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Thursday 26 August 2021
Federal Jury Says Guilty to Hialeah Woman Who Stole Co-Worker Identities and over $152,000 from Local Small BusinessRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Following a three-day trial, a South Florida federal jury this week found 27-year-old Hialeah resident Dianelis Molina Noda guilty of using stolen identities and several of her own bank accounts to steal payroll funds from the family-owned landscaping business for which she had worked for about four years.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Molina Noda handled the payroll of Greentree, Inc., a local landscaping company, and used her access to its records to commit fraud. Using the identities of 20 former employees of the small business, Molina Noda logged work hours in their names and sent the information to a payroll company, which triggered the payroll company to issue paychecks or make direct deposits to accounts. Molina Noda set up three bank accounts and used them to receive the direct deposits. Between August 2018 and March 2019, Molina Noda stole over $152,000 from this family-owned landscaping company, in addition to collecting her salary. She spent the money on cosmetic surgery, jewelry, furniture, an Orlando timeshare, and a Disney ticket package, among other things.
The jury found Molina Noda guilty of five counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. She faces a maximum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment for the wire fraud, plus two years of imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft. Sentencing is set for October 29, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Chief District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the jury’s verdict.
FBI Miami investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and Abbie Waxman.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 21-cr-20087.
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Federal Jury Convicts Two Men for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found two men guilty of illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a three-day trial before Judge Paul A. Magnuson, a jury found Jarvae Josiah Somerville, 28, of White Bear Lake, and Ronald Donte Finley, Jr., 26, of Minneapolis, guilty of one count each of illegal possession of a firearm.
“The increase in violence, throughout the Twin Cities, often as a result of firearms in the possession of felons, must end. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with our local law enforcement partners to focus on those individuals who put public safety at risk,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Today’s verdict helps reaffirm our collective commitment to reducing the gun violence.”
“When ATF was asked to take part in the U.S. Attorney’s Violent Crime Task Force initiative last summer, we fully committed to investigating the top violent offenders wreaking havoc in Minneapolis,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the St. Paul Field Division. “It’s clear with today’s verdict that these two had little regard for the safety of others. We hope this verdict is a warning to those who are illegally possessing and using firearms in the Twin Cities. ATF continues to work alongside the Minneapolis Police Department and our other law enforcement partners to pursue individuals choosing to inflict violence on others using firearms.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers were investigating a shooting, when the officers witnessed Somerville and Finley at a restaurant on Lake Street in Minneapolis. While Somerville was inside the restaurant and Finley was outside near an Infinity sedan that the men were driving, officers moved in to make an arrest. When officers approached Finley, Finley ran from the Infinity sedan but was apprehended and arrested. Inside the Infiniti sedan, officers found a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. When officers entered the restaurant and attempted to arrest Somerville, Somerville ran inside a private bathroom in the back of the restaurant. Two officers chasing Somerville followed Somerville inside, and Somerville reached into his waistband. Concerned that Somerville was reaching for a firearm, an officer grabbed Somerville’s hands, and the three men struggled until other officers arrived to assist. After Somerville was handcuffed and taken into custody, officers recovered from the floor of the bathroom a Glock, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine.
After the arrests, officers executed a search warrant at Somerville’s residence and found a box of .45 caliber ammunition the same model of which was found in the firearm found in the bathroom. Officers also found a gun cleaning kit. Investigators later confirmed that Finley’s fingerprints were present on the magazine of the 9mm pistol found in the Infiniti sedan.
Because Somerville has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County and Finley has prior felony convictions in Cook County, Illinois, they are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
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.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez tried the case.
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Federal Jury Convicts Mercer County Man of Retaliating Against Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Nearly $5 million fraudulent lien filed in retaliation for single wage garnishment
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A federal jury convicted a Mercer County man of retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by filing a fraudulent lien and attempting to interfere with the administration of Internal Revenue laws. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the two-day jury trial.
According to court records and evidence at trial, Jeffrey Reed, 62, of Flat Top, West Virginia, owed a significant tax debt to the Department of Treasury and was employed by a hotel in the Oak Hill, West Virginia area. In 2015, after letters sent to Reed from the IRS were either sent back or ignored, an IRS revenue officer took steps to garnish a portion of Reed’s wages. When Reed learned of these efforts, he met with managers of the hotel and requested that they not comply with the IRS’ attempts to garnish his wages. In retaliation for a single wage garnishment of $598, Reed filed a $4.95 million lien with the Mercer County Clerk directed against the revenue officer and the owner of the hotel. Reed’s lien claimed 165 constitutional violations, including illegal search and seizure, war, treason and slavery. Reed also sought to attach any real and personal property owned by the revenue officer and the owner of the hotel.
Reed further claimed that the revenue officer owed him an additional $9 million because his name had been copyrighted.
Department of Treasury Special Agents testified they spoke to Reed in February 2020 at which time he admitted to filing the lien against the revenue officer. Reed indicated that he filed the lien in order to obstruct the collection of his wages.
Reed faces up to 13 years in federal prison and a fine up to $500,000 when he is sentenced on November 29, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commended the excellent work of the revenue officer and the Department of Treasury agents that worked on the case. The United States Department of Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administrations (TIGTA)-Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The prosecution was specifically authorized by the United States Department of Justice, Tax Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-66.
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Federal Judge Sentences Chicago Man to Eight Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Gun on City’s West SideRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.
EDDIE JONES, 28, illegally possessed the gun in the 800 block of North Homan Avenue on June 5, 2020. Chicago Police officers responding to the sound of gunfire observed Jones running along the street and tossing the gun into a vacant lot. The firearm was equipped with a laser scope and loaded with multiple rounds of ammunition. Further investigation revealed that three victims were wounded by gunfire moments before the officers encountered Jones.
Jones pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal possession of a firearm. He had previously been convicted of felonies in state court, including firearm-related offenses, and was prohibited by federal law from possessing the gun.
In imposing the prison sentence Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah found that Jones used the handgun in the attempted murders of the three wounded victims.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cornelius A. Vandenberg.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Fort Washakie Man Charged in Two Separate IndictmentsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that ROYCE NEIL PERRY JR a/k/a “Chucky”, 24, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was charged in two separate indictments by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2021.
Perry appeared on August 24 in Lander, Wyoming, before United States Magistrate Judge Teresa McKee on both indictments and pled not guilty.
In the first indictment, Perry is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury. These three counts stem from an incident in 2019. The maximum penalty upon conviction in this first indictment is up to 25 years in prison and seven years of supervised release.
In the second indictment, Perry is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child abuse in a second indictment. According to that indictment, on or about November 2, 2020, Perry drove a motor vehicle, under the influence of controlled substances, in a reckless manner, killing one occupant and injuring two children. The maximum penalty upon conviction in the second indictment is up to 26 years in prison and nine years of supervised release. All counts are subjectable to fines and special assessments.
A jury trial is set for October 25, 2021, in Casper before Chief United States District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
The investigations are being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore is prosecuting the case. The charges against Perry are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Essex County Man Charged in Shooting of Two PeopleRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man with a previous felony was arrested today on charges related to the shooting of two people in a housing complex, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Ramad Moultrie, 19, of Newark, is charged by complaint with unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. He made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 2, 2021, members of the Newark Police Department responded to multiple shootings at the Grace West Manor Complex on Irvine Turner Boulevard, where they located two victims with gunshot wounds. Surveillance video recorded Moultrie waving members of a crowd, including small children, out of his way before firing a handgun towards the two victims. Three .45 auto caliber casings were recovered from the area where Moultrie discharged the firearm. A .45 caliber handgun and a quantity of heroin were recovered when Moultrie was arrested at his residence.
Moultrie has been convicted twice in the state of New Jersey for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and once for possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
The felon in possession of ammunition charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; and officers of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara, with the investigation leading to these charges.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Shaughnessy of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Enrolled member of Navajo Nation sentenced to eight years in prison for sex abusive of a minorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Larry Nathaniel, 65, of Farmington, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Aug. 25 in federal court to eight years and six months in prison for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country. Nathaniel pleaded guilty on Feb. 2.
According to the indictment and other court records, Nathaniel committed the offense in the family home of the victim in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation on Feb. 24, 2019. Nathaniel held down the victim by the arm and touched her genitalia. At the time of the abuse, the victim was ten years old.
Upon his release from prison, Nathaniel will be subject to five years of supervised release and also must register as a sex offender.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Nayback prosecuted the case.
Doctor Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Thousands of Oxycodone Pills IllegallyRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Dr. EMMANUEL LAMBRAKIS, a former state-licensed doctor, was sentenced this afternoon to 188 months in prison for conspiring to distribute medically unnecessary oxycodone unlawfully. LAMBRAKIS pled guilty on November 26, 2019, before U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III, and was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Dr. Emmanuel Lambrakis wrote medically unnecessary prescriptions for thousands of oxycodone pills – an addictive and potentially fatal opiate. Instead of abiding by his oath to ‘do no harm,’ Lambrakis pumped deadly drugs into the community. Lambrakis put his own greed before his duties as a medical professional, and for that he will now spend a lengthy term in federal prison.”
According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other court documents, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:
Oxycodone is a highly addictive, narcotic opioid that is used to treat severe and chronic pain conditions. Oxycodone prescriptions are in high demand and can be resold on the street for thousands of dollars. A single prescription for 120 30-milligram tablets of oxycodone can net an illicit distributor $2,400 in cash or more.
From at least approximately January 2011 until December 2016, LAMBRAKIS operated two medical clinics in Queens, New York, where LAMBRAKIS wrote numerous medically unnecessary prescriptions for large quantities of oxycodone in exchange for cash payments. LAMBRAKIS typically charged approximately $150 in cash for “patient visits,” and these visits often involved numerous “patients” being seen by LAMBRAKIS at the same time in the same examination room. During these “patient visits,” LAMBRAKIS would perform simple, perfunctory body manipulations (such as rotating the patient’s arm or leg) and engage in little or no conversation with the purported “patient.” Nonetheless, LAMBRAKIS would then issue to the patient a prescription for a large quantity of oxycodone, most often 120 30-milligram tablets or more.
Between January 2011 and December 2016, LAMBRAKIS wrote hundreds of oxycodone prescriptions, resulting in the illicit distribution of thousands of oxycodone tablets. On numerous occasions, LAMBRAKIS wrote 100 or more prescriptions for 30-milligram oxycodone pills in a single day. As a result of LAMBRAKIS’s actions, LAMBRAKIS collected approximately more than $3 million in fees from his “patients.”
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LAMBRAKIS, 74, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to unlawfully distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.
