Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
15 October 2021
Pocahontas County man sentenced for firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Julian N. Waddell, of Durbin, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 84 months of incarceration for firearms charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Waddell, 37, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to two counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Waddell, a person who isn’t permitted to have a firearm because of a prior conviction, admitted to having three revolvers, a shotgun, and a semi-automatic rifle in April and July 2019 in Pocahontas County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Howard Poole, 43, of Pittsburg, was sentenced on Thursday to 42 months in federal prison for possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 16, 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Poole was distributing drugs and was the subject of multiple arrest warrants. Based on the information, investigators set up surveillance and observed Poole leaving a Manchester motel in a car driven by his wife. The vehicle pulled into a gas station and a state trooper conducted a motor vehicle stop. After the trooper informed Poole of the active warrants, Poole admitted he possessed methamphetamine, opiates, and cash. The trooper observed a large amount of currency and a baggie containing methamphetamine in the vehicle. A consensual search of the vehicle and a search of Poole’s person revealed $6,786 in cash, over 278 grams of fentanyl, and over 25 grams of methamphetamine.
Poole previously pleaded guilty on June 4, 2021.
“Drug traffickers like Mr. Poole endanger our communities by peddling deadly and addictive substances,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “In order to protect our community, we continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify those who are profiting from the sale of illegal drugs and hold them accountable for their unlawful conduct.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Hampshire State Police, and Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
# # #
Pine Ridge Man Acquitted of Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, and Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence following a three-day federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, commencing on October 5, 2021.
Charles Schrader, age 55, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 8, 2020.
The investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
Pierre Woman Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Taylor Huemoeller, a/k/a Taylor Klein, age 31, was indicted on September 14, 2021. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 13, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum custody sentence of 10 years, and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between July 13, 2021, and July 14, 2021, in Pierre, Huemoeller conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in central South Dakota.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Huemoeller was released on conditions and a jury trial is currently set for November 30, 2021.
Parker Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Parker, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on October 14, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
David Lee King, age 53, was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
King was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2021. He pled guilty on May 10, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date until on or about February 2, 2021, when King knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Nash prosecuted the case.
King was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pamlico and Craven County Operations Continue to Target Narcotics Traffickers in the CommunityRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, a New Bern man was sentenced to 144 months in prison for the distribution of controlled substances in Craven and Pamlico counties. On June 17, 2021, William Roger Swain, Jr., also known as “Swoon”, 37, pled guilty to Federal charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and cocaine.
Arising out of the same law enforcement operation, Kelly Jackson Gibbs, Jr. was sentenced to 120 months on September 27, 2020, for the distribution of heroin in Pamlico County.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Swain’s and Gibb’s prosecutions are the result of an investigation, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in conjunction with local, state, and federal authorities, into several drug traffickers operating in Pamlico and Craven counties.
In total, Investigators attributed over 4,852 grams of heroin, 1,960 grams of cocaine, 141 grams of methamphetamine, and 684 grams of marijuana distributed into the community from 2012 until 2020 by the two men.
“This is an excellent example of the continued efforts of local, state, and federal partners working together to combat the sale of heroin and other illicit drugs in our neighborhoods, with a focus on violent, repeat offenders,” said Pamlico County Sheriff Chris Davis.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencings by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, New Bern Police Department, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Prosecutorial District 4 assisted with the investigation of the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney J.D. Koesters and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Newby prosecuted the cases.
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-00078-D.
Ohio Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Toledo, Ohio, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Maurice Anthony Streater, age 31, was indicted on September 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 12, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between January 1, 2021, and September 9, 2021, Streater, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under state law, and having traveled in interstate commerce, knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Streater is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Streater was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Norwalk Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL C. MONROE, 48, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to six months of imprisonment, six months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and 90 hours of community service, for tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Monroe operated a construction business known as Monroe Construction. From 2008 through 2013, Monroe owed substantial unpaid income taxes and penalties to the IRS. In 2014, the IRS levied the business bank account used by Monroe as the operating account for his construction company. Monroe subsequently closed his business bank account and, between approximately November 2014 and November 2017, evaded payment to the IRS of his preexisting tax obligations by using a check cashing service to cash approximately $1.5 million in customer checks paid to his business. For the 2014 and 2015 tax years, Monroe failed to report to the IRS a total of more than $700,000 that his business generated in gross revenues. In addition to evading payment to the IRS of more than $107,000, he understated the federal income taxes he owed in 2014 and 2015 by approximately $34,000.
Judge Underhill ordered Monroe to pay total back taxes of $141,041, plus interest and penalties.
On March 15, 2021, Monroe pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.
Monroe is required to report to prison by December 9, 2021.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
North Carolina Man Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 14, 2021, Jelani Lee, of Durham, North Carolina was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for methamphetamine distribution.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on multiple occasions in July 2021, Lee sold methamphetamine to others in Wyoming and Luzerne counties.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this count is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
###
New Jersey Men Indicted in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Richard “Richie” Sinde, age 56, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Robert “Bobby” Ingrao, age 74, of Lodi, New Jersey, were indicted last month for trafficking 9 kilograms of cocaine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
Sinde and Ingrao are each charged with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and with possessing and intending to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Sinde was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and released with conditions. Ingrao will be arraigned at a later date.
On April 2, 2021, Ingrao was driving a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee north on Interstate 87, according to a criminal complaint previously filed against him. New York State Police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in Greene County. Ingrao, who was driving alone, told Troopers that he was returning the vehicle to Schenectady, according to the complaint. Troopers discovered that Ingrao lacked a driver’s license, and decided to arrest him and tow the Jeep. While taking an inventory of the Jeep’s contents, according to the complaint, Troopers discovered a hidden compartment, or “trap,” in the vehicle’s trunk area. The trap concealed 9 kilograms of cocaine, according to the complaint.
The charges in the indictment and complaint are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, each man faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, as well as at least 5 years of supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the DEA’s Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes DEA Special Agents and investigators from state and local police agencies, including the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Mt. Vernon, Washington man sentenced to 8+ years in prison for dealing deadly fentanylRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 22-year-old Mount Vernon, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 100 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Brown. Defendant Jiovanni Nunez supplied counterfeit oxycodone pills tainted with fentanyl to an associate, who distributed them in Skagit and Whatcom Counties. The pills are connected to at least two overdoses, including the overdose death of a Bellingham 17-year-old. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This entire case is tragic… the victim’s family continues to suffer as a direct consequence of the defendant’s actions.”
“Far too many people are dying from these fentanyl tainted pills — especially the young and vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “It is critical that we not only stem the flow of the drugs into our community, but also remind people that using these pills often leads to death and devastation, with families left to mourn.”
Nunez and co-conspirator, Rosaliana Lopez-Rodriguez, 23, of Mount Vernon, were arrested in late 2019 after an investigation to track down the source of the tainted pills. According to records filed in the case, a family member found the 17-year-old victim unresponsive on November 9, 2019. Despite efforts of emergency responders to resuscitate him, the victim died; his cause of death was later determined to be fentanyl overdose. Investigators found a whole and a partial pill near the 17-year-old victim. The pills were designed to look like oxycodone 30-milligram pills, with “M” and “30” stamped on them. But they were fakes tainted with fentanyl. Similar pills have been linked to other overdose deaths throughout the Puget Sound region. In fact, a friend of the 17-year-old victim nearly died after smoking one of the pills on November 2, 2019. Nunez’s co-conspirator knew of that near-fatal overdose when she sold the 17-year-old victim more pills a week later, on November 9, 2019.
During this investigation, law enforcement executed court-authorized search warrants at each defendant’s residence. At Nunez’s residence, law enforcement found a safe containing more than 900 fake oxycodone pills that matched the appearance of the fentanyl-laced pills linked to the fatal overdose. Co-conspirator Lopez-Rodriguez admitted that Nunez supplied her with the pills that killed the Bellingham 17-year-old.
Speaking to the court today, the victim’s mother talked about her son as a bright light for many people. Her son’s death left “a big hole of grief we carry that nothing can fill.” The mother noted that Nunez “knew how deadly the pills were,” and continued “dealing lethal poison in our community.”
Lopez-Rodriguez was sentenced to 84 months in prison in August 2021.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU), and the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, which is made up of members of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Department of Corrections, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonas Lerman.
Mitchell Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mitchell, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Russell Duane Hubbeling, age 57, was indicted on October 5, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 8, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Hubbeling, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between August 5, 2021, and September 2, 2021.
The charge is merely an accusation and Hubbeling is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Hubbeling was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for December 14, 2021.
Missing Person Investigation Results in Three Convictions and a Life SentenceRead the Press Release
A man who robbed and murdered another man was sentenced today to life in federal prison.
Matthew Barrett Robbins, age 49, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 3, 2021 jury verdict finding him guilty of robbery affecting interstate commerce, conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, and using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in a death that constitutes murder.
