraying hair spray in her eyes, twisting her leg and breaking her tibia, twisting her arm and dislocating her shoulder, and then refused to seek medical treatment for her. In September 2002, Merritt was convicted by a jury of cruelty to a juvenile for these crimes.
- In February 2005, Merritt was again convicted of cruelty to a juvenile as the result of an incident in June 2002, while Merritt was on pretrial release for the first cruelty to a juvenile charge, when he struck the head of a four-year-old boy and strangled him. He broke the front door to and attempted to enter the boy’s residence after his parents retreated inside, apparently hiding from Merritt and they called the police. Merritt was released on parole for the abuse of these two children in 2008.
- In less than a year after being released from the 2005 conviction, in June 2009, Merritt severely beat his new girlfriend by strangling, kicking, punching and beating her with a belt. The victim girlfriend sustained a collapsed lung, bruising to her thighs, arms, shin and posterior flank, as well as a hemorrhage with bruising around her eyes. Merritt was convicted of second-degree battery and sent back to prison, but released again in August 2012.
- In June 2013, Merritt savagely beat his new girlfriend, A.M., making her the sixth known victim who had suffered at the hands of Merritt. Testimony at today’s hearing from the victim’s sister showed that Merritt repeatedly beat, strangled, and raped the victim and eventually dumped her nearly lifeless body onto the front steps of his neighbor’s trailer. The neighbor called an ambulance, and they transported the victim to the hospital where she was resuscitated multiple times and she remained in intensive care for several weeks. She suffered from fractured ribs, bruising and swelling all over her face and body, and a head injury. The head injury brought on a series of strokes that caused permanent brain damage. Although this victim survived the brutal attacks by Merritt, she is in an assisted living facility because of the injuries he caused. The sister of the victim testified that her sister’s mental capacity and personality have never been the same since Merritt savagely beat her. Merritt was never prosecuted for this horrific crime by the Texas authorities.
- In August 2016, Merritt found a new girlfriend and she became his next victim. As was his practice, Merritt held the girlfriend captive over the course of several days while beating her body and face and strangled her until she almost passed out. The victim was able to escape and ran to a neighbor’s house for help. The responding police officer noted that the victim had bruises on her body, a very red eye, and complained of broken ribs. Merritt was convicted of domestic abuse battery and sentenced to a short stay in jail. Within a year and a half, in 2017, Merritt committed the instant offense, abducting and torturing his eighth and last victim.
“The severe brutality and sexual abuse which this defendant has inflicted upon others has finally ended and the life sentence he received ensures that he will never be a threat to society again,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “He preyed upon helpless children and women who were vulnerable and unknowing, and scarred each of them for the rest of their lives. We hope that this sentence can bring some form of healing to the eight victims – three children and five women – who suffered at the hands of such an evil and despicable person.”
The FBI, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Sabine County Sheriff’s Office in Hemphill, Texas conducted the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted both cases.
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MS-13 New Jersey Leaders Convicted of Racketeering Offenses and MurderRead the Press Release
A federal jury in New Jersey convicted three El Salvadoran nationals on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges, including murder in aid of racketeering, stemming from their participation in Mara Salvatrucha, a violent international criminal racketeering enterprise commonly known as MS-13.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between September 2014 and October 2015, Juan Pablo Escalante-Melgar, aka Humilde, 32, Elmer Cruz-Diaz, aka Locote, 33, and Oscar Sanchez-Aguilar, aka Snappy, 25, participated in the affairs of MS-13 by committing multiple racketeering offenses, including murder, extortion, witness tampering, and drug trafficking. Evidence presented at trial showed that in June or July 2015, Escalante-Melgar and Sanchez-Aguilar instructed an MS-13 member and an MS-13 recruit to kill a suspected rival gang member so that the MS-13 recruit could become a full member of MS-13.
On July 1, 2015, Jose Urias-Hernandez, then 19 years old, was shot and killed execution-style with a single shot to the back of his head as he entered his apartment building.
“These defendants brutally murdered Jose Urias-Hernandez because they believed he was a rival gang member, when he was actually an innocent victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions caused irreparable harm to the victim’s family and the surrounding community. We will not stop in our pursuit of those MS-13 gang members, both in the United States and elsewhere, who prey on the communities they harm and intimidate.”
“MS-13 is a violent multinational criminal organization that engages in drug trafficking, intimidation, and the murder of witnesses, rival gang members, and – as happened here – innocent victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig for the District of New Jersey. “The jury’s guilty verdicts in this case cannot bring back the life of José Urias Hernandez, but they do ensure that these defendants will be held accountable for their actions. We thank the jury for its service, and we reiterate our commitment to investigating and prosecuting MS-13 members, and others like them, who bring bloodshed to our communities.”
