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Monday 13 September 2021
Redondo Beach Man Charged with Firearms and Narcotics Trafficking Offenses, One Alleging Fentanyl Sale that Resulted in Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges a Redondo Beach man who allegedly sold counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that caused a fatal opioid overdose.
Marcus Michael Takaya Poydras, 32, a dual U.S. and Japanese citizen, was arrested September 9 by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The following day, a United States magistrate judge ordered Poydras held without bond pending trial, which is currently set for November 2.
The five-count indictment that led to Poydras’ arrest charges him with one count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The five charges relate to three incidents.
In the first incident, Poydras allegedly sold to another drug dealer counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. After the January 22, 2020, transaction, the second drug dealer distributed the counterfeit pills to a 43-year-old victim who later suffered a fatal fentanyl overdose at his Marina del Rey residence.
As part of the investigation into the overdose death, DEA agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department executed a federal search warrant at Poydras’ residence on July 14, 2020, and, according to the indictment, seized cocaine and a .38-caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number.
In the third incident alleged in the indictment, Redondo Beach Police officers arrested Poydras on January 17, 2021, and recovered several suspected controlled substances, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. At the time, Poydras was allegedly carrying a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charge of drug distribution resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Additionally, each firearm charge carries a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years apiece. Thus, if convicted, Poydras would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
The DEA, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Redondo Beach Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castañeda of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case.
This case is the result of an investigation by the DEA’s Overdose Justice Task Force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Under the Overdose Justice program for the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents collaborate with local law enforcement to analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to a federal criminal prosecution, and, if so, proactively target the drug trafficker.
Pittsburg County Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffrey Dywane Holcomb, age 24, of Pittsburg County, Oklahoma pleaded guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 113(a)(6), 1151 and 1153, punishable by imprisonment for a period of not more than 10 years and/or a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment fee of $100.
The facts and circumstances occurred on the evening of July 12, 2020 in the City of McAlester, Oklahoma. The defendant and victim were in a verbal dispute when the defendant struck the victim several times causing him to lose consciousness, fall and hit his head on the pavement below. The victim’s injuries were so severe that he was airlifted to a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma for treatment.
The McAlester Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Moody and Mike Shannon represented the United States.
Passaic County Convicted Felon Admits Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man with previous felony convictions today admitted illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Keyron Greene, 34, of Paterson, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 18, 2020, Paterson Police Department officers were patrolling the area of Broadway and Carroll Street when the officers observed Greene, who immediately began to flee upon observing the officers. Greene discarded a large capacity magazine containing 26 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition and a Glock 22 Generation .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun as he ran from the officers before being apprehended and arrested.
Greene has previously been convicted of felony offenses, including possession of controlled substances.
The firearms offense to which Greene pleaded guilty carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and task force officers with the ATF, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews and members of the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
This case is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Paterson’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Paterson. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Paterson Department of Public Safety, the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Passaic County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, and N.J. Department of Corrections.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
Parkville Man Pleads Guilty to $335 Million Fraud, $615,000 Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Parkville, Missouri, man who was charged in two federal cases pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a $335 million scheme to defraud federal programs that award contracts to firms owned by minorities, veterans, and service-disabled veterans, and in a separate case to filing false tax returns that cheated the government out of more than $615,000 in taxes owed.
Patrick Michael Dingle, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to the charges contained in both federal cases. Dingle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and major program fraud. Dingle also pleaded guilty, in a separate case, to one count of filing a false tax return.
$335 Million Fraud Conspiracy
By pleading guilty today, Dingle admitted that he conspired with Matthew C. McPherson, 45, of Olathe, Kansas, to fraudulently obtain contracts set aside by the federal government for award to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans, service-disabled veterans and certified minorities.
Dingle was the operations manager for Zieson Construction Company located in North Kansas City, Mo. Dingle and his co-conspirators controlled and operated Zieson, which was originally formed in 2009 with Stephon Ziegler – an African-American service-disabled veteran – as the nominal owner. Zieson’s primary business was obtaining federal construction contracts set aside for award to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans or certified minorities. However, Ziegler did not control the day-to-day operations or the long-term decision making of Zieson. Dingle and his co-conspirators actually controlled and operated Zieson, and received most of the profits from Zieson.
Ziegler signed Zieson checks when requested to do so, signed bids for government jobs when requested to do so and served as a courier of checks and invoices when requested to do so. Ziegler did not participate in any way in the management and control of either day-to-day operations or long-term decision-making for Zieson.
Dingle and McPherson were not eligible for these set-aside contracts because they were not certified minorities or veterans. Although Zieson was not eligible, the firm received approximately 199 federal contracts set aside for award to minority-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses between 2009 and 2018. The government paid Zieson approximately $335 million for those contracts. Several of the set-aside contracts awarded to Zieson were valued in excess of $1 million, including a contract at Topeka, Kan., awarded on July 13, 2012, valued at approximately $4,125,800.
Dingle, McPherson, and others submitted false and fraudulent Past Performance Questionnaires in support of Zieson bids for set aside contracts.
McPherson pleaded guilty on June 3, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and major program fraud and awaits sentencing.
False Tax Returns
Dingle also pleaded guilty, in a separate case, to filing a false tax return. Dingle admitted that he claimed $799,425 in fraudulent business expenses on his tax return for 2016. As a result of the false and fraudulent expenses offset on Dingle’s 2016 tax return, the government suffered a loss of approximately $349,784.
Dingle also admitted that he filed false tax returns over a four-year period from 2013 to 2016, which resulted in a total loss to the government of $615,847. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Dingle must pay restitution to the government in the total amount of federal tax loss as determined by the court at sentencing.
Under federal statutes, Dingle is subject to a sentence of up to eight years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit; the Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; IRS-Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Secret Service; the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Contract Audit Agency - Operations Investigative Support (OIS); the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
New Hampshire Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—A New Hampshire woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Corina Fall, 47, to 90 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Fall pleaded guilty on June 3, 2021.
According to court records, between March 2018 and February 2019, Fall conspired with her husband and others to distribute methamphetamine in New Hampshire and Maine. During the conspiracy, Fall and her husband were stopped by the Illinois State Police while bringing methamphetamine back to New England from California. Law enforcement officers seized nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine from their vehicle as part of that traffic stop. Investigators later made multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Fall and her co-conspirators. Fall was living in Rumford, Maine at the time.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rumford Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the New Hampshire State Police, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, the Carroll County (New Hampshire) Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police investigated the case.
New Bedford Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a Mustang .380 pistol and ammunition.
Victor Morales, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 70 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On June 8, 2021, Morales pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon.
On approximately July 20, 2020, Morales possessed a Colt MK IV Mustang .380 loaded pistol and 12 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition in his apartment. Federal law prohibits Morales from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine and Evan Gotlob of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Navajo woman sentenced to 19 years in prison for manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Trudy Martinez, 30, of Bread Springs, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Sept. 10 in federal court to 19 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in Indian Country. Martinez pleaded guilty on March 16, 2020.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, Martinez shot Jane Doe, her sister-in-law, in the abdomen with an AR-15 assault rifle. Martinez hid the firearm in an arroyo and then remained at large for several days before being arrested while throwing a birthday party for one of her children in a park in Gallup, New Mexico. Martinez admitted that she intentionally killed Jane Doe while during an argument. The murder took place at a residence located in McKinley County on the Navajo Nation.
Upon her release from prison, Martinez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti prosecuted the case.
Monessen Man Sentenced to More than 7 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Law OffensesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Westmoreland County has been sentenced in federal court to 87 months’ imprisonment on his conviction for violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV imposed the sentence on Eric T. Emerson, 32, formerly of Monessen, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the Court, on March 1, 2019, agents executed a search warrant at Mr. Emerson’s residence in Monessen, PA, where they seized four firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, and drug paraphrenia used in the distribution of narcotics. Agents also seized approximately 300 individual dosage units (weighing an aggregate of 20 grams) containing mixtures of heroin and fentanyl, which are scheduled controlled substances under federal law. In connection with his guilty plea, Mr. Emerson admitted that he possessed those narcotics intending to distribute them, and that he possessed the seized firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.
Following the 87-month term of imprisonment, Mr. Emerson will be supervised by the United States Probation Office for six years. Mr. Emerson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the Monessen Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mr. Emerson.
Miami Nurse Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill Vice President Kamala HarrisRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Thirty-nine-year-old Niviane Petit Phelps, of Miami-Dade County, pled guilty on Friday in federal district court to a six count indictment charging her with making threats to kill Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the change of plea hearing, Phelps admitted that in February, she sent her husband, who was in prison, 30-second video clips of herself threatening to kill the Vice President. The videos show Phelps making the threats, screaming curse words, saying that she had accepted $53,000, to carry out the “hit” against Vice President Harris, and explaining that she would carry out the assassination within 50 days. Some of the video clips she recorded herself; others she had her children record. After sending these videos, Phelps sent a photograph of herself holding a firearm with a target sheet at a gun range. Two days later, Phelps applied for a concealed weapon permit. Phelps also admitted to telling law enforcement officers who handled this case, that if they had not come to her house, she “doesn’t know” what would have happened.
Phelps is scheduled for sentencing on November 19, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. before United States District Judge Jose E. Martinez, where she faces a possible maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
USSS Miami investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbie Waxman and Michael Gilfarb.
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-20087.
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Mexican National Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine Dropped from AirplaneRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute nearly 120 pounds of methamphetamine that had been dropped in the desert by an airplane that had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
Juan Carlos Iturriaga-Centeno, 34, a one-time resident of Mecca, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer. Iturriaga-Centeno pleaded guilty on April 30 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In December 2019, Iturriaga-Centeno and his co-conspirators drove off-road utility vehicles into the desert near North Shore, a Riverside County community located near the Salton Sea. There, they waited for an ultralight airplane, which had crossed the United States-Mexico border, to drop packages of methamphetamine, which were attached to a parachute.
