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1 October 2021
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEVIN MARTIN, age 28, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on September 30, 2021 by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 70 months incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court paperwork, MARTIN was interviewed by ATF special agents who were assisting the New Orleans Police Department in arresting MARTIN on burglary charges. During the interview, MARTIN admitted that he had firearms in his residence and during a subsequent search of that residence, police located firearms in the location MARTIN said they would be. MARTIN had multiple prior felony convictions at this point in time.
The Court sentenced MARTIN to 70 months imprisonment to be followed by three (3) years of supervised release and ordered MARTIN to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 .
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 was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.
Mission Man Sentenced for Simple AssaultRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Simple Assault of a Minor was sentenced on September 21, 2021, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Xavier Quiver, a/k/a Xavier Medicine Blanket, age 26, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25.
Quiver was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 14, 2020. He pled guilty on June 24, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on February 9, 2020, in Mission. On that date, Quiver was in a parked vehicle with family members when he became angry and reached into the back seat and struck a four-year-old child in the head and face.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Quiver was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling has announced that on September 30, 2021, Ahmad R. Johnson (age 42, of Milwaukee) was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for narcotics trafficking and using a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
The sentence encompassed conduct stemming from two cases, one charged in 2019 and the other charged in 2020. According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant on April 3, 2019, at Johnson’s residence and recovered narcotics and a firearm. Johnson was charged with trafficking heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana and with using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After the 2019 arrest, Johnson was released while awaiting trial – on the condition that he not commit any other crimes.
However, as court documents make clear, law enforcement executed another search warrant at Johnson’s residence on November 24, 2020. During that search, law enforcement recovered a diaper bag which contained not only diapers and baby wipes but also a loaded Ruger P93DC 9mm pistol with a 30-round extended magazine. In addition, law enforcement located crack cocaine (including 24 individually wrapped corner cut bags hidden in the oven), as well as numerous cell phones, scales, baggies, marijuana, and $1,225.00 cash.
Johnson later entered guilty pleas to two counts of drug trafficking and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of such crimes. Following his 12-year prison sentence, Johnson also must spend five years on supervised release.
These cases were jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Milwaukee Police Department. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Ingraham and Karine Moreno-Taxman.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Will Pope, also known as “Shorty,” 46, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of heroin.
According to court documents, Pope sold a quantity of heroin to a confidential informant near Beckley on February 13, 2020. Pope also admitted to distributing what he now knows was fentanyl on two other occasions, both transactions occurring on February 6, 2020.
Pope faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on January 22, 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Detroit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00111.
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Miami Man Sentenced to 160 Months for Multiple Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Forty-three-year-old Christopher C. Pinkston was sentenced his week to over 13 years in federal prison for robbing three South Florida banks and attempting to rob a fourth during a one-month crime spree earlier this year. Pinkston had already served nearly twelve years in federal prison for a string of bank robberies in 2006 in the Western District of Missouri.
According to court records, at about 1:30 p.m. on February 11, Pinkston entered the Chase Bank located at 13745 S.W. 152nd Street in Miami, approached a teller window, and handed the teller a note saying: "I need 30,000 Dollars or everybodys [sic] Dead." The victim teller gave Pinkston $1,000 in cash, after which Pinkston exited the bank, leaving the demand note behind. Pinkston robbed a second bank at about 1:30 p.m. on February 19. He entered the City National Bank located at 13780 S.W. 88th St. in Miami, approached a teller window, and handed the teller a note saying: "Good morning this is a robbery Handover $30,000 you have less than one min no ink bombs or trackers Thank you [sic]." The victim teller handed Pinkston $5,100 in cash, after which Pinkston exited the bank, leaving the demand note behind.
On March 5, the defendant entered a TD Bank in Palmetto Bay, approached a desk of one of the TD Bank employees, sat down, and handed the employee a note demanding $30,000. When the employee informed the defendant that she did not have any cash in her cash box, he took back his demand note and left the bank. The employee recalled that the note began, “This is a robbery, I need $30,000.” Only 15 minute later, the defendant walked into another Chase Bank in Miami located about a mile from the previous attempted robbery. The defendant approached one of the teller windows and handed the teller a note demanding $30,000: “This is a robbery I need $30,000 make it quick.” The defendant walked out of the bank with $24,900.
On September 29, 2021, Pinkston pled guilty to two counts of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas imposed Pinkston’s sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro announced the sentence.
FBI Miami investigated this case, with cooperation and assistance from Miami Dade Police Department and City of Miami Police Department, Special Investigations Section. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Egozi prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20194-WPD.
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Mexican National Residing in Bakersfield Sentenced to Prison for Selling 12 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Rodolfo Cardenas-Lara, 44, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Bakersfield who has been removed from the United States on five occasions, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for unlawfully distributing methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On July 16, 2021, co-defendant Cesar Larios-Ortega, 40, also a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Bakersfield, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
According to court documents, during two meetings in May 2019, Cardenas-Lara and Larios-Ortega sold 12 pounds of methamphetamine to a customer in Kern County at a negotiated price of $1,750 per pound.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker prosecuted the case.
Metairie Chiropractic Owner Indicted for Health Care Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Making a False StatementRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BENJAMIN TEKIPPE (TEKIPPE), age 37, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on September 30, 2021 with health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement.
According to the Indictment, TEKIPPE was a licensed chiropractor in Louisiana. TEKIPPE owned and operated his own practice, Metairie Chiropractic, located in Metairie, Louisiana, where he purported to provide chiropractic services to patients.
TEKIPPE knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program, in connection with the delivery of and payment for health care benefits and services.
TEKIPPE submitted, and caused to be submitted, fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs that falsely represented that certain health care services were provided to patients, when TEKIPPE knew that those services were not actually provided.
On various dates in 2019, TEKIPPE submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims for payment which were not provided. In addition, TEKIPPE knowingly used or caused to be used, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person, specifically insurance members’ unique member identification numbers, to bill for services which were not provided.
On or about July 22, 2020, TEKIPPE did knowingly and willfully make a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement to Special Agents of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
If convicted of health care fraud, TEKIPPE faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, TEKIPPE faces a possible sentence of 2 years of imprisonment to be run consecutively to any other sentence and up to one year of supervised release, . If convicted of making a false statement, TEKIPPE faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release. For each offense, TEKIPPE faces up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
An indictment is merely a charge and the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh.
McLaughlin Man Indicted for Burglary, Intentional Damage to Property, Trespass, and StalkingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Third Degree Burglary, Intentional Damage to Property, Criminal Trespass, and Stalking.
Christopher Aaron Miller, age 42, was indicted on September 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 22, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between January 1, 2018, and September 14, 2021, in McLaughlin, Miller harassed and stalked two victims. In September 2019, Miller burglarized the victims’ garage and intentionally caused damage to the victims’ vehicle on several occasions.
The charges are merely accusations and Miller is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Miller was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
McLaughlin Man Indicted for AssaultRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender, Assault by Strangulation, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
Lyle Walter Iron Horn, age 41, was indicted on September 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 23, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that in McLaughlin, on February 20, 2021, Iron Horn assaulted an individual with shod feet and on August 13, 2020, assaulted the same individual by strangulation. Both assaults were committed against Iron Horn’s domestic partner and occurred after Iron Horn had been convicted of at least two prior acts of domestic violence.
The charges are merely accusations and Iron Horn is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Iron Horn was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Manchester Convenience Store Owner, Worker, Charged with Defrauding Federal Food Stamp ProgramRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging JAVED SAEED, 52, and DASTGIR SAEED, 68, both of South Windsor, with food stamp fraud offenses.
The indictment was returned on September 14, 2021, and the defendants were arrested on September 29. They are released on bonds pending trial.
The federal Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (“SNAP”) is administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and utilizes federal tax dollars to subsidize low-income households to provide them with the opportunity to achieve a more nutritious diet by increasing their food-purchasing power. SNAP recipients purchase eligible food items at retail food stores through the use of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, and SNAP benefits may be accepted by authorized retailers only in exchange for eligible items. Items such as alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, paper goods and soaps are not eligible for purchase with Food Stamp benefits, and it is a violation of the rules and regulations governing the food stamp program to allow benefits to be used to purchase ineligible items. SNAP benefits may not lawfully be exchanged for cash under any circumstances. The program is designed so that the total amount of each purchase is electronically transferred to the retailer’s designated bank account.
As alleged in the indictment, Javed Saeed is the owner of Manchester Quick Mart, a convenience store and Mobil gas station located at 262 Oakland Street in Manchester, and Dastgir Saeed helped operate the store. Between November 2016 and January 2020, Javeed Saeed, Dastgir Saeed and others illegally allowed customers to redeem their food stamp benefits for cash and other ineligible items, including gasoline and male enhancement pills, and charged the customers’ food stamp cards a premium of nearly 50 percent for these transactions.
The indictment charges Javed and Dastgir Saeed with one count of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, and one count of food stamp fraud. Each charge carries maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A convicted felon from the Metro East is headed to prison for nearly six years for his illegal possession and use of a firearm. Marrio Robinson, 39, of East
St. Louis, Illinois was sentenced yesterday to 71 months in prison, which will be followed by a term of 3 years of supervised release. Robinson previously pled guilty to the offense in September
2020.
