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Tuesday 21 September 2021
Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Offense Against a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man pleaded guilty today to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Christopher Lee Foster, 36, of Oak Hill, was charged via indictment in June 2021.
According to the plea agreement, Foster admitted that in early March 2021 he initiated contact with a person via a messaging application. Believing this person to be a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey, Foster engaged in conversations over the next two months wherein he told the minor he wanted to meet her to engage in sexual activity. After learning that the girl was sexually inexperienced, Foster sent her pictures of his penis as well as numerous images and videos of pornography to teach her about sex. He also repeatedly pressured the minor to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself, even offering to pay her for such images.
Foster further admitted that in approximately 2015 and 2016 he produced (or caused the production of) sexually explicit images of a different minor.
If the plea agreement is accepted by the Court, Foster will be sentenced to between 235 months (19 years, 7 months) and 292 months (24 years, 4 months) in prison when he is sentenced on January 5, 2022. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00095.
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Dominican National Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fentanyl trafficking in connection with the seizure of approximately 20 kilograms of heroin and 10 kilos of fentanyl. A firearm and $20,000 were also recovered.
Joel Cortorreal, a/k/a Angel Javier Morell-Oneill, 33, a Dominican national previously residing in Methuen, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 186 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Cortorreal will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On April 29, 2021, Cortorreal pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
During a traffic stop in October 2018 in Methuen, officers seized two kilograms of fentanyl from the front passenger seat of the Cortorreal’s vehicle. A subsequent search of Cortorreal’s residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 kilos of heroin, over eight kilos of fentanyl, drug distribution paraphernalia and a loaded firearm.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerville, Medford, Boston, Ipswich and Arlington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Ferguson and Nadine Pellegrini of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Doctor Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Millions of Oxycodone Pills IllegallyRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RUVIM KRUPKIN, a former New York state-licensed doctor, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison for conspiring to distribute medically unnecessary oxycodone unlawfully. KRUPKIN pled guilty on September 24, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, who also imposed yesterday’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Dr. Ruvim Krupkin wrote medically unnecessary prescriptions for millions of oxycodone pills. He ignored his patients’ serious medical needs and his medical training, instead turning his medical clinic in Brooklyn into a pill mill, where he doled out oxycodone prescriptions in exchange for cash. Krupkin put his own greed before his duties as a medical professional, and for that he will now spend a lengthy term in federal prison.”
According to the Indictment and other court documents, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:
KRUPKIN, a former licensed internal medicine doctor with specialties in oncology and hematology, practiced at a medical office in Brooklyn. From 2006 to July 2017, KRUPKIN prescribed over four million oxycodone pills to individuals he knew had no legitimate medical need for the pills. KRUPKIN charged each patient $200 in cash for each visit, payable directly to him.
As a hematologist, KRUPKIN treated patients who had, or claimed to have, sickle cell anemia – a medical condition that can cause pain for which oxycodone, in conjunction with other treatments, may be legitimately prescribed. However, KRUPKIN wrote thousands of prescriptions for large quantities of oxycodone to patients, knowing that they in fact had no legitimate medical need for the prescriptions. KRUPKIN generally performed little to no physical examination on these patients; indeed, the medical notes for each patient were largely the same from one visit to the next.
KRUPKIN typically issued patients prescriptions for large doses of oxycodone. KRUPKIN’s patients filled their prescriptions at pharmacies throughout New York, and in certain cases, sold the oxycodone pills they received to drug dealers, who in turn re-sold the pills at high value on the street. KRUPKIN knew that certain of his patients were diverting the oxycodone pills he was prescribing, but he nonetheless continued writing prescriptions of oxycodone for such individuals.
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KRUPKIN, 70, of Summit, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to unlawfully distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.
In addition to the prison term, KRUPKIN was sentenced to one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine and forfeit $124,000.
In imposing yesterday’s sentence, Judge Torres said: “Krupkin had a moral and ethical obligation to do no harm. Instead, he prescribed staggering amounts of medically unnecessary pills of oxycodone. He capitalized on the pain and desperation of poor New Yorkers.”
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI-NYPD Health Care Fraud Task Force. Ms. Strauss also thanked the New York City Human Resources Administration for its work on the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara M. La Morte and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
Deportation Officer Found Guilty of ‘Structuring’ for Hiding AssetsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A deportation officer with the Department of Homeland Security was found guilty today by a jury of “structuring” charges for making cash withdrawals and deposits totaling nearly $100,000, which were designed to circumvent federal reporting requirements and to conceal assets from his then-wife and the state court during divorce proceedings.
Vardan Keshishyan, 49, of Glendale, was found guilty of two counts of structuring of currency transactions to evade reporting requirements.
According to evidence presented at his three-day trial, shortly after his then-wife filed for divorce, Keshishyan began structuring nearly $100,000 out of his bank accounts to deceive the court into believing he only had $1,000 in assets that could be distributed during the divorce.
In January 2015, Keshishyan deposited approximately $96,000 from the sale of the home he shared with his then-wife into a bank account he solely owned and controlled. He then withdrew $99,400 from his bank accounts by making 11 cash withdrawals of approximately $9,000 – each withdrawal just shy of the bank’s mandatory reporting requirements for cash transactions above $10,000.
During one attempted withdrawal, a bank manager warned Keshishyan that it was a crime to break up a cash transaction greater than $10,000 into smaller amounts to evade the bank’s reporting requirements mandated by federal law. After the manager informed Keshishyan that the bank planned to file a report to comply with federal law, he cancelled the transaction. He then continued his pattern of structured transactions elsewhere to avoid the filing of any report required under federal law.
Once he had drained his bank accounts, according to evidence at trial, Keshishyan lied under oath to the court at a June 2015 hearing in his divorce case, falsely telling the court he had lost $95,000 of the family home sale proceeds, in part, through a bad investment. Upon learning that Keshishyan had withdrawn the funds in cash progressively over time, the court warned him that his pattern of cash withdrawals was “not permitted.”
Despite these admonishments from the court and the bank manager’s warning about the illegality of structuring, Keshishyan continued to structure to sneak the money back into his accounts. Once he and his then-wife settled on the terms of the divorce and the judgment issued, he structured $99,000 back into his bank accounts. In 2016 and 2017, he visited multiple banks, sometimes just minutes apart, to make 11 cash deposits of $9,000 each.
To conceal his pattern of cash transactions just shy of the $10,000 reporting requirement, he traveled to 11 bank branches throughout Los Angeles County to make the cash transactions and tried to further conceal his conduct through the use of multiple accounts at multiple banks.
United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez has scheduled a January 7, 2022 sentencing hearing, at which time Keshishyan will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The United States Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsey Greer Dotson and Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Dallas Man Illegally in the United States Charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David DaSilva, age 33, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, was indicted on September 14, 2021, by a federal grand jury for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that from July 2020 through September 1, 2021, in Pike County, DaSilva possessed two .22 caliber rifles and several rounds of ammunition while knowing he was illegally and unlawfully in the United States.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendnt's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Clearfield County Man Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of West Decatur, Pa., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on charges of production and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The 4-count Indictment, returned on Sept. 14 and unsealed today, named Jon Osewalt, 28, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, from on or about Feb. 24, 2020 to on or about Mar. 4, 2020, and from on or about Apr. 14, 2020 to on or about June 26, 2020, Osewalt produced images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct using materials that were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Further on or about June 27, 2020, and on or about December 1, 2020, Osewalt possessed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, which were produced using prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The images were produced using materials that were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Clearfield County Felon Pleads to Firearms Law OffenseRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Curwensville, Pa. pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal ammunition laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Chancellor M. Shaw, 27, pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on September 16, 2019, Shaw was found in possession of ammunition. On June 26, 2018, Shaw was convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield County, of the crimes of flight to avoid apprehension and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, which are crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing ammunition.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 18, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 10 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 offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shaw.
