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Wednesday 18 August 2021
Defendant Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Kenneth Apt, 53, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady upon his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Apt was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Apt was traveling northbound near downtown Fort Wayne on September 27, 2019 when his Ford pickup truck left the roadway, struck, and then knocked over two city light poles. When Fort Wayne Police Department officers arrived at the scene of the crash, they observed the Ford pickup truck on the side of the road and an unconscious male in the driver’s seat. The driver was Apt.
In Apt’s pants pocket, Officers found a yellow jar with a pink lid that contained a substance that field tested positive for cocaine. Apt was then taken to a nearby hospital where tests showed he had cocaine in his system. As Apt was being transferred from the EMS cot to an emergency room cot, a FWPD officer observed a plastic clip on Apt’s right hip. When Apt was subsequently moved, the officer located a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun in a black holster.
Apt’s prior criminal history over a 30-year period included 11 felony convictions. As a result of his criminal history, Apt was determined to be a Career Offender for which he faced a 15 year mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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Dallas Man Used Stolen Credit Cards to Buy Tires in Four StatesRead the Press Release
WACO – A Dallas man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $341,520 in restitution for conspiring to commit identity theft.
According to court documents, Brandon Decorwyn Alexander, 30, unlawfully acquired victims’ credit card numbers to rent vehicles and purchase tires starting in August 2017. Over 15 credit cards involving over 41 different merchants were fraudulently used. The defendant, along with co-conspirators, would call tire shops in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma and order tires using the stolen credit card information. He would then pick up the tires using vehicles he rented with the fraudulent credit card information.
On November 10, 2020, Alexander pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit identity theft.
Eboni Simone Arps, 30, from Waco participated in the scheme. Arps pleaded guilty to a misprision of a felony on November 9, 2020 and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, one year of supervised release and a $200 fine.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Limestone County Sheriff Murray Agnew made the announcement.
The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff prosecuted the case.
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Corrections officer indicted for providing meth and sex to an inmateRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 38-year-old Beeville woman has been arrested on charges of attempting to bring meth to an inmate with whom she also had a sexual relationship, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery.
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Aug. 11 against Jolienne Salinas. Yesterday, law enforcement took her into custody. She is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow.
Salinas is a correctional officer at FCI Three Rivers, a medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp.
The indictment alleges that in early May 2020, Salinas provided or attempted to provide meth to an inmate. Additionally, she allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the inmate from approximately September 2019 to May 2020.
If convicted, Salinas faces up to 20 years in prison for providing narcotics for an inmate, while the sexual relations charge carries a possible 15-year-term of imprisonment. She also faces a $250,000 possible fine on each count of conviction.
Department of Justice-Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Pena is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Connecticut Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Liquid MorphineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Connecticut nurse was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for tampering with liquid morphine prescribed to a patient.
Danielle Works, 42, of Stafford Springs, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 30, 2021, Works pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product.
“Ms. Works took morphine away from a hospice patient who instead received diluted morphine in her final hours of life – it is hard to imagine a more vulnerable victim,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “She caused a patient in her care to suffer needlessly, and she put lives at serious risk by working while under the influence of narcotics. Health care professionals who do such things warrant federal prosecution.”
“Patients must have confidence in their health care provider that they are receiving appropriate medical care,” said Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the public health and bring to justice those who tamper with medications and deny patients access to the treatments they need.”
“Residents of Massachusetts depend on our state’s medical professionals to offer the highest level of care,” said Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Margret Cooke. “DPH is committed to ensuring that our residents are receiving the best quality care at all congregate care facilities in the Commonwealth, and it is essential that we continue to hold accountable those who neglect this duty of care.”
On Jan. 27, 2018, Works tampered with a bottle of morphine prescribed to a patient at Governor’s Center, a nursing facility in Westfield, by removing the morphine from the bottle and diluting the remaining morphine with another substance. The morphine was prescribed to a hospice patient, who subsequently received diluted doses of the medication shortly before her death. After ingesting the morphine, Works was observed to be significantly impaired while providing care to patients at the nursing facility.
Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell; FDA SAC Ebersole; and Acting Commissioner Margret R. Cooke of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Looney of Mendell’s Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Columbus woman pleads guilty to Social Security fraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Roxanne Bates, 52, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of theft of public money, acknowledging that she took her mother’s Social Security benefits for almost eight years after her mother died.
According to court documents, Bates’ mother died in January 2012. Before she died, she was receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Those benefits should have ceased when she died, but the Social Security Administration was not notified of the death and continued to pay benefits totaling $146,143.
The benefits were deposited into a bank account controlled by Bates’ mother. On a regular basis, Bates knowingly and willfully stole the money by withdrawing it from the account using a debit card with her late mother’s name on it.
An audit by the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General detected the theft. Agents interviewed Bates in August 2020 and she acknowledged that she took money out of the account after her mother died.
Theft of public money is a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison, but the court will apply federal sentencing guidelines to determine an appropriate sentence. The plea agreement requires Bates to repay the money she stole.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service cooperatively investigated this case.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the plea entered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.
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Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 25 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Raymond Baucom, 39, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for receipt of child pornography, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. also ordered Baucom to serve a lifetime of supervised release and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department joins Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, law enforcement became aware that, between December 2017 and October 2018, an individual later identified as Baucom was using the internet to download child pornography. During a search of Baucom’s residence in Charlotte, law enforcement retrieved Baucom’s cell phone. A forensic analysis of the cell phone revealed that Baucom possessed 58 videos and 950 images of child pornography, some of which depicted the sadistic and masochistic sexual abuse of prepubescent minors. Court records also show that some of the images and videos contained identified victims of 40 different known series of child pornography.
In 2002, Baucom was convicted in Mecklenburg County of Indecent Liberties with a Child and was sentenced to a probationary term, which was later revoked for failing to register as a sex offender.