“This verdict demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to combat MS-13’s ruthless violence in America and internationally,” said Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “In collaboration with our federal, state, local and international partners, we will aggressively target and pursue violent offenders. Today we send a clear signal to others who engage in this type of gang violence that we will bring them to justice wherever they are based.”
According to court documents, MS-13 is a violent criminal gang founded in Los Angeles, California, and now active in El Salvador, Central America, and Mexico and numerous states across the United States, including New Jersey. MS-13 is governed by a core set of rules, including a standing order to kill rival gang members and a strict rule against cooperating with law enforcement. MS-13 is organized into a series of sub-units, or “cliques,” that operate in specific geographic locations, and each clique is typically controlled by a single leader, sometimes known as the “First Word.” Among cliques active in and around Hudson County, New Jersey, Escalante-Melgar was the First Word of the Pinos Locos Salvatrucha clique, and Cruz-Diaz was the First Word of the Hudson Locos Salvatrucha clique.
In addition to murder, MS-13 members trafficked drugs, extorted a restaurant operating in the gang’s turf, and intimidated witnesses to prevent cooperation with law enforcement. Evidence presented at trial showed that Escalante-Melgar and Cruz-Diaz conspired to murder a fellow MS-13 member, whom Salvadoran MS-13 leaders had “green-lighted” – or ordered to be killed – because he was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.
Escalante-Melgar, Cruz-Diaz and Sanchez-Aguilar were among ten defendants charged in this investigation against MS-13 in New Jersey. One defendant, Christian Linares-Rodriguez, aka Donkey, 42, is a high-ranking MS-13 member who is currently incarcerated in El Salvador. All other defendants previously pleaded guilty to related offenses, as follows:
- Cesar Fuentes, aka Demonio, 29, of Honduras, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
- Juan Garcia-Gomez, aka Scooby, 26, of El Salvador, RICO conspiracy.
- Jose Gimenez-Lobos, aka Infernal, aka Terrible, 31, El Salvador, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
- Leonel Gonzalez, aka Cangri, 31, of El Salvador, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
- Jose Rivera-Robles, aka Layo, 36, of El Salvador, RICO conspiracy.
Escalante-Melgar, Cruz-Diaz and Sanchez-Aguilar were convicted of RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and causing death through the use of a firearm.
At sentencing, Escalante-Melgar, Cruz-Diaz and Sanchez-Aguilar each face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering, a maximum sentence of life in prison for the offenses of racketeering conspiracy and causing death through the use of a firearm; a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; and a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for the offense of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Newark Field Office, the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, and the West New York Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew K. Hoff of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey prosecuted the case.
Lewis County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Samuel Lee Donaldson, Jr., of Weston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 98 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
After a two-day trial in April 2021, a jury found Donaldson, 37, guilty of one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Donaldson is a person prohibited from having a firearm because of prior convictions of domestic battery and third offense DUI. On October 5, 2019, a Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy and a Weston Police Department K-9 unit responded to a 911 call about a felon with a firearm. When the officers made eye contact with Donaldson, he immediately fled on foot. Just before the officers apprehended him, Donaldson threw a 9mm semi-automatic firearm, which was quickly recovered.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. Bauer and Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Weston Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Leicester Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment and Loan Fraud Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leicester man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with his involvement in loan and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) fraud schemes.
William, Cordor, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Cordor was initially indicted on April 1, 2021 and was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment with co-conspirator Destinee Snay on July 12, 2021.
Between May and October 2020, Cordor engaged in a fraudulent unemployment scheme by attempting to file numerous claims for unemployment with the State of Nevada by taking advantage of PUA funds made available due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cordor filed the claims using the names, Social Security numbers and other personal identifying information of third parties for whom he had no legal authority to file such claims. The State of Nevada ultimately detected that the claims were fraudulent and did not approve the PUA funds.
Cordor also engaged in a second wire fraud scheme using stolen identities to fraudulently apply for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster loans made available by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Cordor used a third party’s personal identifying information to obtain a loan from the SBA under false pretenses, and then used the fraudulent funds for his own enrichment, including to pay for plane tickets, hotel accommodations, restaurants, entertainment and shopping during a Florida vacation.
In May 2020, Cordor agreed to surrender to federal authorities the balance of $79,000 in his bank account that were proceeds of a separate unemployment fraud scheme in Massachusetts. This occurred before Cordor filed the fraudulent unemployment claim with Nevada in July 2020.