In addition to the prison term, LAMBRAKIS was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $3,093,000, representing the amount he gained from issuing medically unnecessary oxycodone prescriptions.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad, which comprises agents and officers from the DEA, the NYPD, the New York State Police, Town of Orangetown Police Department, Rockland County Drug Task Force, Westchester County Police Department, and New York City Department of Investigation. She also acknowledged the assistance of the Department of Health & Human Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the New York City Human Resources Administration, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finkel, Sarah Mortazavi, Kimberly J. Ravener, and Jessica K. Fender are in charge of the prosecution.
Disbarred Lawyer Found Guilty of Multiple Felonies for Stealing Client Settlement Money and Cheating on Federal Income TaxesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A disbarred personal-injury lawyer was found guilty by a federal jury today of 22 felonies for stealing the majority of a multimillion-dollar settlement that should have been paid to a car accident victim, as well as cheating on his federal income taxes.
Philip James Layfield, a.k.a. “Philip Samuel Pesin,” 48, of Las Vegas and formerly of Coto de Caza, was found guilty of 19 counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of tax evasion, one count of failure to collect and pay over payroll taxes, and one misdemeanor charge of failure to file a tax return. Following the jury verdicts, Layfield was remanded into federal custody.
According to evidence presented at his 13-day trial, Layfield owned and operated law firms, including Layfield & Barrett (L&B), which, at various times, maintained offices in Irvine; Los Angeles; El Segundo; Park City, Utah; and Scottsdale, Arizona.
After he had misappropriated millions of dollars from clients’ settlements, Layfield relocated to Costa Rica. Just before getting on a flight to Costa Rica, Layfield borrowed $700,000 from a business lender by providing misleading information and failing to disclose material information. Then he used substantial portions of the loan proceeds for personal expenses, including buying a horse and shipping horses to Costa Rica.
In 2016, Layfield entered into an agreement to represent an individual who was struck by an automobile in Orange County and suffered significant injuries. After negotiating a $3.9 million settlement related to the accident, Layfield misappropriated most of the money owed to the victim – approximately $2 million for personal and business uses, including to pay clients whose settlement proceeds Layfield had earlier misappropriated. The car accident victim received only $25,000 of the settlement proceeds.
Layfield also failed to file a federal income tax return for the tax year 2016, despite receiving more than $3 million, including embezzled client settlement money. Layfield also caused his law firm to not pay approximately $120,976 in payroll taxes to the United States government for the second quarter of 2017.
United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald has scheduled a November 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Layfield will face a statutory maximum sentence of more than 200 years in federal prison.
The State Bar of California disbarred Layfield in October 2018. Layfield also was a certified public accountant, but his CPA license expired in July 2019, according to the California Board of Accountancy.
Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark R. Aveis and Carolyn S. Small of the Major Frauds Section and Ian V. Yanniello of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
Denver, N.C. Man Is Sentenced to Four and A Half Years in Prison for Defrauding His Former Employer of More than $4 MillionRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Guzman, 43, of Denver, N.C., was sentenced today to 54 months in prison and two years of supervised release for defrauding his former employer of more than $4 million, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Guzman to pay $4.1 million in restitution.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to court records, plea documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from June 2019 to May 2020, Guzman executed a scheme to defraud his employer, identified in court documents as Company A, of more than $4 million, by improperly auctioning off Company A’s assets and funneling the proceeds through shell companies he formed. Company A is a large equipment rental company headquartered in Fort Mill, S.C., that rents out on-road and off-road machinery for construction and other purposes. Guzman worked for Company A as a Fleet Operations Manager, and was responsible for, among other things, the disposal of aged equipment, also known as assets.
Court records show that, during the relevant time period, Guzman arranged for approximately 398 assets of Company A to be auctioned off through an online auction house that buys and sells used heavy construction equipment. To perpetuate the fraud, Guzman represented to the auction house that the assets were owned by Guzman’s shell companies, when in fact the majority of the assets were still owned by Company A. In his capacity as a Fleet Operations Manager, Guzman was able to hide the scheme from Company A by manipulating internal company records.
According to filed court documents, Guzman arranged for the proceeds of the sales to be sent to a bank account under his control and used the money to buy a condominium in South Carolina, a plot of land in New York, an RV vehicle, a boat, and multiple cars and trucks.
On May 20, 2021, Guzman pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon to begin serving his sentence designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the FBI for their investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Vento, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Davenport man, Preston Andrew Cole, age 28, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 144 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. Cole was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release to follow his prison term as well as pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund and $3,000.00 in restitution.
According to court documents, a routine home contact was conducted by the United States Probation Office at Cole’s residence due to Cole being on federal supervision. The probation officer noticed a wi-fi router and multiple electronic devices with internet connectivity capabilities. Cole was interviewed and admitted to viewing child pornography on the devices and consuming alcohol – both violations of his supervised release. A forensic examination of the devices revealed multiple images of child pornography. On April 28, 2021, Cole admitted to the facts above and pleaded guilty to the charge. Cole had been previously convicted of receiving child pornography in May 2016 and was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment with 10 years of supervised release to follow. Due to the new charges, his supervised release was revoked, and he was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison. That term was ordered to be served consecutive to the 144 months’ imprisonment on the new charge.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the
U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Connections Community Support Programs Agrees to Judgments of over $15 Million to Resolve Health Care Fraud and Controlled Substances AllegationsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. (“CCSP”) has agreed to the entry of consent judgments totaling over $15,300,000 to resolve two lawsuits brought by the federal government alleging health care fraud arising under the federal False Claims Act and violations of the Controlled Substances Act. Prior to the sale of its assets in bankruptcy, CCSP provided a variety of mental health and addiction treatment services at numerous locations throughout Delaware.
CCSP has agreed to the entry of a judgment in the amount of $13,757,520.60, plus interest, to resolve claims that CCSP violated the False Claims Act by billing for mental health services performed by individuals whose professional qualifications did not allow them to bill Medicare or Medicaid for reimbursement and by billing Medicaid for mental health services using incorrect procedure codes for the person performing the service, resulting in higher payments than were permitted. CCSP has also agreed to the entry of a judgment in the amount of $1,621,571, plus interest, to resolve claims that it violated the federal Controlled Substances Act by negligently failing to keep proper records of its use of controlled substances, including methadone and buprenorphine, in its treatment of patients with substance use disorders and by transferring controlled substances between locations without proper documentation.
On April 19, 2021, shortly after the filing of these two lawsuits by the United States, CCSP filed for bankruptcy. On June 15, 2021, CCSP completed a sale, overseen by the Bankruptcy Court, of its assets and operations to Conexio Care, Inc. and Coras Wellness and Behavioral Health, which are now providing the mental health and addition treatments services formerly provided by CCSP. The settlement agreements and consent judgments agreed to by CCSP and the United States must still be approved by the Bankruptcy Court and the final amount of any recovery by the United States will be limited by the availability of funds in the bankruptcy estate to pay the United States and other creditors of CCSP.
“For many years, Connections was improperly billing government programs for mental health services and failing to properly monitor and document its controlled substances inventory,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. “These settlements, together with the transfer of all of Connections’ services and operations to providers, finally resolve Connections’ long history of poor legal and regulatory compliance which jeopardized the provision of important mental health and substance abuse treatment to the residents of the State of Delaware.”
“These allegations depict CCSP as a health care provider that truly disserved patients and their Federal health care programs,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Falsely billing Medicare and Medicaid demonstrates a lacking regard for the stability of these programs and the beneficiaries who depend on their services. With our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG continuously strives to swiftly combat such fraud.”
“Narcotics treatments programs such as Connections were entrusted with dispensing drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine to assist people with substance use disorder. However, with that responsibility comes the obligation to properly document the use and transfer of these same drugs,” said Thomas Hodnett, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “This civil judgment serves as notice to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and the requirements to safeguard drugs used for medication assisted treatment.”
The False Claims Act settlement announced today partially resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act. The government’s claims are based on a whistleblower suit filed by two former CCSP employees. A whistleblower suit, or qui tam action under the False Claims Act, is commenced by an individual, known as a “relator,” filing a complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court, and providing a copy of the complaint and other evidence to the local U.S. Attorney. The United States then has an opportunity to investigate the claims. The False Claims Act provides the whistleblower with a share of the government’s recovery. Separate from the settlement announced today, the qui tam relators are continuing to pursue additional claims against CCSP and its former CEO Catherine Devaney McKay.
The United States is also continuing to pursue its claims for violations of the Controlled Substances Act against McKay as well as two other corporate executives, William Northey and Steven Davis, which are not part of the settlement announced today.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger and Laura D. Hatcher represented the United States in the False Claims Act matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dylan J. Steinberg and Laura D. Hatcher represented the United States in the Controlled Substances Act matter.
Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit are on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:19-cv-475-CFC for the False Claims Act matter and 1:21-cv-00514-MN for the Controlled Substances Act matter.
Connecticut Resident Sentenced to Prison for Operating Immigration Marriage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JODIAN STEPHENSON, also known as “Jodian Gordon,” 37, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to six months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for arranging fraudulent marriages so that non-U.S. citizens would receive U.S. immigration benefits.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stephenson operated Stephenson Immigration and Legal Services, LLC, in Bridgeport. Between 2011 and 2017, Stephenson conspired with others to arrange 28 sham marriages between U.S. citizens and non-citizens residing in the U.S. for the purpose of the non-citizens’ applying for and obtaining “lawful permanent residence” (“LPR”) status, also known as a “green card.”
One of the 28 sham marriages was between Stephenson, who is a citizen of Jamaica, and a U.S. citizen. For each of the other 27 fraudulent marriages, Stephenson found and introduced a U.S. citizen to be the non-citizen’s purported spouse and helped the couple obtain a marriage license. She also organized the marriage ceremony and celebration, and coached the couple on how to make their marriage appear to be genuine despite their neither living together nor otherwise intending to remain actually married.
As part of the scheme, Stephenson prepared several immigration documents needed as part of the non-citizen’s LPR application. She had the applicant and spouse sign the documents and, in many cases, mailed the documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service immigration authorities for the applicant. In some cases, Stephenson or her assistants prepared other false documents for the couple, such as a false lease that portrayed the couple as living together.
Stephenson typically charged between $17,000 and $20,000 to complete this process for a non-citizen, and the citizen spouse received between $2,000 and $4,000 for his or her participation.
During the investigation, Stephenson offered to arrange a sham marriage for a federal law enforcement agent working in an undercover capacity, and help obtain a green card for the undercover agent, in exchange for a proposed fee of $20,000. In recorded conversations, Stephenson then introduced the undercover agent to a U.S. citizen and advised them about the ways they could create the appearance that they were validly married and living together as husband and wife.
Stephenson was arrested on June 22, 2018. On August 19, 2019, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration marriage fraud.
Stephenson, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 25. She faces immigration proceedings when she completes her prison term.
A total of 10 individuals, including U.S. citizens who entered into one or more fraudulent marriages with non-citizens, have been charged with related offenses as a result of this investigation, and eight have pleaded guilty. Removal proceedings have been or are being commenced against all individuals whose green card applications were found to have been based on sham marriages.