Baucom pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography on September 16, 2020. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
CMPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Central Falls Man Admits to Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Central Falls man with an extensive criminal record, including convictions for drug trafficking, assault, breaking and entering, and domestic assault, today pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute more than 28 grams of a mixture containing cocaine base (crack cocaine), announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
David Leite,43, was arrested by Cranston Police in September 2019, following an investigation that included surveillance of Leite’s activities, two purchases from him of crack cocaine, and the issuance of two court-authorized search warrants for his residence and one of his vehicles.
On September 24, 2019, as Cranston Police were preparing to execute a court-authorized search of Leite’s residence, detectives received information that on that day Leite would be transporting a significant quantity of narcotics to Cranston. Leite was observed leaving his home in a motor vehicle and was followed into Cranston where he was soon stopped by police.
According to information presented to the court, when officers approached Leite’s vehicle they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and observed multiple cell phones, and a significant amount of loose cash in the center cup holder. Leite was asked to step out of the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a bag containing 38.1 grams of crack cocaine and a bag containing 11.45 grams of cocaine salts, hidden behind the faceplate of the vehicle’s radio. Officers also seized, among other items, $13,340 in cash and two cell phones. On the same day, law enforcement executed the court-authorized search of Leite’s residence and seized a digital scale and other items used in the packaging and distribution of narcotics and a total of $2,679 in U.S. currency.
Leite, first charged in Rhode Island state court on September 25, 2019, appeared in federal court on September 30, 2019, and was charged in this matter by way of a federal criminal complaint. He has been detained in federal custody since his initial appearance in U.S. District Court.
Leite is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on November 30, 2021.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.
The matter was investigated by the Cranston Police Department, Central Falls Police Department, and the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.
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Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Prostitution Charges Involving Multiple VictimsRead 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 Michael McDonald, a/k/a George Jackson, a/k/a Rabbit, 42, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to three counts of interstate travel for purposes of prostitution. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Fabian and Aaron J. Mango, who are handling that case, stated that in April 2013, the defendant transported Victim 1 from New York to New Jersey, where the Exxxotica Fan Choice Awards were being held. When McDonald transported Victim 1 to New Jersey, the purpose was for Victim 1 to engage in commercial sex acts in New Jersey. In May 2017, the defendant transported Victim 2 from New York to Florida, where Victim 2 had a court date. When McDonald transported Victim 2 to Florida, the purpose was for Victim 2 to engage in commercial sex acts in Florida. In January 2018, the defendant transported a third victim from New York to Florida, where, among other things, a boat party was planned in Miami. When McDonald transported the victim to Florida, it was for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Bradford, PA Man Indicted for Acquiring Illegally Transported Protected PlantsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Bradford, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of receipt, acquisition or purchase of illegally transported protected plants and falsification of records, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Shane Michael Trout, 37, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, Trout received, acquired or purchased American ginseng plants that had been illegally transported in interstate commerce and falsified records relating to the purchase and sale of these plants
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $40,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Derrick Hobson, 41, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Jan. 4, 2022.
In June 2020, Hobson was charged along with 23 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The investigation also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. Hobson is the sixth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
Hobson supplied cocaine to members of the conspiracy.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, after the filing of a notice of prior conviction, provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, at least six years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin O’Donnell and Timothy Moran of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boat Operators Plead Guilty in Smuggling Death in La JollaRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Jimmy N. Rotstein (619) 546-8573, Colin M. McDonald (619) 546-9144, and Victor P. White (619) 546-8439
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 18, 2021
SAN DIEGO – Victor Alfonso Soto Aguilar and Jose Ramon Geraldo Romero pleaded guilty in federal court today in connection with their roles as operators of a panga boat that attempted to smuggle fourteen Mexican citizens into the United States in open ocean waters, ultimately resulting in the death of one passenger.
During a proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford, Soto and Geraldo admitted that they piloted a panga boat loaded with 14 Mexican citizens from Mexico into the United States. As part of their guilty pleas, Soto and Romero admitted that the panga boat was loaded beyond capacity, which resulted in temporary engine failure that caused the boat to stall in open ocean waters in the middle of the night. They further admitted that when they arrived near Marine Street Beach in La Jolla, California, they stopped the boat approximately 80 yards from shore and instructed all 14 passengers to remove their life jackets and jump into the water without regard to whether any of them knew how to swim. They also assured many of the passengers that the water was shallow. One passenger, Rogelio Perez Gutierrez, jumped out of the boat, could not stay afloat, and drowned as a result of the smuggling attempt.
United States Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, and San Diego Lifeguards ultimately responded to this event and rescued a number of individuals who had jumped into the ocean at the direction of Soto and Romero. The other passengers on the panga boat were paying between $12,000 and $15,000 to be brought into the United States; they stated they feared for their lives throughout the ocean journey.
“Another life has been tragically lost as a result of smugglers’ reckless actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Smugglers do not care about the safety of their human cargo. They care only about profits, and the U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to bringing them to justice for these callous crimes.” Grossman commended the excellent work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jimmy N. Rotstein, Colin M. McDonald and Victor P. White, and as well as the HSI agents, Coast Guard officers, Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection officers and San Diego Lifeguards, for their efforts in connection with the case.
“What’s really alarming is the callousness of these smugglers and their blatant disregard for the safety of those aboard the vessel,” said HSI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “As seen in this case, the criminal networks who profit from these smuggling ventures prioritize profit over the well-being and livelihood of those who hire them. HSI stays committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to continue to disrupt these illegal smuggling operations and bring to justice, those who violate U.S. law.”
“Callous disregard for the safety of their passengers is a common trait among smugglers,” said Brandon Tucker, Deputy Director of Air Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations in San Diego. “Their actions have consequences for the people they smuggle. They put people in danger, and now, they themselves will face the consequences of their actions.”
“The Coast Guard’s primary concern is the safety of life at sea,” said Capt. Tim Barelli, Sector Commander, USCG Sector San Diego. “This case is just one example of the disregard for human life these smugglers have, and we urge people not to place their lives in the hands of smugglers who ultimately care only about the money they will receive.”