According to court documents and the evidence, Robinson was involved in a shooting in East St.
Louis, Illinois in 2017. Robinson shot toward the victim at least ten times using a Glock .40 caliber semi- automatic pistol, resulting in injuries to the victim’s thigh and lower leg. At the time Robinson possessed the semi-automatic pistol, he had been previously convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the St. Clair County Circuit Court and Distribution of
Crack Cocaine, Maintaining a Drug Premise, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug
Trafficking Offense in the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Robinson was therefore prohibited from possessing any firearm.The case was investigated by the East St. Louis Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia S. Rajagopal prosecuted the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Semi-Automatic Rifle After Being Indicted for State Felony ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that JOHNNY WOODEN, age 21, from Orleans Parish, pled guilty on September 28, 2021 to a one-count indictment for possession of a firearm while under indictment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(n). WOODEN was initially indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on August 7, 2020.
On July 29, 2020, WOODEN possessed a semi-automatic rifle while he was under indictment for felony charges in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, which prohibited him from possessing any firearms.
At sentencing, WOODEN faces up to a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(a)(1)(D).
This case was 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.
The case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Bücher of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Lutheran Pastor Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. – Steven P. Tibbetts, 62, of Godfrey, Illinois, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for knowingly distributing child pornography in December 2019. The Court further ordered Tibbetts to pay $10,000 in restitution to victims who were depicted in some of the videos and photographs.
Court documents and evidence showed that Tibbetts began viewing and distributing child pornography starting in the 1990s and continued until his arrest in June 2020. Furthermore, while Tibbetts was on pre-trial release for the charged offense, an officer located additional devices in his home, which were later found to contain child pornography. The instant offense involved 2,430 images of child pornography and 408 videos containing child pornography.Tibbetts has served as a Lutheran pastor since 1992. At the time the complaint was filed, Tibbetts was employed as the head pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois. In imposing the sentence, the Court noted that “The defendant was living two lives of sorts.”
FBI Springfield Division and Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Significant assistance was provided in the early stages of the investigation by the
Peoria (Illinois) Police Department.The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher R. Hoell and Karelia S.
Rajagopal.
Leader of Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina --- Acting U.S. Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that Lamar Louis Johnson, a/k/a “McJag,” 39, of Mount Pleasant, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for his role in suppling cocaine to a drug trafficking organization that operated in the Dorchester Terrace neighborhood of North Charleston.
The evidence presented at the sentencing hearing showed that Johnson distributed dozens of kilograms of cocaine in the Charleston area since 2019. His sentence was enhanced based on his leadership role in the organization, his possession of firearms at the time of his arrest, and his significant criminal history which included more than seventeen prior convictions for various narcotics offenses and violent crimes.
“The North Charleston Police Department is appreciative of the work of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners, which assisted in the lengthy investigation, successful prosecution of the cases developed, and fair sentencing of the defendant,” stated Chief of Police Reggie Burgess of the North Charleston Police Department. “One of the themes of the North Charleston Police Department is to create safer neighborhoods for our citizens and the sentence of this offender assists us in our mission.”
Johnson was one of twelve defendants charged in July 2019 during the first wave of Operation Lowcountry Line, a joint federal, state, and local multi-year investigation quarterbacked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with assistance from the North Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Pleasant Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Charleston County Aviation Authority, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
According to the fifty-count superseding indictment, the case targeted members of a street gang who obtained bulk supplies of heroin, cocaine, and other narcotics from interstate sources of supply and then redistributed the drugs to street-level drug dealers in the greater Charleston area. The superseding indictment also asserted that gang members and associates threatened violence and used firearms to defend themselves and their criminal enterprise from rival drug dealers and gang members.
Another twelve defendants were charged in a second-round indictment in mid-2020. To date, twenty-two of the twenty-four defendants, including Johnson, have pled guilty.
U.S. District Judge David Norton sentenced Johnson to 324 months in federal prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Everett McMillian, lead attorney of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), is prosecuting the case. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Latin Kings Member Charged with the 2017 Murder of Joshua FloresRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a five-count Superseding Indictment charging JONATHAN GARCIA, a/k/a “Jayo,” with racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, firearms, and narcotics offenses, in connection with GARCIA’s involvement in the 2017 murder of Joshua Flores, a/k/a “Monster,” and offenses committed by GARCIA as a member of the Latin Kings, including the Black Mob tribe of the Latin Kings. GARCIA was arrested today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein in Manhattan federal court. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Latin Kings, like other gangs, solve disputes with intimidation and violence, as Jonathan Garcia allegedly did when he shot and killed Joshua Flores in 2017. Acts such as this endanger the public and wreak havoc on the neighborhoods where gangs have entrenched themselves. We will continue our partnership with the NYPD and FBI to stop the proliferation of deadly gang violence on the streets of our City.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Violent street gang like the Latin Kings use brutal tactics in their pursuit of illegal drugs and firearms, terrorizing all those who stand in their way. Basing status within the gang on a member’s violent acts is a stark illustration of their utter lack of respect for human life. For his alleged acts of violence, Mr. Garcia now faces a possible lifetime in federal prison.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and statements made in public filings:
GARCIA is a member of a racketeering enterprise known as the Latin Kings, and specifically, the set or “tribe” of the Latin Kings known as the Black Mob, which operates in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island. In order to enrich the enterprise, protect and expand its criminal operations, enforce discipline among its members, and retaliate against members of rival gangs, members and associates of the Black Mob committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and crack; committed robberies; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms. In December 2019 and April 2021, several members and associates of the Black Mob, including its senior-most leaders, were charged with racketeering offenses, narcotics conspiracy, and firearms offenses.
Since at least in or around 2012, GARCIA has been a member of the Latin Kings. On or about May 18, 2017, GARCIA shot and killed Joshua Flores, a/k/a “Monster.” The murder elevated GARCIA’s status within the Latin Kings, including the Black Mob.
GARCIA, 27, of Queens, New York, is charged with: (1) conspiracy to commit racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1962(d) and 1963, which carries a maximum term of life in prison; (2) murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1959(a)(1) and 2, which carries a mandatory term of life in prison or death; (3) murder through the use of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(j)(1) and 2, which carries a maximum term of life in prison or death; (4) narcotics conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841 (b)(1)(A), which carries a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; and (5) use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 2, which carries a maximum term of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other term of in prison. The maximum potential sentences and the mandatory minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hobson, Elinor Tarlow, and David Robles are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Lackawanna Man from Guinea Charged with Attempting Unlawfully to Procure United States CitizenshipRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Mamadou Gando Balde a/k/a Thierno O. Ba, 51, a citizen of the West African nation of Guinea currently residing in Lackawanna, NY, with attempted unlawful procurement of naturalization, making false statements in a naturalization proceeding, and making a false statement to federal law enforcement officers. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey T. Fiut, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on August 20, 2018, the defendant knowingly made false statements on his Form N-400 Application for Naturalization, the form used to apply for U.S. citizenship. Specifically, Balde omitted the name “Thierno O. Ba” when asked to list other names he has used since birth. The defendant is also accused of falsely responding “no” when asked “Have you EVER given any U.S. Government officials any information or documentation that was false, fraudulent, or misleading?,” and “Have you EVER lied to any U.S. Government officials to gain entry or admission into the United States or to gain immigration benefits while in the United States?” The indictment states that Balde gave U.S. Government officials information and documentation that was false regarding his identity and lied to U.S. Government officials about his identity to gain entry and admission into the United States and to gain immigration benefits while in the United States.
The defendant was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Justice Department Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Arkansas Housing AuthorityRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced Thursday that the White River Regional Housing Authority in Melbourne, Arkansas, has agreed to pay $70,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that it and its former employee, Duane Johnson, violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when Johnson sexually harassed an applicant who sought a Housing Choice Voucher from the Housing Authority.
The settlement, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, will resolve the United States’ lawsuit, also filed Thursday, under the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit alleges that in 2020, a woman who was living with her two minor children at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence and abuse applied to the Housing Authority for a Housing Choice Voucher in Cleburne County, Arkansas. The Housing Authority assigned the application to Duane Johnson, a Housing Authority employee who, among other duties, served as the Housing Choice Voucher coordinator for Cleburne County.
“All people deserve equal access to critical housing benefits, including vouchers, without being subjected to sexual harassment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Housing assistance programs are designed to help people when they need it the most. The Justice Department will not tolerate officials who abuse their power by sexually harassing housing voucher applicants and will continue to use the law to hold perpetrators accountable.”
“Thursday’s announcement demonstrates that officials who use their control over the grant of public assistance programs in order to exploit sexual acts from those in need of assistance will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to work with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate and hold accountable all who similarly abuse their positions of public trust.”
“Renters whose names rise to the top of coveted Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists should not have to submit to unwelcomed sexual harassment before obtaining housing assistance,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria McCain of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD applauds Thursday’s settlement and remains committed to working with the Justice Department to ensure that everyone in a position to control access to housing meets their responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.”