Ciudadano peruano sentenciado a más de 9 años en prisión por defraudar a miles de inmigrantes de habla hispana de Estados UnidosRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Un ciudadano peruano fue sentenciado a 110 meses en prisión por operar una serie de centros de llamadas en Perú que defraudaron a residentes estadounidenses de habla hispana, amenazándolos falsamente con arresto, deportación y otras consecuencias.
Henrry Adrian Milla Campuzano, 37, de Lima, Perú, se declaró culpable por su papel en la conspiración para cometer fraude postal y fraude electrónico por medio de dos centros de llamadas peruanos que él poseía y operaba. El acusado, junto con sus cómplices, utilizó declaraciones falsas y amenazas para obtener dinero de personas de habla hispana en todo Estados Unidos al indicar falsamente a las víctimas que debían aceptar y pagar cursos de inglés y otros productos educativos y que si no lo hacían se pondrían en peligro legal. El acusado y sus cómplices amenazaron falsamente con arrestar y deportar a sus víctimas para cobrar millones de dólares a víctimas en el sur de Florida y en todo Estados Unidos. Con la sentencia de hoy en Miami, cinco acusados fueron condenados a cumplir importantes condenas de encarcelamiento en este asunto
“La Rama de Protección al Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia perseguirá y enjuiciará a los delincuentes transnacionales que defrauden a los consumidores estadounidenses vulnerables”, dijo Brian M. Boynton, Secretario Interino de Justicia Auxiliar. “Los acusados en este caso defraudaron descaradamente a personas recién inmigradas prometiéndoles productos gratuitos para mejorar su inglés. En realidad, los acusados atarían a sus víctimas a una trampa de intimidación y miedo, que los dejaba mucho peor, con importantes pérdidas financieras y, muchas veces, cicatrices emocionales por estos crímenes. Con la sentencia de hoy, cinco acusados en este caso comparecieron ante la justicia, lo que demuestra que quienes se aprovechan de los consumidores estadounidenses desde el extranjero no lo pueden hacer con impunidad”.
“Este caso demuestra que el largo brazo de la justicia no tiene límites cuando se trata de llegar a los estafadores que se aprovechan de las poblaciones más vulnerables de nuestra nación”, dijo el Fiscal Federal Interino, Juan Antonio González, del Distrito Sur de Florida. "Continuaremos llevando la justicia estadounidense a los delincuentes transnacionales que utilizan tácticas de miedo e intimidación para robarle dinero a inmigrantes, personas mayores y otras personas que viven en este país".
“El Servicio de Inspección Postal de EE. UU. constantemente se esfuerza por proteger a nuestras comunidades de los delincuentes depredadores que buscan abusar y explotar a los miembros más vulnerables de nuestra sociedad”, dijo Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector a Cargo de la División de USPIS en Miami. "Este caso particular es un ejemplo de cómo los inspectores postales perseguirán enérgicamente este tipo de delitos y se asegurarán de que se lleva a los perpetradores ante la justicia para pagar por los delitos que han cometido.
Al declararse culpable, Milla admitió que él y sus empleados falsamente afirmaron ser abogados, funcionarios judiciales, agentes federales y representantes de un llamado "tribunal de delitos menores", que no existe. Las personas que llamaron amenazaron falsamente a las víctimas con procedimientos judiciales, marcas negativas en sus informes de crédito, encarcelamiento y consecuencias de inmigración si no pagaban de inmediato los productos supuestamente entregados y las tarifas de liquidación.
Milla era copropietario de los centros de llamadas Latinos en Acción y Acción Latino en Lima, Perú. Desde abril de 2011 hasta su arresto en julio de 2019, él y sus cómplices llamaron a las víctimas, así como a familiares y amigos de las víctimas, y las amenazaron fraudulentamente con consecuencias legales si no pagaban los productos supuestamente entregados y las tarifas de liquidación de clases de inglés.
Las autoridades peruanas arrestaron a Milla en enero de 2020, basado en la solicitud de extradición de Estados Unidos. El y cuatro coacusados fueron extraditados al Distrito Sur de Florida en octubre de 2020. Ahora se declaró culpables a estos cinco acusados y el Juez Federal de Distrito, Robert N. Scola, Jr., les impuso importantes sentencias de prisión. Además de Milla, Jerson Rentería fue sentenciado a 100 meses en prisión y Fernan Huerta, Omar Cuzcano y Evelyng Milla fueron condenadas a cumplir 90 meses en prisión, cada uno.
Dos acusados adicionales en el caso, Carlos Espinoza Huerta y Josmell Espinoza Huerta, evitaron el arresto al momento de la detención de sus cinco coacusados en Perú. Luego se localizaron y el 25 de junio fueron extraditados a Estados Unidos y se encuentran detenidos en el Centro Federal de Detención de Miami. Su juicio está programado para dar inicio el 14 de febrero de 2022, ante el Juez Scola.
Otros dos acusados en el caso, Carlos Alberto Espinoza Huerta y Josmell Arturo Espinoza Huerta, evitaron el arresto al momento de la detención de sus cinco coacusados en Perú. Luego se localizaron y el 25 de junio fueron extraditados a Estados Unidos y se encuentran detenidos en el Centro Federal de Detención de Miami. Su juicio está programado para dar inicio el 14 de febrero de 2022, ante el Juez Scola.
El Servicio de Inspección Postal de EE. UU. y la División de Protección al Consumidor de la División Civil investigaron el caso. El Fiscal Auxiliar Principal, Phil Toomajian y el abogado litigante de la Rama de Protección al Consumidor, Max Goldman, están procesando el caso. La Comisión Federal de Comercio, la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia, la Fiscalía de Estados Unidos para el Distrito Sur de Florida, el Servicio de Seguridad Diplomática del Departamento de Estado y la Policía Nacional del Perú proporcionaron asistencia crucial.
La Rama de Protección al Consumidor coordina la Fuerza Transnacional de Lucha contra el Fraude de Ancianos del Departamento, trabajando junto con las Oficinas del Fiscal de Estados Unidos y las agencias de aplicación de la ley para investigar y procesar las estafas dirigidas por organizaciones criminales transnacionales, incluyendo las estafas de correo masivo, tele mercadeo y soporte técnico. Para más información sobre la Rama de Protección al Consumidor, visite su sitio web en http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Una dictamen acusatorio simplemente es una acusación y todos los acusados se presumen inocentes hasta que se pruebe su culpabilidad, más allá de la duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.
Chinle Man Sentenced to Sixteen Years for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Elbert Leonard Cly, 45, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 16 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor. The sentence was ordered to be served consecutive to a 15-year sentence that Cly is currently serving in the Texas Department of Corrections for sexually abusing another minor. Cly previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child.
Between 2008 and 2010, Cly sexually abused the victim while living with the victim’s family on the Navajo Nation. Cly is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Years later, the victim came forward after Cly was convicted for sexually abusing another child in Texas. Federal authorities commenced an investigation into the allegations, took Cly into federal custody, and transported him to Arizona to face these charges. After Cly finishes serving his state and federal prison terms, he will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. William G. Voit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 18-08314-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-062_Cly# # #
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.Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Canton man pled guilty to knowingly possessing a stolen firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, on February 5, 2019, Curtis Tyaun Hart, 21, stole a handgun from the glovebox of an individual’s car. The owner of the handgun filed a police report concerning the theft. The following day, Hart was found by Jackson Police officers with the firearm in his possession.
Hart is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent
crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEVIN LUCAS, also known as “Dutch,” 61, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2019, law enforcement made a series of controlled purchases of redistribution quantities of heroin from Lucas. Lucas was arrested on August 22, 2019. A search of Lucas’ residence at the time of his arrest revealed additional distribution quantities of heroin, approximately 139 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 365 grams of cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics, a 9mm handgun, two loaded magazines, ammunition, and $35,220 in cash.