The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to another other sentenced imposed, one year 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; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Frederick J. Regan, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the case was provided by the Leicester and Marlboro Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy of Mendell’s Criminal Division and Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
EL PASO – The sixth and last defendant in a marijuana and cocaine conspiracy case was sentenced on Monday to 17 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
According to court documents, Carlos Moreno-Reyes, aka Charlie Brown, 46, of Clint, led a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) from October 2008 until April 2019. The DTO operated in the El Paso area and was responsible for transporting and distributing marijuana and cocaine from El Paso to destination cities, including Oklahoma City. Moreno admitted that he was paid approximately $25,587,400 for his role in the DTO.
Other members of the conspiracy included Jose Luis Ortiz-Valenzuela, aka Pelon, 37, of Avondale, AZ; Julio Adrian Terrazas, aka JT, 31, of Fabens; Edgar Sanchez, aka Siez, Chavalito, 29, of Fabens; Jacinto Olivas-Cervantes, aka Chente, Chinto, 53, of San Elizario; and Oliva Beltran-Paez, 33, of Clint.
“I am grateful for the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners as we work together to pursue not only individual drug traffickers peddling this poison, but also large drug trafficking organizations and their leadership,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff.
“The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) continues to aggressively pursue narcotics traffickers,” said Taekuk Cho, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI El Paso. “Our work is not done, and our resolve in attacking the drug trade and the cartels is as strong as it’s ever been.”
On February 26, 2020, Moreno pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine and one count of bulk cash smuggling.
Sanchez and Ortiz-Valenzuela pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine. On March 11, 2020, Sanchez was sentenced to 120 months in prison. On July 17, 2020, Ortiz was sentenced to 96 months in prison.
Olivas-Cervantes and Terrazas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana. On February 25, 2020, Olivas was sentenced to 30 months in prison. On July 20, 2020, Terrazas was sentenced to 46 months in prison.
Beltran-Paez, pleaded guilty to one count of bulk cash smuggling. On February 28, 2020, Beltran was sentenced to five years of probation.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andres Ortega prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Lake County Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Running Large-Scale Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Devonne L. Walker (36, Lady Lake) to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Walker had pleaded guilty on July 28, 2021.
According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Walker was the leader and organizer of a drug conspiracy in Lake County that imported more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 50 kilograms of cocaine, over 1 kilogram of heroin, and over 50 kilograms of marijuana. Between 2018 and 2019, Walker directed the activities of his accomplices in Phoenix, Arizona, to ship parcels containing illegal narcotics to Florida. Once they arrived, Walker controlled the distribution of the drugs to other dealers in the Middle District of Florida.
Walker was arrested in Leesburg on June 25, 2021, by deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of his arrest, Walker had in his possession a stolen firearm, more than 260 grams of methamphetamine, over 80 grams of fentanyl, as well as a small amount of marijuana and cocaine.
Two of Walker’s co-conspirators were charged in the same case. One has pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing while the other is pending trial in January 2022. Another co-conspirator, who was charged separately, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, with support from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Service Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
KC Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearm Following High-Speed Police ChaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm.
Michael Allen Dicks, Jr., 32, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
Dicks pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2021, to one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
A Platte County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a Nissan Altima driven by Dicks on March 16, 2020, after Dicks failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of N.W. Cookingham and N. Ambassador in Kansas City, Mo. Dicks failed to stop, and during the ensuing vehicle pursuit the Altima reached speeds of 130 miles per hour. Dicks also drove the wrong way on 152 Highway in an attempt to elude law enforcement. During the pursuit, the Altima crashed in the area of N.W. 92nd Terrace and N.W. Old Tiffany Springs Parkway. Due to his injuries from the crash, Dicks was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
Inside Dick’s vehicle, deputies found a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic handgun and four bags that contained a total of 462.7 grams (more than one pound) of pure methamphetamine.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the DEA and the Platte County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
KC Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Family, Business at GunpointRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man who was charged in two separate federal indictments pleaded guilty in federal court today to the armed robberies of a local business and a family in their residence.
Chase M. Murphy, 20, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to two counts of robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
By pleading guilty today, Murphy admitted that he used a firearm to rob the Taco Bell at 5925 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on May 28, 2019. A brick was thrown through the drive-through window of the Taco Bell, shattering the glass. Murphy and another person, both carrying handguns, entered the restaurant through the broken window. They pointed their guns at the heads of two employees and ordered one to open the cash register. They took $300 from the register and fled through the broken window.
Murphy also admitted, in a separate and unrelated case, that he robbed a family in their home at gunpoint with co-defendant Cameron E. Scott, 20, of Kansas City, Mo. Scott pleaded guilty on June 2, 2021, to one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Scott and Murphy (along with an unidentified third man) robbed a group of three juveniles and four adults at gunpoint on March 22, 2020. The three men forced their way into a residence in the 8100 block of Wayne Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., and pointed firearms at multiple victims (mostly members of the same family). They held one of the victims at gunpoint while demanding money and marijuana.