The lawsuit alleges that Johnson sexually harassed the applicant. Specifically, the suit alleges, Johnson touched the applicant without her consent, requested that she provide him with full-frontal nude photographs in exchange for his assistance in finding housing, made graphic descriptions of the poses he wanted for the photographs, made other unwelcome sexual advances and threatened to post nude photographs of the applicant on Facebook if she reported him. Although the Housing Authority later notified the applicant that she could receive a Housing Choice Voucher, the lawsuit alleges that she chose not accept a voucher because she was afraid of Johnson and did not want him to know where she lived. The lawsuit also alleges that the Housing Authority is vicariously liable for Johnson’s unlawful conduct.
The applicant filed a complaint against the Housing Authority and Johnson with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation, HUD determined that the Housing Authority and Johnson had discriminated against the applicant in violation of the Fair Housing Act and it issued a charge of discrimination. After the applicant chose to have the matter decided in federal court, the HUD referred the matter to the Department of Justice.
Under the settlement, the Housing Authority will pay a total of $70,000 in monetary damages to the applicant, adopt and maintain an anti-discrimination policy with a complaint procedure, and provide training on the Fair Housing Act to its employees. The settlement also permanently bars Johnson from participating in the management of residential rental property and from participating in any public housing program.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country. The goal of the initiative is to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the Initiative in October 2017, the Department of Justice has filed 23 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $4.1 million for victims of such harassment. HUD also has developed a Sexual Harassment Training Initiative with training sessions and educational resources about preventing and addressing sexual harassment, and launched a public awareness campaign – Call HUD: Because Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal.
If you think you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or other forms of housing discrimination, you may contact the Justice Department by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, e-mailing the Justice Department at [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Justice Department Requires Divestiture for General Shale to Proceed with Acquisition of Meridian BrickRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it will require General Shale Brick Inc. (General Shale) and Meridian Brick LLC (Meridian), two of the largest suppliers of residential brick in the United States, to divest several assets used in the manufacture and sale of residential brick to preserve competition for these products in the southern and midwestern United States.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive harm alleged in the lawsuit. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the parties must divest three manufacturing facilities, 14 distribution yards and showrooms, and six mines for extracting input materials used in the manufacture of residential brick to RemSom LLC (RemSom) or an alternative acquirer approved by the United States.
“Residential brick is an essential building block in American home construction,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “As originally proposed, the transaction would have led to higher priced and lower quality residential brick, making it more expensive for millions of Americans to build and purchase homes. The settlement preserves competition for the manufacture and sale of residential brick to the benefit of American homebuilders and homebuyers.”
According to the complaint, General Shale and Meridian are two of the top suppliers of residential brick in eight separate local markets in six states (Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio). Without the required divestiture, the proposed transaction would have eliminated the substantial competition that currently exists between General Shale and Meridian in those markets.
General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, and is a North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG. General Shale is a leading U.S. producer of construction materials, such as brick, stone and concrete block products. Wienerberger AG’s North American business generated approximately $370 million in revenues in 2020, 78% of which came from brick sales.
Meridian was formed as a joint venture in 2016 by its parent companies Boral Limited and LSF9 Stardust Super Holdings L.P. Meridian, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, is the largest residential brick manufacturer in the United States. Meridian generated over $400 million in revenues in the fiscal year 2020, which was primarily derived from brick sales.
RemSom is a private investment firm that became the majority shareholder of US Brick LLC (US Brick), formerly known as Carolina Brick, in 2020. US Brick is a commercial and residential brick manufacturer that sells brick in 30 different states. US Brick is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Jay Owen, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Justice Department Awards Nearly $4.2 Million in Grants to State of LouisianaRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and Bureau of Statistics have awarded $4,192,789 collectively to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.
The Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is a Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, administering the state's scholarship and grant programs, and the state's Internal Revenue Code Section 529 college savings program.
Grantees will use funds to:
- support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions;
- assist state and local governments in developing and implementing substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities and to create and maintain community-based residential, jail-based, and aftercare services for offenders;
- continue working on coming into compliance with PREA Standards in order to better protect individuals from sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement facilities; and
- provide student loan repayment assistance for local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to extended service in those roles and who have the least ability to repay their loans.
Jury Convicts KC Man of Meth Trafficking at Camdenton HotelRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man has been convicted by a federal trial jury of possessing methamphetamine to distribute.
Anthony Martinez Harris, 48, was found guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 29, of one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
On Sept. 26, 2019, employees at the Sleep Inn on Highway 54 called Camdenton, Mo., police officers to remove Harris from the property. When officers arrived and contacted Harris, hotel staff used a key card to open the hotel room door because Harris’s key card had been deactivated. When they opened the door, officers saw a large amount of cash on the room’s bed and a line of cocaine on the coffee table.
Harris was questioned by a Camden County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy who arrived to assist the officers. When officers searched the room they found an oblong object wrapped in camouflage fabric, which Harris identified as C-4 explosive. Officers immediately contacted the Missouri State Highway patrol bomb squad and began evacuating the hotel. The substance was later determined not to be an explosive.
After the area was deemed safe, officers searched Harris’s hotel room and found a bag in a dresser drawer that contained approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, a bag on one of the beds that contained approximately seven grams of cocaine, a Ziploc bag on another bed that contained 18 bags of approximately 37 grams of heroin/opiates, a Dollar General bag on the same bed that contained approximately 224 grams of methamphetamine, a Ziploc bag on the bed that contained small bags of marijuana, and a brown leather bag that contained 10 tablets of Oxycodone Hydrochloride, nine Ziploc bags that each contained approximately one gram of heroin/opiates, and a Ziploc bag that contained approximately 28 grams of cocaine. Officers also found a Springfield Armory sub-compact 9mm handgun and a loaded magazine, a Glock 9mm handgun and a loaded magazine, a Glock .40-caliber handgun and a loaded magazine, additional ammunition, $11,259, and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Officers also searched Harris’s vehicle and found a Black Dawn Armory custom-made AR-15-style .223-caliber rifle loaded with a 30-round magazine in the trunk. Officers also found a plastic bag that contained an assortment of approximately 500 ecstasy tablets and additional ammunition in the vehicle.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., deliberated for about two hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Wednesday, Sept. 29, ending a trial that started on Monday, Sept. 28.
Under federal statutes, Harris is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Richenberger. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Camden County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Camdenton, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group,
Jefferson Parish Man Charged with 3 Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that ZACHARY VERDIN, age 29, of Marrero, Louisiana, was charged with three counts of Bank Robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).
According to Count One of the bill of information, on or about July 19, 2021, VERDIN robbed the Capital One Bank located at 1867 Barataria Boulevard in Marrero, Louisiana. He obtained approximately $521 in the robbery. According to Count Two of the bill of information, on or about July 26, 2021, VERDIN robbed the Chase Bank located at 1425 North Broad Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. He obtained approximately $1,000 in that robbery. According to Count Three of the bill of information, on or about August 2, 2021, VERDIN robbed the Regions Bank located at 313 Westbank Expressway in Gretna, Louisiana. He obtained approximately $12,540 in that robbery.
If convicted on any of the charged offenses, VERDIN faces a maximum of twenty years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following his release from prison. VERDIN also faces a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, as to each count.
United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force and officers with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri is handling the prosecution.
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Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Heroin, Fentanyl, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Brendan Farver, 26, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that during the conspiracy, the defendant bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and his own use, in addition he brokered deals for other drug dealers in and around the Jamestown area. Farver utilized Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking activities, frequently communicating with others to procure and to sell the illegal substances. In May 2020, the Conewango Township Police Department conducted undercover purchases of heroin from the defendant on two different occasions.
On July 31, 2020, Farver brought heroin/fentanyl to an associate identified as K.T. at the individual’s residence on Victoria Avenue in Jamestown. The two then injected the heroin/fentanyl. The following morning, August 1, 2020, at approximately 11:27 a.m., the Jamestown Police Department responded to K.T.’s residence for a reported overdose investigation, where officers discovered K.T., deceased. An autopsy concluded that K.T. would not have died, but for the use of heroin containing fentanyl and that K.T.'s death was the result of an accidental fatal overdose of fentanyl.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 25, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., before Judge Skretny.
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Instagram Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 19+ YearsRead the Press Release
A drug trafficker who advertised narcotics on Instagram and Telegram was sentenced yesterday to more than 19 years in federal prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
Ricardo Rosas Garcia, the 24-year-old leader of an Irving drug trafficking ring, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced Thursday to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle.
According to plea papers, Mr. Rosas admitted his organization used the social media handles “Ricky Rosas,” “rickyrosastv3,” and “rickyrosastc6” to hawk controlled substances and firearms.
After receiving numerous complaints from Irving-area high schools, the Irving Police Department identified Mr. Rosas and conducted 14 undercover buys of cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, TCH and other drugs advertised on his account, including one from Mr. Rosas himself. They also negotiated with Mr. Rosas to purchase a black .40 caliber Beretta handgun, which an associate delivered to an undercover agent.