The methamphetamine had GPS tracking devices attached to it and Iturriaga-Centeno and the co-conspirators used a cell phone to locate the GPS trackers and retrieve the package of methamphetamine. The packages contained 116.4 pounds (52.8 kilograms) of methamphetamine, according to court documents.
Border Patrol and the Air and Marine Operations Center in Riverside tracked the ultralight airplane as it crossed the international border near Calexico, according to court documents. After radar surveillance indicated that the aircraft descended and then headed back to Mexico, a California Highway Patrol aircraft saw two vehicles. The two vehicles left the area and were intercepted by a marked Border Patrol vehicle. A Polaris off-road vehicle occupied by Iturriaga-Centeno and his brother, Leonardo Iturriago-Centeno, 30, stopped, but a Can-Am vehicle with two other men sped away. The Can-Am vehicle was driven into the Coachella Canal, and the Border Patrol rescued Victor Efren Bugarin-Perez, 30, of Mecca, and Juan Favela-Paredez, 26, a Mexican national, when they were unable to exit the canal.
Favela-Paredez and Leonardo Iturriaga-Centeno – each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Fischer sentenced both defendants to 57 months in federal prison. Bugarin-Perez, the case’s lead defendant, fled after being freed on bond in this case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Weir of the Riverside Branch Office prosecuted this matter.
Methamphetamine trafficking sends Belt man to prisonRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Belt man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in Cascade County was sentenced today to 38 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Lance Winslow Stoddard, 51, pleaded guilty on May 26 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also ordered Stoddard to pay a $10,000 money judgment and to forfeit firearms.
In court documents, the government alleged that Stoddard had been trafficking large quantities of meth in the community from about 2016 to June 2020. Individuals told law enforcement Stoddard had drug sources in Las Vegas and California. In September 2019, agents learned that Stoddard was traveling to Las Vegas to buy three pounds of meth. Three pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 10,872 doses. Law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of meth from Stoddard in October 2019. During an arrest of Stoddard in December 2019, law enforcement searched Stoddard’s car and found baggies with powder residue and two firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Mattoon Sex Offender Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. –Jeffrey M. West, 53, of the 1300 block of S. Third Street, in Mattoon, Illinois, was sentenced today to 45 years (540 months) in federal prison for child sexual exploitation offenses.
In April 2021, a federal jury convicted West of two counts of sexual exploitation of minors; two counts of commission of the offense by a registered sex offender; two counts of receiving child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography.
The government’s evidence at the April trial established that law enforcement became aware of West when a minor disclosed that West had sexually abused him in 2019. During the subsequent investigation, computer forensic analysis showed that West had collected more than 1,000 images and videos involving child pornography, including sexually explicit depictions of infants and prepubescent minors, which were found on multiple devices in his home and at his business, West Side Motors, in Mattoon.
In addition, the government’s evidence showed that West used the video-chatting website Omegle to entice and coerce multiple unidentified minor males to engage in sexually explicit conduct, which he captured for his child pornography collection.
West has a prior conviction in Coles County for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 10-year-old minor female and a 4-year-old minor male.
West was arrested in May 2019 in Mattoon on state charges, but was released on bond. In September 2019, a federal grand jury charged West by indictment, and he was subsequently arrested on the federal charges. Later that month, U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long ordered that West be detained pending trial. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his federal arrest.
Following West’s release from prison he will be on supervised release for fifteen years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
“Those who choose to sexually abuse children will be caught, prosecuted, and severely punished,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. “I commend the diligent investigators of the Mattoon Police Department, working in conjunction with the FBI, for making our community safer.”
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mattoon Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, and the Coles County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elly Peirson and Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government at trial.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Maryland man sentenced for firearms traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brayan Mengou, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced today to 60 months of incarceration for participating in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Mengou, age 22, pled guilty in July 2020 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Illegal Transportation or Receipt in State of Residency of Firearms Purchased or Acquired Outside of State of Residency.” Mengou worked with others to transport several firearms from Berkeley County to Maryland in October 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Attempting to Commit a Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and attempting to commit a hate crime, for planning an attack on a synagogue in the Toledo, Ohio area.
Damon M. Joseph, aka Abdullah Ali Yusuf, 23, of Holland, Ohio, pleaded guilty in May 2021. According to court documents, in 2018, Joseph drew the attention of law enforcement by posting photographs of weapons and various messages in support of ISIS on his social media accounts, as well as a photograph originally distributed by the media wing of ISIS.
“Inspired by ISIS, Damon Joseph planned to conduct a deadly terrorist attack at a synagogue in Ohio. He hoped to cause mass casualties by selecting a time when numerous innocent victims would be present. For this conduct, he will now spend 20 years in prison,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. "We are committed to identifying, disrupting, and holding accountable individuals who seek to engage in such attacks. I commend the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who identified the threat posed by this defendant and took action to protect the public from his plans.”
“The defendant planned to cause significant harm to members of the Toledo, Ohio, Jewish community by carrying out a violent federal hate crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence should send a strong message that those who target people with violence because of their religion, will be held to account. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute individuals who use violence to attack our religious communities.”
“Today, Damon Joseph was sentenced to 20 years of incarceration and a lifetime term of supervised release for attempting to support ISIS through violent attacks on Jewish congregants, including children, and any first responders who sought to protect and assist them,” said U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan of the Northern District of Ohio. “It is difficult to conceive of a more heinous plot, let alone reconcile that this plot involved violating our country’s solemn obligation to protect the civil rights of every person in an effort to support a foreign terrorist organization. This case should serve as a reminder to anyone considering a similar path: the Department of Justice remains committed to bringing every person who supports a foreign terrorist organization or commits a hate crime to justice.”
“In a matter of months, Damon Joseph progressed from a self-radicalized, virtual jihadist to planning an actual attack on fellow Americans,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office. “Mr. Joseph will now serve time behind bars for his actions. In the name of ISIS, Joseph planned a mass-casualty attack against citizens simply wanting to attend their desired houses of worship, which were two Toledo-area synagogues. Joseph's terroristic actions are antithetical to a just and free society, and he will serve a lengthy sentence as a result. The FBI would like to remind the public to remain vigilant so we can continue to thwart these types of threats together."
Beginning in September 2018, Joseph engaged in a series of online conversations with several undercover FBI agents where he repeatedly stated and affirmed his support for ISIS and produced propaganda which he believed was to be used for ISIS recruitment efforts.
Over the next few weeks, Joseph stated to an undercover agent that he wanted to participate in an attack on behalf of ISIS. On Dec. 2, 2018, Joseph forwarded a document to the agent that laid out his plans for such an attack on “Jews who support state of Israel.” Joseph then stated that he did not necessarily see this as “a martyrdom operation” as his plan accounted for an escape and potential combat with law enforcement.
On Dec. 4, Joseph met with an undercover FBI agent and discussed conducting a mass shooting at a synagogue. Joseph identified two synagogues in the greater Toledo area as potential targets and discussed the types of weapons he believed would inflict mass casualties. Joseph made written notes about the firearms he wanted and provided them to the undercover agent, stating he wanted AR 15s, AK 47, Glock handguns and ammunition.
On Dec. 6, Joseph again met with an undercover agent to discuss his plans. Joseph stated specifically that he wanted to kill a rabbi and wrote the name and address of the synagogue where the attack was to occur and stated that he had conducted research to determine when the Jewish sabbath was so that more people would be present.
Later that day, the undercover agent told Joseph that he had purchased rifles for the attack. The two met on Dec. 7 at a predetermined location, where Joseph took possession of a black duffel bag containing two semi-automatic rifles, which had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement officers so that they posed no danger to the public. Joseph was then arrested.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, comprised of over 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Baeppler and Jerome Teresinski of the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorneys Alexandra Hughes and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, as well as AeJean Cha of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Foreign Service Officer and Former Spouse for Obtaining U.S. Citizenship by FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a California woman and Russian-born man on Friday on charges of conspiracy and obtaining U.S. citizenship by fraud.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Laura Gallagher, 32, a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, and Andrey Kalugin, 36, originally of Russia, conspired together to obtain lawful permanent residence and U.S. citizenship for Kalugin through his marriage to Gallagher.
“The jury’s verdict holds these two defendants accountable for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the United States and obtain unlawful citizenship and passports,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Gallagher disregarded her responsibilities to the public as a federal government employee and licensed attorney when she engaged in this fraudulent scheme with Kalugin. Thanks to the dedication of the trial team and our partners at the State Department, these defendants have been brought to justice.”
Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that the defendants met in law school in 2013. Kalugin was in the United States on a student visa that was due to expire in July 2015. The defendants married in June 2015 and submitted applications for Kalugin to obtain his “green card.” The defendants moved from California to Virginia in March 2016, but split up soon thereafter. However, they continued with the immigration process.
“The Diplomatic Security Service is firmly committed to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate allegations of crime related to naturalization fraud and to bring those who commit these crimes to justice,” said Jessica Moore, Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. “When a Department employee in a position of trust is alleged to have committed a federal felony involving naturalization fraud by exploiting their status, we vigorously investigate claims of corruption.”
Gallagher, who is also a California-licensed attorney, then prepared for Kalugin an application for 319(b) expeditious naturalization, which is a benefit available to spouses of citizens who are regularly stationed abroad for their employment. The defendants provided materially false responses in the application, including that Kalugin was still in a good-faith marriage and intended to reside with Gallagher abroad and return with her to the United States. Kalugin appeared for an interview on Feb. 5, 2018 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Fairfax, where he repeated the false statements to the adjudicating officer. After USCIS approved the application and he received his citizenship, Kalugin fraudulently obtained U.S. Diplomatic and tourist passports. Shortly thereafter, Gallagher filed for divorce.
Gallagher and Kalugin each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 4, 2022. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Kalugin additionally faces mandatory revocation of his U.S. citizenship. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jessica Moore, Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raizza K. Ty and Morris R. Parker, Jr. are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-43.