The three men stole $450, marijuana, a rifle and a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol then left the residence. Officers saw a car matching the description a witness gave of the robbers’ vehicle. Three men got out of the vehicle and ran into a residence in the 9200 block of Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. Soon afterward, the driver of the vehicle returned to the car and left. Officers attempted to follow the vehicle but lost sight of it. Scott and Murphy were seen leaving from the back of the residence. When officers announced themselves, they fled into a wooded area. A short time later, Scott and Murphy were seen walking in the tree line near 93rd Street and Grandview Road. Officers tried to approach them, but they fled on foot again. Officers gave chase and ultimately found Scott and Murphy hiding in a creek bed.
Officers searched the residence on Indiana Avenue. In the attic, they found a black suitcase with a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol (which matched the description of the firearm taken during the robbery) and a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Under federal statutes, Murphy is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Raytown, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Justice Department Awards $177 Million to Assist Crime Victims and Improve Public Safety in American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—On November 15, 2021, the Department of Justice announced that it will award more than $177 million to improve public safety and serve crime victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
More than $73 million will be awarded to 84 different Tribal communities and commissions under the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a streamlined grant application program managed by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The CTAS program helps tribes apply for Tribal-specific grant programs seeking to enhance law enforcement and justice practices, expand victim services and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts.
Of this total, $3.5 million will be awarded to three Oregon tribes and one Oregon tribal commission: the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Klamath Tribes, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
The COPS Office also awarded $400,000 to Western Oregon University to develop a structured and Tribal-centered approach to enhancing the criminal justice system’s ability to address the tragic and ongoing trend of missing and murdered indigenous persons (MMIP).
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will award an additional $104 million to more 140 tribes and Tribal programs across the country—including two Oregon tribes—under the Crime Victims Fund Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside program. The Cow Creek Bank of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Klamath Tribes will each receive $387,817 to fund culturally-appropriate victim services to meet the needs of their communities.
“American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims deserve the same access to services and the same level of support available to survivors in other communities,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “This administration, and this Department of Justice, are committed to fully discharging our responsibilities to Indian nations, especially to those who have experienced the pain and loss that follow victimization. These funds will help establish, expand and enhance services that are vital to recovery and healing.”
“Supporting and enhancing public safety in Tribal communities is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon and has been for many years. We are very pleased to join the COPS Office, OJP, and OVC in announcing these important awards and congratulate all award recipients in Oregon,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
This announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to increasing engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Jury Convicts Stilwell Man for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Stilwell man was convicted Wednesday in federal court for sexually assaulting a minor in 2017 near Vinita during a road trip, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
The jury found David Anthony Romannose, 45, guilty of aggravated sexual abuse by force and threat in Indian Country and sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country.
“David Romannose abused the trust placed in him by a 12-year-old child who, at the time, considered him a friend. Even though it was extremely difficult, the victim bravely testified this week about the abuse she endured from Romannose. She is to be commended for her courage and for stopping this defendant from preying on other children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Also to be commended are the officers and agents of the FBI, Oneida Indian Nation Police Department and the Craig County Sheriff’s Office, who ensured Romannose was held accountable for his crimes. Strong partnerships are critical in these types of cases.”
“Protecting children is a top priority for the FBI, and we are pleased with today’s conviction. I want to thank the FBI special agents and staff as well as our partners who worked on this case to make sure justice was done,” said Alvin M. Winston, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Oklahoma City.
On July 4, 2017, Romannose, a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, accompanied a group who were traveling through northeastern Oklahoma after attending a festival in Seiling. While traveling, Romannose sexually assaulted the victim in the backseat of the vehicle. The violation occurred in Indian Country on the Will Rogers Turnpike/Interstate Highway I-44 near Vinita, in Craig County. The victim told investigators she remembered the group stopping at a rest stop in Vinita shortly after the abuse occurred. Romannose also abused the minor, an Oneida Indian Nation citizen, after the group arrived home in New York.
During the trial, family members testified that following the road trip, the victim’s behavior changed dramatically, and they initially were unsure why. They stated that she became more withdrawn and started acting out. Unexplained changes in behavior can be indicative of child sexual abuse. The victim eventually disclosed the abuse to a counselor and family member.
Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III will sentence Romannose on June 3, 2022.
The FBI, Oneida Indian Nation Police Department, Craig County Sheriff’s Office, and the Craig County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gina S. Gilmore and Stacey P. Todd are prosecuting the case.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Wisconsin Rapids Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography
Timothy P. McDowell, 39, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, is charged with 3 counts of producing child pornography. The indictment alleges that McDowell used a cellular phone to produce a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on April 24, June 20, and September 23, 2021.