Mr. Rosas was arrested on Aug. 1, 2020, with a two-tone green and black Glock in his pocket. After his arrest, he made numerous phone calls to coconspirators, providing them with his account passwords to continue the advertisement and sale of illegal narcotics.
Three of Mr. Rosas’ coconspirators also pleaded guilty:
- Anthony Isaac Ventura, 20, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to possess with intent to contribute controlled substances and was sentenced in August to 57 months in federal prison.
- Addiel Isaias Portillo, 25, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to possess with intent to contribute controlled substances and was sentenced in yesterday to 36 months in federal prison.
- Uziel Hernandez, 26, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to possess with intent to contribute controlled substances. His sentencing hearing has been set for Oct. 7.
At sentencing, prosecutors presented evidence that this group had been tied to violent crime in Irving and was involved in illegal firearm sales. They also knowingly employed several juveniles as young as 15 years old to sell drugs for them around the metroplex, and put the lives in danger by publishing on social media the names of individuals they believed to be cooperating with the government.
Irving Police Detectives testified at sentencing about the negative impact Mr. Rosas and his coconspirators had on the community and the importance of these arrests to the citizens of Irving.
The Irving Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myria Boehm prosecuted the case.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Sept. 30 was:
Michael Wayne Divis, 58, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious charges, Divis faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Divis was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-60.
Aspen Renee Newbreast, 24, a transient, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Newbreast faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug counts and a mandatory minimum five years to life consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm count. Newbreast was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-35.
Appearing on Sept. 28 was:
Dawan Deonte Jones, 30, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jones faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Jones was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-55.
Joshua Paul Jordan, 28, of Billings, on charges of accessing with intent to view child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jordan faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Jordan was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and U.S. Postal Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-72.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston on a criminal complaint on Sept. 28 was:
Moises Zamora, 37, of Box Elder, on charges of assault with intent to commit murder and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime, Zamora faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Zamora was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Hill County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-64.
Appearing on an indictment was:
Hiram Wayne Evans, 38, of Great Falls, on charges of failure to register as a sex offender. If convicted of the most serious crime, Evans faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to life of supervised release. Evans was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-67.
Grant James Lockhart, 50, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lockhart faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Lockhart was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-46.
Appearing on an indictment on Sept. 30 was:
Maynard Wayne Bigleggins, 24, of Wolf Point, on charges of sexual assault of a minor and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance to a person under 21 years of age. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bigleggins faces a mandatory minimum one year to 40 years in prison, a $2 million fine and at least six years of supervised release. Bigleggins was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-44.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that, on September 30, 2021, WILSON ROMERO, age 55, of Katy, Texas, pled to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).
According to court documents, during a traffic stop on May 6, 2019, ROMERO was found with 994 grams of heroin hidden in a vacuum cleaner in the trunk of his vehicle. ROMERO subsequently admitted that he had paid $32,000 for the heroin and was trafficking it from Houston to New Orleans.
ROMERO faces a sentence of between 5 years and 40 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe set sentencing for January 6, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Louisiana State Police in investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Jonathan L. Shih.
Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane Evans announced today that RAUL CABRERA-PERDOMO age 46, was charged on September 30, 2021 in a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, RAUL CABRERA-PERDOMO (“CABRERA”), reentered the United States after he was previously deported on May 15, 2009. If convicted, CABRERA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
Grand Jury - September 2021Read the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 18 unsealed Indictments charging 22 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Wendy J. Bailey, age 66, of Omaha, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Counts I – IV charge Bailey with mail fraud beginning on or about June 9, 2020 and continuing to on or about August 25, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Nolan B. Balfour, age 32, and Maegan L. Balfour, age 30, both of Nehawka, Nebraska, are charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Nolan Balfour with bank fraud beginning on or about January 1, 2016 and continuing to on or about January 31, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Nolan Balfour with bank fraud beginning on or about September 1, 2014 and continuing to on or about February 28, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges both defendants with a false bankruptcy declaration beginning on or about August 16, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Wesley S. Cassidy, age 26, of Wallace, Nebraska, is charged with armed bank robbery of the Flatwater Bank in Gothenburg, Nebraska on or about August 19, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 25 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Dallas Faamausili, age 35, of Renton, Washington, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment
* Cody Lee Fischer, age 49, and Lukas Allen Vogt, age 28, both of Guttenberg, Iowa, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Fischer and Vogt with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about August 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, $100 special assessment. Count II charges Fischer with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about August 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment consecutive to Count I, $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment
* Joseph W. Higgins, age 63, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Higgins with cyberstalking between on or about December 1, 2018 and continuing to on or about June 4, 2019. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with interstate transmission of threat to kidnap or injure person between on or about May 1, 2019 and continuing to on or about May 22, 2019. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Anthony Dwayne Jackson, age 38, is charged in a seven-count Indictment. Counts I through III charge Jackson with distribution of methamphetamine after a prior serious drug felony on or about January 21, 2021 and continuing through February 25, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, a six-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges the defendant with distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine after prior serious drug felony on or about March 4, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, an $8,000,000 fine, an eight-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts V and VI charge the defendant with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine after prior serious drug felony on two dates in March, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VII charges the defendant with distribution of methamphetamine after prior serious drug felony on or about April 8, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, a six-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jessica A. Lovering, age 29, of Omaha, and Courtney Laparele Clark, age 35, are charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Lovering and Clark with conspiracy to pass and utter forged treasury checks from on or about March 21, 2021 continuing to on or about May 20, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendants with passing and uttering forged treasury checks on or about March 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendants with passing and uttering forged treasury checks on or about April 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-years term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Brandon Terrell Davis, age 38, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Davis with distribution of cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury on or about August 13, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with distribution of cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury on or about August 16, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Oliver J. Glass, age 46, of Fremont, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Counts I and II charge Glass with cyberstalking between on or about March 6, 2020 and continuing to on or about December 22, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Gregg N. Grant, age 37, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Grant with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about August 18, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with being a felon in possession of a firearm following a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence on or about August 18, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Richard Allen Knight, age 51, is charged with possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct beginning from on or about May 2, 2021 and continuing to on or about June 29, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment, and $22,000 in additional special assessments.
* Marco Antonio Mejia, age 46, is charged with reentry of a removed alien after having been convicted of a felony on or about August 18, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jose Mendes Hernandez a/k/a Jose F. Mejia-Guiterrez, age 25, is charged with reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony on or about September 16, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Amos J. Mosel, age 35, of Blue Hill, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Counts I and II charge Mosel with felon in possession of a firearm beginning on or about August 20, 2021 and continuing to on or about August 25, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendant with possession (or sale) of a stolen firearm or ammunition on or about August 20, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Ross Nelson, age 47, of Grove, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Counts I and II charge Nelson with false statement in connection with Federal Crop Insurance beginning on or about December 16, 2015 and continuing to on or about January 15, 2016. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment
* Porfirio Rodriguez Reyes, age 40, is charged with reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony on or about September 14, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Deantra Lamar Watson, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Watson with transportation of fictitious obligations of the United States on or about September 2, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted 25 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with possession of counterfeit currency on or about September 2, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendant with possession of a document-making implement or authorization feature on or about September 2, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Christopher D. Weaver, age 47, is charged in a thirty-two-count Indictment. Counts I through XXXII charge Weaver with willful failure to pay over tax beginning on or about 2015 and continuing until 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Gang Member Admits Drug Trafficking, Role in Bridgeport Courthouse ShootingRead the Press Release
DESTINE CALDERON, 26, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a racketeering offense stemming from his participation in a Bridgeport gang, and his presence during a gang-related shooting that occurred in front of a state courthouse in Bridgeport in January 2020.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam occurred via videoconference.
Today’s announcement was made by Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Calderon has been a member of the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”), a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, whose members and associates distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals, and celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube. GHB/Hotz members and associates also committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities. Since approximately 2017, GHB/Hotz members have been aligned with members of the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport, against rival groups in Bridgeport, including the East End, East Side and PT Barnum gangs, as well as 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.
In pleading guilty, Calderon admitted that he participated in gang-related drug trafficking. He also was aware of the planning and present in a vehicle when GHB/Hotz and O.N.E. members attempted to kill members and associates of the East End gang in a brazen afternoon shooting in front of a Bridgeport courthouse on January 27, 2020. At 12:11 p.m. on that date, Bridgeport Police responded to the area of 172 Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport after a Shot Spotter activation detected approximately 20 shots being fired in front of the state courthouse located there. Upon arrival, investigators discovered that four victims had been shot while sitting inside a black Chevrolet Impala. One victim was shot in the side of his chest and was left paralyzed and a second victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder and wrist. The victims’ vehicle had approximately 23 entry bullet holes in the driver’s side and windshield area.
Calderon also appears in YouTube videos and in social media posts promoting the gang.
Calderon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton on December 28, 2021, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Calderon has been detained since August 6, 2020.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Rahul Kale, Peter D. Markle, Karen L. Peck and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
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.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Founder of Russian Bank Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
The founder of a Russian bank pleaded guilty today to filing a materially false tax return.