This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry K. Kopel.
Collinsville Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison After Caught with Child Pornography Depicting the Rape and Murder of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III sentenced Chance Jennings Daykin, 26, to 14 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
“Chance Daykin accessed the dark web to feed his child pornography habit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “He uploaded child pornography, viewed pedophile instruction books, and discussed, with others online, how to obtain children to rape and murder. Thanks to the work of the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office and federal prosecutors Julie Childress and Chris Nassar, Daykin will serve the next 14 year in federal prison.”
“I want to remind the public that the viewing of child pornography is not a passive crime. The demand for this material fuels the physical and sexual abuse of children around the world.”
On May 10, 2021, Daykin pleaded guilty, to distribution and receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and with possession of child pornography.
Daykin admitted to distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material via electronic means from Dec. 19, 2019 to Oct. 19, 2020. He further admitted to knowingly accessing with intent to view the child pornography. Some of those images and videos depicted the sexual abuse of minors who were younger than 12 years of age.
Specifically, on Dec. 19, 2019, Daykin uploaded images and videos of child pornography to dropbox.com. A search warrant was obtained for Daykin’s IP address based on a cyber tip sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that reported the Dropbox uploads. The search indicated the IP user was associated with an address in Collinsville. On Oct 19, 2020, the Roger’s County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the address and arrested the defendant.
Images recovered on the defendant’s electronic devises included bestiality and the rape of infants and prepubescent children. At least one image showed an infant either dead or seriously injured who had been sexually abused.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors outlined evidence discovered during the investigation showing the defendant’s behavior was escalating.
-After his arrest, Daykin admitted that he had a problem with child pornography and had sought treatment.
-In a recovered online conversation, Daykin bragged that he had access to children and had given a 7-year-old a bath and sexually abused her. Investigators could not substantiate the claim.
-On Dropbox, Daykin shared links and asked “Got any kids screaming? Those are hard to find.”
-In an online conversation with an individual he was communicating with, the two discussed setting up a Kik account for her young cousin so Daykin could reach out to the cousin.
-In multiple conversations with another individual online, Daykin repeatedly asked the individual if she had found parents who would let them “use their preteen girls.” At one point, the individual says she met a mother who needs money and was negotiating with her. In another conversation, the defendant stated that he wanted to “rape and kill” and later said “a little girl just adds more flavor.”
During the sentencing hearing, Daykin’s attorney reminded the court that while the communications were wrong and disturbing, the conversations were a lot of talk that “never left the desktop.” He also pointed to the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility, lack of criminal history and long-term difficulty with socialization.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Childress countered, saying Daykin’s pattern of sustained criminal acts were not simply a mistake. She argued that his actions showed an escalating and predatory sexual interest in the rape and murder of children. She further reminded the Court that the defendant had downloaded software to try to conceal his actions. Childress described Daykin as a clear threat to society, arguing the acts necessitated a minimum of 180 months in federal prison. She argued that a lengthy sentence would protect the public, serve as a deterrent to others, and allow the defendant to get the long-term treatment needed to counter his deviant addiction.
Following sentencing, Daykin was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Childress and Chris Nassar prosecuted the case.
Chico Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alfred David Villasenor, 38, of Chico, was sentenced Wednesday to three years and one month in prison for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Villasenor was also ordered to pay a $7,000 fine.
According to court documents, on Nov. 20, 2019, law enforcement officers conducted a welfare check at Villasenor’s residence. They located Villasenor hiding underneath a blanket on the floor of the master bedroom with a shouldered, loaded non-serialized AR-15 rifle on a bipod. Villasenor had been pointing this rifle at the door officers had used to enter the room. Officers seized approximately 900 rounds of ammunition of various sizes and additional firearms from the home. At that time, Villasenor was subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“Villasenor aimed a loaded, chambered weapon at police officers who were responding to his house to conduct a welfare check for his own safety and that of his family,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Villasenor violated a domestic violence temporary restraining order by acquiring dangerous firearms and ammunition. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his offense and will hopefully deter him from acquiring firearms or ammunition again.”
"This case highlights the concerns the FBI and our law enforcement partners have when entering a building to apprehend a person,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI's Sacramento Field Office. “We are grateful that this welfare check did not result in the injury or loss of life of Villasenor or responding Chico Police Department officers. We also thank the department for bringing this case to our attention.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chico Police Department, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James R. Conolly and Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Chicago Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Chicago, Illinois man, with ties to Iowa City, Travon Shaetwon Ambrose, age 23, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 40 months’ imprisonment for Drug User in Possession of Firearms (Counts 1, 4, and 5), Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (Count 2), and to 60 months’ imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 3). The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. Ambrose was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $500 to the Crime Victim’s Fund.
According to court documents, Ambrose was identified by law enforcement as a drug distributer in September 2019. A search warrant was executed at Ambrose’s residence in Iowa City in November 2019. During the search, officers found 100 grams of marijuana and numerous pills which Ambrose admitted he intended to distribute to others. Further search revealed $11,660 in cash, which was identified as drug proceeds/funds used to facilitate drug distribution, and two firearms. Ambrose admitted to possessing at least one of the firearms in furtherance of his possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. On September 28, 2020, Ambrose led law enforcement on a high speed and discarded a loaded firearm with an extended magazine during a foot pursuit. On October 23, 2020, Ambrose possessed a stolen handgun, large quantities of marijuana, and $875 in drug proceeds/funds used to facilitate drug distribution. On April 19, 2021, Ambrose pleaded guilty to the charges.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Charlotte Man Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Distributing Heroin Following Overdose Death of Ft. Bragg SoldierRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Cory Dean Maieritsch, 33, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for distribution of heroin. Maieritsch pled guilty to the single-count Indictment on March 1, 2021.
According to court records and statements made during hearings, on the morning of December 10, 2015, a U.S. Army specialist was discovered deceased in his barracks on Ft. Bragg. Toxicology confirmed overdose by heroin and fentanyl. In the room, investigators recovered 16 empty glassine bags of the type commonly used to package single doses of those substances, with some bags labeled “Crazy Samurai,” and others labeled “Killing Time.” The U.S. Army Criminal Investigatory Laboratory (USACIL) tested residue from the bags, finding that the Crazy Samurai bags contained heroin and that the Killing Time bags contained acetyl fentanyl.
A friend of the deceased identified the defendant Cory Maieritsch as the likely supplier of the drugs. Investigators reviewed the deceased’s cell phone communications and discovered extensive text message conversations about drugs with Maieritsch. Specifically, on December 9, 2015, the deceased requested four bags of heroin just before 9:00 a.m. After some discussion about price and delivery, Maieritsch texted within the hour that he was waiting outside of the barracks. Maieritsch delivered two additional bags during his lunch break from work, following a second request from the deceased. Finally, text messages showed that Maieritsch made a third delivery that evening, following the deceased’s request for eight additional bags. While the discussion over text concerned the purchase of heroin, the USACIL testing showed that some of the bags of purported heroin contained fentanyl, which is significantly more potent. A USACIL latent print examiner identified Maieritsch’s fingerprints on two of the recovered glassine bags.
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 U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh 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. 5:20-cr-00197-D.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Denson has previous convictions for attempted murder and heroin distribution
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Adam Matthew Denson, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to four years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Denson conspired with other persons to distribute methamphetamine on three separate occasions in Charleston in August 2019. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Denson’s Woodland Drive residence and seized two loaded hand guns that Denson admitted he possessed. Denson was previously convicted of attempted murder in Kanawha County Circuit Court and distribution of heroin in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia, and was on federal supervised release when he was arrested.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00040.
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Caribou Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man was sentenced today in federal court for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Nathan Corbin, 30, to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. The sentence was adjusted down to four years to account for approximately 27 months Corbin has served in prison for a related state-court case. Corbin pleaded guilty in federal court in March 2021.
According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Corbin and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Burlington Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for False Statements During Purchases of FirearmsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Burlington woman, Anita Sheree Bostic, age 26, was sentenced today by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 15 months in prison for False Statements During Purchases of Firearms. Bostic was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
According to court documents, on April 8 and 9, 2020, Anita Sheree Bostic went to Farm King in Burlington with her then-boyfriend, Kevin Garrett, who was a convicted felon. Bostic purchased a firearm on each date. For each purchase, Bostic filled out an ATF Form 4473 stating she was the actual purchaser of firearm. This was false, as Bostic intended to transfer the firearms to Garrett. Those false statements were intended to deceive the firearm dealer, who would not have sold the firearms to Garrett, a convicted felon. Bostic made similar purchases from other gun stores on March 28, 2020, and April 17, 2020. Bostic’s cell phone contained text messages between Bostic and Garrett in which they discussed firearms, accessories, prices, and Garrett directed Bostic to make certain purchases on his behalf. In total, Bostic transferred five firearms to Garrett, as well as several other firearms to other convicted felons. On April 25, 2021, Bostic pleaded guilty.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhood, 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.
Browning man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for kidnapping, strangling womanRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to kidnapping a woman and strangling her in two separate assaults in 2020 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Nash Devine Angel Ingraham, 19, pleaded guilty on May 13 to kidnapping and to strangulation of a dating partner.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Feb. 10, 2020, the victim, identified as Jane Doe, met up with Ingraham in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Doe left Ingraham’s house and went to a friend’s place to sleep. Ingraham arrived at the friend’s house the next morning, jerked the victim out of bed, forced her out of the house and then force-marched her across Browning, assaulting her along the way. Ingraham took Doe to his house where he continued to assault her. Law enforcement officers went to Ingraham’s house multiple times looking for Doe, but the family refused to open the door. Officers responded to the house a third time, and Doe exited the house. Officers observed injuries on Doe.
The government further alleged that Ingraham strangled Doe to near unconsciousness on Dec. 17, 2020 during an assault at a Browning residence, where he had held her for about four days. Doe went to a hospital in Browning and reported the assault.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
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Brookhaven man indicted for extorting criminal defendant with false claim that prosecutor demanded bribeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Jamal Harrison has been charged with wire fraud in a six-count federal indictment for extorting a criminal defendant who had been charged in a federal case in Atlanta. During the scheme, Harrison falsely claimed that the federal prosecutor would dismiss the charges in the defendant's case for $15,000.
“Harrison allegedly promised a favorable outcome in the victim’s federal case when instead it was just a scam,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “If a member of the public is asked to pay a bribe, don’t pay it and call the FBI immediately.”
“Every American citizen has rights under our Constitution and should report anyone who attempts to bribe them,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “No matter who the victim is, the FBI will fully investigate any allegations of a crime.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In July 2020, “Person 1,” an Atlanta resident, was arrested on a criminal indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Upon conviction for one or more of the crimes charged in the federal case, Person 1 was subject to a term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release, and other penalties and fines.