Evidence at trial showed that Robbins was a methamphetamine user who became unhappy with the quality of methamphetamine distributed by his source of supply. Robbins, along with Danielle Busch and William Leo Yancey, concocted a plan to lure his drug dealer to a rural farmhouse outside of Ely. Once at the farmhouse, Robbins used a sawed-off shotgun to rob the victim of a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine and approximately $150. During the robbery, Robbins’ firearm discharged, killing the victim. Robbins then took steps to dismember and conceal the body by burning it in a burn pit in his back yard. Robbins then discarded the ashes in the Cedar River.
Robbins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Robbins was sentenced to life in prison. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release if ever released from prison. There is no parole in the federal system. While announcing sentence, Chief Judge Strand said Robbins was “the poster child for a life sentence given the facts of this case and what the jury has found in this case. Mr. Robbins absolutely deserves a life sentence.”
Busch and Yancey were previously sentenced on September 15, 2021. Busch was sentenced to 120 months’ and one day imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Yancey was sentenced to 400 months’ imprisonment. Yancey is currently serving a 188-month prison term for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine and will begin serving this sentence once he finishes serving that term of imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.
“Matthew Robbins’ criminal conduct resulted in a tragic death. The hard work and team effort by the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation ensured he would be held accountable for his crimes. Robbins earned every day of the life sentence the court imposed today,” said Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously prosecuting those who mix drugs, guns, and violence.”
Robbins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Emily K. Nydle and was investigated by the Marion Police Department, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Iowa City Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Davenport Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Daytona Beach Shores Florida Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the Waypoint Services Survivor's Program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cr-53.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mercer County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Firearm Loaded with 30 Rounds of Ammunition in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing a handgun in furtherance of a drug crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Armond Holloway, 45, of Hamilton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp via videoconference to Count Two of an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence by videoconference today.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On July 31, 2017, Holloway was on parole after having served a term of imprisonment. Holloway’s parole officer received information from an anonymous source that Holloway, who had known gang affiliations, was in possession of a gun, 300-400 bricks of heroin, and a large amount of money at his residence.
On Aug. 1, 2017, the parole officer, along with other law enforcement officers, conducted a parole search of Holloway’s residence, where they recovered a Masterpiece Arms 9 mm firearm with an obliterated serial number, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, under Holloway’s bed. They also found a barrel extension that fit the gun. Also recovered from Holloway’s bedroom was more than $14,000 in cash and more than 400 bricks of heroin from Holloway’s basement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Holloway to five years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews in Newark; the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr.; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elisa T. Wiygul and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
Member of $4 Million National Luxury Stolen Car Ring Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LASHAUMBA RANDOLPH was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for providing fake titles and other fraudulent vehicle documentation used to defraud car buyers as part of a national stolen car ring involving approximately 60 stolen luxury cars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Corvettes, worth more than $4 million. RANDOLPH previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel.
All defendants have pled guilty and RANDOLPH is the ninth defendant sentenced to date. Earlier in the case, Judge Seibel sentenced eight co-defendants for their roles in the $4 million stolen car ring. CLIPHAS BELFON, a/k/a “Cliff,” who supplied from Florida many of the stolen cars sold by the ring, was sentenced to 52 months in prison on May 27, 2021. COLIN BURNETT, a/k/a “Greg,” who made fraudulent documentation for the cars, was also sentenced to 52 months in prison on October 6, 2021. BESAR ISMAILI, who supplied, stored, and sold stolen cars to secondhand buyers, was sentenced to 42 months in prison on April 20, 2021. ROBERT PINSKY, a supplier of stolen cars and false vehicle documentation, was sentenced to 40 months in prison on July 9, 2021. ANTONIO SANTIAGO, another Florida supplier of stolen cars, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on January 21, 2020. CHARLES WALTON, a Michigan-based supplier of stolen cars, was sentenced to 21 months in prison on August 27, 2020. STEVEN KLEIN, who provided financing for the scheme and resold stolen cars to secondhand buyers, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on June 11, 2021. NICHOLAS DIXON, who transported some of the stolen cars, was sentenced to time served on September 10, 2020.
As a result of the investigation, law enforcement recovered more than 30 stolen cars, and the defendants have already paid more than $443,000 in combined restitution to victims of the stolen car ring, forfeiture, and fines.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “These defendants used sophisticated methods to traffic scores of stolen luxury cars worth more than $4 million, stealing from rightful owners and defrauding buyers and state departments of motor vehicles. This unacceptable crime harms car owner victims, muddies up car records relied upon by the public, and also imposes hidden costs on the public, including anyone paying for car insurance. It will not be tolerated.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, as well as other public documents and court proceedings:
From October 2017 through November 2018, MARVIN WILLIAMS, CLIPHAS BELFON, a/k/a “Cliff,” COLIN BURNETT, a/k/a “Greg,” NICHOLAS DIXON, a/k/a “Robbie,” BESAR ISMAILI, STEVEN KLEIN, ROBERT PINKSY, LASHAUMBA RANDOLPH, ANTONIO SANTIAGO, and CHARLES WALTON operated a sophisticated, interstate stolen car ring, during which they (1) obtained stolen cars from, among other places, Michigan and Florida; (2) transported the stolen cars to, among other places, the Southern District of New York and Connecticut, for resale; (3) created and/or obtained false titles, registrations, and temporary license plates for the stolen cars; (4) used the false car records to deceive car buyers and the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles; and (5) used online markets, such as eBay, to solicit buyers of the stolen cars in various states. Through this extensive criminal scheme, the co-conspirators obtained, transported, and sold or attempted to sell more than 60 cars worth, in total, more than $4 million.
To carry out the stolen car ring, its members performed multiple and various roles. Some members stole and/or obtained luxury cars from the rightful, original owners, including dealerships and car rental businesses in Florida and Michigan. Others assisted in transporting the cars from Florida and Michigan to, among other places, New York or Connecticut. Others provided financing and assisted in purchasing or finding buyers for stolen cars. Others attempted to conceal the scheme from or deceive car buyers, law enforcement, and the SDDMV by “re-VINning cars,” and using fraudulent documents, such as fraudulent titles and VIN stickers, to acquire new titles and registrations for the stolen cars, making it appear as if the stolen cars were not, in fact, stolen.
* * *
RANDOLPH, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty on February 2, 2021 to conspiring to commit wire fraud from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018. In addition to the prison term, RANDOLPH was sentenced today to three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay forfeiture of $9,500 and restitution of 26,098.47.
BELFON, 28, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty on May 14, 2020, to conspiring to receive, possess, and sell stolen cars from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018, and was sentenced on May 27, 2021 to 52 months in prison, and forfeiture of $17,000.
BURNETT, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty on September 15, 2020, to conspiring to receive, possess, and sell stolen cars from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018, and was sentenced on October 6, 2021 to 52 months in prison, forfeiture of $8,577, and restitution of $24,991.24.
ISMAILI, 40, of Waterbury, Connecticut, pled guilty on December 22, 2020 to conspiring to commit wire fraud from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018, and was sentenced on April 20, 2021 to 42 months in prison, forfeiture of $76,000, and restitution of $393,329.96.
PINSKY, 52, of Howell, New Jersey, pled guilty on March 12, 2020 to conspiring to receive, possess, and sell stolen cars from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018, and was sentenced on July 9, 2021 to 40 months in prison, forfeiture of $77,000, and restitution of $51,444.08.
SANTIAGO, 38, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pled guilty on June 11, 2019 to conspiring to receive, possess, and sell stolen cars from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018, and was sentenced on January 21, 2020 to 30 months in prison, forfeiture of $22,500, and restitution of $66,671.91.
WALTON, 35, of Detroit, Michigan, pled guilty on March 17, 2020 to conspiring to receive, possess, and sell stolen cars from in or about October 2017 through in or about November 2018, and was sentenced on August 27, 2020 to 21 months in prison, forfeiture of $36,000, and restitution of $41,365.33.
KLEIN, 58, of Easton, Connecticut, pled guilty on March 3, 2021 to conspiring to commit wire fraud, and was sentenced on June 11, 2021 to 18 months in prison, forfeiture of $70,000, restitution of $240,000, and a fine of $15,000.
DIXON, 46, of Tamarac, Florida, pled guilty on May 7, 2020 to receiving a stolen car, and was sentenced on September 10, 2020 to time served, forfeiture of $34,050, and restitution of $6,849.59.
WILLIAMS, 35, of Torrington, Connecticut, pled guilty on October 11, 2019, and is awaiting sentencing.
Mr. Williams praised the excellent work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Police.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Deininger and David Felton are in charge of the prosecution.
Maryland Couple Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme Related to NASA ContractRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Gaithersburg, Maryland, husband and wife pleaded guilty on September 30 and today, respectively, to engaging in a kickback scheme in which they unlawfully received money related to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant program and to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by not paying income taxes on the kickbacks they received.