Lucas is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on December 15, 2021, at which time he faces a maximum term of 20 years. Lucas is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, which includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, East Haven, West Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
Beaumont Man Guilty of Multiple Armed Convenience Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Moses Ray Rhine, Jr., 21, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.
According to court documents, from January 11, 2021 through January 21, 2021, Rhine and others conspired to commit armed robberies of at least five convenience stores located in Southeast Texas. The stores were all engaged in interstate commerce that employed clerks who were engaged in the commercial activities of the stores at the time of the robberies. Each store was equipped with functioning surveillance cameras that recorded the robberies. Local and federal agents interviewed Rhine and he confessed to his role in the robberies. The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery affecting interstate commerce.
“Mr. Rhine’s operation was to plunder,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “This case was more than just a garden-variety market robbery by a junior varsity robber. Rhine and his crew robbed convenience stores across the Beaumont community. Thanks to the excellent work of ATF and Beaumont Police, this robbery crew has been neutralized and their robbery spree has been brought to an end.”
Rhine was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 2, 2021. He faces up to life in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
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Albuquerque man sentenced to five years in prison for assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Patrick Duran, 32, of Albuquerque and formerly of Dulce, New Mexico, was sentenced on Sept. 20 in federal court to five years in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
Duran, a non-Indian, pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2020. In his plea agreement, Duran admitted that on Sept. 28, 2014, he assaulted John Doe, an Indian child, by acting roughly with him and caused Doe to suffer serious bodily injury including internal head injuries, seizures and hospitalization. The incident took place on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
Upon his release from prison, Duran will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Nayback and Nicholas Marshall prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man arraigned on two counts of assaulting a federal officerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ryan Franklin, 35, of Albuquerque, was arraigned on Sept. 8 in federal court on a two-count indictment charging him with assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury.
According to the indictment, on Dec. 20, 2020, Franklin allegedly forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated and interfered with two Isleta Pueblo Police Officers while the officers were engaged in official duties in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Both officers are considered federal officers by virtue of special law enforcement commissions issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Franklin’s alleged assault resulted in bodily injury to both officers.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Franklin faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Bureau Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
ATV driver found guilty of assaulting member of San Ildefonso Pueblo in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Following a five-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Sept. 17 against Julian Lucas Garcia III, 33, of El Guique, New Mexico, on one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of operating an off-highway vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs resulting in bodily injury, and one count of operating an off-highway vehicle on a paved road resulting in bodily injury. Garcia will remain in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2022.
The jury heard evidence and testimony that on July 4, 2019, on the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Garcia, a non-Indian, was recklessly driving an ATV without headlights in dark conditions through an area crowded with people waiting to watch a Fourth of July fireworks celebration at the Ohkay Owingeh Casino. Jane Doe, an enrolled member of the San Ildefonso Pueblo, was parked with hundreds of other onlookers on the shoulders of a road south of the casino.
After dark and immediately before the fireworks began, Jane Doe was crossing the two-lane, paved road when Garcia revved his engine and accelerated. Garcia struck Jane Doe, throwing her into the air and 69 feet down the road. As a result of the impact, Jane Doe was seriously injured and suffered traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, and a knee injury requiring a skin graft. Jane Doe was initially transported to Presbyterian Española Hospital, then immediately flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital’s Trauma Center for life-saving treatment. The injuries required months of treatment in intensive care and multiple surgeries. Jane Doe remains wheelchair-bound, suffers from short- and long-term memory loss, and is unable to perform day-to-day functions to care for herself.
Witnesses, including responding law enforcement, emergency medical personnel and hospital staff testified that Garcia smelled and appeared intoxicated. During questioning by law enforcement, Garcia refused his consent to provide a blood alcohol sample.
Garcia faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the assault resulting in serious bodily injury conviction and up to 364 days for each count relating to the operation of an off-highway vehicle.
The Northern Pueblos Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of Justice Services, the Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Police Department, and the New Mexico State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander F. Flores and Kyle T. Nayback are prosecuting the case.
Monday 20 September 2021
Woman Pleads Guilty to $77,000 FEMA Fraud in Connection with the Paradise Camp FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Deborah Laughlin, 64, formerly of Paradise, pleaded guilty today to making false statements in an application for FEMA benefits in connection with the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, FEMA provided disaster benefits to certain qualified individuals whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed in the Camp Fire. On Nov. 15, 2018, Laughlin falsely claimed 7209 Skyway in Paradise as her primary residence at the time of the Camp Fire. In fact, at the time of the Camp Fire, other individuals were renting and residing in the mobile home located at this address. Based on her false statement, she received $7,886 to replace essential items damaged by the disaster and $1,788 for two months of rental assistance. In addition, Laughlin received temporary housing from FEMA in a manufactured home from June 24, 2019, until April 7, 2021. The money and housing Laughlin received caused an actual loss to the United States of at least $77,249.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger is prosecuting the case.
Laughlin is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Dec. 20, 2021. Laughlin faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Members of the public who suspect fraud involving disaster relief efforts, including California wildfires or COVID-19 relief efforts, or who believe they have been a victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. Alternatively, information can be submitted via email to [email protected].
Waterloo Drug User in Possession of Loaded Firearm Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A drug user who possessed a loaded .40 caliber pistol was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Shuntez Porter, age 23, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 15, 2021 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
In a plea agreement, Porter admitted he was a passenger in a car stopped in Waterloo on August 1, 2020. Police searched the car and found a pistol inside the glovebox. The car had an odor of burnt marijuana and small pieces of marijuana were found around the passenger seat. Porter’s urine was positive for marijuana metabolites. A DNA test comparing swabs taken from the firearm to Porter’s DNA, showed there was strong support that the DNA from the gun was Porter’s DNA.
Porter was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Porter was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Porter is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Dupuich and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2004.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Virginia Beach Investment Advisor and Williamsburg Attorney Sentenced for $25 Million Nationwide Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former Virginia Beach investment advisor was sentenced today to 35 years in prison, following last week’s sentencing of his Williamsburg-based attorney to 10 years in prison, for their roles in a nationwide investment fraud scheme that resulted in over $25 million in losses to more than 300 victims, most of whom were elderly.
“These defendants and their co-conspirators are responsible for orchestrating an extraordinarily serious nationwide scheme to defraud hundreds of investors out of over $25 million,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Driven by their voracious greed, the defendants preyed on the elderly and exploited the trust of vulnerable victims by robbing them of their hard-earned retirement funds and lifelong savings meant for their families. The financial harm that they caused to each victim is heartbreaking, and the emotional harm they inflicted is incalculable. The sentences imposed in this case reflect the enormous scale and scope of this securities fraud scheme and send a strong message that those who commit these devastating financial crimes will face significant consequences in our courts.”
According to court documents, Daryl Bank, 51, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, ran an investment fraud scheme from approximately January 2012 through July 2017, based in the Tidewater area and Port St. Lucie, and operating across the country. Bank and his co-conspirators—including his attorney, Billy Seabolt, 56, of Williamsburg; corporate executive Raeann Gibson, 49, of Florida; and salesman Roger Hudspeth, 52, of Chesapeake—deceived hundreds of unsuspecting investors, most of whom were at or near retirement age, by fraudulently convincing them to invest in companies owned and controlled by Bank. At Bank’s direction, co-conspirators stole significant portions of investment contributions to fund their criminal enterprise and Bank’s lavish lifestyle.
“Darryl Bank and Billy Seabolt, along with their co-conspirators, robbed hundreds of elderly victims of their life savings and ruined the financial security many had worked for all their lives. Their actions caused needless hardships and were taken with cruel indifference to the long-lasting impact on their victims,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “Because of the devastating impact elder fraud schemes have on victims, the FBI is committed to stopping criminals who prey on the elderly. If you or a family member has been victimized, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov.”