“In 2013, when the value of Oleg Tinkov’s investment in his bank’s stock rose to over a billion dollars, Tinkov quickly renounced his U.S. citizenship and then lied to the IRS in a ploy to evade ‘exit taxes’ he knew were due,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “Today, Tinkov has entered a plea to a felony and agreed to pay more than $500 million in taxes, interest and penalties, more than double the amount of money he sought to escape paying to the U.S. Treasury through his fraudulent scheme.”
“Oleg Tinkov brazenly violated United States tax law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California. “No one who enjoys the immense benefits of United States citizenship, as Tinkov did, may avoid the corresponding obligation to support the country he chose. Tax evaders should take notice of the long reach of U.S. law enforcement.”
“Tinkov renounced his U.S. Citizenship shortly after receiving millions of dollars,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the IRS-CI Washington D.C. Field Office. “Despite his knowledge of U.S. tax reporting requirements, he substantially understated his wealth on filings with the IRS. International tax cheats remain a priority for my office and our agency; and as such, the International Tax and Financial Crimes D.C.-based group will continue to aggressively pursue those committing international tax crimes.”
According to the plea agreement, Oleg Tinkov, also known as Oleg Tinkoff, was born in Russia and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1996. From that time through 2013, he filed U.S. tax returns. In late 2005 or 2006, Tinkov founded Tinkoff Credit Services (TCS), a Russia-based branchless bank that provides its customers with online financial and banking services. Through a foreign entity, Tinkov indirectly held the majority of TCS shares.
In October 2013, TCS held an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange and became a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded company. As part of going public, Tinkov sold a small portion of his majority shareholder stake for more than $192 million, and his assets following the IPO had a fair market value of more than $1.1 billion. Three days after the successful IPO, Tinkov went to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, to relinquish his U.S. citizenship.
As part of his expatriation, Tinkov was required to file a U.S. Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement. This form requires expatriates with a net worth of $2 million or more to report the constructive sale of their assets worldwide to the IRS as if those assets were sold on the day before expatriation. The taxpayer is then required to report and pay tax on the gain from any such constructive sale.
Tinkov was told of his filing and tax obligations by both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and his U.S.-based accountant. When asked by his accountant if his net worth was more than $2 million for purposes of filling out the expatriation form, Tinkov lied and told him he did not have assets above $2 million. When his accountant later inquired whether his net worth was under $2 million, rather than answer the question, Tinkov filled out the expatriation form himself falsely, reporting that his net worth was only $300,000. On Feb. 26, 2014, Tinkov filed a false 2013 individual tax return that falsely reported his income as only $205,317. In addition, Tinkov did not report any of the gain from the constructive sale of his property worth more than $1.1 billion, nor did he pay the applicable taxes as required by law. In total, Tinkov caused a tax loss of $248,525,339.
Tinkov was arrested on Feb. 26, 2020, in London, United Kingdom (UK), on these charge. Since that time, he has been contesting extradition on medical grounds. Tinkov has provided to the government and a court in the UK expert medical reports supporting his claim that he is undergoing a UK-based intensive treatment plan for acute myeloid leukemia and graft versus host disease, which has rendered him immunocompromised and unable to safely travel. As part of the plea, Tinkov has agreed to make the expert reports available to the court.
Tinkov’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29 before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tinkov agrees to pay no less than $506,828,377, which includes the 2013 taxes, the civil fraud penalty, and statutory interest on that tax, totaling $448,957,108 as well as tax liabilities for other years that Tinkov acknowledged he owes. Per the terms of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed to recommend a custodial sentence of time served, followed by one year of supervised release, and an additional fine of $250,000. This recommendation binds the court once it accepts the plea agreement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement partners in the United Kingdom secured Tinkov’s arrest overseas.
Assistant Chief Yael T. Epstein of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle J. Kane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
Founder of Russian Bank Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – The founder of a Russian bank pleaded guilty today to filing a materially false tax return.
“Oleg Tinkov brazenly violated United States tax law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California. “No one who enjoys the immense benefits of United States citizenship, as Tinkov did, may avoid the corresponding obligation to support the country he chose. Tax evaders should take notice of the long reach of U.S. law enforcement.”
“In 2013, when the value of Oleg Tinkov’s investment in his bank’s stock rose to over a billion dollars, Tinkov quickly renounced his U.S. citizenship and then lied to the IRS in a ploy to evade ‘exit taxes’ he knew were due,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “Today, Tinkov has entered a plea to a felony and agreed to pay more than $500 million in taxes, interest and penalties, more than double the amount of money he sought to escape paying to the U.S. Treasury through his fraudulent scheme.”
“Tinkov renounced his U.S. Citizenship shortly after receiving millions of dollars,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the IRS-CI Washington D.C. Field Office. “Despite his knowledge of U.S. tax reporting requirements, he substantially understated his wealth on filings with the IRS. International tax cheats remain a priority for my office and our agency; and as such, the International Tax and Financial Crimes D.C.-based group will continue to aggressively pursue those committing international tax crimes.”
According to the plea agreement, Oleg Tinkov, also known as Oleg Tinkoff, was born in Russia and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1996. From that time through 2013, he filed U.S. tax returns. In late 2005 or 2006, Tinkov founded Tinkoff Credit Services (TCS), a Russia-based branchless bank that provides its customers with online financial and banking services. Through a foreign entity, Tinkov indirectly held the majority of TCS shares.
In October 2013, TCS held an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange and became a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded company. As part of going public, Tinkov sold a small portion of his majority shareholder stake for more than $192 million, and his assets following the IPO had a fair market value of more than $1.1 billion. Three days after the successful IPO, Tinkov went to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, to relinquish his U.S. citizenship.
As part of his expatriation, Tinkov was required to file a U.S. Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement. This form requires expatriates with a net worth of $2 million or more to report the constructive sale of their assets worldwide to the IRS as if those assets were sold on the day before expatriation. The taxpayer is then required to report and pay tax on the gain from any such constructive sale.
Tinkov was told of his filing and tax obligations by both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and his U.S.-based accountant. When asked by his accountant if his net worth was more than $2 million for purposes of filling out the expatriation form, Tinkov lied and told him he did not have assets above $2 million. When his accountant later inquired whether his net worth was under $2 million, rather than answer the question, Tinkov filled out the expatriation form himself falsely, reporting that his net worth was only $300,000. On Feb. 26, 2014, Tinkov filed a false 2013 individual tax return that falsely reported his income as only $205,317. In addition, Tinkov did not report any of the gain from the constructive sale of his property worth more than $1.1 billion, nor did he pay the applicable taxes as required by law. In total, Tinkov caused a tax loss of $248,525,339.
Tinkov was arrested on February 26, 2020, in London, United Kingdom (UK), on the charges. Since that time, he has been contesting extradition on medical grounds. Tinkov has provided to the government and a court in the UK expert medical reports supporting his claim that he is undergoing a UK-based intensive treatment plan for acute myeloid leukemia and graft versus host disease, which has rendered him immunocompromised and unable to safely travel. As part of the plea, Tinkov has agreed to make the expert reports available to the court.
Tinkov’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 29 before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tinkov agrees to pay no less than $506,828,377, which includes the 2013 taxes, the civil fraud penalty, and statutory interest on that tax, totaling $448,957,108 as well as tax liabilities for other years that Tinkov acknowledged he owes. Per the terms of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed to recommend a custodial sentence of time served, followed by one year of supervised release, and an additional fine of $250,000. This recommendation binds the court once it accepts the plea agreement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement partners in the United Kingdom secured Tinkov’s arrest overseas.
Assistant Chief Yael T. Epstein of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle J. Kane, with the assistance of Katie Turner and Kay Konopaske, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 156 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Eric W. Johnson, age 40, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tina Nommay.
Johnson was sentenced to 156 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in February 2019, Mr. Johnson distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Further, according to documents in the case, at the time of his arrest in August 2020, Johnson, a felon, also unlawfully possessed a firearm on his person.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Nokes.
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Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury was sentenced on September 27, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Gavin Drapeau, age 29, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Drapeau was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9, 2021. He pled guilty on July 20, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on January 11, 2021, in Fort Thompson, South Dakota. Drapeau unlawfully assaulted an individual with shod feet, which resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Drapeau was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Former Penn Hills Man Pleads Guilty Mid-Trial in Series of Armed Robberies Occurring in Late 2014Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – After the government spent three days presenting witnesses and evidence to a jury, George Wilson, III entered a plea of guilty in federal court to firearms charges, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today. Wilson’s trial had commenced on Monday, September 27, 2021.
Wilson, age 39, and a former resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to four firearms counts before United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton on September 30, 2021. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Wilson committed a series of armed robberies of retail businesses and gas station convenience stores throughout the Pittsburgh area from November 2014 through December 2014. Wilson committed each of the robberies at gunpoint and shot a store employee who was unable to open the cash register during the attempted robbery of the Ross Township The Exchange store.
Judge Walton scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than seven years imprisonment, nor more than life imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The defendant remains detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Heidi M. Grogan and James R. Wilson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department, the Ross Township Police Department, and the Wilkins Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Wilson.