According to court documents, since around 2002 through 2019, Ana Veronica Giri, 49, a NASA subcontractor, conspired with her husband, Vishesh Giri, 45, to receive kickbacks in exchange for Ana Giri ensuring that a specific vendor would be selected to provide information technology and audio-visual services necessary for a NASA contract. Vishesh Giri served as a runner by traveling to the vendor’s office locations in the Eastern District of Virginia to collect the payments.
Court records show the Giris and the vendor agreed to a payment routine in which the Giris would receive 10% of each contract awarded to the vendor. In addition to the monetary kickbacks, the vendor provided the Giris with televisions, computers, and other electronic equipment. Since 2011, the Giris received at least $707,331, paid through 260 kickback payments. The Giris did not report these earnings on their 2011 through 2019 income tax returns, which resulted in a tax loss of at least $165,471. As a result of this conspiracy, the Giris were able to maintain a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of multiple real estate properties between 2005 and 2018 in Maryland and North Carolina.
The Giris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and to defraud the IRS. Ana Giri and Vishesh Giri are scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2022. The Giris each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; NASA Inspector General Paul K. Martin; and Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III accepted the pleas.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Jamar K. Walker 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 Nos. 1:21-cr-196 and 1:21-cr-197.
Marshall County Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Importing and Distributing U-477ooRead the Press Release
PADUCAH, KY – A Marshall County, Kentucky man was sentenced on October 13, 2021, to 8 years in federal prison for Importing and Distributing U-47700, commonly known as “U-4” or “Pink,” a Schedule I controlled substance.
According to court documents, Jevan Sheppard, 29, of Marshall County, Kentucky, admitted to conspiring with others to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute U-4, a Schedule I controlled substance over the period from November 14, 2016, to March 22, 2017. Further, Sheppard admitted to distributing U-4 on or about March 13 and 14, 2017, and to possessing U-4 with the intent to distribute on or about March 22, 2017. Sheppard also admitted to importing U-4 into the United States from China during the period from November 14, 2016, until March 22, 2017.
“I commend the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the Assistant United States Attorneys who worked tirelessly to ensure the successful prosecution of Mr. Sheppard,” stated Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “Individuals who traffic drugs in the Western District take notice. No matter the type or source of the poison you trade in, you will be identified, prosecuted, and sent to prison.”
“Mr. Sheppard, and others like him who damage our communities by selling illicit drugs, deserve to be put away,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, who heads the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “I’m very proud of the work done by DEA and our law enforcement partners to ensure he feels the full weight of the justice system.”
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Calvert City Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, Paducah Police Department, and United States Customs and Border Protection all investigated the case, with assistance from the Marshall County Attorney’s Office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Marshall County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth A. Hancock and Raymond McGee prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S Attorneys Nicole Elver and Amy Sullivan.
###
Man Sentenced to Federal Prison Again After Conviction for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who previously was convicted of a federal drug trafficking offense was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Michael Wayne Bailey, age 43, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 16, 2021 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after having been convicted of a serious drug felony.
At the guilty plea, Bailey admitted he was involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine beginning in late 2019 and continuing to March 2020. Baily was previously convicted in 2007 of federal conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of marijuana charges.
Bailey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bailey was sentenced to 153 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bailey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-cr-78.
MS-13 Gang Leader Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy for Gang Activities Including Murders, Attempted Murders, and ExtortionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced MS-13 leader Jorge Guerra-Castillo, a/k/a “Pelon”, age 40, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 45 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a racketeering conspiracy, including three violent murders and two attempted murders, leaving one of the victims without the use of his hand, which was nearly severed during the murder attempt.
At today’s sentencing hearing, the government presented testimony detailing Guerra-Castillo’s leadership of the gang, which continued while he lived in Florida and while he was in prison. The testimony included details about Guerra-Castillo exhorting MS-13 gang members to find and kill more rivals, to sell more drugs, extort more victims to obtain money, and to recruit more members. There was also testimony that Guerra-Castillo raped and kidnapped a 14-year-old girl, who he took to live with him in Florida. Guerra-Castillo was 33 years old at the time of the kidnapping.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Jason Lando of the City of Frederick Police Department; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.
“As a leader in MS-13, Guerra-Castillo directed and approved the violent murders of individuals thought to be rival gang members,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “Guerra-Castillo will now serve practically a life sentence for his crimes. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and our partners are committed to stopping violent gangs like MS-13 to ensure that citizens can live peacefully and without fear in their communities.”
MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland. According to his guilty plea, beginning some time before January 2015, Guerra-Castillo was a member of the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas (“FLS”) clique of MS-13 and agreed with other MS-13 members to conduct and participate in gang activities through a pattern of racketeering activity that included conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, and drug distribution.
At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.” One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible.
MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increase the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position.
According to Guerra-Castillo’s plea agreement, on April 7, 2015, MS-13 members murdered Victim 1, a suspected rival gang member, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing rank in MS-13. Prior to the murder, gang leadership in Maryland sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to kill Victim 1. Guerra-Castillo also arranged for another gang member to participate in the murder of Victim 1. As part of the scheme to murder Victim 1, MS-13 members lured Victim 1 to a wooded area in Frederick, Maryland where members repeatedly struck Victim 1 with a machete and a knife until he was dead. The day after the murder, MS-13 members buried Victim 1 in a wooded area where Victim 1’s body was ultimately recovered.
Prior to May 10, 2015, at the direction of Guerra- Castillo, MS-13 gang members forced Victim 2 to make regular extortion payments to the gang. On May 10, 2015, Guerra-Castillo directed other MS-13 members and associates to kidnap and kill Victim 2, who had stopped making the extortion payments to the gang. Gang members held Victim 2 at gunpoint while Victim 2 was forced into a vehicle and taken to a wooded area. Once Victim 2 agreed to pay the gang, Guerra-Castillo and other leadership approved the release of Victim 2, despite their original order directing MS-13 members to murder Victim 2 for lack of payment.
As stated in his plea agreement, in August 2015, MS-13 members and associates sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to murder Victim 3, whom they believed to be a rival gang member. Several days prior to August 28, 2015, MS-13 gang members surveilled Victim 3 and his girlfriend, Victim 4 to determine when Victim 3 would be home. On the morning of August 28, 2015, gang members went to the apartment and waited inside for Victim 3 and Victim 4 to return. When they arrived, three gang members attacked Victim 3 and Victim 4 with a machete and knives. Although both victims survived the attack, Victim 3 was left with severe wounds to the face and both hands nearly severed. As a result of the attack, Victim 3 has lost all function of one hand and still has only limited use of the other.
Guerra-Castillo also admitted that he approved and assisted in the planning of the murder of a suspected associate of a rival gang, identified as Victim 18. On June 24, 2017, Guerra-Castillo’s girlfriend lured Victim 18 to a location so MS-13 members could kidnap and kill the victim. Once the victim was in the car, MS-13 members transported the victim to a secluded area in Crownsville, Maryland, where other MS-13 members had dug a grave and gathered weapons. When the victim arrived, MS-13 gang members attacked Victim 18 with a machete and knives, until the victim was dead. Victim 18’s body was then dismembered and buried in the grave. The murder of Victim 18 was intended to maintain and increase the status of MS-13 and allow members to maintain or increase their status within the gang.
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. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to call the FBI’s nationwide tipline, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713). The FBI tipline allows individuals to provide information about MS-13’s criminal activities to a central location and the FBI will then disseminate the information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation. Your identity will be protected.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick Police Department; the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Zachary Stendig, and Anatoly Smolkin, who are prosecuting this case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Lumberton Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Lumberton man was sentenced today to 192 months in prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. On June 9, 2021, Michael Hucks pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, from December of 2019 until January of 2020, law enforcement conducted an investigation into illegal firearm and drug trafficking occurring at 55 Van Born Drive in Lumberton, North Carolina. 55 Van Born Drive was a known drug house where armed drug dealers sold significant quantities of crack cocaine. In addition, multiple shootings were reported in and around the residence.
On December 12, 2019, a confidential informant purchased a loaded AR-15 style rifle from Michael Hucks and another target of the investigation. Less than a week later, on December 18, 2019, a confidential informant purchased another rifle from Hucks.
Prior to December 12, 2019, Hucks had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was prohibited from possessing firearms. In fact, Hucks was previously convicted of three violent felony offenses and determined to be an Armed Career Criminal at his sentencing hearing.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Lumberton Police Department, and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Rhoades prosecuted the case.