“Bank, Seabolt, and others caused significant financial ruin to hundreds of innocent people by tricking the victims into entrusting them with their retirement funds, under the guise of a promising investment opportunity,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington DC Field Office. “While it cannot erase the hardships which these victims endured due to this scheme, we hope today’s sentencing brings some closure to this horrific time in their lives.”
“Those who engage in deceptive securities practices needs to know they will not go undetected and will be held accountable,” said Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors have been investigating financial crimes like the ones alleged here for many years. Our duty is to protect investors from those who misuse the U.S. Mail and protect the integrity of our mail system.”
In 2010, Bank, then a registered securities broker, was barred from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Undeterred, Bank created an investment company called Dominion Private Client Group (Dominion) and continued to sell unregistered securities on his own and through insurance salesmen across the country. Seabolt, whose legal practice was otherwise focused on elder and trust law, served as Dominion’s legal counsel and was involved in negotiating and developing many of the fraudulent investments and corporations.
The conspirators made material misrepresentations and omissions to sell illiquid, highly speculative investment vehicles. Based on these fraudulent representations, unsuspecting investors cashed out of 401(k) and other retirement accounts to invest in Bank’s investments, without knowing that Bank immediately transferred 20%–70% of the investors’ funds to other companies that he controlled in the form of purported “fees,” much of which he ultimately spent on luxury and designer goods. As a result of this investment fraud scheme, the victims suffered losses in excess of $25 million.
Bank, who was convicted on all 27 counts submitted to the jury, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, selling unregistered securities, securities fraud, and money laundering. Seabolt was sentenced on September 15 to 10 years in prison on multiple conspiracy, mail fraud, and sale of unregistered securities charges.
Gibson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February 2020. Hudspeth pleaded guilty to investment advisor fraud and money laundering, and was sentenced to over 12 years in prison in May 2018.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-CI; and Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia extends its appreciation to the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Division of Securities for its valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa E. O’Boyle, Elizabeth M. Yusi, and Andrew Bosse prosecuted the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-126.
Valley Woman Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Multi-State Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Alecia Trapps, 58, of Manteca, was sentenced Sept. 17, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 21 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Trapps was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was sending multiple pounds of methamphetamine and heroin to Juneau, Alaska, where the profits were much greater. The drugs were sourced in the Modesto area then transported to Alaska at Trapps’ direction utilizing numerous couriers as well as various methods and modes of transportation. In at least one instance, drugs from Modesto destined for Juneau were seized in Washington state as the courier tried to board the ferry.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Modesto Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Whatcom County (Washington) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie L. Alsworth and Laurel J. Montoya prosecuted the case.
Trapps is the last defendant to be sentenced in this case. Co-defendants were sentenced as follows: Jimmy Brantley was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Carmen Conejo was sentenced to five years of probation, Ernest Westley was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, Sheena Taylor was sentenced to 10 years, three months in prison, and Joseph Vasquez Jr. was sentenced to 26 years, eight months in prison.
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.
Uniontown, PA Felon Who Accidentally Shot Himself Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Gun and Ammunition in Violation of Federal LawRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Juan Washington, 44, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, Washington left a bar in Uniontown after midnight on December 30, 2019, and then he accidentally shot himself in the leg outside a nearby Family Dollar Store. Washington then limped across the street where he placed the gun and magazine on the retaining wall next to the sidewalk in front of a private home. Washington then limped back across the street to the sidewalk in front of the bar where he called for help. He initially claimed that robbers shot him, that he took the gun, and that he fired back. But he later admitted that he shot himself by accident. Police traced the trail of blood from the front of the bar to the retaining wall where they found the gun and then to the Family Dollar where they found a spent shell. The same brand and caliber of ammunition was in Washington’s pocket, the gun, and the magazine, as well as the spent shell casing outside the Family Dollar. Additionally, Washington’s DNA was the only DNA found inside the gun barrel, gun muzzle, and spent casing and was the majority component of DNA found on portions of the gun, magazine, and live rounds. Washington has multiple prior felony convictions for receiving stolen property in 2006 and drug trafficking in 1999.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for January 31, 2022 at 11:00 am. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten years in prison, a fine up to $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.
Pending sentencing, the Court continued Washington’s release on $10,000 unsecured bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Ira M. Karoll is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Uniontown City Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI examining Screven County deathRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office is in consultation with the FBI regarding the circumstances of the Aug. 7, 2020, death of Julian Lewis of Screven County, Ga.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Justice policy, no further information regarding the matter will be publicly disclosed unless or until a determination is made to pursue federal prosecution.
U.K. citizen sentenced for trafficking firearmsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Jahziah Roy Lewis has been sentenced for conspiring to straw purchase firearms, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, exporting firearms outside the United States, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
“Lewis directed the straw purchase of the guns, had their serial numbers obliterated, and then smuggled them in household items with the intent of selling them abroad,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “Our federal and international law enforcement partners were able to intercept some of the shipments before they were used in a crime. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who buy firearms for others and unlawfully export them for illicit purposes.”
“The unlawful acquisition and trafficking of firearms is a serious crime that threatens our communities here and abroad," said Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Division Ben Gibbons. “Obliterated firearms are hard to trace and that is what prohibited individuals are interested in. This investigation illustrates the dedication of ATF and its’ law enforcement partners to disrupt illegal firearm straw purchase schemes within the U.S. or anywhere firearm traffickers, like Lewis, choose to operate.”
“Firearms illegally exported from the United States to the Caribbean fuels violent crime, which directly impacts regional stability and U.S. national security interests,” said Ariel Joshua Leinwand, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS), Office of Export Enforcement, who oversees BIS investigations in the Southeast. “This significant sentence should act a deterrent to those seeking to violate U.S. export and firearms laws. BIS and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively enforce export violations to combat illegal firearm exports.”
“Stopping the flow of illegal weapons prevents the spread of violence and crime in communities abroad,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to preventing the spread of illegal goods and works with its law enforcement partners to bring to justice those violators.”
“The diversion of firearms to individuals who cannot legally possess them contributes to the cycle of gun violence that pose a direct threat to the safety and stability of various communities,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors will continue to aggressively investigate and hold those accountable who maliciously utilize the U.S. mail system.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: Between February 18, 2017, and May 14, 2020, Jahziah Roy Lewis, a citizen of the United Kingdom, and two accomplices, were involved in an international weapons trafficking conspiracy to purchase and illegally export approximately thirty-six firearms and drugs from the United States to the United Kingdom and the Caribbean via the U.S. Postal Service. Multiple firearms purchased in Georgia have been recovered in United Kingdom and St. Kitts are tied to various criminal networks abroad.
At the time of each purchase, Lewis’s co-conspirators completed paperwork in which they falsely claimed to be the actual buyers of the firearms when they knew that they were buying the guns for someone else (Lewis). Lewis then directed his accomplice to obliterate the serial numbers on the firearms. After the firearms were purchased, Lewis would sell the firearms abroad by directing his accomplices to conceal the firearms in everyday household items and export them abroad using false names on shipping labels.
On October 1, 2020, the same day the Indictment against Lewis’ co-defendants was unsealed, Lewis obtained an outbound ticket for a flight from the United States to the United Kingdom. Local law enforcement, however, intercepted Lewis at the Miami International Airport and arrested him on a criminal complaint before he was able to board his flight.
Jahziah Roy Lewis, 30, of Saint Kitts and Nevis, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash to four years, nine months, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency led the investigation in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dash A. Cooper is prosecuting 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.