Jefferson County man sentenced to 20 years for role in drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Armstead William Craig, of Ranson, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 240 months incarceration for his role in a drug distribution operation, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
“For far too long, illegal drugs have exacted a heavy toll on the lives of hard-working West Virginians. The sentence imposed by Court today makes it abundantly clear that selling drugs in the Northern District of West Virginia comes at a heavy price. In this case, the cost to the defendant is twenty (20) years of his life. It simply is not worth it. The United States Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners will continue to make every effort to drive that message home,” said Bernard.
Craig, also known as “Manny” and “Manny Moo,” age 42, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base” in October 2019. Craig admitted to selling cocaine base for $700 in March 2018 in Jefferson County.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S Attorney Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Martinsburg Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Ranson Police Department investigated.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Original case indictment release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/33-indicted-heroin-cocaine-and-fentanyl-distribution-operation-berkeley-and-jefferson
Indian national admits to role in government impersonation call center scamRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Indian citizen who was illegally residing in Houston has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Between April and October 2019, Waseem Maknojiya was involved in a telemarketing scheme via Indian call centers to extort money from victims in the United States. Maknojiya acted as a runner in these schemes, using aliases and fake identification documents to pick up more than 70 parcels containing cash the scheme’s victims had mailed.
One common script used in the scheme involved coercing victims into believing federal agents were investigating them. The “agent” on the phone would convince the victim the only way to clear his or her name from investigation was to send cash in a parcel shipped through FedEx to a name and address they provided. Runners in the United States like Maknojiya would then pick up the parcels.
As part of his plea agreement, Maknojiya will pay restitution to the scheme’s identified victims.
U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes accepted the plea and set sentencing for Dec. 13. At that time, Maknojiya faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The FBI, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and Department of Homeland Security - OIG conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Eun Kate Suh are prosecuting the case.
The SSA consistently warns people of similar scams.
High-Ranking Member of Los Zetas Cartel Sentenced in Eastern District of Texas to a Term of Life ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Los Zetas cartel received a life sentence for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Hugo Cesar Roman-Chavarria, also known as “El Vecino,” pleaded guilty on August 23, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan today.
“The mill of justice grinds slowly, but it grinds finely,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Since the time of Mr. Chavarria’s criminal indictment nearly a decade ago, we and our dedicated law enforcement partners have never stopped trying to bring him into the United States, and, more particularly, our courts, to answer for his crimes. That day has finally arrived. Mr. Chavarria believed he was operating beyond the reach of the American justice system, but his lengthy sentence shows how mistaken he was. His criminal career now at a close, Mr. Chavarria will no longer be able to import poison into the United States or fuel violence back in Mexico.”
“This lengthy sentence is the culmination of years of collaborative investigations with our trusted law enforcement partners, sending a resounding message that HSI will be relentless in its pursuit of criminals who bring illegal drugs in our communities and they will be brought to justice,” said Ryan S. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Dallas. “The conclusion of this significant operation with this criminal behind bars is a victory against organizations moving dangerous drugs in and across our borders.”
“Transnational Criminal Organizations like Los Zetas are fueled by greed, intimidation, and violence,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chavez. “Mr. Chavarria’s sentence today reflects that justice wins in the end and the positive impact DEA’s efforts can make on communities not just here in North Texas, but across the country. A kilogram of cocaine seized in Dallas is one less kilogram available for a gang to fight over in Chicago or to be offered to one of our youth in Philadelphia. It matters and DEA Dallas will remain steadfast in destroying command elements of these criminal organizations across the globe.”
Over the course of a three-day sentencing hearing in August and September 2021, the district court heard from 13 witnesses for the government, including other high-ranking Zeta members, who, like Chavarria, had been extradited to the United States to face charges. According to court testimony, from 2007 through 2011, Chavarria oversaw the shipment of enormous quantities of cocaine between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass, Texas on behalf of the Los Zetas Cartel, in which he was a high-ranking member. The Zetas were notorious for their brutality, even by cartel standards. The Zetas ruthlessly carried out beheadings, hangings, torture, kidnappings, and even boiling or burning people alive, in order to intimidate and demoralize enemies and innocent civilians.
A particularly shocking act of brutality was the 2011 massacre of men, women, and children in the Mexican town of Allende, just 40 minutes from Eagle Pass. The Zetas’ mass killing of town residents was in retaliation for the suspected leaking of information to law enforcement by an individual whose relatives lived in Allende. Numerous witnesses described how Chavarria participated in the massacre by traveling around Allende with Zetas gunmen, pointing out the homes of relatives and associates of the suspected leaker, effectively marking these people and their families for death. After the Zetas finished their mass killing, they loaded the bodies into a barn and incinerated the building. A definitive conclusion has never been reached as to the number of men, women, and children who lost their lives, but the total is believed to be at least 100, and possibly up to 300.
Chavarria also led a separate drug trafficking and money laundering operation, which operated with the permission and protection of the Zetas Cartel. Along with a partner, Chavarria imported 500 kilograms of cocaine into the United States every month. This cocaine was primarily destined for distribution in Texas cities and towns. Bulk currency, in turn, was smuggled from the United States back to Chavarria in Mexico by secreting the cash in washers, dryers, refrigerators, and automobile gas tanks. Chavarria also acquired bulk firearms and military equipment from the United States on behalf of the Zetas, for use in the Cartel’s violent struggles against other drug trafficking organizations.
Chavarria and 17 other individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 15, 2011. They were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering violations. Chavarria was extradited from Mexico to the United States on Nov. 30, 2018 and has been detained since that time.
The investigation and prosecution of Chavarria and his organization comes as part of “Operation Too Legit to Quit,” an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. To date, the overall operation has resulted in charges against approximately 160 defendants in 28 indictments and the seizure of close to 700 kilograms of cocaine as well as more than $9 million in cash and other assets.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Dallas with assistance from DEA-Bogota, DEA-Cartagena, FBI, ATF, Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Mesquite Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, and Lewisville Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing extradition from Mexico. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ernest Gonzalez and Colleen Bloss.
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Guilty Plea in a Mail Theft and Bank Fraud Scheme Committed Throughout Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Richard Beldon Waters III, 29, of Contra Costa County, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and possession of stolen U.S. mail, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April and August 2020, Waters and co-defendant Desiree Brianna Bello perpetrated a mail theft and bank fraud scheme throughout Northern California. The scheme involved stealing U.S. mail from residential mailboxes and harvesting bankcards, identification documents, financial information, checks, and personally identifiable information (PII) for use in fraudulent activity. Waters and Bello used the identification and PII of the mail theft victims to obtain money and property from banks and businesses.
On several occasions, Waters and Bello used identification documents and financial instruments of mail theft victims to purchase and lease vehicles from car dealerships. For example, on June 25, 2020, Bello entered a Hyundai dealership in Stockton to lease a new Hyundai Genesis G80 using a stolen identity. She made an initial $7,000 payment with a check in the victim’s name, and also submitted a lease application using the victim’s name, date of birth, California Driver’s License number, and Social Security Number. The dealership ultimately approved the application. Bello was able to drive the new G80 off the lot, which was valued at approximately $55,490. Bello committed these acts with Waters’ knowledge and in furtherance of their bank fraud scheme, of which Waters was a knowing participant.
Additionally, on two separate occasions in May 2020, Waters knowingly possessed stolen U.S. mail. On May 11, 2020, he was arrested in Folsom where he possessed over 300 pieces of stolen mail. Similarly, on May 18, 2020, he was arrested in El Dorado Hills where he possessed five large trash bags of mail that he and his co-schemers had just stolen minutes earlier from a residential complex.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Stockton Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the Concord Police Department, the Pittsburg Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Waters is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Nov. 29, 2021. Bello pleaded guilty in this case to the same charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25, 2021. Waters and Bello face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of stolen U.S. mail. 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 consider a number of variables.
Former correctional officer sentenced for sexual abuse of an inmateRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott Douglas Born, a former correctional officer at Federal Correctional Institution Hazelton’s Female Facility, was sentenced today to three months of incarceration for the sexual abuse of an inmate, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Born, 33, of Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, pled guilty in February 2021 to one count of “Sexual Abuse of a Ward.” Born admitted to accepting oral sex from an inmate at the secure female facility from September 2018 to January 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Former Waterbury Resident Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILTON REYNOSO, also known as Manuel Jose Echevarria-Lugo, 47, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment for trafficking fentanyl and heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2019, the DEA New Haven Task Force began an investigation into the distribution of heroin and fentanyl in New Haven and Waterbury. The investigation, which included thousands of intercepted communications over court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Reynoso was receiving large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from a source in New York and then selling the narcotics to other drug distributors.
On June 13, 2020, investigators sought to arrest Reynoso and Tyson Quinones, of Waterbury, after intercepting a series of calls indicating that Reynoso and Quinones were planning to conduct a 200-gram heroin transaction. On that date, Quinones was arrested at the anticipated meeting place. Reynoso fled from the meeting scene in his vehicle, which was found abandoned nearby. He was arrested a short time later after he returned to the vehicle. A search of a location in Waterbury that Reynoso used to store narcotics revealed more than kilogram of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, and items used to process and package narcotics.
Reynoso has been detained since his arrest. On June 19, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Reynoso faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
Quinones pleaded guilty on July 23, 2021, and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Elena L. Coronado through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former Employee of Huntington Non-Profit Pleads Guilty to Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
Phillips converted over $4.7 million of organization’s funds
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A Chesapeake, Ohio, woman pleaded guilty today to theft of federal funds from River Valley Child Development Services ("RVCDS"), a non-profit organization located in Huntington. RVCDS provides programs, services and support to children, families and the early childhood community.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ruth Marie Phillips, also know as Marie Phillips, 69, worked at RVCDS from December 1986 until September 2020. Phillips held various positions at RVCDS, including Director of Business and Finance. Phillips was responsible for all financial operations, including monitoring accounts receivable, creating and submitting invoices, reconciling bank accounts and issuing checks. From July 1, 2016, to on or about June 30, 2017, RVCDS received approximately $7,131,756 in federal funding and Phillips used her position of trust and authority to steal approximately $964,012 during that period.