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. 7:20-CR-00184-D.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with the Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Alex Dunte Green, 34, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 15, 2021 in federal court in Lincoln for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Green to 87 months in prison followed by a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On June 3, 2019, law enforcement arranged a controlled purchase of a kilogram of cocaine from Green in the parking lot of a pharmacy in Lincoln. When Green and another individual arrived at the parking lot in an SUV, law enforcement responded. Green attempted to flee but was apprehended. The vehicle was searched, and law enforcement found a backpack in the backseat of the vehicle. Inside the backpack was a bag containing cocaine, a scale, unused baggies, and a wallet containing identification and debit cards for Green. A lab confirmed that there was about 989.9 grams of cocaine in the backpack.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Lewis County Man Sentenced for Controlled Substances OffensesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Charles W. Whitcher, age 41, of Port Leyden, New York, was sentenced On October 13, 2021 in federal court to 51 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of Pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
Whitcher was previously convicted in federal court, in 2003, for his involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Whitcher admitted that between August 2019 and September 2019, he distributed methamphetamine he had manufactured in his home using the “one pot” method, which uses Pseudoephedrine and other ingredients to produce methamphetamine that Whitcher would then distribute in exchange for cash or more Pseudoephedrine.
In addition to the 51-month term of imprisonment, Chief United States District Judge Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby imposed a term of 6 years of supervised release which will follow the term of incarceration.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the Lewis County Drug Task Force, the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office, the Lewis County Sherriff’s Office, and the New York State Police and was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.
Justice Department Participates in the 20th Annual International Competition Network ConferenceRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice Antitrust Division participated in the International Competition Network’s (ICN) 20th annual conference, virtually hosted by the Hungarian Competition Authority, on Oct. 13-15. Delegates from the ICN’s member jurisdictions, included agency leadership and staff, competition experts from international organizations and the legal, business, academic and consumer communities. Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Antitrust Division led the Department of Justice’s delegation.
“As we mark this significant milestone in the ICN’s history, it is an opportunity to reflect on our shared commitment to economic justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Powers. “As the global competition landscape expands and changes, the ICN will continue to foster important collaboration and convergence amongst its members.”
The conference showcased the achievements of the ICN’s Advocacy, Agency Effectiveness, Cartel, Merger, and Unilateral Conduct working groups and examined a range of competition enforcement and policy issues, including the continuing economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference also featured the preliminary results of the Federal Trade Commission-led “Third Decade” project, which seeks to assess the tools, topics, and operations of the ICN and provide a roadmap for its work during its third decade.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Powers spoke on a panel discussing issues and challenges in international cooperation in the fight against cross-border cartels. The Cartel Working Group breakout sessions focused on anti-cartel enforcement in the COVID-19 and digital eras. These sessions complemented the Cartel Working Group’s work product this year, which included a report summarizing trends and developments in anti-cartel enforcement during ICN’s second decade.
The Merger Working Group’s panel discussed merger control in the ICN’s third decade. The Merger Working Group’s breakout sessions explored topics stemming from key work product this year, including a report on joint ventures and updates to the ICN merger notification and procedures template.
The Advocacy Working Group’s panel focused on the importance of compliance programs, specifically for small and medium-size companies. Advocacy Working Group breakout sessions examined the ICN Advocacy Toolkit and the effectiveness of compliance from the business and compliance advisor perspectives. These sessions complemented the Advocacy Working Group’s work product this year, including a report on competition compliance.
The Agency Effectiveness Working Group’s panel focused on opportunities and challenges competition agencies may face in the post-COVID-19 era in areas such case prioritization, investigations, and digitalization and innovation efforts. Deputy Executive Officer Scott Minning participated in a breakout session to discuss the findings of the Agency Effectiveness Working Group’s report on digitalization, innovation and agency effectiveness. A second breakout session focused on a how competition agencies set enforcement priorities.
The Unilateral Conduct Working Group’s panel explored challenges competition agencies face when analyzing theories of harm and designing remedies in unilateral conduct cases in digital markets. The Working Group also discussed its working paper on dominance in digital markets.
Two other panels explored emerging topics of great interest and importance to members: effective international enforcement cooperation and the intersection of competition, consumer, and data privacy rules.
The ICN was created in October 2001 to increase understanding of competition policy and promote convergence toward sound antitrust enforcement around the world. It was founded by 15 agencies, including the Antitrust Division, and has grown to 140 agencies from 130 jurisdictions, supported by a wide network of non-governmental advisors from around the world.
Justice Department Awards over $270,000 in Grants to Local Law Enforcement AgenciesRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has awarded $272,998 collectively to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. These awards will be used to support criminal justice initiatives that fall under one or more of the allowable JAG program areas, which may include multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, justice information sharing initiatives, or other programs aimed at reducing crime and/or enhancing public/officer safety.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. It allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, including for any one or more of the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation); and 8) mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. Learn more at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/jag/overview.
Justice Department Anticorruption Task Force Launches New Measures to Combat Corruption in Central AmericaRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced a tip line to help assist its Anticorruption Task Force fight corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, a key component of the Vice President’s work to address the root causes of migration.
“As the Vice President recognized during her visit to Guatemala earlier this year, corruption and impunity in the region undermine democracy, fuel irregular migration, and pose a threat to our national security because they sustain criminal organizations and transnational crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In June, the Justice Department announced an Anticorruption Task Force, and has now created a tip line so that anyone with information about corrupt actors in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who are violating U.S. laws or moving proceeds of their crimes in or through the United States, may now report the conduct in Spanish or English at [email protected].”
Tips regarding possible corruption or movements of ill-gotten funds that are received through the email address will be reviewed by the Department of Justice’s Anticorruption Task Force. The Task Force will determine whether the tip indicates a possible jurisdictional link to the United States – including use of the U.S. financial system – that would allow the Task Force to investigate, to prosecute, and, where appropriate, to forfeit and return stolen assets to the people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The Task Force encourages our law enforcement partners in the region, or anyone with information about corruption-related crimes and possible violations of U.S. law, to contact the Task Force by emailing the FBI at [email protected].
Background on the Northern Triangle Anticorruption Task Force
As previously announced by U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the Department of Justice is committed to work to combat official corruption in countries in Central America where the conduct violates U.S. law. To that end, the Department of Justice created an Anticorruption Task Force focused on El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras with representatives from each of the following Criminal Division components:
- The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Unit of the Fraud Section, which enforces the U.S. criminal statute that generally prohibits certain persons — including U.S. companies and individuals, foreign companies whose shares trade on a U.S. stock exchange, and non-U.S. persons who engage in corrupt acts in the United States — from paying bribes overseas to obtain or retain business;
- The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative in the International Unit of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), which is focused on recovering assets linked to foreign corruption and prosecuting related money laundering, especially when corruption proceeds are found in the United States or were obtained or transferred through abuse of the U.S. financial system; and
- The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), which enforces federal narcotics laws against the manufacturing, importation, and distribution of illegal drugs into and out of the United States and laundering of profits or of funds to promote or facilitate narcotics trafficking, including corruption resulting from narcotics trafficking.
The work of the Task Force is also supported by special agents of the FBI’s International Corruption Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Allegations will be investigated by these law enforcement agencies, working in cooperation with the legal attachés and country representatives at our U.S. embassies, as well as with the Justice Department’s Task Force and the Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The task force is part of the Administration’s commitment to consistently engage in the region to address the root causes of migration. Corruption undermines government services and the rule of law, including critical institutions that provide health, education, and other services to those most in need. Corruption also deters attracting quality investment needed to create jobs. It is essential that we join efforts to increase transparency and bring swift prosecution for corruption.
Click here to view Spanish language press release.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court records, Jeffery Rivers, 39, sold almost a pound of pure methamphetamine to an individual in March of 2020. Rivers pled guilty on June 29, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Hailstorm,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi.
This operation 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.
The FBI Jackson Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Oct. 14 was:
Mary Schmidt Monahan, 61, of Missoula, on charges of unlawfully obtaining a controlled substance. If convicted of the most serious crime, Monahan faces a maximum four years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Monahan was released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-45.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Oct. 12 was:
Cody James Meeks 26, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Meeks faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Meeks was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-75.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Oct. 12 was:
Jeremy John Walston, 36, of Conrad, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Walston faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Walston was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-66.
Marlina Nannett Martinez, 23, of Wolf Point, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Martinez faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Martinez was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-25.
Dakota Houle, 25, unknown residence, on charges of assault with intent to commit murder, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime, Houle faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Houle was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-59.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
XXX
Imposter Provider of Autism Services to Serve Prison Time for Fraud and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESSICA STUART, 38, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for health care fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart was employed by Helping Hands Academy, LLC, in Bridgeport, which provided applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Helping Hands Academy enrolled as a participating provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”) in approximately September 2018.
Medicaid requires that ASD treatment services be provided under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. BCBAs are also required to be credentialed in writing by the state. Stuart does not have a college degree, was not a BCBA or licensed medical practitioner, and did not have any formal training in applied behavior analysis for ASD. Between approximately May 2019 and September 2020, Helping Hands Academy paid Stuart at least $146,0000 and submitted to Medicaid numerous fraudulent claims for applied behavioral analysis services that Stuart performed but was not qualified to provide. Stuart stole the professional identity of a legitimate BCBA so she could impersonate a BCBA and make a BCBA’s salary. Stuart caused Medicaid to pay out on over 1,900 fraudulent claims related to 12 children with ASD.