The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Office Manager Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Defrauding Medicaid Through a Dental PracticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mahsa Azimirad, the former office manager for Universal Smiles, a Washington, D.C.-based dental practice, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison on a federal charge of health care fraud stemming from a scheme in which she was paid over $813,000 by defrauding the District of Columbia’s Medicaid program.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office, Criminal Division; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
Azimirad, 41, of Rockville, Md., was indicted in January 2019, along with Bilal Ahmed, the dentist who ran the dental practice. She pleaded guilty in May 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Following completion of her prison term, Azimirad will be placed on three years of supervised release. The Court entered a $813,184 forfeiture money judgment and also ordered her to pay $813,184 in restitution.
According to the statement of offense submitted to the Court and admitted by Azimirad, she was the marketing and operations manager for Universal Smiles, a dental practice in Northwest Washington. Through Universal Smiles, she and Ahmed engaged in a scheme to enrich themselves by defrauding D.C. Medicaid, a health care benefits program jointly funded by the federal government and the District of Columbia to provide health care services to residents who meet the income qualifying requirements. As part of the scheme, Ahmed applied to be a Medicaid provider. Once approved to bill Medicaid, Azimirad and Ahmed then billed D.C. Medicaid for thousands of provisional crowns, a significant number of which were not provided to the Medicaid patients. From Aug. 9, 2012, through Feb. 26, 2014, D.C. Medicaid paid Universal Smiles approximately $5.4 million for provisional crowns. Of the $5.4 million that D.C. Medicaid paid for provisional crowns, Azimirad received approximately $813,184.
In a related case, Ahmed, 49, pleaded guilty in 2017 to sexually assaulting five former dental patients and one former employee and improperly touching another former employee. The victims were attacked in separate incidents between 2010 and 2014. He was sentenced to 16 ½ years in prison for those offenses and is serving a concurrent sentence after pleading guilty in 2019 to a federal health care fraud charge in this case.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge Dixon, and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron and Forensic Financial Analyst Bryan Snitselaar. Finally, they commended the work of Criminal Division Trial Attorney Gary Winters, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Jackson, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Miller, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise A. Simmonds, Michelle Bradford, and Lionel André, who prosecuted the case.
The FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who defraud the D.C. Medicaid program. The government relies on the public for tips and assistance in helping stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, please call the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) HHS‑TIPS [(800) 447-8477.
Former Mexican Soldier Sentenced for Transporting Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
ALPINE – A Mexican national was sentenced this week to 115 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the U.S. and to 60 months for transporting illegal aliens in the U.S.
According to court documents, Juan Luis Mendoza-Iturralde, 39, a former Mexican soldier pleaded guilty to one count of transporting illegal aliens and one count of illegal re-entry into the U.S. On March 30, 2021, a Presidio County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Mendoza’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Inside the vehicle were 13 non-citizens. Mendoza admitted he agreed to drive the group into the U.S. in exchange for $500 once he arrived at the group’s destination.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breitzke, El Paso Division, made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case with assistance from the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Kennedy prosecuted the case.
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Former Bruning Man Convicted for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Shane Robert Smith, 51, formerly of Bruning, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. Smith was sentenced to 28 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release with special conditions. There is no parole in the federal system. Smith was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
This case began with a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber tip indicating that Facebook user “Shane Smith” had attempted to share a video of child pornography to another Facebook user in August of 2019. On February 13, 2020, a residential search warrant was executed at Smith’s residence. A forensic examination was completed of Smith’s seized devices. A laptop contained more than 200 image files of child pornography. On July 13, 2020, Smith was arrested and his new cell phone was seized and searched pursuant to a federal search warrant. The examination of the phone revealed around 15 additional child pornography files. Some of the child pornography images located on Smith’s devices were of a relative child.
The examination of Smith’s devices and evidence later obtained through a search warrant to Facebook additionally revealed many chat messages in which Smith talked about the sexual abuse of children. In several messages Smith bragged about sexually abusing his own children in the early 2000s. Within other messages Smith fantasized about sexually abusing other minors, including the relative who appeared in some of the child pornography photos that were located on Smith’s devices. Due to custody arrangements, Smith did not have direct access to this child.
Smith has previously been convicted for possessing child pornography in violation of the law of the state of Nebraska twice. On February 21, 2014, he was convicted for possessing child pornography in the District Court for Howard County, Nebraska. On March 6, 2014, he was convicted for possessing child pornography in the District Court for Hall County, Nebraska.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations.
Former Army Contractor Receives 151-Month Sentence for Fraud Scheme Targeting Thousands of U.S. Servicemembers and VeteransRead the Press Release
A Nevada man was sentenced Thursday to 151 months in prison after pleading guilty in connection with his role in a transnational fraud and money laundering conspiracy that targeted over 3,300 members of the U.S. military community resulting in $1.5 million in losses.
Fredrick Brown, 40, of Las Vegas, was sentenced for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering following Brown’s guilty plea on Oct. 29, 2019. According to court documents, Brown conspired with four other individuals to steal money belonging to military members (as well as military dependents and civilians employed by the U.S. Department of Defense). Brown, a former civilian medical records technician and administrator with the U.S. Army at the 65th Medical Brigade, Yongsan Garrison, South Korea, admitted that between July 2014 and September 2015, he stole the personal identifying information (PII) of thousands of military members, including names, Social Security numbers, military ID numbers, dates of birth and contact information. Brown also admitted to capturing the PII by taking digital photographs of his computer screen while he was logged into a military electronic health records database and, subsequently, providing the stolen data to Philippines-based co-defendant Robert Wayne Boling Jr. Boling and others, who used the information to access DOD and Veterans Affairs benefits sites and steal millions of dollars.
“The Department of Justice has long been committed to protecting America’s servicemembers and veterans from fraud and abuse,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Rather than honoring those servicemembers and veterans who sacrifice for them, the defendant and his co-conspirators targeted and stole from these brave men and women in a years-long fraud scheme. Such conduct is an affront to the United States and will not be tolerated. Thursday’s announcement shows that the department is making good on its commitment to protect military members and demonstrates that it will bring to justice those who would seek to harm such individuals.”
“The defendant brazenly preyed on and victimized U.S. servicemembers and veterans, many of whom were disabled and elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas. “As part of our mission, we strive to protect these honorable men and women from fraud and abuse. If fraudsters target our servicemembers and veterans, we will seek to identify them and hold them accountable. This office will continue to zealously investigate and prosecute perpetrators of these schemes.”
“The theft of personally identifiable information can significantly harm our military service members, veterans and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth A. DeChellis of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “This sentencing resulted from the coordinated actions of the DCIS, Cyber Field Office, and our partner agencies, which included the full support of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. This collaboration demonstrated this U.S. Government’s commitment to swift action against those who attempt to enrich themselves at the expense of our current and prior military personnel.”
Brown’s actions resulted in an established financial loss to victims of more than $1.5 million, with the scheme targeting more than 3,300 military-affiliated individuals. Victims included at least eight general officers, as well as numerous disabled veterans, who were targeted because of their receipt of greater service-related benefits.
In addition to a prison term, Chief Judge Orlando L. Garcia of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ordered Brown to pay $2,331,639.85 in restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
In July 2020, Chief Judge Garcia sentenced co-defendant Trorice Crawford, 34, of San Diego, to 46 months in federal prison. In addition to the prison term, Crawford was ordered to pay $103,700 in restitution and, after completing his prison term, to be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.
Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.
The matter was investigated by agents of the DOD Office of Inspector General DCIS, along with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Philippine law enforcement, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, the Southern District of California and the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the matter’s investigation and prosecution.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; information on the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
A felon and known gang member previously convicted of multiple drug and larceny crimes pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court for illegally possessing firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Ricky Laron Shannon, 34, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In a blind plea Shannon admitted that on June 11, 2021, he possessed a Glock 30 .45 caliber pistol and 28 rounds of associated ammunition. He further admitted that on Aug.13, 2021, he possessed a different Glock 30 and 28 rounds of ammunition.
The first count stems from a traffic stop on June 11, 2021. According to an initial criminal complaint and affidavit filed in the case, Tulsa Police officers observed Shannon commit several traffic violations. Officers then pulled behind his vehicle and activated lights and sirens. The defendant continued forward slowly but did not initially yield to law enforcement. An officer observed Shannon make distinct reaching movements with his right hand toward the passenger’s side of the vehicle. He also noted that an object appeared to be in the defendant’s hand as he continued to drive forward slowly but erratically. Based on training and experience, the officer suspected the defendant might be trying to hide something before coming to a stop. Officers also noted Shannon was a felon and certified 107 Hoover gang member. During the stop, officers recovered a Glock 30 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with a high capacity magazine.
Later on Aug. 13, 2021, Shannon was contacted by authorities and arrested based on a federal warrant stemming from his June 11, 2021 traffic stop. Officers found a different Glock 30 underneath the driver’s seat of the car along with a high capacity magazine and 28 rounds of ammunition. The firearm was both magazine and chamber loaded.
The Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark R. Morgan and John E. Brasher are prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the 2150 Initiative. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa Police Department, ATF, and all other local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime by focusing efforts on prohibited persons in possession of firearms as well as those responsible as the “source” of the firearms to prohibited persons. The initiative was named in memory of Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson. Sgt. Johnson’s badge number, 2150, was selected for the initiative as a way to honor his life and his commitment to the Tulsa community.
Felon Found Sleeping in Car on Interstate Shoulder Sentenced to Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who was found sleeping on the side of Interstate 380 with over three ounces of marijuana and a loaded handgun was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.
Shawndell Phillip Smith, age 25, from Jackson, Mississippi, received the prison term after an April 16, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Information presented at the sentencing showed that in November 2020, law enforcement found Smith sleeping inside a vehicle parked on the side of Interstate 380 in Black Hawk County. While speaking with the officer, Smith stated that he was “high” and “lit.” Smith was arrested and during a search of his vehicle, the officers found a loaded pistol, with a round chambered, and three baggies containing a total of over 87 grams of marijuana. Evidence at sentencing also showed that, while he was being held in custody pending sentencing, Smith punched two other Linn County Jail inmates in the head repeatedly.
Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Gillespie and Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21‑CR‑02011‑CJW‑MAR.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Federal Weapons ViolationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on Thursday, September 30, 2021, that TRON HUGHES, age 40, and DEAMONTE BROWN, age 21, residents of New Orleans, LA, were both charged in a one-count indictment with being felons in possession of several firearms.
In Count 1 of the indictment, both HUGHES and BROWN are charged with possessing several firearms on June 2, 2020, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 2. If convicted, HUGHES and BROWN face a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, a period of up to 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Fayetteville Woman Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Contract Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Fayetteville woman pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to charges of wire fraud and money laundering arising out of schemes to defraud the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and businesses in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
According to court documents, from 2011 to 2020, Stephanie Dianna Elliott, aka “Stephanie Wilson,” aka “Stephanie Moore,” aka “Stephanie Russell,” aka “Stephanie Hanchett,” aka “Vicki Marsh,” aka “Monica Allen,” aka “Melissa Standford,” aka “Jennifer Taylor,” aka “Heidi Litchford,” aka “Sandy Morehead,” aka “Randy Morehead” aka “Katie Jones,” aka “Sharon Mitchell,” aka “Sharon Miller,” aka “Sarah James,” and aka “Janet Harrington,” 45, used aliases and more than a dozen business entities to obtain more than 1,000 federal defense contracts valued at more than $2.2 million. According to the allegations in the indictment, Elliott defrauded the Department of Defense by obtaining contract payments after falsely certifying that she had shipped supplies to the U.S. military, when, in fact, the goods were not shipped. It is alleged that Elliott and/or businesses under her control were debarred from federal contracting on four occasions. Elliott allegedly circumvented the terms of her debarments by using aliases and various business names to continue bidding on federal contracts.
Elliott also executed fraud schemes in connection with contracts with the State of North Carolina and other state governments. Elliott bid on contracts to supply food products and other goods. After winning the contracts, Elliott defrauded third party vendors by inducing them to deliver the goods to the state in satisfaction of Elliott’s contractual obligations. In so doing, Elliott obtained payment from state governments for these contracts but failed to pay the victim vendors.
Elliott pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on a date to be determined.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan is prosecuting the case.
Father and Son Facing Expanded Charges for Robbing and Murdering a 23-Year- Old Marijuana Dealer; Father Further Charged with Conspiracy to Destroy Evidence Related to These CrimesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned a second superseding indictment charging Scott Anthony Williams, age 45, of Laurel, Maryland and Taeyan Raymond Williams, age 26, of Morgantown, West Virginia with various federal charges arising out of the robbery, extortion, and kidnapping resulting in death of Victim 1, as well as related drug trafficking and firearms charges. Scott Williams is further charged with conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence related to these crimes.
The indictment 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; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to the nine-count indictment, from approximately October 2017 until Victim 1’s murder on April 6, 2018, Scott Williams, and his son, Taeyan Williams, allegedly participated in the exchange and sale of marijuana and cocaine. Victim 1 allegedly sold and distributed marijuana and marijuana products to the defendants, which the defendants then allegedly sold to other distributors and drug customers. Victim 1 also allegedly purchased and received cocaine from the defendants and sold that cocaine to other distributors.
As alleged in the indictment, in April 2018, Victim 1 planned to meet the defendants to discuss a debt that the defendants owed to Victim 1, and to provide the defendants with marijuana and marijuana products.
On April 5, 2018, and April 6, 2018, Victim 1 retrieved controlled substances from his storage unit in Jessup, Maryland and stayed at a short-term rental property in Baltimore, Maryland.
On the afternoon of April 6, Victim 1 traveled from Baltimore to Laurel, Maryland, where Scott Williams had a home. Location data reflects that at 1:32 p.m., Victim 1 was approximately 1.5 miles from the defendants’ residence.
On April 6, 2018, at approximately 1:52 p.m., Victim 1 saved a note to his email account in which it is alleged Victim-1 maintained a ledger and accounting of controlled substances that Victim 1 sold to Taeyan Williams and monies paid or owed from him.
As alleged in the indictment, Scott and Taeyan Williams thereafter kidnapped, robbed, extorted and murdered Victim 1 and disposed of Victim 1’s body. In particular, the indictment alleges that the defendants took by force and the threat of force Victim-1’s marijuana and marijuana products, Victim-1’s PIN number for the Jessup storage unit, Victim-1’s rental vehicle, and the marijuana, marijuana products, cash and other property stored in Victim-1’s storage unit.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that on April 7, 2018, Scott Williams and other conspirators drove Victim 1’s vehicle to a Baltimore parking lot where they parked the vehicle, wiped it down with a rag, and then entered Scott Williams’s car before driving away. As stated in the indictment, Victim 1’s DNA and blood were later recovered from the rear bumper, lift gate, passenger side door frame, and trunk carpeting of Victim 1’s abandoned vehicle.
The indictment further alleges that between April 6, 2018 and June 6, 2018, the defendants hid Victim-1’s narcotics throughout their home. When searched on June 6, 2018, the home contained large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine as well as four firearms: a 9mm handgun, 7.62 caliber-rifle, .38 caliber handgun, and .25 caliber handgun.
The last count of the indictment alleges that between June 6, 2018 and his initial appearance on federal charges in January 2019, Scott Williams sought to conceal and destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation including by asking a conspirator to “wipe” his electronic storage account and phone.
If convicted, Scott and Tayean Williams face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison or death for kidnapping resulting in death; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and extortion and interference with interstate commerce by robbery and extortion; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and, a mandatory minimum of 7 years in federal prison for the possession, use, and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime. In addition, Scott Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; a mandatory consecutive sentence of 5 years imprisonment for possession and use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to conceal and destroy evidence. 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. Both defendants have been detained pending trial, which is set to begin March 7, 2022.
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 DEA, HSI, and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau, Dana J. Brusca, and Dwight J. Draughon who are 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Resisting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on September 20, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Kenton Romero, age 26, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Romero was indicted for Assaulting a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2021. He pled guilty on June 29, 2021.
The conviction stems from an incident on August 3, 2020, when law enforcement attempted to make a traffic stop on Romero in Eagle Butte. When they approached the vehicle, Romero drove off and a pursuit ensued. Romero drove at a high rate of speed through a residential area. The vehicle Romero was driving made physical contact with one of the patrol vehicles involved in the pursuit. Romero also drove in an oncoming traffic lane towards another officer that was responding to the pursuit. Romero then left the community of Eagle Butte and headed westbound out of town on Highway 212. Finally, Romero maneuvered his vehicle to force an officer involved off the road and into the ditch. Romero did not stop voluntarily and was apprehended when his vehicle either ran out of gas or broke down.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Romero was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dominican National Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Identity FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester on identity fraud charges and illegal reentry after deportation.
Pedro Wilson Hernandez-Castillo, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to seven years in prison. Hernandez-Castillo will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On June 9, 2021, Hernandez-Castillo pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
On June 15, 2020, Hernandez-Castillo was stopped by a state trooper while driving and asked to provide his identification. The defendant provided the driver’s license and Social Security card of another individual. After determining that the defendant provided false information, the trooper arrested Hernandez-Castillo.
Hernandez-Castillo illegally re-entered the United States after being deported in August 2018 following a conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. Hernandez-Castillo was removed from the United States on four previous occasions: December 1998, June 2000, August 2011 and August 2018. Hernandez-Castillo was previously convicted of unlawful reentry of a deported alien in 2013.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston; and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Sentenced for Misusing Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fraudulently using another person’s Social Security number.
Manuel Maria German Familia, 30, who previously resided in Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 14 months in prison. German Familia will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. On June 24, 2021, German Familia pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number.
In 2016, German Familia fraudulently used a Social Security number that was assigned to someone else in an application at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Billerica Police Department and Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Decatur Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. –Deangelo Foster, 24, of the 1300 block of Condit Street in Decatur, Illinois, was sentenced today to 84 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
At the sentencing hearing, the government stated that in February 2021, Peoria police officers in a fully marked police vehicle saw a Jeep Cherokee doing donuts on MacArthur Highway in front of a gas station. When officers tried to stop the Jeep, the driver refused, eventually losing control and almost striking a second vehicle before getting stuck on the median. Foster was the lone occupant of the car. Officers found a loaded handgun in Foster’s coat pocket. It was later discovered that the gun had been stolen from a Leroy, Illinois, gun store, and the Jeep was stolen in Chicago.