Phillips further admitted that between December 2013 and August 2020, she stole approximately $4,721,731 from RVCDS. During that period, she sent $1,142,500 to her personal checking account and sent another $3,395,500 to Attitude Aviation’s U.S. bank account. Attitude Aviation has offices at Lawrence County Airpark in South Point, Ohio, and Tri-State Airport in Huntington and provides aeronautical services, including fueling, rental of hangar space, aircraft rental, flight instruction and maintenance.
As part of her plea agreement, Phillips agreed to forfeit her interest in her Chesapeake, Ohio, personal residence, as well as a lake house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia that she purchased during the period of her criminal activity. Phillips also agreed to forfeit her interest in several vehicles and her interest in Attitude Aviation property and equipment.
During the investigation, three search warrants were simultaneously executed across two states on April 8, 2021, including Phillips’ personal residence in Chesapeake, Ohio; Attitude Aviation’s Lawrence County Airpark office in Ohio; and Attitude Aviation’s Huntington Tri-State Airport office in West Virginia.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the thorough investigative work of the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, the Central West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Lawrence County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Litigation Financial Analyst.
Phillips faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of at least $250,000, and restitution in the amount of $4,721,731 when she is sentenced on December 13, 2021.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin F. Scott, R. Gregory McVey and Kathleen Robeson are handling 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. 3:21-cr-00135.
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Former Boston Police Clerk Pleads Guilty to Overtime FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former clerk for Boston Police Department’s (BPD) District A-1 Detectives Unit pleaded guilty today in connection with an investigation of overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department.
Marilyn Golisano, 68, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds and six counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2022. Golisano was arrested and charged on Jan. 13, 2021.
Golisano, who handled the overtime paperwork for her unit, submitted dozens of false and fraudulent overtime slips in 2017 and 2018 claiming she had worked extra hours, with many of those slips bearing forged signatures of her supervisor. Although Golisano’s work was done primarily on the computer, Golisano never logged into the BPD computer system at all during many of the overtime shifts she claimed to have worked. Furthermore, on several occasions when Golisano was supposedly working overtime in downtown Boston, cellphone location information placed Golisano well outside the city. In total, Golisano stole $11,000 from BPD in 2017 and $18,000 in 2018 as a result of the fraud.
From 2016 through 2018, BPD received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, the government and the defendant have agreed to recommend to the Court that Golisano serve a sentence of 90 days in prison, three years of supervised release with the first three months to be spent in home confinement and pay restitution of $29,000 to the City of Boston. As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss aggravated identity theft charges.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Mendell’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
Florida Dentist Pleads Guilty in Public Corruption Scheme Involving Former Arkansas State SenatorRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE - A Florida dentist, formerly of Arkansas, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud in a scheme with former Arkansas State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson that occurred between 2014 and 2016.
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the change of plea hearing, in which Benjamin Gray Burris, age 49, pleaded guilty to count one of an Indictment issued by a grand jury charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Burris was charged with additional counts of honest services wire fraud, but according to the terms of the plea agreement, those charges will be dismissed at sentencing.
According to court documents, between February of 2014 through November of 2016, Burris was the owner of several orthodontic clinics and practiced as an orthodontist through Arkansas. The scheme began when on February 27, 2014, Burris, State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson, and others met for a dinner at a Little Rock restaurant and discussed Burris’s legislative objectives and hiring Hutchinson as Burris’s corporate legal counsel. Jeremy Hutchinson, who then represented state Senate District 33, comprised of portions of Pulaski and Saline County, Arkansas, stated that as part of any arrangement there needed to be “real legal work.” In his plea agreement, Burris admitted that part of his intent in hiring Hutchinson was to enable Burris to influence and request official action from Hutchinson on legislative issues and other matters as the need arose. Throughout the course of their arrangement, Burris’s legal entities paid Hutchinson Law Firm an approximate total of $157,500 at a rate of approximately $5,000 per month as a general retainer and Hutchinson was assigned legal work.
Specifically, Burris sent Hutchinson an email outlining Burris’s “Legislative Objectives” in late February of 2014 in which Burris stated that he wanted specialty restrictions on orthodontists removed. On January 26, 2015, Hutchinson filed a shell bill in the Arkansas Senate entitled “An Act to Clarify the Laws Governing Dental Practice.” Later on, April 6, 2015, Hutchinson filed a related Interim Study Proposal with the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor. On September 22, 2015, Hutchinson filed another Interim Study Proposal (ISP-2015-154) on the subject. This ISP, among other things, proposed to remove the specialist restriction for orthodontists. According to text messages cited in Burris’s plea agreement, in 2016 Burris texted Hutchinson complaining about a lack of “ROI” also known as “return on investment” in his arrangement with Hutchinson and he requested specific updates on legislative matters. ISP-2015-154 was eventually filed as House Bill 1250 on January 23, 2017, after Hutchinson claimed a belated conflict, in the 91st General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, passed, and was later signed into law on or about March 15, 2017.
Burris sold his businesses and moved to Florida in the spring of 2017 and has not practiced in Arkansas since that time.
“This conviction for a bribe payor is an important milestone for the people of the State of Arkansas in our lengthy public corruption investigation,” said Acting United States Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. “While the bribery conduct of several members of the Arkansas Legislature is disgraceful, the only lasting disgrace would be in meeting these schemes with silence and toleration. The exposure of the truth of this arrangement, from the bribe payor to the bribe recipient, brings honor to our people, our law enforcement, and our Court institutions. They have all displayed great strength in exposing and opposing official corruption and are a credit to our nation of laws. We are also indebted to the many witnesses who came forward to tell their stories. The series of cases in our sprawling corruption investigations has required the coordination of not only this office, but also the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Western District of Missouri, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation. We are grateful for their continued assistance.”
“Our nation has a well-established process by which its citizens communicate with their elected officials, and this process can never include bribery or fraud,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson. “When Mr. Burris attempted to illegally induce the alteration of laws to favor his own purposes, he trod directly upon the democratic institutions of our Republic.”
Burris’s sentencing is expected to take place in approximately four months. Burris faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the crime for which he pled guilty, however, the plea agreement also states that if the Court wishes to sentence Burris to a sentence that is not a year and a day in federal prison, Burris will have the right to withdraw from the plea agreement. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the IRS are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff, Allison Bragg and Stephanie Mazzanti are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Federal prosecutions target illegal firearms possession, drugsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: At least seven defendants face federal charges including those for illegally possessing firearms after separate indictments by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent court action against others includes guilty pleas and criminal sentences.
The cases are being investigated in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, and continue the initiative in the Southern District of Georgia to reduce violent crime by targeting those who illegally possess firearms.
“As we continue to combat violent crime with our law enforcement partners, it is imperative that we take guns out of the hands of those who cannot legally possess them,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The typical excuse for felons carrying firearms is that they need them ‘for protection,’ but the fact is that they are the ones endangering our community.”
In the past three years, nearly 700 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction on a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
Defendants named in federal indictments from the September 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Anthony Franzel Hamilton, 60, of Savannah, charged with one count of Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery; five counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, and one count of Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery; six counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Alfonzo Lee Merriweather, 34, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Terry Kennard Isaacs, 36, of Beaufort, S.C., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Marijuana and MDMA;
- James Deon Green, 50, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Gregory Mitchell, 56, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Tyrone Dion Lyons Sr., 37, of Hephzibah, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- B’Quan Ferguson, 31, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
August indictments against two other defendants related to the drug trafficking investigation in Operation Wynner Storm in Wilkes County, Ga., also were recently unsealed, and both have had initial appearances in U.S. Magistrate Court:
- Demont Latrell Gresham, 33, an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison, is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- Tavaris Kexon Ramsey, 43, an inmate at the Colquitt County Correctional Institute in Moultrie, Ga., is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:
- Delvon Brown, 35, of Savannah, sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brown, who has multiple prior felony convictions, had a pistol in his waistband when arrested during a traffic stop Sept. 5, 2019, by Savannah Police officers.
- Burney Cobb, 41, of Port Wentworth, Ga., sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Port Wentworth Police officers arrested Cobb after finding guns during a search of his residence as part of an investigation into the sale of a stolen firearm. Cobb has a lengthy history of felony convictions including those for firearms and assault. A codefendant, Deonte Brown, 27, also of Port Wentworth, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Alisha Nicole Howard, 35, of Augusta, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Transfer of an Illegal Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Distribution of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Heroin. A co-defendant, Brian Thomas Myers, 35, of Beech Island, S.C., was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Transfer of an Illegal Firearm – a sawed-off shotgun – to an ATF agent. The two were charged after an August 2018 ATF investigation.
- Matthew Moore, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Moore was charged after Savannah Police officers found Moore in possession of three pistols while investigating a disturbance at a Savannah motel in June 2019. Moore has prior convictions including family violence, and was on probation at the time of his arrest.
- John Calvin Young Jr., 35, of Rincon, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with Possession of a Stolen Firearm. During a traffic stop on Oct. 24, 2020, Port Wentworth Police officers found Young in possession of a pistol that later was determined to have been stolen.
- Dequan Beniman, 26, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Beniman was arrested in January 2020 when Savannah Police officers responding to a report of a man on a bicycle carrying firearms found Beniman with two loaded pistols in his pockets, along with a bag containing additional ammunition.
- Tyshaun Richey, 25, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Richey in October 2019 after a traffic stop and brief foot chase and found him in possession of a pistol.
- Tron Smith, 34, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers responded in June 2019 to a report of a man brandishing a firearm at a motel and found a pistol inside the room Smith occupied. Smith’s criminal history includes multiple convictions for family violence and obstruction of law enforcement officers.
- Jerry Allen Edenfield, 31, of Swainsboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Edenfield was arrested Feb. 10, 2020, when Swainsboro Police officers investigating a domestic violence report found two pistols and a rifle during a search of Edenfield’s residence.
- Ashley Nichole Pitts, 30, of Hinesville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pitts was arrested in January 2019 when Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies responded to her home to investigate a complaint about a man brandishing a firearm. Accompanied by an officer from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, deputies found two pistols in Pitts’ home.