The investigation revealed that Stuart also used fraudulent or fabricated documents, or forged signatures, in other areas of her life.
Medicaid suffered a loss of more than $339,561 as a result of Stuart’s conduct. Judge Meyer ordered Stuart to make full restitution.
On June 2, 2021, Stuart pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of using false identification in connection with health care fraud.
Stuart is required to report to prison on December 3, 2021.
On April 28, 2021, Nicole Balkas, the owner of Helping Hands Academy, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud. She awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle acknowledged the valuable cooperation of the Connecticut Department of Social Services in the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Horse Cave Man and Company Charged a Second Time for Violations of the Safe Drinking Water ActRead the Press Release
BOWLING GREEN, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on October 13, 2021, charging Charles L. Stinson and Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc., a/k/a Hart Petroleum, with a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to the indictment, Stinson, 84, of Horse Cave, Kentucky, and the company, Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc., on or about September 13, 2019, willfully injected fluids into a sinkhole that was not permitted and authorized by rule for underground injection, at Payton #7 East lease, permit number KYI0420.
Court records show that Stinson and Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc., had previously been indicted and convicted for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in federal court in Case Number 1:12CR-12-M, in 2013, at the Payton #7 East lease. Stinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit violations of an underground injection control program. In his plea agreement, entered in open court on October 10, 2013, Stinson agreed that it was a part of the conspiracy that he would configure piping to convey fluids from the tank battery to a sinkhole and convey fluids into sinkholes, in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Stinson and coconspirators improperly conveyed fluids into sinkholes on Payton #7 East lease. Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc. was also convicted of two counts of violation of an underground injection control program.
In the current indictment, Stinson and Logsdon Valley are charged with one violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 300h-2(b)(2). The defendant is scheduled for an initial court appearance on October 27, 2021, before United States Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl.
If convicted, Stinson faces up to 3 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Logsdon Valley Oil is subject to a $500,000 fine and up to 3 years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett and Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Atlanta, Georgia made the announcement.
The Criminal Investigative Division of the United States Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Judd 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.
###
High-Ranking Member of Black Mob Gangstas Sentenced to 25 Years for Trafficking Crystal MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wake Forest man was sentenced today to 276 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to 24 consecutive months in prison, for violating the terms of his federal supervised release for a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Derek Louis Griffis, 33, was named in an Indictment filed on December 16, 2020. On July 7, 2021, Griffis entered a plea of guilty.
Griffis was a high-ranking member of the Black Mob Gangstas (BMG), a set of the Bloods street gang that terrorized southeast Raleigh for years under the leadership of Demetrice Regus Devine, a/k/a “Respect.”
In December 2019, members of the Raleigh Police Department determined that the Defendant was selling crystal methamphetamine while on federal supervised release for a prior conviction, possession of a firearm by a felon.
From December 2019 to January 2020, agents conducted several controlled purchases of highly pure crystal methamphetamine (“Ice”) from Griffis.
On January 31, 2020, members of the Wake Forest Police Department responded to a call regarding an armed man at the intersection of Ligon Mill Road and Burlington Mills Road in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Officers saw the Defendant, who was near a vehicle that was occupied by the Defendant’s girlfriend. The Defendant then walked to a wooded area. Officers found crystal methamphetamine and a digital scale, which the Defendant had just attempted to hide in the woods.
Officers then executed a search warrant at the residence of the Defendant’s girlfriend, and officers recovered marijuana and 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
A few weeks later, a loaded 9mm firearm was located near the Ligon Mill Road intersection where the Defendant had been arrested. The firearm had been purchased by the Defendant’s girlfriend.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Raleigh Police Department, Wake Forest Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For additional information about this initiative, click here https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-539-D-1.
###
Harrison County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Dustin Cain Anderson, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 24 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Anderson, 27, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Anderson, a person prohibited from having firearms, admitted to having a .22 caliber revolver in November 2020 in Upshur County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Green Forest Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking in Joint Prosecution between the Western District of Arkansas and the Eastern District of ArkansasRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH, Ark. – A Green Forest man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release on one count of Using Facility of Interstate Commerce to Entice Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and one count of Sex Trafficking of Children. The Honorable Judge P. K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Fort Smith.
According to court documents, in August of 2020, Berryville Police Department was notified that, Jason Daniel Vasquez, 22, had contacted a 14-year-old girl via Snapchat and had met with the minor on different occasions to engage in sexual acts. Days later Vasquez was arrested by Berryville Police Department after he arrived at a set location under the belief he was there to engage in sexual acts with the minor. Subsequent to Vasquez’s arrest, law enforcement located messages on Vasquez’s phone with another minor female. In the messages Vasquez offered to provide the minor tobacco products in exchange for sexual acts.
Acting U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas and Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross of the Eastern District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Berryville Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Bryant prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case was a joint prosecution by the Western District of Arkansas and the Eastern District of Arkansas. The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.justice.gov/psc.
Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart, announced today that Kevin Shacqile Roney, a/k/a “Kevo,” a/k/a “Valentine Roney,” 26, of Columbia, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that at approximately 1:15am on August 18, 2019, officers in the Five Points area of Columbia observed an individual, later identified as Roney, stash something underneath bushes adjacent to a parking lot. Officers discovered that the item was a loaded 9mm handgun. Officers set up surveillance and arrested Roney on state charges when he returned to retrieve the firearm an hour later. Roney, a gang member, admitted to placing the firearm underneath the bushes. Further investigation revealed a social media video from May 2020 where Roney, who had been released on state bonds, brandished another firearm in the video.
Roney is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior felony convictions. Roney has prior state convictions for unlawful carrying of a weapon, burglary 3rd degree, and assault and battery 2nd degree.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Roney to 30 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case as part of the as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
#####
Former Omaha Woman Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Morgan L. Perkhiser, 37, formerly of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 15, 2021, in federal court for wire fraud. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Perkhiser to 21 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Perkhiser will begin a two-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter also ordered Perkhiser to pay $468,144 in restitution.
An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that from December 2015 through December 2018 Perkhiser was employed by Omaha real estate business D. Thompson Realty as a junior office manager and bookkeeper. While employed by D. Thompson Realty, Perkhiser had access to D. Thompson Realty bank accounts, checks, and other financial documents. Perkhiser was authorized to write and sign checks issued from the D. Thompson Realty bank accounts for certain approved business-related purposes.
While working for D. Thompson Realty Perkhiser electronically deposited into her personal bank account unauthorized checks written by Perkhiser made payable to herself or her husband. On certain checks written to her husband, Perkhiser would fraudulently represent on the checks that payment was for legitimate business purposes. In fact, those checks did not relate to any legitimate business purpose and were not authorized. Checks written by Perkhiser made payable to herself were also not authorized by D. Thompson Realty and were not related to certain approved business-related purposes. Perkhiser used her position with D. Thompson Realty as junior office manager and bookkeeper to conceal the unauthorized checks from her employer.
To deposit each unauthorized check, Perkhiser would take a digital picture of the front and back of the unauthorized check with her cellphone and then using her bank’s mobile application, she would transmit (i.e. wire) those digital images in interstate commerce from the State of Nebraska to her bank’s servers, which are located in the State of California. Once the image of an unauthorized check was wired by Perkhiser, the fraudulently obtained funds were credited to defendant’s bank account.
From December 2015 through December 2018 Perkhiser wrote approximately 190 unauthorized checks that were negotiated from D. Thompson Realty bank accounts to Perkhiser’s personal bank accounts or the account of her husband. Loss to D. Thompson Realty totaled $468,144. Perkhiser used the fraudulently obtained funds to pay for personal “lifestyle” expenses, which included online shopping, food, and other entertainment.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former Moline Businessman sentenced to 41 months in connection with scam to rollback odometers at used car dealershipRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA- On Tuesday, October 11, 2021, Bradley Shane McCorkle, age 51, formerly of Moline, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 41 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to alter and rollback odometer mileage on used cars purchased by his Moline car dealership, 4th Avenue Auto Sales, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. McCorkle and his co-conspirators tampered with the mileage readings on more than 150 vehicles that were later sold to unsuspecting buyers. The defendants used “straw buyers” to purchase vehicles in their names to “wash” the titles and insulate McCorkle and 4th Avenue from the criminal conduct.
McCorkle was also ordered to pay $85,204 in restitution, serve three years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment, and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Department of Transportation, United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Former McKinney Man Indicted for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A former McKinney man has been charged with federal violations related to his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Sinoj Kallamplackal Joseph, 42, was charged in an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Texas with seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of making false statements to a bank. The indictment alleges that Joseph submitted fraudulent applications for over $3 million in PPP loans to an SBA-approved lender in the names of MK Analytics, LLC; Sanbi Solutions, LLC; and KMS Traders Group, LLC. In these applications, Joseph fabricated payroll records, including the number of employees working for his companies and the amounts of his payroll costs, the indictment alleges. The indictment also alleges that Joseph submitted fraudulent documentation in support of his applications. If convicted, Joseph faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charges and up to 30 years in federal prison for making false statements to a bank.