If convicted, McDowell faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution.
Superior Resident Charged with Attempted Bank Robbery & Gun Crimes
Cody Walker-Nelson, 30, Superior, Wisconsin, is charged with attempting to rob a bank, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that he attempted to rob the Associated Bank in Superior on October 1, 2021 and that he brandished a firearm during the attempt. The indictment further alleges that on that day, he possessed 3 handguns, 3 rifles, and a shotgun.
If convicted, Walker-Nelson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the attempted bank robbery charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years on the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Federal law requires that any penalty imposed on the charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence be served consecutive to any other penalty imposed. The felon in possession of firearms charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The charges against Walker-Nelson are the result of an investigation by the Superior Police Department, Duluth Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes
Jerid Hinz, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with 3 counts of distributing methamphetamine, with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and with being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that he distributed methamphetamine on July 13, July 26, and August 9, 2021, and that on August 11, 2021, he possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for distribution. The indictment also alleges that on August 11, he possessed a shotgun and a rifle.
If convicted, Hinz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each distribution charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years on the charge involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms has a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The charges against Hinz are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the prosecution.
Sun Prairie Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes
Carlos Carter, 32, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and with possessing loaded firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that he possessed cocaine, two 9mm pistols, and a .44 caliber revolver on March 8, 2021.
If convicted, Carter faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the cocaine charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years on the gun charge. Federal law requires that any penalty imposed on the charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime be served consecutive to any other penalty imposed.
The charges against Carter are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Madison Police Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma is handling the prosecution.
Two Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution
Christopher Fernette, 44, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Dillan Boydston, 39, Waukon, Iowa, are charged with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that they possessed the methamphetamine on April 3, 2021.
If convicted, Fernette and Boydston face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. The charge against them is the result of an investigation by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Prairie du Chien Police Department, Richland-Iowa-Grant Task Force, Dakota County (Minnesota) Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma is handling the investigation.
Grant County Man Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution
Carl Rabe, 44, Boscobel, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on October 20, 2021.
If convicted, Rabe faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Prairie du Chien Police Department, Richland-Iowa-Grant Task Force, Dakota County (Minnesota) Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine
Brandon Norton, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the methamphetamine on October 14, 2021.
If convicted, Norton faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Sun Prairie Man Charged with 2 Counts of Distributing Methamphetamine
Derrick Shelton, 30, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with 2 counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the methamphetamine on October 4 and 19, 2021.
If convicted, Shelton faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Sun Prairie Man Charged With 3 Counts of Distributing Methamphetamine
Daniel Gibbs, 36, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with 3 counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the methamphetamine on August 26, September 15, and September 28, 2021.
If convicted, Gibbs faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine
Charlie Goodwin, 34, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the methamphetamine on August 27, 2021.
If convicted, Goodwin faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.
Ismael Isidro Morales-Alonso, 22, a citizen of Mexico found in Darlington, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported and removed. The indictment alleges that he was found in the United States on October 15, 2021.
If convicted, Morales-Alonso faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Gainesville men sentenced on federal arson charges for setting fire to police car parked at officer’s residenceRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Jesse James Smallwood, Delveccho Waller, Jr., Bruce Thompson, Judah Coleman Bailey, and Dashun Martin have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to commit arson of a City of Gainesville Police Department patrol vehicle.
“The defendants sought out and intentionally destroyed a police vehicle using the cover of legitimate peaceful protest,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “The criminal conduct of these defendants showed a reckless disregard for the safety of others.”
“The FBI Atlanta Field Office is committed to supporting our local and state law enforcement partners in an effort to maintain public safety in the communities we serve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are not focused on peaceful protests, but instead concentrating on identifying, investigating and disrupting those individuals who are taking advantage of the protests to incite violence and engage in criminal activity.”
“We want our community to know we stand with them during their rights to peacefully protest. However, these defendants did not peacefully protest, rather, they took this opportunity to target one of our officers at his residence. This type of violence and destruction will not be tolerated in our community,” said Jay Parrish, Chief of Police, Gainesville Police Department.
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the federal charges, and other information: On the evening of June 1, 2020, the five defendants met in the parking lot of a pharmacy located near downtown Gainesville. The men were in the area to participate in a legitimate protest concerning the killing of George Floyd. Bailey brought a flare gun and cartridges to the pharmacy with him. While in the parking lot of the pharmacy, the five defendants discussed their knowledge of the location of a parked Gainesville Police Department patrol vehicle. They all agreed that they would drive to the location and someone would shoot the flare gun at the police car.