Two Camden Men Charged with Armed Robbery of Gas StationRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Two Camden men have been charged for their roles in robbing a gas station in Camden County, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Paul Rogers, 27, and Kamau Bradshaw, 19, are each charged by complaint with one count of Hobbs Act robbery. They appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon A. King on Sept. 17, 2021, and were detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Sept. 14, 2021, a gas station in Pennsauken, New Jersey, was robbed by two masked individuals carrying an AR-style rifle. One of the robbers wore a gray Nike hooded sweatshirt and scuffed tan work boots. The second robber wore a tan hooded sweatshirt with “REACTIVE” printed on the sleeves and striped boxershorts. They obtained cash and cigarettes while brandishing the firearm. Two days later, a robber wearing what appears to be the same grey Nike sweatshirt and brandishing an AR-style rifle obtained several hundred dollars after committing another armed robbery of a gas station in Haddon Township, New Jersey. Shortly after each robbery, two individuals were seen returning to a residence in Camden with a large duffle bag. On Sept. 17, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at the Camden residence and recovered, among other items, a duffle bag, an AR-style rifle, a grey Nike sweatshirt, scuffed tan work boots, and a tan hooded sweatshirt with “REACTIVE” printed on the sleeves. Rogers and Bradshaw were present when law enforcement agents executed the search warrant, at which time Bradshaw was wearing striped boxershorts consistent with those worn by one of the robbers during the robbery on Sept. 14, 2021.
Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Camden Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews in Newark; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Pennsauken Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Chief Phil Olivo; the Haddon Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Cavallo; the Vineland Police Department; the Bridgeton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael A. Gaimari Sr.; and the Brooklawn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Shamus Ellis, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three defendants sentenced for Smyrna’s largest methamphetamine seizure everRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Alejandro Salazar-Gama, Miguel Salazar-Gama, and Arturo Acevedo have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved nearly 40 kilograms of 100 percent pure methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine trafficking breeds violent crime and threatens our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “We and our law enforcement partners are working hard to combat the trafficking of methamphetamine into and through the Northern District of Georgia, and we will use every tool available stop it.”
“Methamphetamine poses a clear and present danger to our communities,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Because of the collaborative effort between DEA and its law enforcement partners, citizens of the Smyrna, Georgia community can sleep better at night knowing that these defendants will spend well-deserved time in federal prison.”
“This should be a shot across the bow to criminal elements intent on distributing their poison in our communities. Law enforcement agencies in North Georgia are united and determined in keeping our communities safe,” said Dan Salter, Director of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: On April 10, 2019, an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta-Carolinas High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program arranged via telephone to purchase 40 kilograms of methamphetamine at a business in Smyrna, Georgia.
At the time and place of the arranged meeting, defendant Alejandro Salazar-Gama met the undercover agent and agreed to bring the drugs to the parking lot to show the undercover agent before selling the drugs to the agent. Alejandro Salazar-Gama left the parking lot and returned about 40 minutes later. Shortly afterwards, a van arrived driven by defendant Arturo Acevedo with defendant Miguel Salazar-Gama as a passenger.
When the undercover agent went inside the van, he/she opened one of the boxes located inside the van and saw that the box contained methamphetamine. At that time, the City of Smyrna Police Department SWAT team surrounded the three defendants and arrested them. In total, the drugs weighed more than 39 kilograms and subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine at 100 percent purity. Law enforcement officers believe that this is the largest quantity of methamphetamine ever seized in the City of Smyrna.
The three defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr., to the following:
- Alejandro Salazar-Gama, 31, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, has been sentenced to 11 years, seven months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Gama was sentenced on June 17, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.
- Arturo Acevedo, 22, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Acevedo was sentenced on September 15, 2021, after he pleaded guilty.
- Miguel Salazar-Gama, 29, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, has been sentenced to three years in prison. Salazar-Gama was sentenced on September 15, 2021, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, and the City of Smyrna Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Three Maryland Men Facing Federal Indictment for Filing More Than 600 Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Resulting in Losses of More Than $2.7 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three Maryland men on federal charges related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $2.7 million in unemployment benefits. The indictment was returned on August 30, 2021, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants. Charged in the indictment are:
Gladstone Njokem, age 34, of Hyattsville, Maryland;
Martin Tabe, age 32, of Bowie, Maryland; and
Sylvester Atekwane, age 31, of Hyattsville.The defendants will have initial appearances today beginning at 1:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner.
The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Derek Pickle, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
As detailed in the indictment, in Maryland, Michigan, and Tennessee, individuals who have lost a job can contact the appropriate state agency to submit a claim for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Claims for UI benefits in all three states are typically submitted electronically through the use of the Internet or Internet-capable devices. If the former employee meets certain requirements, they become eligible to receive UI benefits. Prior to April 2021, an approved claimant for UI benefits in Maryland received a Prepaid VISA debit card with the claimant’s name on it through the mail. Claimants in Michigan and Tennessee also had the option of having UI benefits deposited to a prepaid debit card. In each state, the appropriate state agency would authorize the electronic application of UI benefits to the debit card and continue to do so on a periodic basis if the claimant continued to qualify for benefits.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment benefits. The CARES Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) program, under which states are permitted to provide PUA to individuals who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or otherwise would not qualify for regular UI compensation. The CARES Act also established the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (“PEUC”) program, which covers most individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular UI compensation under state or federal law and who are able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work as defined by state law. Finally, the CARES Act also established the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) program. From April 4, 2020 through July 31, 2020, FPUC allowed states to give an additional $600 per week to individuals collecting UI compensation. From January 2021 through September 6, 2021, FPUC allowed states to provide an additional $300 per week to individuals collecting UI compensation,.
According to the 13-count indictment, from February 2020 through February 2021, Njokem, Tabe, Atekwane and others conspired to impersonate victims in order to submit fraudulent UI claims. To accomplish this, the defendants obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of victims, often under false pretenses. For example, Njokem obtained PII from at least one victim by falsely claiming to sell puppies. The defendants allegedly shared the PII amongst themselves and with others and used the victims’ PII to submit fraudulent applications for UI benefits in Maryland, Michigan, and Tennessee.
The indictment alleges that the fraudulent applications contained false representations concerning the victims’ contact information, address, work availability, and that they were newly unemployed. The defendants allegedly used false physical addresses for UI applications, such that any UI benefits that were paid by the state would be received by the defendants, rather than the victims. In some instances, the defendants used their own physical addresses in UI applications to receive the victims’ UI benefits. In other instances, the defendants used the addresses of nearby vacant residences to receive UI applications in an effort to avoid detection by government authorities.
As detailed in the indictment, once the defendants received the fraudulently obtained debit cards, they made cash withdrawals and other transactions throughout Maryland and used the cash for their own benefit and for the benefit of others who also were not entitled to the money.
The indictment alleges that as a result of the conspiracy, Njokem, Tabe, Atekwane, and others caused at least 600 fraudulent UI claims to be submitted in Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and at least sixteen other states, resulting more than 2.7 million dollars in actual losses.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and for each of the nine counts of wire fraud. The defendants each also face a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the USPIS, the DOL-OIG, HSI, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury – OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Maryland Department of Labor for their assistance. Mr. Lenzner also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary H. Ray, Sean R. Delaney, and Matthew Maddox, who are prosecuting the federal case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Fraudulently Obtaining over $1.6 Million in Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
A Texas man pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Texas to fraudulently obtaining more than $1.6 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, Lee Price III, 30, of Houston, submitted two fraudulent PPP loan applications to two different lenders on behalf of entities 713 Construction LLC and Price Enterprises Holdings LLC. The 713 Construction LLC PPP loan application was made in the name of an individual who died shortly before the application was submitted. Through these two PPP loan applications, Price sought and obtained over $1.6 million in PPP loan funds.
Price falsely represented the number of employees and payroll expenses in each of the PPP loan applications. To support the fraudulent PPP applications, Price also submitted fraudulent tax records and other materials. After he received the PPP loan funds, Price spent the money on a Lamborghini Urus, a Ford F-350 truck, and a Rolex watch, and to pay off a loan on a residential property, among other purchases.