In August 2020, Harrison learned about the arrest and met with Person 1. During this meeting, Harrison saw a copy of the criminal indictment in Person 1’s case. Harrison then allegedly claimed that he was a part-time employee of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and knew the federal prosecutor in Person 1’s case. Harrison allegedly asserted that he could get the charges against Person 1 dismissed for $15,000, which he would give to the federal prosecutor. Person 1 refused.
Days later, Harrison met with Person 1 again. This time, Harrison threatened that if Person 1 still refused to pay the $15,000, the federal prosecutor would file additional charges against Person 1 and seek a longer term of imprisonment upon conviction. Person 1, fearing Harrison’s threat, agreed to pay and did pay Harrison $12,000 in cash. After making the payment, Harrison falsely claimed that he gave the money to the federal prosecutor, who would dismiss the charges against Person 1. In truth, however, Harrison allegedly kept the payment for himself. Harrison also stated that the federal case might be dismissed faster if Person 1 could provide more money.
By January 2021, the federal case against Person 1 remained active. Around this time, Person 1 and their attorney met with the prosecutor and agents in the federal case, and Person 1 realized that Harrison had deceived and extorted them. In early February 2021, Person 1 entered a guilty plea in the federal case. Later that month, however, Harrison continued to claim that he could get the charges dismissed if he received more money from Person 1. In March 2021, Person 1 recorded a meeting at which Person 1 gave Harrison $3,000 in cash, at which time Harrison allegedly guaranteed a speedy dismissal of the federal case.
On August 24, 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against Jamal Harrison, 33, of Brookhaven, Georgia, on six counts of wire fraud. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Boston Gang Associate Sentenced for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston gang associate was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for cocaine trafficking offenses.
Kareem Chaplin, 47, of Canton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to three years and one month in prison and three years of supervised release. On April 28, 2021, Chaplin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
In June 2020, Chaplin was charged along with 23 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement conducted an investigation into drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, Mass., formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The investigation, which included Chaplin, also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.
During the investigation, a search warrant of a “stash house” associated with Chaplin recovered over 400 grams of cocaine, six firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin O’Donnell and Timothy Moran of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bergen County Man Indicted for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County man was arrested today on four counts of tax evasion, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Jason Kronick, 48, of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, was charged by indictment on Aug. 25, 2021, with three counts of income tax evasion and one count of employment tax evasion. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and was released on $1 million unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
For the tax years 2008 through 2010, Kronick evaded payment of more than $4.3 million in income taxes, not including penalties and interest, despite having earned approximately $20 million in taxable income. Kronick used approximately $1.5 million from his business bank accounts to buy approximately 40 rare and expensive watches; used at least $1.9 million from the business accounts to pay for home renovations; used company funds to pay at least $700,000 in personal credit card bills; transferred more than $700,000 from his business accounts to various casinos, where he converted the money to chips, gambled, and then redeemed chips for cash; and cashed approximately $160,000 in checks at check-cashing businesses to conceal the proceeds from the IRS. Kronick also filed a statement with the IRS in 2011, falsely claiming that he had no income for that year, when in fact he received more than $2.8 million in income.
Each of the four counts of tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah A. Sulkowski of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Bend Resident and Affiliated Residential Care Company Agree to Pay $2.9 Million to Settle Health Care Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon resident and his residential care company have agreed to pay $2.9 million to settle allegations by United States and the State of Oregon that the company submitted false reimbursement claims to the Oregon Medicaid program.
Kevin Cox, 51, and At Home Care LLC, doing business as At Home Care Group (AHCG), will pay $1.86 million to the United States and $1.04 million to the State of Oregon.
AHCG also waived indictment and pleaded guilty today in Deschutes County Circuit Court to two counts of making a false claim for health care payment.
“Individuals and companies who submit false claims to federally-backed state health care programs increase health care costs for everyone,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We take health care fraud very seriously and will continue to hold accountable those who undermine the integrity of these important programs.”
“This national pandemic has put an unprecedented strain on our health care system. There is never a time for Medicaid providers to enrich themselves with fraudulent schemes—but now is certainly not the time. This case shows you that we will work aggressively with our federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute providers that victimize our most vulnerable Oreognians and the programs that serve them,” said Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum.
“Health care providers should regard Medicaid as a lifeline for vulnerable beneficiaries in need of wellness services, not as a financial reserve for personal enrichment,” stated Steven Ryan, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “To assist in preserving Federal health care programs, our agency and law enforcement partners investigate and cease wrongful activity that compromises their funds.”
AHCG provided in-home medical and non-medical care to individuals in Oregon. The United States and State of Oregon contend that, between March 2013 and September 2018, AHCG altered caregiver scheduling calendars and billed the Oregon Medicaid program for hours of in-home care not actually performed.
As part of the settlement, AHCG and Cox will be excluded from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, and all other federal health care programs for 15 and 8 years, respectively.
Acting U.S. Attorney Asphaug and Attorney General Rosenblum made the announcement.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Oregon Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Unit, and Oregon Health Authority. The United States was represented in this matter by Alexis Lien, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Senior Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Ballard Colgrove led this case for the Oregon Department of Justice.
The claims resolved by this settlement, except for those admitted in AHCG’s guilty plea, are allegations only, and there has been no determination or admission of liability.
Baltimore Felon and Associate of East Baltimore Monument Street Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal Prison After Being Convicted at Trial for Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Daniel Blue, age 39, of Baltimore, today to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of two loaded firearms. Blue knew that as a result of a previous federal drug conviction, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. A federal jury convicted Blue on May 17, 2021.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“There is no question that the excessive amount of violence in Baltimore stems in part from criminals, like Daniel Blue, carrying guns. Getting these offenders off the streets is an important component of our efforts to address the murders and shootings that steal lives and undermine our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan Lenzner. “This Monument Street case is the kind of impactful investigation that federal, state and local partners can build through collaboration and a dedicated commitment to improving our communities.”
According to evidence presented at Blue’s trial, in July of 2018, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Strike Force Group 1 began an investigation of the Monument Street corridor in East Baltimore, which is known to be the site of a high volume of street-level drug distribution and acts of violence associated with the drug trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple street-level drug trafficking “shops,” with the two most prominent located in the 400 block of North Montford Avenue at Jefferson Street (“the Montford DTO”) and in the 2400 block of East Monument Street at Port Street (the “Out the Mud,” or “OTM DTO”).
Evidence was presented at trial that, during the investigation, Blue was identified as a wholesale distributor of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl and as a source of supply of the street-level drug distributors in the Monument Street area. Witnesses testified that Blue was intercepted on calls with his co-conspirators discussing the distribution of drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.
On January 8, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at Blue’s residence and recovered: a .45-caliber LC/.410 gauge revolver with three .410 gauge shells under the basement stairs in a bag; a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with five rounds of ammunition hidden in a pillow on the living room couch; and $45,817 in cash from the ceiling of the basement. During his trial testimony, Blue admitted that the money was the proceeds of drug sales.
Blue also testified during trial that the guns were not his, denied that he owned the house, and attempted to implicate his mother and sister, stating that they lived in the house with him. The evidence in the case did not support those statements and the government contends that the statements were willfully false and intended to obstruct justice. At today’s sentencing hearing Judge Hollander agreed with the government’s contentions and considered Blue’s false testimony when imposing his sentence.
The jury convicted Blue of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The jury was not able to reach a verdict on the drug conspiracy count, nor on the count charging Blue with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Blue is currently scheduled to be re-tried on those charges.
Of the 25 defendants indicted in this case, 23—including Blue—have pleaded guilty or been found guilty at trial. Blue and another defendant have trial dates in November 2021.
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.
This case is also 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.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and James T. Wallner, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Avowed White Supremacist indicted by grand jury for illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging a 44-year-old Battle Ground, Washington man with two federal felonies for illegal firearms possession, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Lynn Manley Cargile was arrested on December 26, 2019, following a six-hour stand-off with police. Cargile was in state custody until earlier this month serving a 29-month prison sentence for domestic violence stemming from the same incident. He is now in federal custody and will be arraigned on the federal charges.
According to the criminal complaint from March 2020, and the indictment handed up today, police were called to Cargile’s home by a 9-1-1 call from his ex-wife who had been assaulted. After a lengthy wait, officers used ‘flash-bang’ devices to get Cargile to leave the house and he was taken into custody. When officers entered the home to secure it for officer safety, they noted numerous firearms. After obtaining a court authorized search warrant, law enforcement discovered a Smith and Wesson AR-15 style rifle with a swastika on the rifle butt and a Black Rain Ordinance short-barreled rifle. Investigators also found two silencers. The short-barreled rifle and silencers are illegal under federal law unless properly registered in the National Firearms and Transfer Record. Additionally, Cargile is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions in Clark County Washington for attempting to elude (2002 and 2003) and illegal firearms possession (1999 and 2002).
Cargile is indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of unregistered firearms. Both counts are punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Battle Ground Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angelica Williams.
cargile_indictment.pdfArmed methamphetamine trafficker involved in high-speed pursuits on Blackfeet Indian Reservation and in Billings sentenced to 12 years in prisonRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Billings man who admitted methamphetamine trafficking and firearms crimes involving two high-speed pursuits was sentenced today to 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Elijah James Rideshorse, 30, pleaded guilty on May 12 to possession with intent to distribute meth and to felon in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Rideshorse brought ounce quantities of meth to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in August 2020. On Aug. 23, 2020, Rideshorse was in a high-speed vehicle pursuit from Browning to Cut Bank. The driver, another passenger, identified as John Doe 1, and Rideshorse all fled on foot once they made it to Cut Bank. Only Doe was apprehended that day, and officers found meth supplied by Rideshorse on Doe. The vehicle also contained more of Rideshorse’s meth. Investigators determined that Rideshorse was involved in drug distribution, possessed firearms and had recently purchased drugs in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The government further alleged that law enforcement received numerous complaints of Rideshorse being involved in criminal activity in the Billings area. On Oct. 12, 2020, the Billings Police Department officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle that had been involved in recent shootings. The vehicle fled, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit. The vehicle continued to flee after officers spiked its tires and was stopped when intentionally struck by a Montana Highway Patrol vehicle as it approached school buses and heavy traffic. The driver, identified as Rideshorse, fled but was caught. Three female passengers, including two juveniles, were in the vehicle. Officers found a stolen semi-automatic pistol that Rideshorse had dropped on the road as he fled and an AR-style rifle with a 40-round magazine in the vehicle. Rideshorse was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Montana Highway Patrol, Billings Police Department, Cut Bank Police Department and Glacier County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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101 Indicted in Transnational Cell Phone Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A federal grand jury in Sherman has returned a seven-count superseding indictment charging 101 individuals in a cell phone trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
The superseding indictment was returned on August 11, 2021, and charges 101 individuals with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce; interference with interstate commerce; use or brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence; conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; mail fraud conspiracy; wire fraud conspiracy; and money laundering conspiracy. The superseding indictment remained sealed until this week.