- Timothy Lee Cheeks, 33, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Cheeks was arrested on an outstanding warrant for a state methamphetamine possession charge in January 2021 when Richmond County deputies who were investigating a disturbance at a motel found a loaded pistol in Cheeks’ possession.
- Matthew James Gordon, 27, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. He was charged in January 2020 after Savannah Police officers found a pistol in Gordon’s jacket pocket.
- Dennis O’Keefe Harris, 41, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris was arrested Jan. 1, 2019, by Savannah Police officers who found a pistol in his waistband after he ran during a traffic stop.
- Charles Walker, 54, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Walker carrying a pistol in October 2020 while investigating reports of a shooting.
- Jamol Marquise Cuyler, 33, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Cuyler was changed in January 2020 by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating a report of a road-rage incident. Cuyler’s criminal history includes multiple convictions for armed felonies.
These cases also are being investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for adjudication of alleged crimes.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Port Wentworth Police Department, the Swainsboro Police Department, and the Rincon Police Department.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Henry W. Syms Jr., Patricia G. Rhodes, John P. Harper III, Tania D. Groover, Noah J. Abrams, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Dar al-Farooq Mosque Bomber Sentenced to 53 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Emily Claire Hari, 50, f/k/a Michael Hari, was sentenced to life in prison for the Aug. 5, 2017, bombing of the Dar al-Farooq (DAF) Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.
On Dec. 9, 2020, following a five-week trial, Hari was convicted by a federal jury on all five counts of the indictment, including intentionally defacing, damaging and destroying religious property because of the religious character of that property; intentionally obstructing and attempting to obstruct, by force and the threat of force, the free exercise of religious beliefs; conspiracy to commit federal felonies by means of fire and explosives; carrying and using a destructive device during and in relation to crimes of violence; and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
In handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Donovan W. Frank described the attack orchestrated by Hari as a highly sophisticated and premeditated act of domestic terrorism.
“Hari sought to terrorize an entire faith community. Today’s sentence makes clear that such acts of hate-fueled terror will not be tolerated,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The Dar al-Farooq community has shown powerful strength and resolve during this case. As demonstrated by this verdict and sentence against Hari, the Justice Department will prosecute hate crimes to the full extent of the law, including those that target places of worship and other religious sites.”
“Today, the person responsible for the 2017 bombing of the Dar al-Farooq mosque has been sentenced to 53 years in prison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota. “Through our system of justice, the Minnesota community has collectively condemned this hate-fueled attack and decisively upheld every individual’s constitutional right to live and worship free from violence and intimidation. As we mark the closing of a painful chapter, it is my hope that the members of Dar al-Farooq and the broader faith community impacted by this attack will continue to heal and regain a sense of safety and security.”
“Acts of violence, motivated by hatred toward individuals simply based on their faith, will not be tolerated by the FBI or our Minnesota law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul of the FBI's Minneapolis Field Office. “Violent criminals such as those responsible for this cowardly act, will be held accountable for their hate crimes and disgraceful attempts at intimidation. This sentence demonstrates our continued commitment to the FBI’s core mission – to defend all communities and to protect the rights of all Americans.”
As proven at trial, during the summer of 2017, Hari established a terrorist militia group called “The White Rabbits” in Clarence, Illinois. Hari recruited co-defendants Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris to join the militia, which Hari outfitted with paramilitary equipment and assault rifles. On Aug. 4 and 5, 2017, Hari, McWhorter and Morris drove in a rented pickup truck from Illinois to Bloomington, Minnesota, to bomb the DAF Islamic Center. Hari targeted DAF specifically to terrorize Muslims into believing they are not welcome in the United States and should leave the country.
As proven at trial, Hari, McWhorter, and Morris arrived at DAF on Aug. 5, 2017, at approximately 5:00 a.m. At Hari’s direction, Morris used a sledgehammer to break the window of the Imam’s office at DAF and threw a plastic container with a mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline into the office. Then, also at Hari’s direction, McWhorter lit the fuse on a 20-pound black powder pipe bomb and threw it through the broken window. McWhorter and Morris ran back to the truck where Hari was waiting in the driver’s seat. The three men sped away from the building and drove back to Illinois. When the pipe bomb exploded, the blast caused extensive damage to the Imam’s office. It also ignited the gasoline and diesel mixture, causing extensive fire and smoke damage. At the time of the bombing, several worshipers were gathered in the mosque for morning prayers.
On Jan. 24, 2019, McWhorter and Morris pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing. Their sentencing hearings are yet to be scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Minneapolis and Springfield Divisions with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bloomington Police Department and the Bloomington Fire Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Ethen and Trial Attorney Timothy Visser of the Civil Rights Division.
Dar al-Farooq Mosque Bomber Sentenced to 53 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Emily Claire Hari, 50, f/k/a Michael Hari, was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the August 5, 2017, bombing of the Dar al-Farooq (DAF) Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.
On December 9, 2020, following a five-week trial, Hari was convicted by a federal jury on all five counts of the indictment, including intentionally defacing, damaging, and destroying religious property because of the religious character of that property; intentionally obstructing, and attempting to obstruct, by force and the threat of force, the free exercise of religious beliefs; conspiracy to commit federal felonies by means of fire and explosives; carrying and using a destructive device during and in relation to crimes of violence; and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
In handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Donovan W. Frank described the attack orchestrated by Hari as a highly sophisticated and premeditated act of domestic terrorism.
“Hari sought to terrorize an entire faith community. Today’s sentence makes clear that such acts of hate-fueled terror will not be tolerated,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The Dar al-Farooq community has shown powerful strength and resolve during this case. As demonstrated by this verdict and sentence against Hari, the Justice Department will prosecute hate crimes to the full extent of the law, including those that target places of worship and other religious sites.”
“Today, the person responsible for the 2017 bombing of the Dar al-Farooq mosque has been sentenced to 53 years in prison. Through our system of justice, the Minnesota community has collectively condemned this hate-fueled attack and decisively upheld every individual’s Constitutional right to live and worship free from violence and intimidation,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk. “As we mark the closing of a painful chapter, it is my hope that the members of Dar al-Farooq and the broader faith community impacted by this attack will continue to heal and regain a sense of safety and security.”
“Acts of violence, motivated by hatred toward individuals simply based on their faith, will not be tolerated by the FBI or our Minnesota law enforcement partners,” said Michael Paul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Minneapolis division. “Violent criminals such as those responsible for this cowardly act, will be held accountable for their hate crimes and disgraceful attempts at intimidation. This sentence demonstrates our continued commitment to the FBI’s core mission – to defend all communities and to protect the rights of all Americans.”
As proven at trial, during the summer of 2017, Hari established a terrorist militia group called “The White Rabbits” in Clarence, Illinois. Hari recruited co-defendants Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris to join the militia, which Hari outfitted with paramilitary equipment and assault rifles. On August 4 and 5, 2017, Hari, McWhorter, and Morris drove in a rented pickup truck from Illinois to Bloomington, Minnesota, to bomb the DAF Islamic Center. Hari targeted DAF specifically to terrorize Muslims into believing they are not welcome in the United States and should leave the country.
As proven at trial, Hari, McWhorter, and Morris arrived at DAF on August 5, 2017, at approximately 5:00 a.m. At Hari’s direction, Morris used a sledgehammer to break the window of the Imam’s office at DAF and threw a plastic container with a mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline into the office. Then, also at Hari’s direction, McWhorter lit the fuse on a 20-pound black powder pipe bomb and threw it through the broken window. McWhorter and Morris ran back to the truck where Hari was waiting in the driver’s seat. The three men sped away from the building and drove back to Illinois. When the pipe bomb exploded, the blast caused extensive damage to the Imam’s office. It also ignited the gasoline and diesel mixture, causing extensive fire and smoke damage. At the time of the bombing, several worshipers were gathered in the mosque for morning prayers.
On January 24, 2019, McWhorter and Morris pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing. Their sentencing hearings are yet to be scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Acting United States Attorney Folk thanks Assistant United States Attorneys Allison Ethen and Timothy Rank, Justice Department Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Timothy Visser, Lead Paralegal Specialist Lynette Simser, Community Affairs Director Angie LaTour, Witness Specialist Selina Kolsrud, former Assistant United States Attorneys John Docherty and Julie Allyn, Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Miller, of the Central District of Illinois, and the special agents of the FBI’s Minneapolis and Springfield Divisions, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bloomington Police Department, and the Bloomington Fire Department for their hard work and commitment to the pursuit of justice. Acting United States Attorney Folk further thanks the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, and the FBI’s Springfield Field Office for their collaboration and partnership.
Cresson, PA Man Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years in Prison and 20 Years’ Supervised Release for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Cresson, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 262 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release on his conviction of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Steven L. Brock, 33, of Cresson, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, on or about May 1, 2016, to on or about July 31, 2018, Brock produced images of a minor female engaged in sexually explicit conduct using materials that were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Kaufman commended the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, Customs & Enforcement, and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Brock.
Clarke County Man Snetenced to More Than Twelve Years for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Jackson, Alabama man was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for selling illegal drugs from his residence in Clarke County, Alabama.
According to court documents, Marco Antonio Gaston of Jackson, Alabama, was selling controlled substances from his residence. Jackson Police Department executed a search warrant in February 2019 and arrested Gaston and codefendant Morgan Nicole Anderson, his girlfriend. Video evidence showed drugs being sold from the front porch. In one two-day period law enforcement counted in excess of 50 drug transactions occurring at the house. The drug evidence included marijuana, alprazolam, fentanyl, cocaine and hydrocodone.
Homeland Security and Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Charleston Couple Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston couple was sentenced today for federal gun and drug crimes. Larry James Williams, 66, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin, acetyl fentanyl, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Mary Ann Coon, 44, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop conducted on MacCorkle Avenue in Charleston during the early morning hours of May 8, 2020, law enforcement officers found Williams and Coon to be in possession of seven firearms, as well as over 79 grams of methamphetamine, 9 grams of heroin, acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl mix, and over 6 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl mix, digital scales, plastic baggies, and $3,882 in U.S. Currency.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the collaborative investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). As part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement to address violent crime driven by drug trafficking in Charleston and throughout the district.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie White and Greg McVey handled the prosecution.