Soto and Romero are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston on December 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21cr1665-JAH
Victor Alfonso Soto Aguilar Age: 37 Mexico
Jose Ramon Geraldo Romero Age: 24 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Attempted Bringing In at Other Than a Port of Entry Resulting In Death– Title 8, U.S.C., Sections 1324(a)(1)(A)(i), (v)(II), and (a)(1)(B)(iv)
Maximum penalty: Death or life in prison and $250,000 fine
Attempted Bringing In for Financial Gain – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine; mandatory minimum of five years in custody
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
United States Coast Guard
San Diego Lifeguards
United States Border Patrol
Customs and Border Protection
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. JTFA consists of federal prosecutors and attorneys from U.S. Attorney’s Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol. The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also part of the Task Force.
Bellevue man pleads guilty to profiting on inside information on Netflix securities tradesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 50-year-old Bellevue, Washington man who made more than $1.5 million dollars using inside information to trade in Netflix securities pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Junwoo Chon, is one for four men charged in the scheme that involved two former Netflix software engineers illegally providing proprietary subscriber data in advance of Netflix’s earnings announcements. Chon is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on December 3, 2021.
The others charged by Information in the case are Netflix software engineers Ayden Lee, 33, of San Jose, California, and Sung Mo Jun, 49, of Bellevue, Washington. Jun’s brother, Joon Jun, 45, of Issaquah, Washington is also charged in the case. The Jun brothers are scheduled for plea hearings on August 30, 2021.
“Insider trading is not a victimless crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “When someone on one side of the trade has non-public information, they have an advantage over the person on the other side – the person who ultimately loses money on their securities trade. The integrity of our financial markets demands a fair and level playing field.”
According to the records filed in the case, from July 2016, to February 2017, Sung Mo Jun was employed by Netflix as a software engineer. He had access to Netflix’s internal subscriber data and had been trained by the company that such data was material, non-public information. Nevertheless, Jun disclosed that information to his close friend, Junwoo Chon, and his brother, Joon Jun, with the knowledge that the two intended to use the information to profit on the purchase and sale of Netflix securities. Between July 2016 and April 2017, Jun’s brother, Joon Jun, made $215,419 and co-conspirator Junwon Chon made $521,400. After Chon made these significant profits on the illegal insider trading, he secretly provided Sung Mo Jun with $60,000 in cash as Sung Mo Jun’s share of the profits.
After Sung Mo Jun left Netflix, he obtained additional non-public information about subscriber data from another Netflix employee, software engineer Ayden Lee, 33, of San Jose, California. Jun not only passed that information on to his brother and Chon, he also used it to make his own trades. Between April 2017 and July 2019, Sung Mo Jun made a profit of $434,086 by trading in Netflix stock and options with this inside information.
In his plea agreement, Junwoo Chon also admitted to receiving inside information from Sung Mo Jun concerning another technology company located in California. He also admitted that he received inside information from a source at a third technology company located in Seattle and traded on the inside information with respect to those technology companies. Chon’s profits from trading on that inside information was less than $2,000.
All told the insider trading attributable to insider Sun Mo Jun in Netflix securities resulted in an illicit gain of $1,170,905. Joon Jun is responsible for illicit profits of $1,106.208. Chon is responsible for illicit profits of $1,642,855 and Lee is connected to illicit profits of $453,465.
Insider trading is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The judge will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a separate civil enforcement action against the defendants.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Arnold.
Arkansas Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Almost $6M in Restitution for His Role in TRICARE Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WACO – An Arkansas man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,918,446 in restitution for his role in a scheme to defraud TRICARE, a health care program of the U.S. Department of Defense.
According to court documents, Theodis Lamond Jefferson, 37, a former United States Army Service Member, received more than $5.9 million from January 2015 to June 2015 from pharmacies and groups that provided and marketed compounded medications. Compounded medications are personalized dosages or formulas normally made for patients who cannot tolerate certain ingredients in commercially manufactured medications. Jefferson defrauded TRICARE by making and receiving unlawful payments for the prescription of compounded drugs to TRICARE beneficiaries. Jefferson paid bribes to prescribing physicians and kickbacks to TRICARE beneficiaries, who unlawfully enriched themselves from TRICARE reimbursements for covered compounded drugs.
On December 8, 2020, Jefferson pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of illegal payment and one count of payment of illegal fee.
“This defendant stole millions of dollars from a government healthcare program that supports our servicemembers and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “This sentence sends a strong message that those who use bribes and kickbacks to steal taxpayer dollars from important programs will be identified, investigated and prosecuted.”
“The TRICARE Program is vital to the health and well-being of our warfighters, retirees, and their families,” said Michael Mentavlos, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Southwest Field Office. “Today's announcement underpins the steadfast commitment of DCIS and our investigative partners to bring to justice those who look to enrich themselves by jeopardizing the healthcare of our warfighters and defrauding the American taxpayer.”
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff prosecuted the case.
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Angier, NC Resident Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud the North Carolina Medicaid SystemRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – An Angier, North Carolina man, Ruben Samuel Matos, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. On September 18, 2020, Matos pled guilty to the charge. As part of sentencing, Matos was also ordered to pay $1,997,883 in criminal restitution to the North Carolina Fund for Medical Assistance.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, between 2014 and 2017, Matos conspired with multiple individuals and businesses to defraud the North Carolina Medicaid system by submitting over $3.6 million in false and fraudulent claims for the reimbursement of behavioral health services. Medicaid is a federally funded health care benefit program that helps pay for medical-related services for low-income individuals and their families. In North Carolina, Medicaid is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits.
Matos initially partnered with Reginald Van Reese, Jr., a Raleigh, NC resident who was previously convicted of conspiracy in a related case. As part of the scheme, Matos and Reese canvassed low-income neighborhoods to identify eligible Medicaid recipients and collect their personal information, including Medicaid identification numbers. The beneficiary information was then sold and supplied to behavioral health business operators for the unlawful purpose of generating fraudulent claims for reimbursement of services that were never rendered.
Matos and Reese worked closely with co-conspirator Antonio Deon Fozard, a Durham, NC resident who controlled multiple behavioral health entities, including Group Service and In Touch of Care. Fozard, Matos, and Reese defrauded the North Carolina Medicaid system by incorporating stolen Medicaid beneficiary and clinician data into false billings for these entities and enlisting “note writers” to fabricate supporting medical documentation for use in the event of an audit.