“This indictment is the latest installment in our District’s efforts to hold accountable those who perpetrate fraud on the Paycheck Protection Program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “PPP has been a vital tool for American small businesses and their employees who have struggled with the economic fallout from the pandemic. EDTX is committed to pursuing fraudsters who have exploited this program to the detriment of others.”
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Small Business Administration - OIG, Federal Reserve Board - OIG, FDIC - OIG, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Taylor and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld are prosecuting the case.
A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Former Controller Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Defrauding George Town ClubRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Isabelle Garcia, 56, former controller for the George Town Club, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison on a federal charge of wire fraud stemming from a scheme in which she defrauded the establishment of more than $300,000.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
Garcia pleaded guilty in July 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Following her prison term, she will be placed on three years of supervised release. She also is required to pay $300,422 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to a statement of offense submitted to the Court at the time of her guilty plea, Garcia began work in 2006 as the controller for the George Town Club, a private dining club located in the District of Columbia. She was responsible for maintaining the club’s financial affairs and had a great deal of discretion. From December 2006 to September 2013, Garcia used her control over financial accounts to make payments to herself and to third parties for her personal benefit. Through her scheme, Garcia wrongfully obtained $300,442.
An investigation led to Garcia’s indictment in 2018 and her subsequent arrest.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Frijas. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Lallas and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, who prosecuted the case.
Former City of Newark Official and Two Newark Businessmen Indicted in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former Newark city official and officer of the Newark Community Economic Development Corp. (NCEDC), along with two Newark business owners, were indicted today by a federal grand jury in connection with a conspiracy for the official to obtain corrupt payments intended to influence and reward him for assisting the business owners with the acquisition and redevelopment of various Newark-owned properties, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Carmelo G. Garcia, 45, of Hoboken, New Jersey, a former Newark official, and Frank Valvano Jr., 52, of Florham Park, New Jersey, and Irwin Sablosky, 60, of Springfield, New Jersey, co-owners of a New Jersey-based pawnbroker and jewelry business, are charged with: one count of conspiracy to defraud the city of Newark and the NCEDC of Garcia’s honest services facilitated by the use of interstate wire transmissions; 17 counts of honest services wire fraud; and four counts of use of interstate facilities to promote and facilitate bribery in violation of the Travel Act. Garcia is additionally charged with three counts of receiving bribes in connection with the business of a federally funded local government and organization and Valvano and Sablosky are additionally charged with three counts of offering those bribes. The defendants will be arraigned in federal court on a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From at least 2017 through April 2019, while serving as a high-level Newark official, and prior to that, as an executive officer of the NCEDC (now known as Invest Newark), Garcia sought and received significant monetary payments and other benefits from Valvano, Sablosky, and others in exchange for Garcia’s use of his official positions and influence to advance real estate development matters of interest to Valvano and Sablosky., including securing Newark-approved redevelopment agreements (RDAs) to purchase and acquire various Newark-owned properties for redevelopment, and to ensure that Garcia did not use his influence and authority to act against their interests. Garcia also received jewelry, including multiple high-end watches and chains, from Valvano’s and Sablosky’s pawnbroker and jewelry business, including a Rolex watch with a “Selling Price” of $8,900, a Cartier watch with a “Selling Price” of $3,295, an Omega watch with a “Selling Price” of $7,295, and a chain with a “Selling Price” of $9,345.
Phone records and text messages obtained by law enforcement show extensive communication between Garcia, Valvano, Sablosky, and others throughout this period of time, including text messages in which Garcia arranged to personally collect cash provided by Valvano and Sablosky. In one instance, in June 2018, Garcia, then the City’s acting deputy mayor and director of the city’s Department of Economic and Housing Development (DEHD), received an envelope containing $25,000 in cash, supplied by Valvano through an intermediary, in the restroom of a New Jersey restaurant. Text messages obtained by law enforcement show that Garcia used his personal cellular phone to coordinate the location and timing of the meeting.
In other text messages, Valvano and Sablosky discussed additional payments of money and jewelry the two had made to Garcia, and also to an associate of Garcia (identified in the indictment as “Individual 1”), as well as their ongoing efforts to obtain RDAs with the city to acquire and redevelop Newark-owned properties. E-mails obtained by law enforcement further show the official actions, assistance, and influence Garcia provided in violation of his duties in exchange for the cash and other non-cash benefits he received from Valvano and Sablosky and the actions that Valvano and Sablosky were seeking from Garcia for those benefits.
Defendants also took steps to conceal their corrupt and fraudulent arrangement. For example, they used coded language in their electronic communications to refer to the corrupt cash payments that Garcia accepted and agreed to accept, referring to the payments, for instance, as “docs” and “butter.” Also, Valvano informally kept track of the money and jewelry that Garcia received from Valvano and Sablosky in the form of handwritten notes drafted in a manner intended to obscure Garcia’s identity. The notes, for instance, included a list of figures, some annotated with dates or other notations, under the letter “C,” a veiled reference to Garcia using only the first initial of his first name.
The honest services fraud conspiracy and honest services wire fraud charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The Travel Act charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The bribery concerning governments receiving federal funds charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All charges are punishable by a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the pecuniary gain from the offense. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of ill-gotten gains obtained from the bribery scheme.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Manis, Elaine K. Lou, and Jihee G. Suh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Five Men Arrested in the Havensight Mall Area for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 25 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that charges have been filed against five men for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. Matthew Hazel, Jose Solano, Andrew Wilson, Cesar Thomas, and Lodwin Aahton were arrested Thursday, October 14, 2021, and made their initial appearances in federal court today, October 15, 2021.
According to court documents, on October 13, 2021, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Confidential Source (CS) met with Jose Solano to discuss the purchase of twenty-five (25) kilograms of cocaine in St Thomas, USVI. During the meeting, Solano agreed to sell the CS twenty-five kilograms of cocaine for $312,000. Cesar Thomas was also present with Solano during the meeting. Solano agreed to conduct the transaction on the following day.
On October 14, 2021, at approximately, 4:01 PM, agents and the CS arrived at the Havensight Mall, St. Thomas, USVI, which was the agreed-upon location for the CS to meet up with Solano for the 25-kilogram exchange. At approximately 4:03 PM, agents observed Solano arrive in a black Toyota Tacoma. Solano parked in the area between the Smoking Rooster and the Post Office, next to where the CS was located. Solano then exited the Tacoma a short time later.
Subsequently, a black Honda Civic, arrived, driven by Cesar Thomas with Andrew Wilson in the front passenger seat. Thomas and Wilson parked in the vicinity of Solano’s vehicle; both exited the vehicle and congregated around both the Honda and the Tacoma for about 45 minutes to an hour. During that time, federal agents observed Wilson on his phone several times, while pacing through the parking lot. Agents also observed Wilson using hand gestures to direct a dark colored Jeep Wrangler and black G35 Infiniti to his location in the Havensight Mall parking lot. The two cars—the Jeep, followed by the Infiniti—arrived on scene at approximately 4:44 PM.
The Jeep, a dark-colored Jeep Wrangler, was driven by Lodwin Ashton. After Ashton parked the Jeep in the same vicinity as the CS, the Tacoma, and the Honda Civic, agents observed Thomas and Wilson approach the Jeep and talk with Ashton. Moments later, the black G35 Infiniti sedan, which bore no license plate, joined the group. The Infiniti was driven by Matthew Hazel, and Jenel Smith was in the backseat.
Agents observed Thomas and Wilson approach Hazel and converse with him. Moments later, agents observed Hazel exit the G35 Infiniti as the trunk of the vehicle sprung open. Agents then observed Thomas, Hazel, and the CS at the rear of the G35 looking into the trunk. Moments later, agents observed Hazel close the trunk as the CS gave a signal to the agents, confirming the presence of kilograms of suspected cocaine to be present within the G35 Infinity.
Agents arrested Solano, Thomas, Wilson, Ashton, Hazel, and Smith, who were later transported to the DEA St. Thomas Resident Office for processing. After the arrest, agents recovered approximately twenty-five (25) brick-like packages of suspected cocaine from the trunk of the G35 Infinity and one (1) loaded semi-automatic Walther Arms handgun; model PPX; bearing serial number FBB2800, which Hazel was sitting on in the driver’s seat. Agents also recovered a second loaded semi-automatic handgun from the Jeep Wrangler, which was located underneath the steering wheel.