Smallwood drove the group to the apartment complex where the police car was parked. Upon arriving at the location, the defendants pulled masks and bandanas over their faces and left Smallwood’s car. Bailey approached the police vehicle and shot a flare inside the vehicle through the rear windshield, setting the vehicle on fire. The five defendants then fled the scene in Smallwood’s car. Shortly afterward, the group was arrested following a tip from a witness who saw the men and the vehicle they drove to go to and from the apartment complex.
U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones sentenced the defendants for the offense of conspiring to commit arson as follows:
- Smallwood, of Gainesville, Georgia, was sentenced on November 16, 2021, to one year, nine months of imprisonment; Smallwood pleaded guilty on September 29, 2021;
- Waller, Jr., 23, of Gainesville, Georgia, was sentenced on August 26, 2021, to one year, nine months of imprisonment; Waller, Jr. pleaded guilty on May 13, 2021;
- Bailey, 21, of Gainesville, Georgia, was sentenced on June 30, 2021, to one year, nine months of imprisonment; Bailey pleaded guilty on March 25, 2021;
- Martin, 24, of Gainesville, Georgia, was sentenced on November 15, 2021, to one year, five months of imprisonment; Martin pleaded guilty on November 4, 2021; and
- Thompson, 23, of Oakwood, Georgia, was sentenced on August 26, 2021, to just over one year, two months of imprisonment; Thompson pleaded guilty on May 10, 2021.
All the defendants were ordered to serve three years of supervised release following the completion of their prison terms. The men were also ordered to pay the Gainesville Police Department $3,678.17 in restitution.
The FBI-Gainesville Field Office, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Gainesville Fire Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Radics prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Four Charlotte Men Are Sentenced to Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Wednesday, November 16, 2021, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced four Charlotte men to prison for their involvement in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Two of the defendants were also sentenced on separate charges for receiving fraudulent COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance benefits.
Jamel Johnson, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 70 months in prison. David Clarke, 30, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 54 months in prison. Justin Parks, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 65 months in prison, and Mikael Roberts 27, also of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 57 months in prison.
On June 19, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted the four men for executing a bank fraud scheme using stolen identities. According to court documents and the sentencing hearings, from as early as April 2019, the defendants obtained over the internet and elsewhere multiple victims’ Personal Identifying Information (PII), including names, Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, and addresses, which they used to apply for and obtain fraudulent bank loans – including automobile and personal loans – and other goods, such as Apple iPhones and iPads. During the course of the scheme, the co-conspirators fraudulently attempted to obtain more than $1,000,000 in fraudulent loans and merchandise.
In September and October 2020, federal wire fraud charges were filed separately against Johnson and Clarke, for using stolen identities to obtain COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. According to court documents filed in these proceedings, over the course of the investigation into the bank loan scheme, law enforcement discovered that Johnson and Clarke were executing a separate scheme involving COVID-19 UI benefits. Court records show that, Johnson and Clarke defrauded the U.S. Department of Labor, the State of Wisconsin, and the State of Arizona by submitting fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits in the names of identity theft victims. During the relevant time-period, Johnson fraudulently obtained more than $189,912 in fraudulent unemployment benefits using the names of approximately 70 victims. Similarly, Clarke obtained over $79,000 in fraudulent UI benefits using the compromised identities of more than 60 victims.
In announcing the sentences, Judge Conrad stated regarding Johnson and Clarke’s COVID-19 fraud scheme that taking advantage of the pandemic was “strikingly reprehensible,” and noted that it is important to “punish defendants who seek to profit from national disasters.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) for their investigative efforts and thanked the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their invaluable assistance.
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In a separate case, Judge Conrad also sentenced Malcolm Bynum, 29, of Charlotte, to 101 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Court documents filed in this case reveal that Bynum and his co-conspirators used the stolen PII of victims to create fake identifications they then used to obtain fraudulent loans and merchandise in the victims’ names. Over the course of the scheme, Bynum and his co-conspirators obtained more than $150,000 in fraudulent goods and loans.
Bynum’s case was investigated by USPIS and CMPD. The prosecution of both cases was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Former Preacher Charged for the Sexual Abuse of Five MinorsRead the Press Release
A former Vinita preacher was indicted this week for sexually abusing five minors whose ages ranged from 7 to 16 years old when the abuse occurred, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Roy Edward Williams, 63, was charged with Coercion and Enticement of a Minor in Indian Country (Counts 1,3,5,6, and 8); Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country (Counts 2,4,9); Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor Between 12 and 16 Years Old in Indian Country (Count 7); and Possession of Child Pornography (Count 11).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI encourage any other victims of Williams to come forward and contact the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office at (405) 290-7770.