According to the superseding indictment, members of a multi-layered criminal organization stole personal electronics, including cell phones, tablets, laptops, and smart watches, within the North Texas area and then exported those items overseas for resale. As detailed in the superseding indictment, the defendants’ organization included runners, suppliers, device traffickers, and exporters. The defendants are alleged to have stolen electronics by armed robberies as well as through various fraud schemes.
The superseding indictment alleges that in late October 2020, a series of armed takeover-style robberies began to take place at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon retail cell phone stores in the Dallas area. According to the superseding indictment, a total of 23 armed takeover robberies were committed or attempted at various retail cellular phone stores located in Dallas, Corinth, Balch Springs, Seagoville, Greenville, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Houston, Fort Worth, and Garland. The estimated loss associated with those robberies exceeds $500,000.
In December 2020, four members of the robbery crew were arrested following the armed robbery of an AT&T cell phone store in Fort Worth. Investigation revealed that these individuals were connected to a cell phone business in Dallas known as Global One Wireless. The owners of Global One Wireless – Plano brothers Abdul Basit Bhangda, 30, and Arsalan Bhangda, a/k/a Adam, 36 – allegedly acted through a parent corporation, RJ Telecom, to sell stolen products abroad by shipping the merchandise to foreign import companies located in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.
According to the superseding indictment, the conspirators also utilized compromised store employees to activate phones using fake identities or fraudulently adding lines to legitimate customer accounts. Other schemes allegedly involved the use of fake identity information as well as legitimate customer information to swap SIM cards, enabling the defendants to verify banking information through text messages and withdraw funds from customer accounts.
The superseding indictment alleges that nearly $100 million of products were sold to foreign importers. The investigation has revealed that approximately 20,000 products were acquired by identity theft. The overall estimated losses exceed $42 million.
To date, 73 individuals have been arrested. Law enforcement officials have also seized more than $6 million in assets, including cash, bank accounts, real estate, and stolen goods recovered from a warehouse. The superseding indictment seeks the forfeiture of all property and funds derived from or traceable to the charged conduct.
“The criminal conspiracy, as alleged in the superseding indictment, is breathtaking in scope and varied in its means. Although the public can often see criminal acts ‘above the surface,’ such as the violent robberies alleged in the superseding indictment, this case is a reminder that we do not often see the hidden criminal conspiracy ‘below the surface,’ whereby stolen or ill-gotten goods are sold in domestic or international commerce,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Such a wide-ranging conspiracy requires an equally wide-ranging response, and the cooperative, collaborative effort of our federal and local law enforcement partners made this investigation possible.”
“Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force has made great progress in removing violent offenders from our community,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “Each time a device trafficker allegedly delivered a product to a supplier it was the direct result of theft, robbery or fraud. We will continue working to dismantle organizations that threaten public safety, and will fulfill our duty to protect our residents.”
“HSI will never relent in our pursuit of individuals and criminal organizations that commit fraud, financial crimes and scams on the backs of hard-working Americans,” said Ryan L. Spradlin Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “We will work tirelessly with our state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle these organizations, seizing any financial gains and assets acquired, ensuring those responsible are held accountable for their selfish actions.”
“The individuals arrested during this investigation committed a litany of financial and cyber-enabled financial crimes ranging from wire fraud and pandemic-related fraud, to bank fraud and more,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office, Bill Smarr. “This case is a testament to the teamwork and partnership at all levels of law enforcement to stop these cyber criminals from defrauding American citizens.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting the U.S. Mail from criminal activity and is proud to have taken part in the dismantling of this criminal network,” said Thomas Noyes, Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division. “The financial impact of this exploitation was significant and would only have continued to increase if not for a resolute, investigative response with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. We will continue to pursue all leads, and we thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment to holding criminal enterprises accountable for their actions.”
The superseding indictment includes charges against the following individuals:
- Jerome Omega Boulden, Jr. a/k/a JayCash, 21, of Dallas;
- Alvin Damon Arnold, Jr., 19, of Dallas;
- Alcides Maurice Scott, 20, of Dallas;
- Derek Demond Calhoun, Jr., 23, of Dallas;
- Jacob Lamar Eichelberger, III, 20, of DeSoto;
- Skylah Glenn, 23, of Lancaster;
- Tyvarius Daitron Taylor, 20, of Dallas;
- Ronald James Wiltz, 21, of Dallas;
- Sherman Leon Brown, 24, of Dallas;
- Jatyrine Marquis Stewart, 18, of Dallas;
- Davaunce Lakeith Lewis, 21, of Dallas;
- Darion Demon Anderson, 27, of Dallas;
- Brandon D’Lon Smittick, 30, of Dallas;
- Deira Jatary Davis, 19, of Dallas;
- Taurean Dion Armstrong, 27, of Cedar Hill;
- Jawaune Antonne Lee, 27, of Dallas;
- Kaylen Elizabeth Taylor, a/k/a KT, 26, of Dallas;
- Ciarra Chesarae Thibodeaux, 26, of Red Oak;
- Dajone Raheem Jaleel Gentry, 24, of Garland;
- Janvier Leiaron Branch, 23, of Spring;
- Joshua Uriah Tisdale, 23, of Denton;
- Ashley Nicole Washington, 24, of Lakeland, TN;
- Arsalan Bhangda, a/k/a Adam, 36, of Plano;
- Abdul Basit Bhangda, 30, of Plano;
- Jacqueline Daneane Quinn, 26, of Corinth;
- Jasmine Hailey Omar, 20, of Garland,
- Edwin Iglesias, 26, of Grand Prairie;
- Timothy James Leach, 21, of Burleson;
- Jacqueline Montes, 27, of Cleburne;
- Austin Brooks Young, 21, of Burleson;
- Gregory Steven Trent, a/k/a Ace, 34, of Farmers Branch;
- Eddie Donte Rodden, 24, of Dallas;
- Ryeshawn Willie Devon Green, a/k/a Peso, 31, of Dallas;
- Cary Mark Thompson, 35, of Dallas;
- Michelle Estefany Smith, 25, of Dallas;
- Marcus Allen Harlston, 36, of Little Rock, AR;
- Jamel Lamar Rankin, 25, of Lonoke, AR;
- Brent R. Johnson, 35, of North Little Rock, AR;
- Victor G. Youngblood, 35, of Little Rock, AR;
- Gregory Deshaun Wilkins, 35, of Little Rock, AR;
- Richard Todd Sims, a/k/a Richy Rich, 35, of Arlington;
- Zxerion Deosic Lee, 24, of Dallas;
- Deandre Jamal Staten, 22, of Dallas;
- Samuel Gregory Shorter, Jr., 28, of Dallas;
- Natasha Latrice Qualls, 26, of Fort Worth;
- Chukedrick D. Tarver, a/k/a Blacc, 34, of Denton;
- Brittany Vichelle Edwards, 33, of Lancaster;
- Laquan Dontrial Cooks, a/k/a Midas, 30, of Arlington;
- Nicholas Marchelle Chandler, a/k/a Brody, 25, of Dallas;
- Donte Thomas Deddo, 49, of DeSoto;
- Jordan Rashad Selexman, a/k/a Fero, 30, of Dallas;
- Sameer Ahmed Mohammed, 36, of Sugarland;
- Farhan Nuruddin Parpia, 24, of Richmond;
- Travis Donnell Moore, 34, of Katy;
- Robert Denton Whitmire, Jr., 36, of Willis;
- Matthew Daniel Smith, 41, of LaMarque;
- Jacqueline Sue Hardee, 27;
- Daniel Shapir Rascoe, 30, of Houston;
- Rayanna Dawn Byers, 21, of Pasadena;
- Kieffer James Barchetti, 23, of Houston;
- Kamie Taylor Jasinski, 21, of Houston;
- Junior Porfirio Nepomuceno-Hierro, 36, of Houston;
- Cesar Augusto Reyes, 44, of Bronx, NY;
- Darius Grant Whitlow, 30, of Farmington Hills, MI;
- Jibran Khalil, 33, of Richardson;
- Mohamed Tahiri, a/k/a Simo, 37, of Allen;
- Patrick Lydell Simmons, 52, of Waxahachie;
- Maryann E. Simmons, 53, of Waxahachie;
- Preston Patrick Simmons, 29, of Waxahachie;
- Cameron Patrick Simmons, 36, of Waxahachie;
- Lauren Ashley Elizabeth Simmons, 23, of Waxahachie;
- Dexter Lenner Caldwell, 53, of DeSoto;
- Keren Vargas-Gutierrez, 29, of Fishkill, NY;
- Edward Vonal Simmons, 55, of Stephenville;
- Sebastian Dominique Blay, 30, of Allen;
- Carey Watkins, Jr., 54, of Dallas;
- Michael Dimietri Reeves, 56, of Addison;
- Joshua Tapia, 27, of Fishkill, NY;
- Michael Joseph Savattere, 48, of Rowlett;
- Aashish Bhusal, 36, of Aubrey;
- Malik Salameh, a/k/a Blue, 27, of Dallas;
- Mohammad W. Salameh, a/k/a Moe, 27, of Dallas;
- Feras Mahmod Obeidat, 30, of Grand Prairie;
- Ali Anwar, 29, of Rowlett;
- Abdullah Anwar, 24, of Rowlett;
- Avaz Karimov, 41, of Plano;
- Clifford Jerome Smith, 28, of Garland;
- Shahrukh Razzak, 30, of Pflugerville;
- Joseph Delany Cooper, 29, of Austin;
- Arturo Gonzalez, 24, of Austin;
- Eulises Isidro Tavarez, 36, of Killeen;
- Nansellys Crespo-Rios, 37, of Killeen;
- Ruben Santana-Polanco, 40, of Lodi, NJ;
- Jordan Minh Nguyen, a/k/a Toan, 27, of Richardson;
- Ionel Stanescu, 33;
- Ana Marie Stanescu, 32, of Orlando, FL;
- Ionut Antonie, 32, of Asheville, NC;
- Elena Irina Antonie, Glasgow, KY;
- Marian Alexandru Firu, 20, of Denver CO;
- David Constanin, 29; and
- Costel Stanescu, 58, of Las Vegas, NV
If convicted, the defendants face up to 25 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Police Department, Garland Police Department, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Carrollton Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Richardson Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service for Eastern District of Texas, Denton Police Department, Allen Police Department, Sherman Police Department, and Denison Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ernest Gonzalez, Colleen Bloss and Lesley D. Brooks.
A grand jury superseding indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Wednesday 25 August 2021
Woman Charged with Assaulting Customer and Creating a Disturbance at the St. Thomas Ottley Post OfficeRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that a St. Thomas woman was arrested on federal criminal charges related to assaulting a customer while in the Ottley Post Office on June 22, 2021.