This case is being investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), Air Marine Operations (AMO), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith Edwards and Juan Albino.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Finance manager for Great Falls construction company admits embezzlement schemeRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – The finance manager of a Great Falls construction company today admitted to fraud in a scheme in which she falsified invoices to steal more than $500,000 from a client for the construction of a residence, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Lynn Bapp Tempel, 60, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Tempel faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A plea agreement filed in the case calls for Tempel to be responsible for complete restitution, which is estimated at $519,524.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Feb. 17, 2022. Tempel was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Tempel managed the finances of William Tempel Construction, which entered into a contract to build a residence for a client. Beginning in May 2013, subcontractors submitted invoices directly to William Tempel Construction. Tempel provided the client invoices in which she had fraudulently inflated the amount of payment required. William Tempel Construction received approximately $4.41 million from the client for the construction of the residence. The investigation determined that Tempel falsified, altered and inflated about 153 subcontractor invoices.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Great Falls Police Department.
XXX
Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- OctoberRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October 2021 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Osakwe Bandele; Marvin Leon Bowie Jr; Larry Hutton. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1,3) Felon in possession of ammunition. Bandele, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock .357 caliber pistol and ammunition. Bowie Jr., 40, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Finally, Hutton, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Beretta .40 caliber pistol and ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-466
Garrett Gene Barlow. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Barlow, 29, of Claremore, is charged with assaulting another individual with a knife on Sept. 22, 2021, in Tulsa. The defendant is alleged to have unsheathed his knife, held it to the victim’s neck in a show of force, threatened the victim, cut the victim’s arm, then punched the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-467
Tyler Gene Coddington. Kidnapping in Indian Country (Count 1); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 2, 4); Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country (Count 3); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 4); Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 5). Coddington, 27, of Tulsa, allegedly threatened the victim with a taser and kidnapped her on Dec. 26, 2019. He took the victim to a remote location where he tased and strangled the victim. Then on Feb 16, 2020, the defendant pointed a loaded firearm at the victim. Coddington is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2017 domestic violence conviction. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Briden is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-460
William Colby Cox. Felon in Possession of Firearms; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise (superseding). Cox, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a FEG 9mm pistol, a Rohm GMBH .25 caliber pistol; an Intratec 9mm pistol; a Rohm GMBH .22 caliber revolver; a Lorcin .380 caliber pistol; a Taurus Inc. .22 caliber pistol, and more than 85 rounds of ammunition. Cox, an alleged member of the Irish Mob, is also charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He is further charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is also charged with possessing firearms to further his drug trafficking crimes and with maintaining a Tulsa residence for the purpose of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-356
Richard Allen Fisher. Receiving, Possessing, and Concealing a Vehicle in Indian Country. Fisher, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing and concealing a stolen vehicle on Sept. 27, 2021. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-461
Isaac Ryan Foreman. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Foreman, 20, of Twin Oaks, is charged with stabbing another individual in the neck on Sept. 17, 2021. The FBI and Delaware Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-462
Corbin Gaylin Doyle Hairgrove. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying Firearms During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Hairgrove, 25, of Sapulpa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus 9 mm caliber pistol, a Rossi .38 caliber revolver and 18 rounds of associated ammunition. He is further charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and with carrying firearms during and in relation to his drug trafficking crimes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bartlesville Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case.n21-CR-463
Earnest Clay Johnson Jr. Robbery in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor). Johnson Jr., 31, of Tulsa, took the victim’s car keys, car, social security card and identification card on July 21, 2020, after he allegedly beat and strangled the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-464
Jeremy Aaron Mills. Possession of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Mills, 27, of Claremore, is charged with possessing child sexual abuse material depicting minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct on Oct. 1, 2021. He is further charged with knowingly receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material depicting minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct from June 6, 2021, to Oct. 1, 2021. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-468
Jorden Michael Roberts. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country (superseding). Roberts, 35, of Tulsa, is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from Oct. 30, 2020, to Jan. 31, 2021. He is further charged with breaking into a residence that was occupied at the time by kicking the door open and breaking the chain on the door. The U.S. Marshals Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-265
Shawn Alexander Simpson. Sexual Abuse of an Incapable Victim in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with an Incapable Victim in Indian Country. On July 18, 2021, Simpson, 51, of Tulsa, allegedly broke into a residence and sexually abused a victim he knew was incapable of giving consent. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-469
Aleta Necole Thomas; Pepper Jones; Katrina West. False Statement to a Financial Institution; (Counts 1-5); False Statement (Counts 6-15); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 16, 17) (2nd superseding). In total, Thomas, 42, Jones, 42, and West, 38, all of Tulsa, together and separately, are alleged to have fraudulently applied for and received nearly $800,000 worth of Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans administered by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Some of the false businesses the defendants allegedly used to apply for the loans included the Lead Us Kids Home Daycare, Coming Correction Community Ministries, Coming Correct Community Ministries II, and Lead Us Kids Daycare II. The Office of Inspector General Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-239
William Ray Turner. Wire Fraud (Counts 1-27); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 28-37). Turner, 30, of Tulsa, was a car dealership sales associate who allegedly devised and carried out a scheme where he used stolen identities to purchase vehicles and sometimes sold the vehicles to other individuals for cash. In total, Turner was responsible for more than $1 million in fraudulent vehicle sales.
From March 2019 to the date of this indictment, Turner was employed as a sales associate at a car dealership in Bartlesville. Turner sold cars, assisted customers in obtaining financing for the purchase of vehicles, and received commission payments for his sales. As part of his scheme, starting in May 2020, Turner acquired various means of identification belonging to individuals living throughout the United States. The defendant allegedly used the stolen means of identification to purchase vehicles from the dealership in the victims’ names. The vehicles would then leave the dealership’s lot. On at least one occasion, after Turner processed a fraudulent car sale, he transferred the vehicle to another individual, who paid the defendant via CashApp.
In the indictment, Turner is charged with 27 counts of wire fraud after causing wire communications related to the fraudulent loan applications and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently using others’ identities when applying for the loans. The U.S. Secret Service and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-470
El Salvador Man Indicted for Possession of Fraudulent Immigration DocumentsRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 14, 2021, Carlos Zavala Zamora, age 40, of El Salvador was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing fraudulent immigration documents.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that in September 2021, Zamora Zavala was arrested in Bloomsburg, PA, by agents of the Department of Homeland Security after being found in possession of a counterfeit Permanent Resident Card and counterfeit Social Security card.
The case was investigated by the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement section of the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this count is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
###
East Moline Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An East Moline, Illinois man, Christopher Ray Hicks, was sentenced on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 180 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Hicks was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
In October 2019, Hicks, age 39, was identified as a methamphetamine distributor in the Quad Cities. Following several controlled buys of methamphetamine, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Hicks’s residence and located methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and evidence suggestive of drug trafficking. In November 2019, Hicks had an active warrant for his arrest and law enforcement located him in Davenport. After arresting him, officers searched Hicks’s vehicle and located, among other things, a large, plastic-wrapped candle stuffed with a pound of methamphetamine. In a post-Miranda statement, Hicks admitted conspiring with Luis Hernandez-Barajas and others to distribute methamphetamine. On October 31, 2020, Hicks pleaded guilty to the offense.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group investigated the case.
East Moline Businessman sentenced to 37 months in connection with scam to rollback odometers at used car dealershipRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA- On Tuesday, October 11, 2021, Isaac Bell, age 34, of East Moline, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 37 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to alter and rollback odometer mileage on used cars purchased by his Moline car dealership, 4th Avenue Auto Sales, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. McCorkle and his co-conspirators tampered with the mileage readings on more than 150 vehicles that were later sold to unsuspecting buyers. The defendants used “straw buyers” to purchase vehicles in their names to “wash” the titles and insulate Bell and 4th Avenue from the criminal conduct.
Bell was ordered to pay $85,204 in restitution, serve three years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment, and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims’ Fund.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Bureau of Investigation; United States Department of Transportation; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on October 13, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Theophile Jesse Taken Alive, age 38, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Taken Alive was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2021. He pled guilty on July 12, 2021.
The conviction stems from Taken Alive failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between March 19, 2020, and November 3, 2020. Taken Alive had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court which requires him to register for the rest of his life.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Taken Alive was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dubuque Felon Back to Federal Prison After Escaping, Illegally Possessing Another FirearmRead the Press Release
A felon who escaped from a Waterloo halfway house following a federal gun conviction and was later found with a stolen firearm was sentenced on October 14, 2021, to more than five years in federal prison.
Nicholas Cameron Anderson, age 32, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 29, 2021 guilty plea to one count of escape from custody and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court records show that Anderson pled guilty in 2016 in the Northern District of Iowa to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced in 2017 to 63 months in federal prison. While Anderson was still a federal inmate serving that sentence, he was housed at a residential re-entry center in Waterloo, Iowa. In September 2020, Anderson left custody without authorization after being arrested for possessing drug paraphernalia in the Waterloo facility. He was found in January 2021 in Dubuque after he kicked in a woman’s door following an argument over a cell phone. Police found him in a nearby apartment. He had hidden a stolen handgun on the back porch of the apartment, where it was found by the officers. In addition to the federal firearm conviction, Anderson had previously been convicted of three other felonies in state court in Dubuque: theft from a person in 2007; burglary in the third degree in 2007; and escape in 2009.