In furtherance of a similar Medicaid fraud scheme, Matos and Reese later partnered with Luis Angel Lozada, a Clayton, NC resident who owned and operated Cornerstone Family Services Group, a purported behavioral health business in Zebulon, NC. According to the investigation, Cornerstone used stolen Medicaid beneficiary and clinician data to back-bill the Medicaid system and recruited note writers to prepare bogus medical records to substantiate the claims.
Antonio Fozard and Luis Lozada pleaded guilty to health care fraud charges in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and are currently awaiting sentencing.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-307.
Albany County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Pratt, age 57, of Albany, pled guilty today to the distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, Pratt admitted that he distributed and received child pornography over the internet through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Pratt also admitted that he possessed numerous images of child pornography on his personal laptop, and that he created a folder on his laptop, labeled “JB” for “jailbait,” in which he stored images of child pornography that he had downloaded from the internet.
Pratt faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, when he is sentenced on December 20, 2021. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Additionally, Pratt will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, including investigators from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Williams and Katherine Kopita.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc
84-Year-Old Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to over 21 YearsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. –Robert Francis Krebs, 84, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 262 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Krebs was previously convicted by a jury for armed bank robbery. Krebs was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,385.
On January 12, 2018, Krebs used a BB gun to rob two bank tellers of over $8,000 at a Pyramid Federal Credit Union in Tucson, Arizona. Krebs was arrested the following day at a motel where he had been residing. Krebs has an extensive prior criminal history and was on a term of probation in Florida when he committed this robbery.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Raquel Arellano and Christine A. Melton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-00263-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-051_Krebs# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.34-Count Federal Indictment Charges 12 Defendants in Alleged Drug Trafficking Conspiracy out of Anderson CountyRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett Dehart announced today that, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, a joint team of 130 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers simultaneously executed 20 federal search warrants and arrested 12 individuals charged in a 34-count federal indictment for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that operated primarily out of Anderson County.
During the operation, presumed to be the largest operation of its kind ever in Anderson County, agents located approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of approximately $500,000; 5 ounces of heroin; 18 pounds of marijuana; 10 guns; hundreds of rounds of ammunition; $245,000 in cash; and 3 cars.
“Organized crime – particularly that involving drug and guns – presents our communities with serious challenges,” said Acting U.S. Attorney DeHart. “Fortunately, our office, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, does not rest in our efforts to dismantle such organizations and bring them to justice. While the charges in this case speak for themselves, our commitment to stopping violent drug gangs will never waver.”
“Citizens of Anderson County should feel safer knowing that these alleged poly-drug traffickers have been removed from their community,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “These defendants have been charged with distributing a variety of illegal drugs, and while doing so, protecting their ill-gotten gain with weapons. This investigation was a success because DEA and its law enforcement partners presented a united front to protect and serve the communities in which we live.”
“Public safety strategies and successes start with collaboration among our law enforcement agencies,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Vince Pallozzi. “Removing violent criminals from the community, disrupting major drug trades, and retrieving numerous firearms from very dangerous individuals are proven ways to have a major impact on bringing back safety and security to neighborhoods.”
“The commitment shown by our Detectives and Deputies assigned to our Special Investigations Division, working in concert with our Federal, State and local partners speaks volumes,” said Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride. “The entire Division poured effort into this investigation for an extended period of time. That effort, along with our strong commitment to the DEA Greenville Resident Office’s HIDTA Task Force, resulted in the successful seizure of a large quantity of illegal drugs and firearms that were bound for the streets of Anderson County. We take pride in the results of this investigation.”
“Our employees have worked countless hours on this case, including nights and weekends and spending time away from their families,” said City of Anderson Police Chief James Stewart. “This case has made a difference in our community, and getting these dangerous drugs off the street will make a major impact. We appreciate the partnership on the task force and cooperation that we have with the DEA office.”
The 34-count indictment charges the defendants with various drug trafficking and firearms-related offenses that include: drug trafficking conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana; distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine; maintaining a stash house; felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The following defendants are in custody:
- Dillinger Maston Bolden, a/k/a “Nuke,” 40, of Anderson
- Roosevelt Lavar Cousar, 44, of Anderson
- Terrance Antonio Martin, a/k/a “Buck,” 34, of Anderson
- Kadarrius Ahmad Brownlee, a/k/a “Quan,” 23, of Anderson
- Daiquon Jermaine Smith, 26, of Spartanburg
- Desmond Laquan Muller, 32, of Columbia
- Terrance Jarel Goss, 32 of Anderson
- Darius Tyvone Sadler, 29, of Anderson
- Christopher Reese Bell, 36, of Anderson
- Renardo Lakeith Reed, 38, of Anderson
- Montez Obrien Hatten, 32, of Anderson
- Elysia Nicole Scott, 32, of Anderson
- Tyrone Terrell Dubose, 51, of Anderson (charged in a separate, but related criminal complaint).
Three other individuals were arrested on various state charges.
Agents with the Greenville Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led the investigation with the support and significant participation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Anderson Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office.
This investigation is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sloan P. Ellis and Brandi B. Hinton are prosecuting the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney DeHart stated that all charges against these defendants are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Tuesday 17 August 2021
“11 Hunnit” Gang Member Sentenced to Nearly a Decade in Prison for RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A member of the 11 Hunnit street gang from the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh has been sentenced in federal court to 117 months’ imprisonment on his conviction for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Dionte Griffin (aka “L Gzz”, aka “Fat Boi, aka “El Gwopo”), 25, formerly of the Hill District neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, following his April 7, 2021, guilty plea to one count of RICO conspiracy.
According to information presented to the Court, Griffin, a member of the violent street gang known as “11 Hunnit,” conspired with codefendants Sydney Pack, Richard Kelly, and others, to conduct and participate in the affairs of the 11 Hunnit gang through a pattern of racketeering activity consisting generically of acts involving murder, robbery, and the distribution of controlled substances. Mr. Griffin acknowledged his personal participation in certain overt acts that were done in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy, which included a January 2016 shooting of a rival gang member, an October 2016 shooting of a rival gang member, the unlawful possession of fentanyl and firearms, and his participation – along with other members of 11 Hunnit – in several publicly available rap music videos designed to intimidate rival gangs and enhance 11 Hunnit’s reputation as a violent enterprise.