The Department of Justice, along with law enforcement partners, seized over $700,000 of the disbursed PPP funds in this matter.
Price pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 29 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery for the Southern District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Catherine Huber of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG)–Central Region; Special Agent in Charge Sharon Johnson of the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG)–Central Region; and Acting Inspector in Charge Dana Carter of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Houston Division made the announcement.
FHFA-OIG, SBA-OIG, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service–Houston Division investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Andrew Tyler of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Trial Attorneys James Alexander and Matthew Grisier of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney James McAlister of the Southern District of Texas. Assistant Deputy Chief Timothy A. Duree and Trial Attorney Kyle Maurer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section assisted in the investigation of the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. In the months 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.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Steven Echevarria (35, Tampa) to 12 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
Echevarria had pleaded guilty on March 18, 2021.
According to court documents, between January 1, 2016, and September 1, 2020, Echevarria conspired with others to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Middle District of Florida. The conspiracy involved at least one kilogram of heroin. Echevarria obtained heroin from a source in the Orlando area and provided it to co-conspirators to distribute in Hillsborough County. Echevarria was arrested on other charges and incarcerated during the conspiracy. While Echevarria was in custody, a co-conspirator took over his role in the conspiracy and obtained heroin and fentanyl from the source in the Orlando area. After Echevarria was released from jail in July 2020, he resumed working with his co-conspirators and distributed heroin and fentanyl to a confidential source.
The investigation in this case is the result of a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
St. Augustine Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Attempting to Entice A 10-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sex and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Video over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging Christopher Lee Smith (39, St. Augustine) with attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sex and online distribution of a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child. Smith faces a minimum mandatory penalty 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison, a $500,000 fine, and a potential life term of supervised release. Smith is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of a prior child sex offense in January 2012. Smith was arrested by FBI agents on September 2, 2021, and is in federal custody awaiting his arraignment on September 23, 2021.
According to court documents, on June 28 and August 30, 2021, Smith utilized a particular social media application (app) to engage in online conversations with an undercover federal agent who was posing as the parent of a 10-year-old child. On June 28, 2021, Smith advised the undercover agent that he (Smith) wanted to have sex with the “child” and discussed in detail the sexual acts that he wished to perform on the “child.” On August 30, 2021, Smith and the undercover agent engaged in another online conversation. Smith advised, among other things, that he had engaged in sexual activity with another minor child; Smith also used the internet to send a video to the undercover agent depicting an adult male sexually abusing the minor. FBI agents were subsequently able to identify the child.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Tampa. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact the FBI Jacksonville office at 904-248-7000.
South Florida Man Charged with Defrauding After-School Program for Underprivileged Immigrant Children Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Friday, Miami resident Ramon Caridad Rodriguez, 28, made his first appearance in South Florida federal court to face a grand jury indictment charging him with defrauding his former employer, a religious charity organization that runs after-school programs for underprivileged immigrant children to help them avoid gangs and gang violence.
According to the indictment, Rodriguez abused the company’s trust by using a company credit card to make thousands of dollars’ worth of personal purchases and then attempted to conceal those purchases through lies and altered bank statements. Some of these purchases included items like lawn chairs, bug spray, tiki torches, and personal groceries. He used over $160,000 of the company’s money for his personal gain, says the indictment.
The indictment charges Rodriguez with nine counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each charge.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, and Art Acevedo, Chief, City of Miami Police Department made the announcement.
USSS Miami and City of Miami PD investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Yara Dodin is prosecuting it.
An indictment contains mere allegations. A defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20472.
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South Florida Felon Indicted on Robbery and Firearms Offenses After a One-Night Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has returned an indictment charging a South Florida man with crimes related to a one-night crime spree, including armed robbery, carjacking, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, in the early hours of August 18, 2021, Frankie David Vargas, II, 33, robbed a Westar gas station in Miami, Florida. Vargas, who was driving a stolen car, pulled up to the gas station, pointed a firearm at the attendant, and demanded that he open the register. Vargas removed the cash from the till, stole the attendant’s cell phone, and drove off, say the court documents.
It is alleged that after abandoning the stolen car, Vargas broke into an apartment where a mother and son were inside. Vargas held the mother at gunpoint and ransacked the bedrooms, stealing jewelry and electronics. After a struggle for the firearm, the mother hid in a bathroom, and her son woke up and joined her. Vargas fired a shot, and the bullet went through the bathroom door and into the son’s chest, according to the charges. Vargas then took the keys to the son’s Mercedes, stole the car, and fled.
The victims called 911, and the son was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was admitted to the intensive care unit.
On August 19, 2021, Vargas was taken into custody by members of the South Florida Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force (FBI Agents). At the time of his arrest, it is alleged, Vargas had a loaded 9mm handgun in the waistband of his pants. He was also wearing a watch that was identical to the one stolen from the apartment.
Vargas is currently being detained without bond. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Miami Field Office, City of Miami Police Department and City of North Miami Police Department investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Bailyn.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated 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.
Anyone with information related to a possible violent crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
Criminal complaints and indictments contain mere allegations and defendants are innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20479.
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Six Members of Jersey City Gang Charged with Stabbing an Individual in Jersey CityRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Six members of a Jersey City gang have been charged with the Aug. 3, 2020, stabbing of an individual on a busy street in Jersey City, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Sheldon Mays, aka “Thottie,” 21, Jermaine Jennings, aka “Maine” and “Drill,” 20, Divine Abraham, aka “Dee,” 21, Jamil Bowens, 20, and Jaylen Boone, 21, all of Jersey City, made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa today and were detained. Yahsier Brown, 19, of Jersey City, New Jersey, previously made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court and was detained. They each are charged by complaint with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Mays, Jennings, Abraham, Bowens, Boone and Brown are allegedly members of a street gang known to operate around the Curries Woods Housing Complex in Jersey City. In retaliation for a prior assault of Mays by Individual-1 and other members of a rival gang, and in furtherance of an ongoing feud amongst the two gangs, the defendants sought out Individual-1, assaulted him, and stabbed him in broad daylight on a busy street in Jersey City. Individual-1 suffered life-threatening injuries.
The count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and task force officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea; the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; and the Hudson County Department of Corrections with the investigation leading to the charges.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole Board, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey Agnew and DeNae Thomas in the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on September 14, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Christopher Charles Walker, age 50, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Walker was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021. He pled guilty on June 24, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until on or about May 25, 2020, when Walker knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance of methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.
At the time Walker voluntarily joined in the agreement, he knew the purpose of said agreement. Walker distributed over 500 grams of methamphetamine to co-conspirators who, in turn, redistributed it to their drug customers in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Nash prosecuted the case.
Walker was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on September 13, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Daniel Michael Thaler, age 37, was sentenced to 158 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Thaler was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021. He pled guilty on June 21, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning at an unknown date and continuing until on or about January 12, 2021, when Thaler knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.
At the time Thaler voluntarily joined in the agreement, he knew the purpose of said agreement. Thaler obtained over 500 grams of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator and redistributed it to drug customers in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls, Area Drug Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Thaler was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography and Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Production of Child Pornography and Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.
Jeremy James Konda, age 49, was indicted on September 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 14, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Count one of the Indictment alleges that on or about between May 27, 2020, and July 26, 2020, Konda knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions, knowing such depictions would be transported in interstate or foreign commerce or mailed, and such visual depictions would be produced by any means, including by computer.
Count two of the Indictment alleges that on or about between February 2, 2021, and May 1, 2021, Konda knowingly received and attempted to receive, any child pornography that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in or affecting interstate of foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.
The charges are merely accusations and Konda is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Konda was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography and Attempted Production of Child Pornography.