Anderson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Anderson was sentenced to 69 total months’ imprisonment, comprised of 69 months’ imprisonment for the firearm charge and 60 concurrent months’ imprisonment for the escape. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Anderson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-1010-CJW. Anderson’s prior federal case file number was 16-CR-01030-1-LRR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Departamento de Justicia anuncia nuevas medidas para ayudar a combatir la corrupción en CentroaméricaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy el establecimiento de una línea de denuncias para apoyar a la Fuerza de Tarea Anticorrupción que combate la corrupción en El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, un componente clave del trabajo de la Vice-Presidente para tratar con las causas fundamentales de la migración.
“Conforme reconoció la Vice Presidenta durante su visita a Guatemala a principios de año, la corrupción y la impunidad en la región debilitan la democracia, incentivan la migración, y representan una amenaza a la seguridad nacional toda vez que sostienen las organizaciones criminales y los crímenes transnacionales,” dijo Kenneth A. Polite Jr., Sub-Procurador General de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia. “En junio, el Departamento de Justicia anunció una Fuerza de Tarea para combatir la corrupción y ahora ha creado una línea de denuncias para que cualquier persona con información sobre actores corruptos en El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras, quienes hayan violado las leyes de los Estados Unidos o quienes hayan movido el capital producto del crimen en o a través de los Estados Unidos, puedan informar tal conducta en español o inglés a través de [email protected].”
Denuncias sobre posibles actos de corrupción o movimientos de capitales mal habidos que hayan sido recibidas a través de la dirección de correo electrónico serán examinadas por la Fuerza de Tarea del Departamento de Justicia. La Fuerza de Tarea habrá de determinar si la denuncia indica un posible nexo jurisdiccional con los Estados Unidos -incluyendo el uso del sistema financiero de los Estados Unidos- lo que permitirá que la Fuerza de Tarea pueda investigar, procesar criminalmente y donde proceda, incautar y devolver los bienes robados al pueblo de El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras.
La Fuerza de Tarea exhorta a nuestros colegas de las agencias de ley y orden en la región, así como a cualquiera con información relacionada a crímenes de corrupción y de posibles violaciones a las leyes de los Estados Unidos, a contactar a la Fuerza de Tarea enviando un correo electrónico a la siguiente dirección: c[email protected].
Trasfondo de la Fuerza de Tarea de Anticorrupción del Triángulo del Norte
Según fuera anunciado por el Secretario de Justicia de los Estados Unidos, Merrick B. Garland, el Departamento de Justicia está comprometido con trabajar para combatir la corrupción de oficiales en Centroamérica cuando la conducta viola las leyes de los Estados Unidos. A esos fines, el Departamento de Justicia ha creado una Fuerza de Tarea de Anticorrupción enfocada en El Salvador, Guatemala, y Honduras con representantes de los siguientes componentes de la División Criminal:
- La Unidad de la Ley de Prácticas Corruptas en el Extranjero de la División de Fraude (FCPA por sus siglas en inglés), la cual ejecuta los estatutos criminales que generalmente prohíben a ciertas personas – incluyendo a individuos y compañías de los E.U., compañías extranjeras que mercadean acciones en la bolsa de valores de E.U., y personas que no son ciudadanos de E.U., pero que llevan a cabo actos de corrupción en E. U. – de pagar sobornos fuera de E.U. para obtener o retener negocios.
- La Iniciativa de Cleptocracia y Recuperación de Activos de la Unidad Internacional de la Sección de Lavado de Dinero y Recuperación de Activos (MLARS por sus siglas en inglés), la cual está enfocada en recuperar activos vinculados a la corrupción extranjera y procesar criminalmente el lavado de dinero (blanqueo de capitales), especialmente cuando el capital de la corrupción es encontrado en Estados Unidos o fue obtenido o transferido a través del abuso del sistema financiero de los E.U.; y
- La Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas (NDDS por sus siglas en inglés), la cual ejecuta las leyes federales de narcóticos en contra de la manufactura, importación y distribución de drogas ilegales dentro y fuera de los Estados Unidos y el lavado de las ganancias y capital que promueve o facilita el tráfico de narcóticos, incluyendo la corrupción resultante del tráfico de narcóticos.
La labor de la Fuerza de Tarea es también apoyada por los agentes especiales de la Unidad de Corrupción del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI por sus siglas en inglés), de la Administración de Control de Drogas (DEA por sus siglas en inglés), y el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS por sus siglas en inglés). Las alegaciones serán investigadas por este grupo de agencias de ley y orden, trabajando en cooperación con los agregados legales y los representantes de los países en cada nación extranjera, así como con la Fuerza de Tarea del Departamento de Justicia y la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento.
La Fuerza de Tarea es parte del compromiso de la Administración de envolverse consistentemente en la región para atender las causas principales que causan la migración. La corrupción socava los servicios gubernamentales y el estado de derecho. Socava instituciones críticas que proveen servicios de salud, educación y otros servicios a aquellos quiénes más lo necesitan. La corrupción impide que surjan las inversiones de calidad que son necesarias para crear empleos. Es imprescindible que unamos esfuerzos para aumentar la transparencia y llevar a cabo enjuiciamientos contra la corrupción en una manera efectiva y rápida.
Fuerza de Tarea del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos para Combatir la Corrupción en Centroamérica
Denver Jury Convicts Felon for Possessing Ammunition after Deadly ShootoutRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that a federal jury in Denver has found Zyaire Williams, age 21, guilty of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. The jury announced its verdict on October 14, 2021. Trial began in federal court on October 12, 2021.
At trial, the government presented evidence that on July 1, 2020, a deadly gang shoot-out took place on Downing Street in downtown Denver, after an argument in a liquor store. Zyaire Williams, a gang member, fired seven rounds from a 9mm handgun, and the shell casings were later recovered by the Denver Police Department. One person was injured and another person was killed in the shooting. Prior to this shooting, Williams had two previous felony convictions and therefore was prohibited from possessing ammunition.
Williams will be sentenced by the United States District Court for the District of Colorado at a later date. Williams faces up to ten years imprisonment.
The ATF and the Denver Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Celeste Rangel and Tom Minser are handling the prosecution.
Case number: 20-cr-0278
# # #
Visit our website http://www.justice.gov/usao/co | Follow us on Twitter @DCoNews
Defendant Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for 2011 MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL CASTILLO, a/k/a “Squirrel,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl to 276 months in prison for the March 10, 2011 murder of Hector Arias in the Bronx, New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In 2011, Michael Castillo shot and killed Hector Arias in cold blood in front of his fiancée and her young child. Today’s lengthy sentence shows that law enforcement will never give up on murder victims and their loved ones, no matter how long it takes to achieve justice.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and other filings and statements made in court:
CASTILLO was a member of a conspiracy to distribute marijuana centered near 193rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan. CASTILLO was hired by the leader of the conspiracy, DAVID ESPINAL, a/k/a “D-Block,” to kill Hector Arias, the leader of a rival marijuana business operating in the same area. On March 10, 2011, CASTILLO shot and killed Arias near 712 East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, New York. Arias’s fiancée and her eight year-old child witnessed the murder. CASTILLO and ESPINAL’s murder plot arose out of the rivalry between ESPINAL and Arias’s two marijuana businesses. After CASTILLO completed the murder, ESPINAL paid him in cash.
* * *
In addition to his prison sentence, CASTILLO, 38, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
On or about December 8, 2020, CASTILLO’s co-defendant, ESPINAL, pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill Arias, among other offenses. During his guilty plea, ESPINAL admitted to hiring a hitman to kill Arias.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter, Maurene Comey, Peter J. Davis, Scott Hartman, Lindsey Keenan and Jacqueline Kelly are in charge of the prosecution.
DeSoto County Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, United States District Judge Aileen M. Cannon sentenced 51-year-old Donald Reid to seven and one-half years in prison for dealing methamphetamine.
Reid distributed methamphetamine on four separate occasions in 2019. On July 3, 2019, Reid sold 26.4 grams of methamphetamine in Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida. On August 9, 2019, Reid sold 55.7 grams of methamphetamine in Arcadia, DeSoto County, Florida. On August 16, 2019, Reid sold 55.8 grams of methamphetamine in Arcadia. And, on September 9, 2019, Reid sold 110.14 grams of methamphetamine in Arcadia.
On October 22, 2019, a Highlands County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped Reid as he was driving to Highlands County from DeSoto County. After a K-9 alerted on the vehicle, law enforcement seized 209.8 grams of methamphetamine and over $6,000 cash from the vehicle. Reid admitted that he was a drug dealer and that he obtained at least eight to 16 ounces of methamphetamine a week from his supplier. Reid was on bond for a pending felon-in-possession charge out of DeSoto County, Florida at time of the traffic stop.
Reid previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and La Verne J. Hibbert, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division announced the sentence.
DEA Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-14019.
###