During the proceeding, District Judge Bissoon urged Griffin to abandon gang life following the service of his sentence, noting that participation in street gangs would inevitably lead Griffin to further imprisonment or death. Following his sentence of imprisonment, Griffin will be supervised for five years by the United States Probation Office. Judge Bissoon ordered Griffin not to associate with any gang members as a condition of his supervision.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, together with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Griffin. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Wheeling man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Randolph Michael Smith, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Smith, 42, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Smith, a person prohibited from having firearms because of prior convictions, admitted to having a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in August 2020 in Ohio County.
Smith faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Washington man sentenced to 10 years in prison for meth trafficking on Flathead Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Washington man who admitted to bringing methamphetamine to the Flathead Indian Reservation for redistribution was sentenced today to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Alberto Escareno-Sanchez, 27, of Sunnyside, Washington, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in January 2019, Flathead Tribal Police officers pulled over a vehicle in which Escareno-Sanchez was a passenger. During a later search of the vehicle pursuant to a warrant, investigators found meth, a firearm, and other drug paraphernalia. In July 2020, law enforcement served a search warrant on Escareno-Sanchez’s residence and found meth, heroin, two handguns, and $14,286 in currency. The defendant told law enforcement that the drugs, a gun, and the money belonged to him. In addition, confidential informants assisted Escareno-Sanchez with distributing pounds of meth in Flathead and Lake Counties and indicated to law enforcement that the defendant made trips to Washington to get meth for distribution on the Flathead Reservation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Northwest Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Warner Woman Arrested for Making False Statements and Helping a Fugitive Avoid ApprehensionRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Heather Akins, 30, of Warner, was arrested today for making efforts to prevent the United States Marshals Service from apprehending a fugitive.
On July 19, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Akins on one count of making a false statement to a federal agent and one count of accessory after the fact. The indictment charges that Akins made a materially false statement about the whereabouts of a fugitive and assisted the fugitive to hinder the efforts of the U.S. Marshals to apprehend the fugitive.
Akins appeared for a video arraignment and was released pending trial.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the Warner Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Virginia Man Sentenced for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Investment-Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced today in the Eastern District of Virginia to 14 years in prison for his role in an investment fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators stole approximately $5.7 million from victim investors.
According to court documents, James Leonard Smith, 65, of Midlothian, was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering on Oct. 30, 2020, after a four-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from around 2014 to 2017, Smith participated in a worldwide scheme through Chimera Group Ltd., a purported investment company based out of the United Kingdom. The fraud operated as an advance-fee scheme in which the defendants acted as promoters who promised to pay the victims a sum of money at a later date in exchange for an up-front payment. Among other misrepresentations, Smith and his co-conspirators told potential victims that their principal payments would be protected based on letters of credit and other documents that purported to be from a large financial institution. However, these documents were fabricated, sometimes with the assistance of Smith himself. The evidence also showed that Smith and his co-conspirators used escrow attorneys, who were themselves part of the scheme, in order to give the victims the impression that their money would remain secure until the defendants’ promises had been kept. Smith and his co-conspirators stole at least $5.7 million from their victims.
Co-conspirator Stuart Jay Anderson, 54, of Aliso Viejo, California, an escrow attorney involved in the scheme, was sentenced to four years in prison on Dec. 3, 2020. Co-defendant James Michael Johnson, 70, of Richmond, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on March 5. Co-defendant Brian Michael Bridge, 48, of London, England, a fugitive, was also charged in the superseding indictment, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh of the Eastern District of Virginia; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and the Virginia State Corporation Commission investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Vasanth Sridharan and Christopher Jackson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section plays a pivotal role in the Justice Department’s fight against white collar crime around the country.
Virginia Man Sentenced for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Virginia man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his role in an investment fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators stole approximately $5.7 million from victim investors.
According to court documents, James Leonard Smith, 65, of Midlothian, was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering on October 30, 2020, after a four-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from around 2014 to 2017, Smith participated in a worldwide scheme through Chimera Group Ltd., a purported investment company based out of the United Kingdom. The fraud operated as an advance-fee scheme in which the defendants acted as promoters who promised to pay the victims a sum of money at a later date in exchange for an up-front payment. Among other misrepresentations, Smith and his co-conspirators told potential victims that their principal payments would be protected based on letters of credit and other documents that purported to be from a large financial institution. However, these documents were fabricated, sometimes with the assistance of Smith himself. The evidence also showed that Smith and his co-conspirators used escrow attorneys, who were themselves part of the scheme, in order to give victims the impression that their money would remain secure until the defendants’ promises had been kept. Smith and his co-conspirators stole at least $5.7 million from their victims.
Co-conspirator Stuart Jay Anderson, 54, of Aliso Viejo, California, an escrow attorney involved in the scheme, was sentenced to four years in prison on December 3, 2020. Co-defendant James Michael Johnson, 70, of Richmond, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on March 5. Co-defendant Brian Michael Bridge, 48, of London, England, a fugitive, was also charged in the superseding indictment and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh of the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and the Virginia State Corporation Commission investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore and Trial Attorneys Vasanth Sridharan and Christopher Jackson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:19-cr-117 and 3:19-cr-178.
Vacaville Felon Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Guy Joseph Bass, 29, of Vacaville, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, On Sept. 18, 2020, police officers arrested Bass on an outstanding arrest warrant. During the arrest, Bass admitted he had a firearm on his person. A search of his person uncovered a Glock style privately made firearm, also known as a “ghost gun,” loaded with an extended magazine containing 17 rounds. Bass cannot possess a firearm or ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony offense.