Williams is alleged to have committed the sex crimes starting on or around November 2002 and as late as December 2018. According to the indictment, Williams also took sexually explicit photographs of several of the victims, paid or offered something of value to several victims immediately following the sexual abuse, and threatened several victims to prevent them from reporting the abuse to others. The defendant was further found in possession of child pornography on June 24, 2019. During the period of the described abuse, Williams was a member and preacher at Bunker Hill Baptist in Vinita.
Williams was previously charged in Craig County District Court. However, charges were dismissed in April 2021 as Williams is a Cherokee citizen and the alleged crimes occurred in or near Vinita, which is within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. The Cherokee Nation Attorney General’s Office then filed tribal charges against Williams in April, and he is currently in tribal custody awaiting trial. This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also filed charges in the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI, Craig County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Paisner and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case.
Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft in Washington CountyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Colleen McAvoy, age 54, of Shushan, New York, pled guilty today to stealing cash, gift cards and other valuable items from mailed packages while employed as a letter carrier.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area for the United States Postal Service (USPS), Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
From August 2018 to October 2020, McAvoy was a part-time letter carrier for the USPS in Washington County, New York, based at the Cambridge Post Office. In pleading guilty, she admitted to opening mailed packages in order to steal U.S. currency, gift cards and lottery tickets contained inside of those packages. She admitted to stealing items worth a total of approximately $4,889.25.
McAvoy, who pled guilty to mail theft, faces up to 5 years in prison when Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn sentences her on March 16, 2022. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. McAvoy has also agreed to pay restitution.
This case was investigated by the USPS, Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Village of Cambridge (N.Y.) Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Former Miami-Dade County Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, 58-year-old Miami-Dade County resident Willie Curry was sentenced to six months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge James Lawrence King after having pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with Curry's fraudulent application to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for a low-interest COVID-19 relief loan. In determining the sentence, Senior Judge King took into consideration Curry’s seven years of honorable service in the United States Army.
Curry was a long-time employee of Miami-Dade County. In 2019 and 2020, the County employed Curry full-time as a Network Manager. As a County employee, Curry suffered no loss of salary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, on June 24, 2020, Curry submitted to the SBA an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application stating that he was the 100% owner of a sole proprietorship operating under the name “Will Curry Computers.” In that application, Curry falsely and fraudulently certified that Will Curry Computers was established on January 1, 2015, and that during the twelve-month period prior to January 31, 2020, Will Curry Computers had gross revenues of approximately $755,416, a cost of goods sold of approximately $170,664, and 10 employees. In reality, Curry established Will Curry Computers in 2020, it had only minimal gross revenues and cost of goods sold during the twelve-month period prior to January 31, 2020, and it had no employees.
Based on the defendant’s materially false and fraudulent EIDL application, the SBA disbursed a $10,000 advance and then $150,000 in loan proceeds to Curry’s listed financial institution for Curry’s benefit. The financial institution instead returned the money to the SBA, and after Curry was notified of this, he made numerous contacts to the SBA in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to have the money sent to an account he maintained at another financial institution. In the end, his fraudulent efforts were uncovered by law enforcement.
The full sentence imposed by Senior Judge King was six months imprisonment, to be followed by one year of supervised release, with the first six months of supervised release to be served in home confinement. A $100.00 special assessment was also imposed.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge, Small Business Administration, Investigations Division’s Eastern Region (SBA-OIG) announced the sentence.
FBI Miami’s Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Professional Compliance Bureau, Criminal Conspiracy Section, and SBA-OIG investigated this matter. The Miami-Dade County Office of Inspector General and United States Secret Service provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted this case.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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-20415.
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Former Medical Lab Sales Representative Admits Role in Genetic Testing Kickback and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A former medical laboratory sales representative today admitted participating in a scheme to offer and pay bribes and kickbacks in exchange for ordering genetic tests, Acting U.S. Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Terri Haines, 57, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to an information charging her with conspiring to violate the anti-kickback statute.
Haines is the fifth defendant to plead guilty in bribery and kickback schemes involving doctors and medical employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, area.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Haines was not a health care provider, but made a living soliciting and collecting DNA samples from Medicare patients at health fairs. In exchange for commissions, Haines sent the DNA samples to a lab in New Jersey for “CGx” cancer screen testing. Haines was not authorized to order those CGx tests without a doctor’s sign-off. As a result, Haines paid a kickback and bribe to Dr. Lee Besen, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to use his name and medical credentials to order CGx tests for the Medicare patients she met at fairs, even though Besen never actually attended any of the health fairs and never met the patients for whom the genetic tests were ordered. Medicare paid over $340,000 for CGx genetic tests that resulted from this scheme.