This case is part of 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.
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. 3:19-cr-00129 (Williams, et al.).
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California Software Company Executives Charged in Conspiracy to Defraud the Tennessee Valley AuthorityRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A seven-count indictment unsealed Friday charged two Danville, California men with conspiracy to defraud the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of more than $300,000, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Anthony Gigliotti, 74, the CEO of Autonomic Software, Inc., (Autonomic) was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and three counts of wire fraud. Alexander Gigliotti, 36, the Vice President of Autonomic, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both were arrested by U.S. Marshals in Danville, California on Friday and will appear in the Middle District of Tennessee at a later date for further proceedings.
According to the indictment, Autonomic was a software company located in Danville, California, which provided a variety of software to private and public sector organizations. In 2016, Autonomic installed power management software in Rutherford County school systems, in connection with TVA’s EnergyRight program, an incentive-based program designed to save energy and reduce costs through the installation of energy-saving software. To be eligible for the energy conservation funds, customers were required to pay a portion of the software materials costs.
Instead of following the program requirements, Autonomic represented to the Rutherford County School District that schools would not incur any costs associated with the software installation. Following the installation of the software, Autonomic submitted 47 invoices, totaling $588,240 to Lockheed Martin, the contract administrator of the EnergyRight program. The invoices were made out to Rutherford County Schools and represented that each school incurred costs associated with Autonomic’s software installation.
Alexander Gigliotti also sent an email to a Lockheed Martin representative in support of seeking the incentive payments from TVA, with a breakdown of an invoice regarding purported costs incurred by Rutherford County Schools, claiming that the school paid $22 per computer related to software and $8 per computer related to support. In fact, Rutherford County Schools did not incur any costs associated with any invoice from Autonomic. Lockheed Martin then mailed incentive payments to Autonomic that corresponded to each invoice.
The Autonomic software failed to function as initially represented and approximately one year after the installation, Rutherford County Schools purchased energy saving software that could effectively quantify energy savings and which cost substantially less than Autonomic’s total purported materials costs.
The indictment also alleges that Anthony Gigliotti lied to TVA agents by falsely stating that Alexander Gigliotti was not involved in any of the previous TVA or school system work.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the TVA Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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California Resident Charged in Superseding Indictment for Role in Sim Swap Scam Targeting at Least 40 People, Including New Orleans ResidentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RICHARD YUAN LI, age 21, a resident of Hercules, California, was charged on August 26, 2021 by a federal grand jury seated in the Eastern District of Louisiana in a four-count Superseding Indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1349 (Count 1), conspiracy to engage in interstate communication with intent to extort and to commit computer fraud and abuse, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 875(d), and 1030(a)(7) (Count 2), wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 (Count 3), and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A (Count 4), for his role in a SIM Swap scam that targeted at least forty people, including a New Orleans-area physician.
According to the Superseding Indictment, a SIM Swap scam is a cellular phone account takeover fraud that results in the routing of a victim’s incoming calls and text messages to a different phone. Once a perpetrator is able to swap the SIM card, it is likely he is able to obtain access to a victim’s various personal accounts, including email accounts, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency accounts, as well as any other accounts that use two-factor authentication.
LI participated in a scheme that involved multiple parts. First, in January 2018, he and a friend, B.P., defrauded Apple, Inc. into providing a second Apple iPhone without paying for it by convincing an Apple customer service representative that they had not received an Apple iPhone 8 they ordered (hereinafter “the Apple iPhone 8”). LI took possession of the Apple iPhone 8 and registered it using his email address and the name of his close relative. He and his co-conspirators then arranged for victims’ telephone numbers to be swapped to SIM cards contained in cellular phones in their possession, including the Apple iPhone 8. Specifically, on November 10, 2018, Victim A’s telephone number was swapped to a SIM card contained in the Apple iPhone 8, which LI possessed in the San Diego, California area. Thereafter, LI and his co-conspirators gained access to victims’ email accounts and cryptocurrency accounts as a result of the SIM Swap and stole a significant portion of victims’ cryptocurrency. Finally, as part of their scheme, after gaining access to victims’ accounts, LI and his co-conspirators contacted victims and demanded that they pay ransoms in order to avoid further harm, including additional account compromises, the loss of additional cryptocurrency, and the release of victims’ confidentiality information the conspirators obtained. In total, between July 19, 2018, and December 6, 2018, at least forty different phone numbers were activated on LI’s Apple iPhone 8.
If convicted, LI faces a maximum term of twenty (20) years in prison as to each of Counts 1 and 3, up to five (5) years in prison as to Count 2, and a mandatory consecutive two (2) years in prison as to Count 4, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment per count.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a Superseding Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
Bristol Man Sentenced on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man was sentenced last week to 21 and a-half years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Paul D. Crone, 56, conspired with others to traffic approximately 45 kilograms of methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas into Southwest Virginia for redistribution.
Crone pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Fifteen co-conspirators were also charged in the conspiracy.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia, Jared Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, and Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Boston Woman Sentenced for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Marijuana EnterpriseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston woman was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 for her role in a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018.
Tatiana Fridkes, a/k/a Sonya, 34, of Mattapan, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served and two years of supervised release. Fridkes was also ordered to pay restitution of $82,000. On Sept. 23, 2020, Fridkes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.
Fridkes and Deana Martin, 52, of Milton, were indicted in May 2019 in connection with their management of Northern Herb, a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018. In May 2021, Martin pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion, one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and three counts of money laundering and is awaiting sentencing which is scheduled for Sept. 16, 2021.
Fridkes served as the office manager for Northern Herb. Fridkes coordinated with Martin on finances, marijuana suppliers, marijuana inventory, deliveries, workers and warehouse operations. Fridkes managed Northern Herb employees when Martin was not present, collected and organized cash from marijuana sales and paid cash wages to Northern Herb employees.
From May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb had total revenue exceeding $14 million. Northern Herb did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in marijuana sales, did not remit or pay employment taxes in connection with its workforce and did not pay taxes on its profits. Northern Herb was not licensed by Massachusetts or any other governmental entity to sell or distribute marijuana. While Northern Herb purported to provide medical marijuana, it did not require a customer to provide proof of a medical marijuana card and would deliver marijuana to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties might have access to it.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service also provided valuable assistance with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Abely, Chief of Mendell’s Criminal Division, and John Mulcahy of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Boise Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – Jason Lee Gentry, 44, of Boise, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced today. Gentry was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boise on April 14, 2021.
According to court records, Gentry, while on probation after a conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, sold another person methamphetamine on four different occasions. On December 2, 2020, he sold 10.45 grams of methamphetamine; on December 7, 2020, he sold 27.45 grams of methamphetamine; on February 2, 2021, he sold 28.05 grams of methamphetamine; and on February 10, 2021, he sold 28.05 grams of methamphetamine. On March 24, 2021, Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole officers conducted a search of Gentry’s home. When officers entered the premises, they discovered 30 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and plastic packaging materials commonly used to weigh and package drugs for distribution.
Gentry faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years and a maximum sentence of forty years in federal prison, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for December 8, 2021 before Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.
Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez applauded the efforts of the Idaho State Police, Boise Police Department, and Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole, which led to the charges.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant United States Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. It provides assistance to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. Idaho is part of the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA. The Idaho HIDTA is a collaboration of local, multi-jurisdictional law enforcement drug task forces, and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations that operate in Ada, Canyon, Bannock, Kootenai, and Malheur Counties.
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Beloit Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Fabian Jones, 29, Beloit, Wisconsin was sentenced on Friday, September 10 by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to four years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jones pleaded guilty to this charge on June 16, 2021.
On March 15, 2020, Beloit police were investigating a reported disturbance and had contact with Jones, who consented to a search of his residence. In Jones’s bedroom, officers found a holster, laser sight for a gun, and a magazine chest carrier. Officers found three different types of ammunition in the kitchen, and a small safe in the basement. Jones was arrested and made phone calls from the jail talking about a gun in the safe and asking others to take responsibility for it. Officers later obtained a search warrant for the safe and found a loaded .40 caliber handgun and a spare magazine inside.
Jones has a previous felony conviction for a weapons offense in Illinois state court. In addition, he was convicted in federal court in the Western District of Wisconsin in 2015 of distributing cocaine and was sentenced to four years in prison.
At sentencing Judge Peterson remarked that Jones was still on federal supervision on the drug offense and had violated conditions of that release. Judge Peterson said that sentence was designed to punish Jones and deter him from having a gun in the future.
The charge against Jones was the result of an investigation conducted by the Beloit Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Results of Monitor ReviewRead the Press Release
Today, at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual meeting, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the results of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta’s review of the use of monitors in civil settlement agreements and consent decrees with state and local governmental entities. In a memo to the Attorney General, the Associate recommended 19 separate actions that the department should take to improve its use of monitors in these cases. The Attorney General has accepted the Associate’s recommendations and ordered them to be made effective immediately.
“The department has found that – while consent decrees and monitorships are important tools to increase transparency and accountability – the department can and should do more to improve their efficiency and efficacy,” said Attorney General Garland. “The Associate Attorney General has recommended – and I have accepted – a set of 19 actions that the department will take to address those concerns.”
“Consent decrees have proven to be vital tools in upholding the rule of law and promoting transformational change in the state and local governmental entities where they are used,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “The department must do everything it can to guarantee that they remain so by working to ensure that the monitors who help implement these decrees do so efficiently, consistently and with meaningful input and participation from the communities they serve.”
The 19 actions in the memo will ensure that any future monitorships of state and local governmental meet five principals outlined in Associate Attorney General Gupta’s memo:
- Monitorships should be designed to minimize cost to jurisdictions and avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
- Monitors must be accountable to the court, the parties and the public.
- Monitors should assess compliance consistently across jurisdictions.
- Sustained, meaningful engagement with the community is critical to the success of the monitorship.