Additionally, on Nov. 28, 2020, police officers approached a parked vehicle Bass was sitting in. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a different privately made .223 caliber AR-style pistol and a 30‑round magazine loaded with at least nine rounds of ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Vacaville Police Department, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez is scheduled to sentence Bass on Dec. 7, 2021. Bass faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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.
Two Operation Stolen Innocence Defendants Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Shuntae Kirksey, 26, of Tallahassee, Florida was sentenced yesterday to 210 months in federal prison after pleading guilty on April 18, 2021, to one count of production of child pornography. Destin Banks, 32, of Tallahassee, Florida was sentenced yesterday to 130 months in federal prison after pleading guilty on May 6, 2021, to one count of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in prostitution. Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencing.
“These sentences further affirm our commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through concerted efforts like Operation Stolen Innocence, we will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who prey upon our children.”
“Operation Stolen Innocence continues to increase the safety and security of our local communities and highlights the strong law enforcement partnership between HSI and the Tallahassee Police Department,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs.
“We are pleased to see two more offenders, who posed a significant threat to this community, taken off of our streets,” said Chief Lawrence Revell. “Operation Stolen Innocence has produced a continuous flow of arrests on those individuals that prey on our children. Additionally, these arrests speak volumes of the dedication and diligent work of our investigators and every agency we have worked with along the way in this fight to dismantle sexual exploitation in Tallahassee. This is a fight that we will never give up on.”
Kirksey and Banks’ prison sentence will be followed by 10 years supervised release and they both will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions.
Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven prosecuted this case which was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations as part of Operation Stolen Innocence, a multi-agency coordinated effort by the United States Marshals Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit, to combat human trafficking in the Tallahassee area.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Two Kansas Men Guilty of Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men are facing prison sentences after taking part in a pair of bank robberies. A federal jury convicted Michael Shiferaw, 22, of Olathe of two counts of Armed Bank Robbery, and two counts of Discharging a Firearm in Connection with a Bank Robbery. Kenya Breakfield, 23, of Olathe pleaded guilty to one count of Armed Bank Robbery and one count of Discharging a Firearm in Connection with a Bank Robbery.
According to court documents, in October 2018, Shiferaw and Breakfield went into a Wells Fargo bank in Leawood, Kansas wearing face masks and carrying handguns. Shiferaw fired a shot into the ceiling upon entering. He then pointed a gun at the tellers and forced them to fill a duffel bag with money. The men fired another round into the ceiling, yelling “happy holidays” before fleeing the bank with the money.
In March 2019, the men robbed the Commerce Bank in Roeland Park, Kansas. This time Breakfield remained in the vehicle as the getaway driver, and Shiferaw entered the bank alone. Shiferaw fired four rounds during the robbery, including one aimed at a customer trying to enter the bank. The defendants were arrested shortly after the second robbery, and law enforcement recovered the firearm used in both crimes. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges against Breakfield in connection with the Commerce Bank robbery in exchange for his guilty plea in the Wells Fargo case. Shiferaw elected to go to trial.
A Bank Robbery conviction carries a maximum of 25 years in prison for each count. A conviction of Discharging a Firearm During a Bank Robbery carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, consecutive with any other sentence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Olathe Police Department, Leawood Police Department, Roeland Park Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan prosecuted the case.
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Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Firearms in MississippiRead the Press Release
Oxford, Miss. – A Killeen, Texas man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for his role in stealing firearms from a pawnshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Dominic Deshawn Turner was sentenced on Monday to 39 months imprisonment by Senior District Court Judge Neal B. Biggers for conspiracy to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearm (FFL) dealer. The sentence marks the conclusion of a two-year long investigation and prosecution of a 2019 robbery of Krosstown Trade & Pawn in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Co-defendants Corey Alonzo Brown of Killeen, Texas, Raheim Trayvon Avery of Grenada, Mississippi, and Corey Kintrell Lewis of Clarksdale, Mississippi have all been previously sentenced to prison for their roles in the robbery.
Court records show that on February 20, 2019, Krosstown Trade & Pawn in Clarksdale, Mississippi was robbed at gunpoint and the owner, who was working in the store at the time, was physically assaulted during the robbery. Five individuals stole 25 firearms and more than $49,000.00 worth of jewelry. The suspects fled the scene and ATF and the Clarksdale, Mississippi Police Department began investigating the incident.
Nine days after the Krosstown robbery, several firearms and jewelry stolen from the business were recovered by detectives from the Killeen, Texas Police Department. As a result of a combined investigation by ATF Agents and local law enforcement agencies in Texas and Mississippi, law enforcement positively identified five individuals as suspects in the robbery in Mississippi and uncovered a conspiracy to traffic firearms from Mississippi to Texas. ATF Agents in Mississippi also located and recovered additional stolen firearms in Clarksdale and Grenada, Mississippi in the possession of individuals who were prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms.
All five suspects from the robbery were identified and prosecuted. One suspect passed away prior to arrest. The remaining four suspects entered guilty pleas to federal charges and were ultimately convicted. Each of the defendants was sentenced to terms of imprisonment and required to pay restitution to the FFL dealer. Corey Lewis was sentenced to 87 months in prison, Raheim Avery was sentenced to 40 months, and Corey Brown was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison.
“Effective collaboration and coordination between ATF Agents and local law enforcement officers across multiple states was critical to the success of this investigation and prosecution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Not only were they able to bring justice to the victim of this crime, but they were able to recover many of the firearms stolen, preventing future violent crimes.”
“The sentence imposed today lets gun traffickers know that they will pay a price for their crimes,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF will continue to investigate firearm thefts to cut the pipeline of crime guns. This was good teamwork with our law enforcement partners and an example of ATF’s dedication to investigate individuals that feed violent gun crime.”
The following agencies participated in the investigation: ATF Waco, TX Satellite Office, ATF Austin, TX Field Office, ATF Oxford, MS Field Office, Killeen, TX Police Department, Clarksdale, MS Police Department, Grenada, MS Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Hampton and Philip Levy for the Northern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.
T&A Crips member sentenced to 30 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 26-year-old Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 30 years in prison for participating in a local gang’s racketeering conspiracy.