Tyson Thill, age 43, was indicted on September 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 14, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Count one of the Indictment alleges that between on or about February 12, 2021, and July 28, 2021, Thill knowingly received, and attempted to receive, child pornography that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any mean, including by computer.
Count two of the Indictment alleges that between on or about February 8, 2019, and July 28, 2021, Thill knowingly attempted to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct, knowing such visual depictions would be transported in interstate or foreign commerce or mailed, shipped, and transported by computer.
The charges are merely accusations and Thill is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Thill was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for November 23, 2021.
Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Related Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who stole government funds using a COVID-19 unemployment scheme was sentenced September 16, 2021, to 6 months in federal prison.
Linda Bosquez, age 59, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to theft of government funds. In a plea agreement, Bosquez admitted that from April 30, 2020 through July 22, 2020, she stole at least $24,235 from the United States Department of the Treasury and the states of Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio.
Bosquez falsely filed claims, in her name and those of others, for unemployment benefits, through the States of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, and Ohio, including benefits related to COVID-19 relief funds to which she was not entitled. Bosquez made cash withdrawals following the deposits of Unemployment Insurance credits into her account, totaling approximately $27,299.30. Bosquez was receiving benefits from other states via ACH and prepaid cards in the names of other individuals, while she was also receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Bosquez has three prior theft convictions and two prior convictions for fraudulent practice.
The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the United States Department of Labor and the Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Rooting out COVID-19 fraud is a priority of the Department of Justice. On March 27, 2020, the President signed the CARES Act, which provides emergency assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased unemployment benefits.
These prosecutions are an example of the Department of Justice’s strong commitment to combating fraud and criminal activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Bosquez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bosquez was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $24,235 in restitution in various amounts to the Georgia Department of Labor, the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, and the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. She must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bosquez is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-4029.
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Political Operatives Indicted for Alleged Scheme Involving Illegal Campaign Contribution to 2016 Presidential CampaignRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging a Kentucky man and a Florida man both with conspiracy to solicit and cause an illegal campaign contribution by a foreign national, effect a conduit contribution and cause false records to be filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and related substantive offenses.
According to court documents, Jesse R. Benton, 43, of Louisville, Kentucky, who previously worked as a campaign manager for two campaigns for U.S. Senate and one campaign for president, and Roy Douglas “Doug” Wead, 75, of Bonita Springs, Florida, who previously served as an advisor to multiple presidential campaigns, conspired together to solicit a political contribution from a Russian foreign national (Foreign National 1). As described in the indictment, Wead conveyed to Foreign National 1 that he could meet Political Candidate 1, a candidate for president during the 2016 election cycle, in exchange for a payment. Shortly after Foreign National 1 committed to transfer the funds, Benton reached out to individuals at Political Committee B, the national party committee for Political Candidate 1’s political party. He then arranged for Foreign National 1 to attend a political fundraising event and get a photograph with Political Candidate 1, in exchange for a political contribution to Political Committee C, a joint fundraising committee comprised of the campaign committee for Political Candidate 1, Political Committee B, and related state committees. Foreign National 1 ultimately wired $100,000 to Company A, a political consulting firm owned by Benton. To disguise the true purpose of the transfer of funds, Wead and Benton created a fake invoice for “consulting services” and invented a cover story.
Wead and Foreign National 1 attended the political fundraising event for Political Candidate 1 on Sept. 22, 2016. Foreign National 2, who worked as a Russian/English translator for Wead, also attended. All three individuals had photographs taken at the event with Political Candidate 1. Following the event, Benton repeatedly represented to a consultant working for Political Committee B and Political Committee C that he had already sent the promised contribution for the event, but in actuality he delayed sending the contribution. Benton ultimately filled out a contributor form, indicated that he was the contributor, and used a personal credit card to make a $25,000 contribution. Benton retained the remaining $75,000 of Foreign National 1’s money. Because Benton falsely claimed to have given the contribution himself, three different political committees unwittingly filed reports with the FEC that inaccurately reported Benton, rather than Foreign National 1, as the source of the funds.
Benton and Wead are both charged with one count of conspiracy to solicit and cause an illegal campaign contribution by a foreign national, effect a conduit contribution, and cause false records to be filed with the FEC, one count of contribution by a foreign national, one count of contribution in the name of another and three counts of making false entries in an official record. The defendants made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. If convicted, Benton and Wead face a range of maximum penalties from five to 20 years in prison, per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s San Diego Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Rebecca G. Ross and Michelle K. Parikh of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Wasserman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Owner of Jacksonville Tax Preparation Business Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Paul Berkins Moise to 35 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting others with the filing of fraudulent tax returns and for filing fraudulent tax returns on his own behalf. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the United States for a tax loss of $77,929.
Moise was found guilty on April 29, 2021, after a jury trial.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Moise owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jacksonville. Between February 2013 and March 2017, Moise defrauded the IRS by filing returns for his clients in which he grossly inflated deductions for state and local sales taxes, unreimbursed employee expenses, and gifts to charity by cash or check.
For example, on one tax return, Moise claimed a sales tax deduction of $5,883 for a client who had a gross income of $43,476. In order for that client to claim a sales tax deduction that large, the client would have had to have made taxable purchases totaling $89,926 (including the tax) – or more than twice the client’s claimed gross income.
Trial evidence also showed that Moise grossly underreported his own income on tax returns he filed for himself for the years 2013, 2014, and 2015. On his 2013 return, Moise reported $10,160 in income when he had actually earned at least $83,848 that year. On his 2014 return, Moise reported $2,695 in income when he had actually earned $252,652 that year. On his 2015 return, Moise reported $10,255 in income when he had actually earned $234,936 that year.
“Moise ran a tax preparation business that filed fraudulent returns on behalf of his clients grossly inflating deductions and gifts to charity, while at the same time, significantly under reporting his own income,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne. “He cheated all Americans, since we all pay our fair share for the government services and protections that we enjoy. Now he will pay the price in prison.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Operation False Haven: Convicted Child Molester Sentenced for Naturalization Fraud and Judicially DenaturalizedRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, Simbala Gory, 45, a naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Mali and residing in Guilford County, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers, II to three years’ probation and six months’ home detention following a guilty plea to naturalization fraud. Moreover, Gory was judicially denaturalized as a United States citizen.
According to court records, on July 26, 2016, Gory fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship by making materially false statements under oath regarding his naturalization application. In response to the question “Have you ever committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?” he answered “No.” Also, in response to the question “Were you ever involved in any way with any of the following - Forcing, or trying to force, someone to have any kind of sexual contact or relations?” he answered “No.” At the time of his guilty plea to naturalization fraud, Gory admitted the response to the first question was false, but maintained the answer to the second question was not false.
On September 28, 2020, in the Superior Court of North Carolina in Guilford County, Gory was convicted of sex offense-parental role. Gory was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of between 20 and 84 months and ordered to register as a sex offender. According to court records, Gory committed the offense on June 1, 2009. Gory’s crime resulted in the birth of a child. Gory was not arrested until after he naturalized, thus immigration officials were unaware of his crime.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina likewise noted, “Those engaged in such criminal conduct, or considering doing so, would do well to realize that our office is committed to pursuing these acts for prosecution, even if their conduct does not come to light until well after the crime. They should forever be worried their actions will catch up to them.”
“Gory attempted to hide his despicable crimes in order to gain citizenship and now his past has caught up to him,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Removing predators that target our vulnerable children makes our communities safer and HSI will continue to search for these criminals and bring them to justice.”
Agents with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations, assigned to the Document Benefit Fraud Task Force, investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00503-1M(1).