- Monitoring must be structured to efficiently move jurisdictions into compliance.
The steps the department will take going forward in all monitor agreements to ensure that these principles are met include:
- Budget Caps: Future consent decrees will include an annual cap on monitors’ fees to increase transparency and help contain costs.
- No Double Dipping: To dispel any perception that monitoring is a cottage industry, lead monitors in future consent decrees will no longer be able to serve on more than one monitoring team at a time.
- Monitors Should Prioritize Stakeholder Input: To ensure that monitors selected are able to understand of a variety of interests and perspectives of the stakeholders in the process, including impacted communities, law enforcement and victims of official misconduct.
- Term Limits: To ensure that monitors are being held accountable, consent decrees will impose specific terms for monitors that can only be renewed after a process of judicial evaluation and reappointment.
- Effective Practices Guide, Assessment Tools and Training Materials: To ensure that monitorships are being conducted consistently across jurisdictions, the department will convene a group of stakeholders to create a set of effective practices for monitors, training programs for new monitors and judges overseeing monitorships and assessment tools for monitors to use to evaluate jurisdictions.
- Termination Hearing After No More than Five Years: To ensure that monitorships are designed to incentivize monitors and jurisdictions to move towards compliance as efficiently as possible, future consent decrees will require a hearing after five years so that jurisdictions can demonstrate the progress it has made, and if possible, to move for termination. To the extent that full compliance has not yet been reached by five years, the hearing will be used to solidify the plan for getting over the finish line in short order.
Associate Attorney General Gupta and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division will convene a group of stakeholders within the next 90 days to begin working on the set of monitorship training materials and tools outlined in the memo.
2020 Rioter Sentenced to Federal Prison on Charges of Destruction of Government Property and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Alexander Charles Pridgen, of Greenville, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison, 2 years of supervised release (including three months of home confinement) and ordered to make restitution on the charges of Destruction of Government Property, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1361, and Receipt of a Firearm While Under Felony Indictment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(n).
According to court documents and arguments at sentencing, in May of 2020, Pridgen was serving a term of probation on a prior state felony conviction of possessing a stolen firearm. On May 31, 2020, Pridgen took part in a protest that devolved into riotous activity in Greenville, North Carolina. In connection with the riot, Pridgen threw a brick through a first-floor window of the United States Bankruptcy Courthouse causing more than $1000 in damages. Pridgen also lobbed a rock at officers with the Greenville Police Department’s Civil Disturbance Team.
After being arrested on federal charges relating to these acts, Pridgen was released on pretrial supervision on December 30, 2020. Within two weeks of release, Pridgen attended a party in Greenville and was seen, along with others, possessing a stolen firearm. The firearm accidentally discharged, striking another partygoer. After learning of these events, additional federal charges were filed against Pridgen for possessing the firearm while under indictment.
Acting United States Attorney G. Norman Acker, III stated, “Destructive rioters do not only harm innocent businesses and institutions with their actions, they also make it harder for law abiding citizens to exercise their time-honored right to peacefully protest. This case sends the important message that destruction of government property is not an act of protest – it is a crime paid for with time behind bars.”
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan announced the sentence. The United States Marshals Service investigated the case with the assistance of the Greenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Gilmore and Evan Rikhye served as the prosecutors.
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. 4:20-cr-00121-FL-1.
Saturday 11 September 2021
Justice Department Participates Virtually at G7 Meeting with Security MinistersRead the Press Release
On Sept. 8-9, 2021, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco met remotely with G7 and EU Security Ministers, along with the Secretary General of INTERPOL, to discuss responding to the rapidly evolving events in Afghanistan, as well as countering racially and ethnically motivated extremism. They were joined by Deputy Secretary John Tien of the Department of Homeland Security, who attended the London meeting in person. The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security joined in a series of G7 ministerial commitments on emerging security risks and transnational crime issues. The Ministers committed to work together on:
- Countering violent extremism and terrorism;
- Addressing criminal conduct on the internet;
- Ensuring economic security is not undermined by the threat of serious and organized crime;
- Supporting global action to confront emerging issues affecting national and border security; and
- Strengthening international action against corruption and kleptocracies.
Learn more at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/g7-interior-and-security-ministers-meeting-september-2021
Connecticut Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Connecticut man was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and using a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Damian Perry, aka “Primo,” 39, to 137 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Perry pleaded guilty on August 19, 2019.
According to court records, on September 1, 2017, Perry and another person were found in possession of 94 grams of cocaine base and 34 grams of heroin at a Brewer hotel. Perry and the other person had been selling the drugs from the hotel. On August 21, 2017, Perry had used a telephone to have a conversation with another individual to make plans to come to Maine to sell the drugs.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Brewer Police Department investigated the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Friday 10 September 2021
Wilmington Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution and Weapon OffensesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Robert Rodriguez, age 58, of Wilmington, DE, pled guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika accepted the plea.
According to court documents, on August 10, 2020, FBI agents conducted a search of the defendant’s residence and a nearby garage where they recovered over 100 bundles of fentanyl, a loaded black Glock handgun, and $18,268 in cash.
Rodriguez faces a minimum mandatory five years in prison, and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on December 13. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Judge Noreika will determine Rodriguez’s sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, including the mandatory minimum.
“The negative long-term impact of heroin and fentanyl on our communities is incalculable. Working with our law enforcement partners, my office will continue to identify and prosecute those who choose to deal in illegal drugs and use firearms to protect their profits,” stated U.S. Attorney Weiss.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McTaggart are prosecuting the case. FBI Baltimore’s Wilmington Resident Office conducted the investigation.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 20-062-MN.
Wichita Couple Accused of Prescription FraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment for two men on charges related to an alleged fraudulent prescription writing scheme.
David Sulzman, 59, and Martin Sulzman, 40, both of Wichita are charged with conspiracy to dispense a controlled substance. According to court documents, between 2014 and 2019, David Sulzman allegedly used his position as a physician assistant to prescribe controlled substances to individuals who were not his patients. David Sulzman faces 44 counts for the unlawful distribution and dispense of a controlled substance. Martin Sulzman is also charged with two counts of witness tampering.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Barnett is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Wausau Health Insurance Broker Sentenced for Scheme to Import & Distribute Misbranded Drugs from IndiaRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kenneth Zipperer, 54, Wausau, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty today to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. After accepting Zipperer’s two guilty pleas, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley sentenced Zipperer to 6 months in federal prison, imposed a $150,000 fine, and ordered him to pay $483 in restitution.
On November 18, 2020, a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin returned a 26-count indictment against Zipperer charging him with five counts of mail fraud, ten counts of wire fraud, two counts of distributing misbranded prescription drugs without a written prescription or license to administer such drugs, five counts of concealment money laundering, and four counts of promotional money laundering.
According to the indictment, Zipperer imported foreign-sourced prescription drugs from an internet pharmacy company in India via the U.S. Mail and Express Mail Service, and none of the drugs were approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption in the United States. The indictment alleged that Zipperer distributed many of the foreign-sourced prescription medications to his insurance clients in person, primarily at the business office for Zipperer Financial LLC in Wausau. Zipperer pleaded guilty to Counts 3 and 21 of the indictment.
“Distributing unapproved prescription drugs is illegal and puts consumers’ health at risk. In order to protect public health and safety, our office works closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who seek to profit from selling unapproved prescription drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney O’Shea.
“Patients who take foreign unapproved prescription drugs are at serious risk of harm, as the drugs have no guarantees of safety or efficacy and hold the potential to harm those who use them,” said Special Agent in Charge Lynda M. Burdelik, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put public health at risk.”
The charges against Zipperer were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber handled the prosecution.
Virginia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. - A Virginia man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
According to court documents, Jamie Otis Southern, 50, of Tazewell County, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty and admitted in June 2020 he contacted a woman on Craigslist who identified herself as a mother who would allow him to have sex with her children in exchange for money. During the conversation, Southern arranged to have the woman travel from Beckley to a hotel in Princeton with the 11- and 14-year-old girls the woman stated were her daughters. Southern would then pay approximately $400 plus the cost of the hotel room in order to engage in oral sex and sexual intercourse with the children. Southern further admitted that in July 2020 he possessed images and videos of suspected child pornography on an SD card in his cell phone.
Upon release from prison, Southern will be placed on federal supervised release for a period of 15 years and 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 FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald handled 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. 5:20-cr-00117.
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United States Coast Guard High-Seas Interdiction Ends with Seizure of 520 Kilograms of Cocaine, Arrests of Four Dominican Republic Nationals, and Apprehension of Two Go-Fast VesselsRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS, USVI – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that four Dominican Republic nationals were charged with possession of cocaine onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Carlos De La Rosa, 33, Alexis Sanchez Garcia, 32, Rafael Martinez, 29, and Elvis Manuel Rodriguez, 35, were charged by complaint and will appear in Federal Court on Monday, September 13, 2021, for their advice of rights hearing.
On August 30, 2021, United States Coast Guard Cutter (“CGC”) intercepted a white and blue, go-fast vessel with one outboard engine and two persons onboard at approximately 45NM south of Punta Salinas, DR. The go-fast vessel displayed no indicia of nationality and had packages and fuel barrels visible on deck. CGC TAMPA launched its over the horizon (“OTH”) vessel to intercept the go-fast vessel, but despite multiple warning shots, the go-fast vessel refused to stop. Coast Guard Officers then disabled the non-compliant go-fast vessel, which they reasonably suspected of drug smuggling in international waters. As the OTH approached the disabled go-fast vessel, both persons on board the vessel began jettisoning packages and bales into the ocean.