Charles Carson pleaded guilty in February 2020 and accepted responsibility for the 2015 murder of Quincy Story. Carson shot and killed Story on S. James Road in Columbus.
According to court documents, Carson and 18 other defendants were charged as members and associates of the Trevitt and Atcheson Crips gang known as T&A. The gang derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly reside.
The murder victim, Story, was perceived as disrespecting a fallen associate of the T&A subgroup Waun Gang.
Beginning in June 2010, T&A members and associates conspired in a racketeering enterprise and engaged in murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, witness tampering, robbery, assault and other crimes.
The gang controlled the neighborhood through intimidation, fear and violence. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.
Specifically, co-conspirators are charged with five murders:
the murder of Franky Tention on July 1, 2012, in the area of 431 Ellison Street;
the murder of William Moore on March 15, 2013;
the murder of Marvin Ector on December 23, 2013, on East 5th Avenue;
the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and
the murder of Deaonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; and United States Marshal Pete Tobin announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.
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Stockton Woman Convicted of Sex Trafficking ChildrenRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a seven-day trial, a jury found Dawniel Santangelo, 43, of Stockton, guilty today of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a child, three counts of sex trafficking of a child, and one count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, between September 2018 and May 2019, Santangelo recruited 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old girls to engage in prostitution throughout Northern California and Southern Oregon. Santangelo enticed the girls to perform sex acts for strangers by providing alcohol, drugs, and creating a party atmosphere in motels in Stockton and Salinas. She then posted online prostitution ads depicting the victims and brought sex buyers to the motels to have sex with the victims in exchange for money that she and co-defendant, Lucious James Roy, 34, of Stockton, took from the victims. Santangelo also took the 17-year-old victim to a Ripon truck stop to engage in prostitution. Ultimately, the minor victims had sex with sex buyers in the motel rooms where Santangelo harbored them and on the streets of the cities where Santangelo took them. After the victims began engaging in commercial sex acts, Santangelo urged them to continue, falsely reassuring the 17-year-old victim that the experience was not that bad and offering to give the 16-year-old victim feminine products to keep her engaging in sex acts when she was menstruating.
In early May 2019, Santangelo and co-defendant Roy, recruited a 15-year-old runaway from the Modesto area to engage in prostitution. They drove the victim from Merced to Medford, Oregon, Santangelo’s former hometown, in order to put the 15-year-old to work engaging in prostitution. Once in Oregon, Santangelo advertised the victim’s commercial sex acts on the internet and harbored her in a motel room that she rented. After a few days in Oregon, the victim called her family for help, and Oregon police subsequently found the victim in Santangelo’s motel room along with Santangelo and Roy.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office, the Medford (Oregon) Police Department, and the Jackson County (Oregon) District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and Brian A. Fogerty are prosecuting the case.
On April 12, 2021, Roy was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 17 years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a child.
Santangelo is scheduled for sentencing by Judge Mueller on Nov. 8, 2021. Santangelo faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Her convictions on the sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity counts each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Shelby County Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Baby Formula OnlineRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A husband and wife pleaded guilty today for selling more than $300,000 in stolen items online, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
Christopher John Andrukaitis, 31, of Chelsea, and Holly Hollon, 38, of Chelsea, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods. Andrukaitis and Hollon are scheduled to be sentenced on November 30th.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2018 and October 2020, Andrukaitis and Hollon owned and operated the Sweet Tea Sunshine Shop, an online eBay business. The online business was operated out of their residence in Shelby County, Alabama. Sweet Tea Sunshine Shop advertised products for sale, to include baby formula. The Sweet Tea Sunshine Shop received online orders for baby formula. Andrukaitis and Hollon personally filled those orders. The baby formula was stolen from various retail stores throughout the Northern District of Alabama. The stolen baby formula was shipped through the U.S. Postal Service or Federal Express to customers throughout the United States. In total, the Sweet Tea Sunshine Shop generated over $300,000 in proceeds from the sale of the stolen baby formula. Andrukaitis and Hollon used the fraudulent proceeds for their personal benefit.
The United States Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force investigated the case along with the Alabaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark is prosecuting the case.
Seven defendants indicted on federal charges in drug-trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: Seven defendants are accused of participating in a major drug trafficking conspiracy in an indictment newly unsealed in U.S. District Court.
The investigation in Operation Ace in the Hole II, under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), targeted the distribution of heroin and fentanyl-tainted heroin in the Vidalia, Ga., and greater Toombs County area, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each of the defendants is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Eutylone (bath salts), Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine, a charge that carries a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“The availability of deadly fentanyl and its chemical analogues has led to an alarming rise in overdoses and overdose deaths in the Southern District and throughout the nation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to seek the sources of these illegal drugs and bring their dealers to justice.”
After the federal indictment of 26 defendants in January 2020 in Operation Ace in the Hole, investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, and others, continued seeking sources and suppliers of heroin and other illegal drugs throughout the Vidalia area. Operation Ace in the Hole II, as outlined in USA v. Page, et al., charges seven defendants as participants in the drug trafficking conspiracy. The indictment, returned in May 2021 by a U.S. District Court Grand Jury, was unsealed Monday, Aug. 16.
Those named in the indictment, and their charges, include:
- Creg Antonio Page, 45, an inmate at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; two counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine; and three counts of Use of Communications Facility, a charge that describes using telephones to facilitate the drug-trafficking conspiracy;
- Phillip Adams, 36, of Lyons, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; Distribution of Heroin; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
- Servontae Quarshawn Powell, 37, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; three counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; and Distribution of Fentanyl;
- Debra Carol Strickland, 20, of Lyons, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; Distribution of Heroin; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
- Cameron Earl Williamson, 33, of Lyons, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; and three counts of Use of Communications Facility;
- Erika Susan Highsmith, a/k/a Erika Susan Barrow, 28, of Lyons, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; and Use of Communications Facility; and,
- Tiffany Hunt, 40, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; and Use of Communication Facility.
In addition to drugs seized during the investigation, the indictment also includes the seizure of six firearms.