Besen has previously pleaded guilty for his role in this scheme and a related scheme in which he accepted monthly cash kickbacks and bribes in exchange for collecting DNA samples from Medicare patients and sending them for genetic tests to clinical laboratories in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The count of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss derived from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 22, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Regional Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked the FBI Scranton Field Office, FBI Philadelphia Division, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Haber of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Acting Principal Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal.
Former Crestwood Mayor Pleads Guilty to Participating in Bribery Scheme Involving Red-Light Camera ServicesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The former mayor of Crestwood, Ill., pleaded guilty today to a federal corruption charge and admitted improperly soliciting and receiving benefits from an individual with a financial interest in a red-light camera company that provided services to the southwest suburb.
LOUIS PRESTA, 71, of Crestwood, pleaded guilty to one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in aid of bribery and official misconduct, and one count of filing a false income tax return. The bribery count is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, while the tax offense carries a maximum sentence of three years. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin set sentencing for Feb. 23, 2022.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Stetler and James P. Durkin.
According to Presta’s plea agreement with the government, the red-light camera company provided camera services to Crestwood that enabled the municipality to issue tickets to motorists for certain traffic violations. While the company was attempting to provide additional such services to Crestwood, then-Mayor Presta asked for and accepted benefits from the individual with a financial interest in the company. Presta told the individual that Presta would ensure that the percentage of red-light traffic violations that Presta approved would remain high or increase – in exchange for a cash payment to Presta from the individual, the plea agreement states.
The plea agreement describes a Feb. 27, 2018, telephone call in which Presta updated the individual on the higher percentage of red-light traffic violations that Crestwood approved the previous week. During the call, Presta stated, “We’re starting to get the numbers again… you got a new sheriff in town.” Shortly after that call, Presta on March 7, 2018, received a $5,000 cash bribe from the individual. When subsequently questioned by federal law enforcement about his receipt of the $5,000 bribe payment, Presta falsely stated that he neither asked for nor received the $5,000 bribe.
In addition to the bribery scheme, Presta admitted in the plea agreement that he willfully filed a false personal income tax return for the calendar year 2015.
Final Defendant from “Open-Air” Illegal Drug Market Case Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – The final defendant involved in a high-volume drug trafficking operation pleaded guilty to his crime.
Eddie Houston, 43, of McDonough, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Nov. 15. Houston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to a maximum term of life in prison to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for X. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This conviction ends a lengthy multi-agency investigation which successfully ended a brazen and dangerous stop and shop selling high volumes of the deadliest drugs out in the open,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold the most egregious drug traffickers accountable for their crimes.”
“This case demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our partners to end an epidemic in our society that is killing our citizens,” said Chris Macrae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The fact that this defendant faces a potential life sentence is an example how serious this crime is and a warning to anyone else who is involved in drug trafficking that we will find and prosecute you.”
“These guilty pleas are a direct result of the dedicated efforts of the DEA and its law enforcement partners,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The distribution of methamphetamine continues to ravage many communities across the country. Southwest Georgia and elsewhere are much safer because these drug traffickers have been removed from the streets.”
“This investigation illustrates that drug trafficking at any level will not be tolerated in the state of Georgia. It is paramount that violators of drug laws be held accountable. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is fully committed to working with our local and federal partners in drug enforcement to address these types of crimes,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
“The efforts of the local, state and federal agencies involved are evident of the commitment to addressing crime in our neighborhoods. We will continue to use all resources available to remove those persons and groups intent on enabling the drug culture to exist and flourish within our community,” said Albany Police Chief Michael Persley.
According to court documents, Houston’s convicted co-defendants Sherrod Winchester and James Malone, 52, both of Albany, regularly obtained and distributed large quantities of a variety of controlled substances for distribution in Albany and Panama City, Florida, since May 2018. Under surveillance, GBI agents observed Houston and convicted co-defendant Shannon Mason, 41, of Leesburg, Georgia, who regularly acted as an illegal drug courier for Winchester and Malone, conducting an exchange with a man at a drug store parking lot in Stone Mountain, Georgia, in February 2020. Officers stopped and arrested Houston and Mason in possession of 1,106 grams of cocaine and 990 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Winchester, Malone, and Mason—along with other co-defendants—were convicted and sentenced earlier this year for their roles in operating a high-volume drug trafficking operation in Albany. Winchester was sentenced to serve 300 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances; Malone was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine; and, Mason was sentenced to serve 75 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release after she pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. To learn more about this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/southwest-georgian-sentenced-25-years-prison-operating-high-volume-open-air-illegal.
The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, GBI and the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.