The OTH boarding team took control of the go-fast vessel and recovered 14 bales of suspected contraband from the ocean. The boarding team conducted two presumptive drug tests on the recovered contraband, which yielded positive results for cocaine. The bales of cocaine were loose kilos in a white burlap sack weighing approximately 520 kilograms at sea weight. The occupants, later identified as Carlos De La Rosa and Alexis Sanchez Garcia, both claimed Dominican Republic nationality, but refused to make a claim for the vessel or who was the master of the vessel. The vessel had no name, documentation, registration numbers, or homeport painted on its hull, and was therefore treated as a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Also, on August 30, 2021, CGC TAMPA intercepted a second white and blue, go-fast vessel with one outboard engine and two persons onboard, at approximately 45NM south of Punta Salinas, DR. The second go-fact vessel displayed no indicia of nationality and had packages and fuel barrels visible on deck. CGC TAMPA launched their OTH to intercept the go-fast vessel, and despite multiple warning shots, the go-fast vessel refused to stop. Once disabled, the two persons on board that go-fast vessel began jettisoning electronic equipment and bales of suspected contraband into the ocean. The occupants of the second go-fast vessel began dousing the vessel with fuel.
The CGC boarding team was unable to locate the jettisoned packages. The individuals on board were identified as Rafael Martinez, 29, and Elvis Manuel Rodriguez, 35. Both claimed DR nationality, and the master verbally claimed the Dominican Republic flag for the vessel. The government of the Dominican Republic could neither confirm nor deny registry of the go-fast vessel. The USCG therefore treated the vessel as one without nationality and enforced United States laws. The detainees verbally admitted to acting as a decoy vessel for the go-fast vessel that was interdicted simultaneously with their vessel.
This case is being investigated by the USCG and the Drug Enforcement Agency and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith. The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a charging document and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Manager of Money Laundering Ring in a Nigerian Romance Scam SentencedRead the Press Release
An Oklahoma man was sentenced today in the Northern District of Oklahoma to four years in prison for managing a group of money launderers in an online Nigerian romance scam that defrauded multiple victims, including elderly individuals across the United States, and caused losses of at least $2.5 million.
Afeez Adebara, 36, of Norman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on Nov. 3, 2020. According to court documents and testimony, between 2017 and November 2019, Adebara and co-conspirators knowingly concealed the proceeds of a romance scam operation by moving money between and among multiple bank accounts that were opened under various aliases using fake passports and other fraudulent identification documents to obscure the source of the funds and the identities of the co-conspirators. Thereafter, Adebara took further steps to conceal the source of the funds, took a commission for himself, and directed the remainder of the funds back to the online romance scammers in Nigeria, including in the form of vehicles and vehicle parts.
Adebara coordinated with overseas co-conspirators who had assumed false identities on online dating websites and social media platforms to defraud victims. Adebara opened multiple accounts using fraudulent identities, then provided the account and routing numbers to the overseas co-conspirators. The overseas co-conspirators told victims that they were U.S. residents working or traveling abroad. As the online relationships continued, the overseas co-conspirators requested increasingly larger sums of money, with the claimed purpose that the funds were needed to complete business projects or for them to return to the United States. The victims were directed by the overseas co-conspirators to send funds to certain bank accounts, with assurance that the money would purportedly be allocated as needed.
Previously, John Ogundele, 32, of New York, New York, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment; Paul Usoro, 25, a Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, six of which were to be served in home confinement; Joshua Ditep, 26, a Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment; Tobiloba Kehinde, 29, a Nigerian citizen residing in Norman, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, four of which were to be served in home confinement; and Chibuzo Obiefuna, 28, of Long Beach, California, and Jamiu Adedeji, 25, a Nigerian citizen residing in Norman, were each sentenced to time served.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the FBI-Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI’s San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York Field Offices.
Trial Attorneys Babasijibomi Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar of the Northern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes, including those based out of Nigeria, that target U.S. citizens and residents. The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov/.
U.S. Manager of Money Laundering Ring in a Nigerian Romance Scam SentencedRead the Press Release
An Oklahoma man was sentenced today in the Northern District of Oklahoma to four years in prison for managing a group of money launderers in an online Nigerian romance scam that defrauded multiple victims, including elderly individuals across the United States, and caused losses of at least $2.5 million.
The Court further ordered Afeez Adebara, 36, of Norman, to pay $500, 740 in restitution to the victims of the crime.
“Afeez Adebara led a group of money launderers who bilked unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned retirement and savings accounts as part of a Nigerian romance scam,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This con artist and his cohorts have been brought to justice thanks to the work of the FBI and federal prosecutors Babasijibomi Moore and Chris Nassar.”
Adebara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on Nov. 3, 2020. According to court documents and testimony, between 2017 and November 2019, Adebara and co-conspirators knowingly concealed the proceeds of a romance scam operation by moving money between and among multiple bank accounts that were opened under various aliases using fake passports and other fraudulent identification documents to obscure the source of the funds and the identities of the co-conspirators. Thereafter, Adebara took further steps to conceal the source of the funds, took a commission for himself, and directed the remainder of the funds back to the online romance scammers in Nigeria, including in the form of vehicles and vehicle parts.
Adebara coordinated with overseas co-conspirators who had assumed false identities on online dating websites and social media platforms to defraud victims. Adebara opened multiple accounts using fraudulent identities, then provided the account and routing numbers to the overseas co-conspirators. The overseas co-conspirators told victims that they were U.S. residents working or traveling abroad. As the online relationships continued, the overseas co-conspirators requested increasingly larger sums of money, with the claimed purpose that the funds were needed to complete business projects or for them to return to the United States. The victims were directed by the overseas co-conspirators to send funds to certain bank accounts, with assurance that the money would purportedly be allocated as needed.
Previously, John Ogundele, 32, of New York, New York, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment; Paul Usoro, 25, a Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, six of which were to be served in home confinement; Joshua Ditep, 26, a Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, five of which were to be served in home confinement; Tobiloba Kehinde, 29, a Nigerian citizen residing in Norman, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, four of which were to be served in home confinement; and Chibuzo Obiefuna, 28, of Long Beach, California, and Jamiu Adedeji, 25, a Nigerian citizen residing in Norman, were each sentenced to time served.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the FBI-Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI’s San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York Field Offices.
Trial Attorneys Babasijibomi Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar of the Northern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes, including those based out of Nigeria, that target U.S. citizens and residents. The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov/.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with community partners, launches Gun Awareness CampaignRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a partnership with the Wheeling Police Department and the YWCA, is launching a gun awareness campaign, highlighting the risks of purchasing firearms for someone who is banned from having firearms.
“Too many times in West Virginia, someone is charged with a federal crime for purchasing a gun for someone who can’t. Federal prison isn’t worth it. We want everyone to think twice before helping someone commit a gun crime,” Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard.
The three-month campaign kicks off this month with a commercial highlighting the consequences of making an illegal gun purchase. The spot shows a young woman persuaded to purchase a firearm for a boyfriend who isn’t permitted to own a firearm. The ad then flashes ahead to the gun being used to shoot someone and her subsequent arrest.
“Gun violence is very real and adversely affects many individuals and communities. The Wheeling Police Department is once again proud to team up with our federal partners in a progressive manner, to make a positive impact. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a multi-faceted approach to curbing gun violence, and I am optimistic those impacts will be felt,” said Chief Shawn Schwertfeger, Wheeling Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program 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.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2018-GP-BX-0085 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Watch the commercial here: https://youtu.be/1kVe3Xdr8gE.
U.S. Attorney's Office Marks 20th Anniversary of September 11th Terrorist AttacksRead the Press Release
BOSTON – On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, along with the Department of Justice, encourages members of the public to participate in the National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor those who lost their lives during, and as a result of, the unprecedented terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
“Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks that cut short the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent Americans and transformed our nation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell. “Although two decades have now passed, the wounds from that day remain fresh, especially for the families of the victims and for those who responded courageously to the attacks – both in the United States and the men and women in uniform abroad. In remembrance of those killed and injured, first responders and those who continue to defend our nation’s freedom, I invite the public to join me in a day of service. Volunteerism is one small way to honor those we lost that tragic day and continue the spirit of unity and patriotism that this great nation is built upon. Service is also an important way to recognize the many courageous and selfless men and women who have spent the last 20 years defending our freedom and making the world a safer place. Their sacrifices were critical in the continued safety of our country and the world. I hope that you will do your part and join the National Day of Service and Remembrance.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell said, “Standing on the Boston waterfront looking out at Logan Airport is a solemn and powerful reminder of the souls on American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 who departed from Boston bound for Los Angeles. We must continue to honor of the selflessness and bravery of those on the planes, as well as their families, friends and colleagues who we continue to remember and pray for.”
To find and register for a volunteer opportunity, visit https://americorps.gov/911-day.
Two Mid-State Men Sentenced in Hospital Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – September 10, 2021 – Two middle Tennessee men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud two hospital management companies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Tyrone Floyd Berry, 46, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to forfeit $247,734.92. Aaron James Hill, 43, of Fairview, Tennessee, was previously sentenced in July to 33 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $577,500. Both men previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and two counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Hill worked as a human resource coordinator at Community Health Services in Franklin, where he was responsible for selecting recruiting vendors on behalf of his company. Around August 2015, Hill and Berry agreed to create false invoices for “Berry Recruiting,” a company purportedly owned by Berry. Berry scoured various social media websites and pages such as LinkedIn and Craig’s List to obtain the names of unsuspecting job seekers. Hill submitted invoices to Community Health Services for payment, representing that these persons were recruited Berry Recruiting. In fact, these individuals were unaffiliated with Hill, Berry, Berry Recruiting, or Community Health Services. Berry Recruiting received $257,469.84 for 38 false invoices submitted to Community Health Services between August 2015 and April 2016.
Hill and Berry carried out a similar scheme at Quorum Health Corporation in Brentwood, where Hill began working in May 2016 as an employee relations manager. Hill and Berry subsequently submitted false invoices to Quorum Health on behalf of Berry Recruiting. Berry Recruiting received $567,765 for 33 false invoices, all of which falsely represented Berry Recruiting obtained and relocated new employees. The investigation determined Hill and Berry simply recycled the names of employees previously recruited by other firms and hired by Quorum Health.
Between August 2015 through April 2017, Hill and Berry obtained over $825,000 from the two companies, and thereafter split the unlawful proceeds.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint prosecuted the case.
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