According to court documents, Chantelle Grant, picked up a parcel at the post office and on her way out of the building, bumped into another female customer. The CCTV video surveillance showed that after Grant left the building, she returned less than two minutes later, ran across the post office lobby, and struck the female victim in the face. Grant was then seen leaving the building, entering her car, and driving away.
Grant is charged with creating a disturbance on postal property in violation of 39 C.F.R. § 232.1(e), 18 U.S.C. §3061, and 39 U.S.C. §401 which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days imprisonment, up to a $5,000.00 fine, or both. Grant was released on her own recognizance.
The United States Postal Investigative Service investigated the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Webster City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth PossessionRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it pled guilty on August 23, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Joshua Boice, age 35, from Webster City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Boice admitted that, in March 2020, he possessed over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, and that he planned to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to others.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Boice remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Boice faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Webster City Police Department, Iowa State University Police Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3048. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Issues Statement Following the Court of Appeals Decision to Uphold Dylan Roof VerdictRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina---- Following the decision by the United States Court of Appeals to uphold the conviction of Dylan Roof – the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina issued the following statement, attributed to Criminal Chief Nathan Williams, who served as one of the lead prosecutors on the case:
“The Mother Emmanuel AME Church massacre committed by the hate-filled murderer Dylan Roof is one of the worst events in not only South Carolina’s history but also our nation’s history,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Chief Nathan Williams. “Our office is grateful for the decision of the court, a decision that ensures, as the Court stated, that ‘the harshest penalty a just society can impose’ is indeed imposed. Moreover, our office is grateful that justice will be served for the victims, survivors and their families.”
The Court of Appeals decision read in part:
“Dylann Roof murdered African Americans at their church, during their Bible-study and worship. They had welcomed him. He slaughtered them. He did so with the express intent of terrorizing not just his immediate victims at the historically important Mother Emanuel Church, but as many similar people as would hear of the mass murder. He used the internet to plan his attack and, using his crimes as a catalyst, intended to foment racial division and strife across America. He wanted the widest possible publicity for his atrocities, and, to that end, he purposefully left one person alive in the church “to tell the story.” (J.A. at 5017.) When apprehended, he frankly confessed, with barely a hint of remorse.
No cold record or careful parsing of statutes and precedents can capture the full horror of what Roof did. His crimes qualify him for the harshest penalty that a just society can impose. We have reached that conclusion not as a product of emotion but through a thorough analytical process, which we have endeavored to detail here. In this, we have followed the example of the trial judge, who managed this difficult case with skill and compassion for all concerned, including Roof himself. For the reasons given, we will affirm.”
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Two Sentenced in Connection with Drug Trafficking in Brattleboro, VermontRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jorge Delaoz, 52, of Brattleboro, Vermont, and Matthew Sinclair, 25, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, have been sentenced in connection with their drug trafficking activities at 50 Central Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. On April 13, 2021, Delaoz was sentenced to serve 40 months in prison by Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont. On August 24, 2021, Sinclair was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by Chief Judge Crawford. Both Delaoz and Sinclair were sentenced to three-year terms of supervised release to follow imprisonment. Previously, Delaoz had pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl, and Sinclair had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute.
According to court records and proceedings, Delaoz and Sinclair each distributed fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base from 50 Central Street in the early months of 2020. Delaoz, who had also distributed fentanyl elsewhere in Brattleboro in 2019, engaged in this continued drug trafficking despite knowing of a fatal opioid overdose that occurred in late 2019 within yards of 50 Central Street. In March 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the 50 Central Street residence. Delaoz jumped out a window of the residence and attempted to flee from officers. Sinclair was found attempting to flush approximately 38 grams of cocaine base down the toilet. During the search, officers located a handgun and a magazine containing live rounds near a key fob that belonged to Sinclair, all concealed within the wall of the bedroom where Delaoz was staying. Delaoz has been detained in federal custody throughout the proceedings. Sinclair was initially released on conditions but detained in July of 2020 after he was arrested in Texas for a new drug offense.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police Southern Vermont Drug Task Force, and the Brattleboro Police Department in this matter. “Illicit drug trafficking fosters violence and the peddled poisons destroy the fabric of our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to target armed drug trafficking organizations that exhibit such callous disregard for human life. I commend the dedication of our investigatory partners, and greatly appreciate their coordinated efforts.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate handled the prosecution. Delaoz was represented by Stephanie Greenlees, Esq. Sinclair was represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.
Two Nigerian Nationals Plead Guilty in Federal Court in Maryland for Bank and Mail Fraud Conspiracy and Related Charges Just Prior to TrialRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Two Nigerian nationals, Johnson B. Ogunlana, age 25, of Edgewood, Maryland, and Samson A. Oguntuyi, age 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty on the eve of trial to federal charges related to schemes to defraud financial institutions, retail establishments and other business victims, often using the stolen personal information of individual victims. Specifically, Ogunlana pleaded guilty on August 23, 2021 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of mail by a postal employee. Yesterday, Oguntuyi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
The guilty pleas were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.
According to their plea agreements, Ogunlana was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in Brooklyn, Maryland. Ogunlana knew that his duties and responsibilities as a letter carrier included handling, sorting, collecting, and delivering letter and parcel mail to postal customers residing and conducting business on his assigned postal delivery routes, and preserving and protecting the security of all mail in his custody.
Ogunlana and Oguntuyi acknowledged that between July 25, 2016 and February 5, 2019, they conspired together and with others to steal bank checks and credit and debit cards from the mail, open fraudulent business banking accounts using the names of victim businesses and the stolen identities of victim postal customers to negotiate the stolen checks by depositing them into the fraudulent bank accounts, and then conduct transactions with stolen payment cards and with money derived from the stolen checks.
For example, Ogunlana intercepted and stole mail pieces containing credit cards addressed to individual victims and sent photos of the stolen mail pieces and credit cards through a messaging application to Oguntuyi and other conspirators. Oguntuyi then used the victims’ personal identifying information (“PII”) to activate the stolen credit cards and to obtain new credit cards the victims never requested or applied for. Once the stolen credit cards were activated, members of the conspiracy used the credit cards to make retail purchases.
As detailed in their plea agreements, members of the conspiracy registered fraudulent businesses with state government agencies using the names of victim businesses and the names and identifying information of postal customer identity theft victims as the agents and/or incorporators of the businesses. Ogunlana and others used stolen payment cards issued to identity theft victims to pay fees to register some of the fraudulent businesses. Ogunlana also stole checks payable to victim businesses, whose mail was serviced out of the USPS facility where Ogunlana worked, by intercepting their mail. Oguntuyi and Ogunlana then endorsed some of the checks by forging the signatures of identity theft victims and deposited the checks into the fraudulent business bank accounts the conspirators opened in the names of the victim businesses. The conspirators then withdrew the money from the accounts through cash withdrawals, debit card purchases and cash back transactions at retail merchants, wire transfers, and by writing checks drawn on the accounts.
As detailed in their plea agreements, at least $565,000 was stolen from two victim businesses and at least eight postal customers were victims of identity theft.
Ogunlana and Oguntuyi each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud. Oguntuyi also faces a maximum of 30 years for bank fraud. Ogunlana faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for access device fraud and a maximum of five years in federal prison for theft of mail by a postal employee. Both defendants face a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not yet scheduled sentencing for the defendants.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation and thanked the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. For more information about resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Two Men Plead Guilty to Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOISE – Atilla Ferenc Orban, 37, and Hakim Slaft Hannaoui, 33, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced today. Orban and Hannaoui were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9, 2021.
According to court records, Orban and Hannaoui admitted that they conspired to commit access device fraud. As part of the scheme, Orban and Hannaoui attached electronic devices known as “skimmers” to ATMs. Once installed, the skimmers captured the information stored on the magnetic strips of payment cards inserted into the ATMs. Orban and Hannaoui retrieved the information captured by the skimmers and used equipment to encode the fraudulently obtained payment card information onto the magnetic strips of physical cards. They then used the re-encoded cards to unlawfully acquire money and other goods.
Sentencings for both men are set for November 9, 2021, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise. Both men face a mandatory term of two years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to one year of supervised release. The federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez credited the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service, Idaho State Police, Boise Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to charges. “This investigation and prosecution demonstrate the high level of competence and excellence in law enforcement displayed by those who serve at all levels of federal, state and local law enforcement in Idaho and Washington,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez. “As criminals and their enterprises have evolved in technical sophistication, our investigative agencies have met the challenge, for which they should be commended and the citizenry proud.”
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Two Eastern Shore Men Facing Federal Indictment for Stealing More Than $900,000 from a Salisbury Corporation Where One of Them WorkedRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Stephen L. Franklin, age 53, of Salisbury, Maryland, and Duane G. Larmore, age 46, of Salisbury, Maryland, for federal conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft charges in connection with the theft of at least $900,000 from Shore Appliance, where Larmore worked. The indictment was returned late on August 24, 2021.
The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the 10-count indictment, from mid-September 2016 through about March 2020, Franklin and Larmore conspired to steal at least $900,000 from a Salisbury, Maryland company, Shore Appliance Connection owned and operated by Owner #1 and Owner #2, that sold household appliances as well as mattresses and bedding. Larmore was an employee at Shore Appliance whose duties included maintaining the books and records for the company. Franklin was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Accurate Optical, headquartered in Salisbury, which had locations on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as well as being the CEO and part owner of East Coast Optometric, with locations in South Carolina.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that the defendants stole in excess of $900,000 from Shore Appliance to use for their own purposes, including to make investments and to pay business expenses for Accurate Optical and East Coast Optometric, without the knowledge and consent of the owners of Shore Appliance. The indictment alleges that Franklin and Larmore invested in the following: in 2016, a $100,000 investment with T.H.; a $95,000 investment with GenFinance II, PLC, London, U.K., which then required an additional $300,000; and then additional funds for a surety bond and travel abroad; in 2018, an investment through W.S. of $35,000 and an investment through J.B. of $50,000; and in 2019 - 2020, investments and expenses through I.P. and E. P.-S. to obtain U.S. currency purportedly returned to the United States from humanitarian relief projects abroad, and other similar investments. The charges include wire transfers from Shore Appliance’s account to East Coast Optometric and from there to banks in the U.K. and Hong Kong. The indictment alleges that no investment paid any return to the co-schemers.
To conceal how much money had been removed from Shore Appliance and to obtain cash, the defendants allegedly used the identities of the owners to enter into factoring contracts. Factoring is a means by which businesses, like Shore Appliance, can obtain cash quickly by leveraging accounts receivable. As detailed in the indictment, the factoring contracts purportedly between Shore Appliance and various factoring companies, provided cash deposits to Shore Appliance's bank accounts but encumbered the accounts receivable of Shore Appliance and required payments and interest of more than $725,000. In addition, the defendants allegedly used Larmore’s position of trust with Shore Appliance and signature authority over its bank accounts to draw on Shore Appliance’s lines of credit with two separate financial institutions to obtain another $200,000 in cash to conceal their use of Shore Appliance’s funds.