Ohio woman sentenced for role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Brookelyn Myers, of Bellaire, Ohio, was sentenced today to 12 months of incarceration for her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Myers, also known as “Brooke,” age 25, pled guilty in February 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl.” Myers admitted to selling a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in December 2019 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Original case indictment here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison on Heroin ChargeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jacob Benjamin Loper, 20, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed search warrants on June 12, 2019 at residences on 26th and 27th Streets in Huntington pursuant to a shooting investigation. Officers located Loper, a baggie of 7.9 grams of heroin and digital scales inside a 26th Street residence. In a Mirandized interview, Loper admitted that he possessed the heroin.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00106.
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Ohio County woman sentenced for fentanyl distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Paula Blake, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 18 months of incarceration for drug distribution, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Blake, age 45, pled guilty in February 2020 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances” and one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Blake admitted to working with others to distribute cocaine base or “crack,” heroin, and fentanyl from September 2018 to June 2019 in Ohio County and elsewhere. She also admitted to selling fentanyl near Luau Manor in June 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Ohio County man sentenced for a drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Mark Joseph Dobrzynski, of Valley Grove, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 31 months of incarceration for a drug charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Dobrzynski, 59, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Dobrzynski admitted to having methamphetamine in November 2020 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
North Carolina Couple Convicted in Employment and Income Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury sitting in Greensboro, North Carolina, convicted a North Carolina couple of conspiring to defraud the IRS and other federal employment tax and income tax violations.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 1992 through the present, James Rice was an orthopedic surgeon who owned and operated Sandhills Orthopaedic, a medical practice located in Pinehurst, North Carolina. His wife, Susan Rice, worked at Sandhills Orthopaedic and handled the administrative operations. Susan Rice also owned and operated a truffle business.
Between 2007 and 2016, the Rices conspired to defraud the United States with respect to Sandhills Orthopaedic’s employment taxes and their individual income taxes. The Rices withheld nearly $580,000 in Social Security and other tax withholdings from Sandhills Orthopaedic’s employees’ wages, but rather than pay the withheld taxes to the IRS, used the withheld taxes to fund personal expenditures. The Rices also did not file individual tax returns for the 2014 through 2016 tax years despite being required to do so by law.
To conceal their income, the Rices transferred funds from Sandhills Orthopaedic’s bank accounts to other accounts that they controlled, such as those for Susan Rice’s truffle business. The Rices also used their business bank accounts to fund personnel expenditures, including a country-club membership, dog kennel boarding and rent for their personal residence. In total, from June 2013 through December 2016, the Rices diverted at least $1 million in cash and check co-payments to Sandhills Orthopaedic directly into their personal bank accounts.
James and Susan Rice will be sentenced at a later date. They face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for each count of conspiracy, tax evasion and employment tax fraud, and they face an additional one year in prison for each count of failing to file individual and corporate tax returns. The Rices are further subject to additional monetary penalties, supervised release and restitution.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Michael Jones and paralegal Kim Better of the Tax Division are prosecuting this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
New Jersey Man Admits Stealing more than $450,000 in Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union, New Jersey, man today admitted that he illegally obtained more than $450,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Maurice Mills, 29, of Union, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti to an information charging him with wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The CARES Act created a new temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides unemployment insurance benefits (UIB) for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers). The CARES Act also created a new temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation that provides additional benefits to those eligible for PUA and regular UIB. The New York State Department of Labor administers and manages the regular unemployment and PUA programs in the State of New York.
Between August and September of 2020, Mills submitted fraudulent UIB applications to the State of New York using the names of other individuals. As a result, the State of New York approved and provided, and Mills falsely obtained, more than $450,000 in UIB.
The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits to Mills or loss suffered by the victims, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone in Manhattan; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., in Newark; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero in Newark; and special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. She also thanked the New York State Department of Labor, Office of Special Investigations for its assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in connection with his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Orrin Guidry, 26, pleaded guilty before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
In October 2020, Guidry was charged following an investigation into a drug trafficking organization led by co-conspirator Jason Valliere. According to the charging documents, Guidry and two other co-conspirators assisted Valliere in the coordination of a multi-kilogram drug deal with undercover agents. Guidry accepted cash payment in advance and agreed to wear a disguise for the anticipated drug deal. Guidry also agreed to serve as a lookout and armed manpower during any drug exchange.
On Aug. 26, 2021, Valliere was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to five years in prison and four years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolanta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins; Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher D. Delmonte; East Bridgewater Police Chief Paul O’Brien; and Westport Police Chief Keith Pelletier made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin O’Donnell of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Monongalia County woman admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kelsey McClung, of Westover, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
McClung, 28, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base.” McClung admitted to distributing cocaine base, also known as “crack cocaine,” in March 2020 in Monongalia County.
McClung faces up to 20 years 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. Attorneys Zelda E. Wesley and Sarah E. Wagner are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force in partnership with the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and, the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City Police Departments. The investigation was also assisted by the following law enforcement partners: the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI in Houston, Texas; the Houston Police Department's Multi Agency Gang Initiative; the United States Postal Inspection Service in Houston; and, the FBI and DEA in Los Angeles, California.
This case was the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Monmouth County Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to today to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Khalil I. Howard, 24, of Neptune, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an indictment charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On April 7, 2019, officers with the Asbury Park Police Department were on foot patrol in the area of the Asbury Park Gardens, a multi-building public housing complex known to local law enforcement as a high-crime area due to numerous recent gang, firearms, and narcotics-related investigations and arrests at that location. They had been advised of a gathering in honor of a recently deceased gang member that was taking place at the Asbury Park Gardens. The officers proceeded to the area where the gathering was taking place and conducted a walk-through of the premises. One of the officers observed Howard, a previously convicted felon, on the second floor attempting to conceal a large bulge in his left jacket pocket. Howard quickly turned with his left arm clenched to the side of his body and walked to the third floor. The officers ordered Howard to stop, and apprehended him. They found a stolen Beretta 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, loaded with one round of 9-millimeter ammunition in the chamber and an additional seven rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition in the magazine, secreted inside Howard’s left jacket pocket. As a previously convicted felon, Howard is not permitted to possess firearms under federal law.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Howard to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Newark Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, as well as officers of the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police David Kelso, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
Mason County Contract Mail Carrier pleads guilty to vehicle smuggling schemeRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 48– year-old Mason County, Washington resident pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to three federal felonies related to a smuggling scheme and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Christopher M. Cox pleaded guilty to: smuggling goods into the U.S.; making false statements related to the Clean Air Act; and possession of child pornography. Cox will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan on December 10, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, between approximately 2015 and January 2019, Cox falsified the required paperwork on two dozen vehicles he imported from overseas. Many of the vehicles were extremely light vehicles imported from Japan that did not meet U.S. safety standards. Cox sold some of the vehicles to contract mail carriers he knew from his job. Cox falsified the forms that claimed the vehicles met both safety standards and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air Act standards. Cox used his identification as a contract mail carrier to circumvent inspections at the Port of Tacoma and took the vehicles from the Port without proper inspections. The total value of the imported vehicles exceeds $55,000. Those who bought the vehicles were not told that they failed to meet federal safety and pollution standards.
When law enforcement officers served search warrants on Cox’s electronic accounts, they observed images of child pornography. Some of the images are known series of images of child rape and abuse manufactured outside the State of Washington. When officers executed search warrants on Cox’s residence and obtained his electronic devices, they located 142 images and 2 videos of child molestation, rape and abuse.
Smuggling of goods into the U.S. and possession of child pornography are both punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Making false statements related to the Clean Air Act is punishable by up to 2 years in prison.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend no more than 63 months in prison. Judge Bryan will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with critical assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Maryland Woman Sentenced in Erie for Role in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months in jail on her conviction of violating federal drug laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Sierra Dawn Frisby, 31 of Hagerstown, Maryland.
According to information presented to the court, Frisby conspired with five co-defendants to distribute large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl between January 2018 and February 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the EAGLE task force, which is comprised of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Erie Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Frisby.