At Foster’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid stated that none of the penalties imposed for Foster’s previous convictions had been successful in deterring his conduct and that all of the factors show that he is not a good candidate for rehabilitation. The judge noted that Foster’s conduct involved driving recklessly in a stolen vehicle, fleeing from the police, crashing the vehicle, and fleeing on foot while in possession of a loaded, stolen handgun. The judge further noted that the gun Foster possessed had been stolen from a gun store in 2020 and had been used in a shooting in Peoria that same year. In imposing the sentence, the judge commented, “These stolen guns are making their way into the community and being used in shootings.”
“This seven-year sentence demonstrates that people who possess firearms who are legally prohibited from doing so will pay a steep price,” said Acting United States Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. “Incarcerated federal defendants must serve at least 85% of their sentence. As noted by Judge Shadid, Mr. Foster endangered the public. As a result, he was held accountable for his actions.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
Danville Man Convicted of Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on September 30, 2021, against Deandre Smith, 34, of Danville, Illinois, for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing for Smith has been set for January 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
Over two days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that in February 2020 law enforcement officers encountered Smith carrying a loaded handgun in his pocket and that Smith carried the handgun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime he admitted committing on the same day. Evidence presented at trial showed that Smith had 23 foil packets of heroin on his person that he intended to distribute to others, as well as a digital scale and cash. The handgun was located in the same pocket as the digital scale.
Smith had earlier pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Smith remains in the custody of the United States Marshal Service. At sentencing, Smith faces statutory penalties of five years to life imprisonment on the charge of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The sentence for this charge must run consecutively to any sentence he receives for the drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon offenses. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 120 months’ imprisonment on the felon in possession charge and a maximum of 240 months’ imprisonment on the drug trafficking charges.
The case investigation was conducted by the Danville Police Department, the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Special assistance for trial was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Freres and William Lynch represented the government at trial, with assistance from the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office.
DEA, IRS Dismantle Eastern Arkansas Methamphetamine and Money Laundering OrganizationRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—The final defendant in a multi-person indictment was sentenced to federal prison on Thursday, effectively bringing to a close the significant criminal activities of an eastern Arkansas drug trafficking and money laundering organization.
On Thursday, United States District Judge James M. Moody sentenced Termaine Ontario Slaughter, 36, of Parkin, to 90 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. On November 18, 2020, Slaughter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Slaughter is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in an Indictment that was filed on June 6, 2018. Three of the defendants received federal prison sentences.
“Our office and our federal partners will use every resource available to dismantle and disrupt drug trafficking organizations in Arkansas,” said Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “In this case, we tracked the money, and it led us to straight to criminals who were trying to poison our communities. As these drug traffickers learned, if you choose this line of work, enjoy the money while you can, because it won’t last nearly as long as your prison sentence.”
Beginning in 2014 and continuing through 2018, Slaughter, Demario Smith, 40, of Southaven, Miss., Elliott Davis, 41, of Colt, Montana Smith, 45, of Parkin, and others were involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Forrest City area. Slaughter and Demario Smith used drug proceeds to fund a trucking business called Prudent Transport and a rental property business called Upscale Properties. Evidence showed that Slaughter and his associates imported methamphetamine from the Dallas area using couriers who rode the Megabus from Memphis to Dallas and back. The organization also imported methamphetamine from California using the United States mail and other mailing services.
An extensive analysis of records from the trucking business and rental properties showed that from 2013-2017 Slaughter’s personal and business accounts had $733,811 in deposits coming from unidentified sources. Analysis showed that there were $877,359.60 in cash expenditures on vehicles and other items that did not come from the accounts, including the purchase of tractor trailers for the trucking business. Bank records revealed that cash deposits in amounts under $10,000 were systematically made at bank branches in Memphis, Mississippi, and Arkansas, with corresponding amounts of cash being withdrawn from other bank locations on the same date or close in time.
“This investigation is an extraordinary example of thorough and methodical financial exploitation in order to disrupt and dismantle the financial infrastructure of these methamphetamine drug trafficking organizations,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarad Harper said. “The DEA will relentlessly pursue, exploit, and seize these illicit assets drug traffickers intentionally and nefariously conceal to circumvent reporting requirements. Working with all of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to combine our resources in order to identify these ill-gotten funds used to facilitate drug trafficking and violent crime in our region. By depleting these drug traffickers of their proceeds and eliminating their ability to continue distributing this poison in Arkansas and beyond, we are saving lives.”
“The defendants in this case created a drug distribution and money laundering enterprise that spread methamphetamine throughout eastern Arkansas, and beyond,” stated Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS-Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. “The IRS special agents used their financial expertise to trace the profits of this criminal activity through numerous bank accounts across multiple states. I commend my agents for effectively shutting down this devastating pipeline of poison into eastern Arkansas and the surrounding communities.”
On November 19, 2020, Demario Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and on May 26, 2021, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment. On November 19, 2020, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and on June 8, 2021, he was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment. On November 19, 2020, Montana Smith pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, and on June 9, 2021, he was sentenced to five years’ probation.
During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, in addition to receiving his prison sentence, Slaughter agreed to forfeit numerous firearms and five vehicles, including four over-the-road trucks used by Prudent Transport and a Dodge Challenger.
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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was primarily investigated by the DEA-Little Rock Field Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation, along with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Anne Gardner prosecuted the case.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Co-owner of Mukilteo, Washington, commercial flooring business sentenced to prison for wire fraudRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 47-year-old Everett, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 2 years in prison for his embezzlement scheme that stole more than $1 million from a commercial flooring business he co-founded with a friend, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. David M. Gluth, founded Gluth Commercial Flooring with a friend who put up $500,000 to start the company. Between 2011 and 2016, Gluth and a co-conspirator raided the company accounts to pay for everything from a home mortgage, to luxury vacations, to Nordstrom bills, and liquor purchases. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones told Gluth “You treated the victim like your personal ATM…. Your return on (your friend’s) investment was to orchestrate a significant and devastating fraud” upon the victim.
According to records filed in the case, Gluth conspired with company bookkeeper, Jodi Hamrick, to not only raid company funds, but to defraud financial institutions by taking out loans and obtaining credit lines without the knowledge or permission of the company’s co-owner. The two used the company funds for a variety of personal expenses. The lies and deceit in this scheme involved forged signatures, forged documents, altered records, secret bank accounts, secret credit cards, false bookkeeping entries, and false statements in declarations and court filings. The evidence in the case includes years of Skype instant messages between Gluth and Hamrick, showing the planning and execution of the fraud in minute detail.
Ultimately, the company co-owner had to go to court to try to get the truth about the embezzlement from the company. And even as that litigation was underway, Gluth continued to hurt his one-time business partner by scheming to start a new flooring business and taking pending jobs and income with him. Even after a King County Superior Court Judge barred the two from having anything to do with the company, they violated the order by attempting to modify a personal loan by placing it in the company name.
The flooring company went bankrupt in 2016, and the victimized business partner was left with nothing but debt.
Judge Jones noted that the damage to the victim was more than financial saying the victim “lost his ability to trust other people . . . that can never be restored . . . a breach of trust like that can’t be recovered. That’s a permanent loss”
Gluth was charged in November 2020, and pleaded guilty in January 2021. Gluth has agreed to a restitution figure of $325,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Ly.
Chief Engineer and Greek Ship Owner and Operator Charged with Concealing Deliberate Pollution and Failing to Report a Hazardous ConditionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Empire Bulkers Ltd., Joanna Maritime Limited and Chief Engineer Warlito Tan were indicted yesterday in New Orleans for violations of environmental and safety laws related to the Motor Vessel Joanna, a Marshall Islands registered Bulk Carrier.
The four-count grand jury indictment alleges that the companies and Tan tampered with required oil pollution prevention equipment and falsified the ship’s Oil Record Book, an official ship log regularly inspected by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard found that the ship’s Oily Water Separator had been bypassed by inserting a piece of metal into the Oil Content Meter so that it would only detect clean water instead of what was actually being discharged overboard. According to the indictment, Tan and the shipping companies falsified the log and sought to obstruct the Coast Guard’s inspection.
The defendants also were charged with violating the Ports and Waterways Safety Act by failing to immediately report a hazardous situation that affected the safety of the ship and threatened U.S. ports and waters. During the inspection on March 11, 2021, the Coast Guard discovered an active fuel oil leak in the ship’s purifier room that resulted from disabling the fuel oil heater pressure relief valves, an essential safety feature designed to prevent catastrophic fires and explosions.
The criminal prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Senior Litigation Counsel Richard A. Udell of the Environment and Natural Resources Division's Environmental Crimes Section, with valuable assistance provided by District 8 of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Criminal Investigations Division.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Duane Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement.
An indictment contains probable cause allegations made by a grand jury and must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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