To obtain contracts with factoring companies for Shore Appliance, Larmore allegedly used his own email address and cell phone number with factors but identified that email address and cell phone number as belonging to Owner #1. Larmore also allegedly provided the factors with details of the owners’ identities, including dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and Maryland drivers' licenses, without their permission.
To conceal the fact that the owners were not aware of and had not approved the factoring contracts, the indictment alleges that: the signatures of the owners were forged and Franklin witnessed or notarized the fraudulent signatures; and that Larmore and a female employee of Franklin’s posed as the owners in telephone conversations with representatives of the factoring companies. Finally, the indictment alleges that when Franklin’s companies had financial problems, at Franklin’s request Larmore provided funds from Shore Appliance for Franklin's companies.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for a wire fraud conspiracy and for each of seven counts of wire fraud; and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of two counts of identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendants are expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, although no date has yet been scheduled.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce K. McDonald, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. For more information about resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Tulsa ‘Peeping Tom’ Faces an Additional Sex Offense ChargeRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man who was scheduled to plead guilty Tuesday for a series of sex offenses and ‘Peeping Tom’ incidents now faces an additional sex offense charge, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. The plea hearing was delayed in light of the new charge.
Jesse Thomas Moore was newly charged by criminal complaint with coercion and enticement and today made an initial appearance in federal court.
While in federal custody, Moore is alleged to have routinely accessed the program “JailATM” by means of a stationary kiosk or portable smart pad in order to video chat or message with a minor female whom he referred to as his girlfriend. The defendant has been in custody awaiting prosecution for previously charged sex offenses.
The Complaint outlines more than ten conversations between the defendant and minor that occurred from Aug. 1, 2021, to Aug. 19, 2021. During the conversations, Moore repeatedly pressured the minor for sexually explicit video and images of herself or tried to coerce the minor to engage in sexually explicit behavior while the two video chatted. The minor attempted to send some pre-recorded videos. Moore received at least one video while others were auto rejected by the system. Moore repeatedly told the minor to figure out how to send the videos differently, like she did before, so they would not be rejected. During one video chat, Moore was able to convince the minor to engage in sexually explicit behavior.
Moore was previously indicted for other sex crimes in February 2021, including lewd acts with a child under 16 in Indian Country (Count 1); burglary in the first degree in Indian Country (Counts 2, 3, 5); and attempted sexual abuse by threat in Indian Country (Count 4).
Court documents alleged that Moore broke into a home on May 6, 2020, and ejaculated on and near the victim who was younger than 16 years of age. Moore also allegedly broke into a different residence through a back door on Nov. 8, 2020. When Moore entered the home, he was confronted by a 12-year-old who yelled for his mother. Moore then exited the residence. On Dec. 13, 2020, the defendant also attempted to sexually assault a female victim after he broke into her residence. Moore entered the victim’s room and demanded she “get the f**k up and don’t say anything or I’ll f**king kill you.” Then he led the victim to the living room where he allegedly covered her mouth and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim bit Moore’s hand and screamed. Moore then exited the residence.
The crimes occurred following multiple Peeping Tom incidents conducted by Moore.
This matter will proceed in U.S. District Court in Tulsa, where the Complaint is currently pending. A Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Tilton Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Stefan Gauthier, 35, of Tilton, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to evidence presented during a three-day federal jury trial, on November 1, 2018, Tilton police arrested Gauthier for driving after suspension of his license. During a search of his person, police located a baggie containing a small amount of methamphetamine and $1,375 in cash. Police executed a search warrant for Gauthier’s vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they found a handgun and a backpack that contained more than 350 grams of crystal methamphetamine, $1,500 in cash, a digital scale, ledgers, and other drug paraphernalia.
On December 2, 2018, while a warrant was pending for Gauthier’s arrest, Franklin police responded to a report of a man unconscious at the wheel of a vehicle. After determining that the man was Gauthier, the police arrested him and transported him to a hospital. Police then obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and found four clear plastic baggies containing more than 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Police also found a scale, baggies, needles, and three mobile phones.
A jury found Gauthier guilty of two methamphetamine trafficking charges in November of 2020. The jury also acquitted Gauthier of firearms charges related to the November 1, 2018, incident.
“Drug traffickers who seek to profit from selling methamphetamine and other dangerous substances are endangering public health and safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “This defendant was distributing significant amounts of highly-pure methamphetamine. Thanks to the hard work of the law enforcement community in New Hampshire, this methamphetamine dealer is out of business and behind bars. As this defendant has now learned, drug trafficking in New Hampshire will not be tolerated and will lead to significant prison time.”
“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire.”
This matter was investigated by the Tilton Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, the Alexandria Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam Le.
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Tennessee Man Charged with Civil Rights Violations for Series of Church ArsonsRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man was charged yesterday with civil rights violations for his role in the arson of four Nashville area churches.
Alan Douglas Fox, 28, of Nashville, was charged by criminal information with setting fire to the Crievewood United Methodist Church on June 17, 2019; the Crievewood Baptist Church on June 25, 2019; the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church on June 25, 2019; and the Priest Lake Community Baptist Church on June 26, 2019. Fox is also charged with carrying and using a firearm during the arson of the Crievewood Baptist Church.
The information alleges that Fox intentionally set the fires because of the religious character of the churches.
If convicted, Fox faces up to 20 years in prison for each fire, and a consecutive five-year sentence for the firearms violation.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Nashville Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tarboro Man Sentenced for Robbery and Brandishing a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Tarboro man was sentenced on Wednesday to 130 months in prison for robbery and brandishing a firearm during the robbery. On September 2, 2020, Rashawn Demond Lyons pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Lyons, 26, robbed the Kangaroo Express located on West Raleigh Boulevard in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on October 13, 2019. Lyons approached the store clerk and produced an AR-15 style rifle from under his coat. Lyons then pointed the rifle at the store clerk and demanded currency from the cash register. Lyons fled the store with $300. Officers were able to apprehend Lyons using the store’s video surveillance recordings and civilian tips.
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 Louise W. Flanagan. The Rocky Mount Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with assistance of the Nash County District Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parris 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. 4:20-cr-00030-FL.
St. Louis County man pleads guilty to two armed carjackings and firearms offensesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. accepted a plea of guilty from David Curtis President, on August 24, 2021, for the crimes of carjacking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence for events on June 28, 2019, and carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence for events on July 29, 2019. Judge Limbaugh set sentencing for December 1, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, President, a 29- year-old resident of St. Louis County, committed two separate carjackings in St. Louis County. On June 28, 2019, in the 11100 Block of Riaza Square, President took a 2007 Buick Lucerne from the victim at gun point. President was later identified as the carjacker and determined to be in possession of the victim’s pistol, which was in the Lucerne at the time of the carjacking. On July 29, 2019, at the Petro Mart at 698 Gravois Bluffs Boulevard, President shot two persons and took from them a 2017 Nissan Altima.
The parties have jointly recommended a sentence of 18 years for the four offenses. The District Court will determine the sentence to be imposed at the time of sentencing.
The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the carjacking and firearms offenses.
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Sedalia Man Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Sedalia, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for tax evasion.
Duane Dixon, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to three years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Dixon to pay $639,733 in restitution to the IRS.
On Feb. 2, 2021, Dixon pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. Dixon admitted that he failed to file tax returns from 1996 through 2010.
Dixon hired a return preparer in 2010 to prepare tax returns for 2005 to 2010, but provided this return preparer with false and incomplete information, and knowing that these returns omitted significant income, submitted these same returns to the IRS. Dixon’s returns included taxable income amounts that greatly understated his true income, resulting in a tax due and owing of $237,821 for tax years 2005 to 2010, with additional penalties and interest of $401,912, for a total tax loss of $639,733. Over this same period of time, Dixon had additional taxes owed to the State of Missouri in the amount of $57,330.
The IRS sent Dixon numerous notices of enforcement collection actions between August 2003 and July 2015. Dixon filed bankruptcies when the IRS was attempting to assess or collect his taxes to forestall levies and seizures of his property. Those cases were later dismissed by the bankruptcy court.
Dixon formed Dixon Builders LLC in February 2012. He subsequently opened bank accounts, bought and sold real estate, and purchased a boat and vehicles in the LLC’s name. During the 2013 and 2014 tax years, Dixon purchased nine pieces of real estate outright in the name of Dixon Builders LLC. On July 24, 2014, Dixon told an IRS Revenue Officer, who was attempting to collect payments from him, that he had no personal or business bank accounts, that he had no business such as an LLC, that he was self-employed as a handyman and had no employees, and that he did not own any rental homes or have any rentals in a business or other person’s name. Dixon knew these statements were false at the time he made them.
When the IRS notified Dixon in January 2015 of the filing of alter ego liens against assets titled to Dixon Builders LLC, he immediately transferred three separate properties by quitclaim deeds from Dixon Builders LLC to his adult children. Soon afterward, Dixon acquired another property in the names of his adult children. Dixon’s children provided no consideration for the properties and had no intent to acquire or claim ownership of the properties; Dixon maintained de facto ownership.
Rather than pay his outstanding tax liability, Dixon continued to spend money on extravagances such as personal vehicles and motorcycles.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Daly. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations.
Second of 3 Brothers Sentenced for Attempting to Steal Guns from Federal Firearms LicenseesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Jerquay Atkins, 24, formerly of Buente Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
In connection with the guilty plea of brothers Jerwahn Atkins, Jamir Atkins and Jerquay Atkins, the court was advised that on May 31, 2020, the Atkins brothers conspired to steal firearms from federal firearm licensee, Allegheny Arms and Gun Works. The Atkins’s used a crowbar in an attempt to gain entry to the gun store which triggered a burglary alarm. This alarmed caused the brothers to run away to which Jerquay and Jerwahn left the scene in the same vehicle while Jamir departed in a separate vehicle, not arriving at the next crime scene. Jerquay Atkins and Jerwahn Atkins then drove to the National Armory in Moon Township, also a federal firearm licensee. A crowbar was again used to pry open the door triggering the burglary alarm causing the two brothers to flee once more.
Before the sentencing, the defendant, Jerquay Atkins, requested a downward variance. Judge Hardy denied said variance and imposed an 18-month term of imprisonment, three years of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for Jamir Atkins on September 2, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than five years imprisonment, a term of supervised release not more than three years, and/or a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded Jerquay Atkins to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jerwahn Atkins, Jamir Atkins and Jerquay Atkins.
Second Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison After Shooting at Cedar Rapids Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
A man who fired a handgun into the air at an apartment complex while children were playing nearby was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison.
Sedrick Mac Johnson, Jr., age 24, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a March 22, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that on May 21, 2020, a call was made to the Cedar Rapids 911 line. The caller reported shots fired at an apartment complex on North Towne Court in Cedar Rapids. Police officers arrived at the scene and spoke with multiple witnesses. One witness saw two individuals, one of whom was later identified as Johnson and the other as Kendall J. Willis, walk into an apartment after the shots were fired. The witness saw that each was holding a handgun. Officers searched the ground near where the shots were fired and found three 9mm shell casings. Willis and Johnson then left the apartment and were detained by police. During a later search of that apartment, officers found marijuana, drug packaging, and two 9mm pistols, one of which had an extended magazine. Ballistics testing determined that two of the shell casings found outside the apartment were fired by one of the pistols and that the other shell casing had been fired by the other pistol. Johnson had previously been convicted of three felony burglaries and two felony charges of trafficking in stolen weapons.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Johnson was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Willis also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and previously sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment. 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.
Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20‑CR‑00058‑CJW‑MAR.
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Savannah woman sentenced for assisting in scheme that stole millions of dollars from victims’ retirement accountsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah woman has been sentenced after admitting she “structured” cash withdrawals, which were part of a scheme to steal millions of dollars from other people’s retirement accounts.
Karen Dickerson, 52, of Savannah, was sentenced in U.S. District court to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Structuring to Evade Currency Transaction Reports, said David H. Estes, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Dickerson also forfeited ownership of five bank accounts with deposits totaling $195,815.73, was ordered to pay $644,915.15 in restitution, and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Karen Dickerson’s decades-long criminal record makes it abundantly clear that she is an unrepentant thief with zero regard for her victims,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “She sank to a new low with these crimes, and hopefully this sentence will give her ample time to reflect on her behavior while protecting the community from her greed.”
As described in court documents and testimony, other individuals gained access to victims’ retirement funds and transferred nearly $3 million into various bank accounts, including one Dickerson controlled. From at least June 2018 to November 2018, Dickerson knew she was helping launder ill-gotten proceeds when she made 22 withdrawals totaling $213,745 from her bank accounts. Most of the withdrawals were in amounts less than $10,000 to evade currency transaction reports. After Dickerson handed over a predetermined amount of cash, she kept the remaining amount of transferred funds as payment.
“People work hard and save for retirement to enjoy later on in life,” said Special Agent in charge Steven Baisel, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “Criminals like Karen Dickerson, who help those who prey on these victims, will be caught and brought to justice.”
The case remains under investigation.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service in coordination with Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Lee and John P. Harper III.
Sampson County Man Receives 60 Months in Prison for Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Roseboro man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 11, 2020, Ramon Eric Best pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Best, 35, illegally possessed a firearm as a previously convicted felon. On January 7, 2018, Wilson Police Department (WPD) officers responded to a gunshot call and found Best applying pressure to an upper thigh gunshot of a victim who was lying in the road next to Best’s vehicle. Best initially claimed the victim (Best’s friend) was shot by an unknown individual but later admitted that the wound was accidentally self-inflicted. After admitting the truth to the police, Best ultimately gave the gun used in the shooting to the police. The police obtained search warrants, and officers found a 9mm handgun, a stolen .40 caliber handgun, approximately 2 grams of cocaine base (crack), digital scales, and a high-capacity drum magazine in Best’s vehicle.
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 Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wilson Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina implements the PSN Program through its 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.
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. 5:18-CR-00401-FL.
Salt Lake City Man Sentenced for Distribution of Alpha-PHP Across Wasatch FrontRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Brent Orton, 63, of Salt Lake City, has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for possessing the Schedule 1 narcotic Alpha Pyrrolidinohexanophenone, commonly known as “Alpha PHP,” with the intent to distribute the narcotic.
In June of 2021, Orton plead guilty to a one-count criminal information filed by federal prosecutors charging him with possession with intent to distribute Alpha PHP. In the plea agreement, Orton admitted to receiving a package of Alpha PHP with the intent to distribute the illegal narcotic.
In a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors, it was alleged that Orton had imported and distributed large amounts of Alpha-PHP for two years, and that Orton had distributed between 575,000 to 4,600,000 doses of the drug in Utah, which sold for between $300 and $500 dollars a gram. It was further alleged that Orton used his daughter’s friends as customers, as well as using them to make inroads into the drug trafficking business.
Alpha-PHP is a Schedule 1 controlled substance and is a compound of the substituted cathinone and substituted pyrrolidine chemical classes. It is a synthetic variant of a drug more commonly referred to as “bath salts.” In general, the intensity of the effects of this substance is comparable to strong stimulants such as methamphetamine, MDPV and alpha-PVP. Alpha-PHP is reported to mimic the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. The adverse effects associated with alpha-PHP abuse included vomiting, agitation, paranoia, hypertension, unconsciousness, tachycardia, seizures, cardiac arrest, rhabdomyolysis, or death.
“Synthetic drugs like Alpha-PHP are deadly compounds that endanger our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Andrea Martinez. “The United States Attorney’s Office is focused on pursuing criminals who import and distribute these illegal narcotics into our community.”
“Dangerous, synthetic drugs like bath salts have no place in our community and HSI will investigate those who import and distribute these deadly substances,” said Steven Cagen, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Denver Field Division. “We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners for their investigative help and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case. Distributors like Orton who profit off this poison have no place in our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah United States Attorney’s Office and a Special Assistant United States Attorney from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, are prosecting the case. Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations and Officers from Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.
Romanian National Man Sentenced to 140 Months for Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Romanian National, Adrian Mitan, 36, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, after pleading guilty for his role in three separate schemes charged across three separate indictments: a money laundering conspiracy arising from online auction fraud scheme (commonly referred to as eBay fraud), a credit card phishing and brute-force attack scheme, and a vishing scheme, all designed to steal money from Americans.
According to his plea agreement, Mitan worked in conjunction with others to post advertisements for goods to sales websites like Craigslist. Once they convinced U.S. based victims to pay for the item, they laundered the money through a sophisticated operation that included the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Mitan also agreed that he was involved in a credit card fraud scheme that involved phishing for credit card information from victims and then brute force attacking point of sale systems to obtain all necessary data to create new cloned credit or debit cards. He further admitted to then using those cloned cards to withdraw substantial sums from ATMs. A network of U.S.-based coconspirators would convert this money to bitcoin and send the proceeds over seas to the Defendant. According to his Plea Agreement, the Defendant possessed roughly 16,000 unique credit or debit card codes.
Finally, the Defendant conceded that he participated in a vishing scheme, obtaining debit or credit card codes by hacking into small businesses’ Voice over Internet Protocol systems and then deploying a script to contact financial institution customers to defraud them in providing their personal debit and credit card codes. Mitan admitted that he and his coconspirators obtained codes for roughly 2,130 access devices, targeting more than ten financial institutions’ customers.
Mitan pleaded guilty in January 2020.
Under federal law, Mitan must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Assistant Director Michael D’Ambrosio, U.S. Secret Service, Office of Investigations; Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; Jonathan Larsen of the IRS-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) New York Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely, U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG); announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and supported by the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2). Assistance was provided by the Romanian National Police (Service for Combating Cybercrime) and the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (Agency for Prosecuting Organized Crime). The Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided significant support and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support in securing and coordinating the arrests and extraditions from Romania of more than a dozen defendants.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn M. Anderson and Kenneth R. Taylor of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Senior Trial Attorney Timothy C. Flowers and Senior Counsel Frank H. Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
Individuals believing they may be victims of the advanced fee and online auction fraud or brute-force attack schemes described herein are encouraged to visit the following website to obtain more information: https://justice.gov/usao-edky/information-victims-large-cases. Tips to avoid becoming a victim of online auction fraud can be found here on the U.S. Secret Service’s website.
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Rogers County Woman Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Rogers County woman was sentenced today in federal court for producing child pornography involving her young child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Brittney Jo Wallace, 29, of Claremore, to 25 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
“Brittney Wallace will spend the next 25 years in federal prison for taking sexually explicit photographs of her own child,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Thanks to the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tilli Villalobos and Chris Nassar along with detectives and agents with OSBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and Tulsa’s Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation Task Force this child predator is behind bars.”
“We believe in giving a voice to the voiceless,” said Ricky Adams, Director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. “The child involved in this case was just a toddler. Our ICAC Agents worked diligently, along with our other partners involved in this investigation, to give that child a voice. We are proud to have substantially contributed to the effort to get this predator off the street and to ensure justice is served.”
On April 28, 2021, Wallace pleaded guilty to production of child pornography by a parent. Wallace admitted that she had the toddler touch her in a sexually explicit manner while she took photos using her cell phone on Sept. 26, 2015.
In 2016, Wallace’s children were taken from the home after a doctor found signs of severe child abuse. The defendant’s parental rights were later terminated. During the 2016 investigation conducted by the state of Oklahoma, authorities seized the defendant’s phone which was later suppressed. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals later found the seizure and subsequent search of her phone were proper, and the phone was turned over to investigators. When authorities conducted a forensic examination of the phone, they discovered the child pornography.
On March 1, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Wallace on a federal arrest warrant. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, and Claremore Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matilda M. Villalobos and Christopher J. Nassar are prosecuting the case. AUSA Villalobos is a prosecutor from the District of New Mexico. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to increased jurisdictional responsibilities regarding crimes involving Native American victims or defendants and that occur within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation Reservations.
You can find the indictment press release here.
If you suspect a child is being sexually exploited, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children immediately at 1-800-THE-LOST or cybertipline.org. You can also contact the OSBI ICAC Unit at (800) 522-8017 or [email protected].
Reston Man Sentenced for Counterfeit COVID-19 Stimulus Checks SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Reston man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to create counterfeit Economic Impact Payments, also known as COVID-19 stimulus checks, and for attempting to conduct a series of fraudulent financial transactions.
“The defendant’s extensive fraud scheme involved the unlawful acquisition of personal identification information belonging to over 150 individuals,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “In addition to causing financial harm to the individuals from whom he stole checks and credit cards, the defendant’s sweeping criminal conduct also inflicted emotional harm and distress to his identity theft victims. As this case demonstrates, we are determined to hold accountable those who seek to illegally enrich themselves by defrauding and stealing from our residents.”
According to court documents, between approximately December 2019 and August 2020, Jonathan Drew, 39, stole U.S. mail addressed to more than 150 individuals in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. The mail Drew stole included bank statements, credit cards, credit card statements, W-2 forms, and more than $700,000 in checks, including a COVID-19 stimulus payment and checks Drew used to create counterfeit checks.
According to court documents, Drew used the stolen stimulus check to create counterfeit stimulus checks ranging from $1,200 to $2,400, and he negotiated his own authentically issued stimulus check twice. Drew also used the personally identifiable information of several individuals without authorization to lease an apartment; open bank accounts; and attempt to conduct fraudulent transactions through counterfeit checks, forged checks, unauthorized use of credit cards, and wire transfers.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Zhu and Roberta O. Roberts, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-71.