Initial court appearances for all defendants have been held. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Of the 26 defendants in Operation Ace in the Hole, 23 have entered guilty pleas; 17 of them have been sentenced, with terms of up to 188 months in prison. Three defendants are awaiting trial.
The case was investigated under the 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.
Operation Ace in the Hole II is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, the Vidalia Police Department, and the Lyons Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McCool and Noah J. Abrams.
Seven Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Cocaine on Board the Coastal Freighter Zumaque TracerRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced seven Venezuelan nationals to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Name
Federal Prison Term
Astrubal Quijada Marin
9 years
Henry Jose Marquez
8 years
Rafael Antonio Querales Grafe
5 years, 10 months
Juan Carlos Diaz Morales
5 years, 10 months
Juan Carlos Acosta Hurtado
5 years, 10 months
Jose Rafael Colina
5 years, 10 months
Edwin Ramon Marcano Morales
5 years, 4 months
Five of the defendants had pleaded guilty between March and June 2020. Two of the defendants were convicted following bench trials on May 7, 2021.
According to court documents, the seven defendants were on board the Zumaque Tracer, a 256-foot Cameroon flagged coastal freighter, in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea, on a northwesterly course towards Grand Cayman.
The vessel exhibited multiple signs consistent with drug trafficking and inconsistent with the stated purpose of the voyage. The seven defendants were each aware that they were transporting cocaine intended for distribution.
In July 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Northland located the Zumaque Tracer and conducted a search of the vessel. The boarding team ultimately located and seized 143 bales containing approximately 4,225 kilograms of cocaine—worth approximately $105 million—concealed in the vessel’s aft wing ballast tanks.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nick Derenzo.
Raleigh Felon Sentenced After Pulling a Firearm on Officers During a Drug InvestigationRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Rakim Royster of Raleigh was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Royster pled guilty to the charge on March 25, 2021.
According to court documents and statements made during hearings, in February 2020, the Raleigh Police Department received tips of drug activity at Royster’s Raleigh home. Law enforcement used a confidential source to make two controlled purchased of cocaine from Royster on February 25 and 28. The next day they obtained and executed a search warrant on Roster’s residence.
On February 29, 2020, prior to executing the search warrant, officers conducted a traffic stop to take Royster into custody. As they approached the car, Royster lifted his right hand from between the seats and pointed a handgun toward the approaching officers. But then he quickly dropped the gun and raised his hands to surrender. From the car’s floorboard, officers seized a Polymer80 9mm handgun with an extended magazine.
Officers then searched Royster’s home, where they found digital scales, baggies, and small amounts of cocaine and marijuana. They also recovered multiple 9mm magazines and bags of both 9mm and 40 caliber ammunition. Royster admitted to selling cocaine and heroin and stated that he carried the firearm for protection.
Even though the handgun Royster possessed was a Polymer80 handgun (sometimes referred to as a “ghost gun”), it was nevertheless a firearm under federal law, including for purposes of sentencing under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which led to the significant sentence Royster received.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Raleigh Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Smith, Jake D. Pugh, and Laura Howard prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-0320-FL.
Pharmacist Arrested for Selling COVID Vaccination Cards OnlineRead the Press Release
A licensed pharmacist was arrested today in Chicago on charges related to his alleged sale of dozens of authentic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination cards on eBay.
According to court documents, in March and April 2021, Tangtang Zhao, 34, of Chicago, sold 125 authentic CDC vaccination cards to 11 different buyers for approximately $10 per card. Zhao was a licensed pharmacist in Illinois and was employed at Company 1, a pharmacy which distributed and administered COVID-19 vaccines at its physical locations nationwide. As required by the CDC, Company 1 provided a CDC Vaccination Record Card to each vaccine recipient. Zhao, who worked at Company 1 as a pharmacist during that time, obtained and subsequently offered authentic CDC vaccination cards for sale online. The indictment charges Zhao with 12 counts of theft of government property.
“We take seriously, and will vigorously investigate, any criminal offense that contributes to the distrust around vaccines and vaccination status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the American people from these offenses during this national emergency.”
“Knowingly selling COVID vaccination cards to unvaccinated individuals puts millions of Americans at risk of serious injury or death,” said Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. “To put such a small price on the safety of our nation is not only an insult to those who are doing their part in the fight to stop COVID-19, but a federal crime with serious consequences.”
“Stealing and selling COVID-19 vaccination cards is inexcusable and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) – Chicago Region. “Fraudsters who engage in such unlawful conduct undermine efforts to address the pandemic and profit at the public’s expense. The health and safety of the public is our top priority, and we encourage people to obtain vaccination cards from their administering medical providers.”
Zhao is charged by indictment with 12 counts of theft of government property. Zhao made his initial court appearance on Aug. 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila M. Finnegan of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 10 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Owners/Managers of Florida Labor-Staffing Companies Indicted for Immigration Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging three men who operated labor-staffing companies in Florida with conspiracy to harbor non-resident aliens and induce them to remain in the country and with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the indictment, Mykhaylo Chugay, Oleksandr Morgunov, Volodymyr Ogorodnychuk and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in southern Florida, including Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC, and Tropical City Group LLC, between August 2007 and July 2021. The indictment charges that the defendants, through these staffing companies, facilitated the employment in the hospitality industry of non-resident aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy. Each count also carries the possibility of a fine and supervised release upon completion of any sentence of incarceration. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sean Beaty and Jessica Kraft of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Clark of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Orlando Sisters Sentenced in $25 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Petra Gomez to eight years in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the government and tax evasion. She had pleaded guilty on November 16, 2020. Gomez’s sister, Jakeline Lumucso, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government and was sentenced in April 2021 to four years in federal prison. The court also ordered Gomez and Lumucso to pay $24,940,495 in restitution to the IRS. Gomez was ordered to pay an additional $510,999 to the IRS for tax evasion.
According to court documents, from January 2012 to June 2016, Gomez and Lumucso conspired to defraud the IRS by submitting more than 16,000 false tax returns, which resulted in nearly $25 million in fraudulent tax refunds. To conceal the fraud, Gomez and Lumucso created five different tax preparation companies. In some instances, they opened the companies in the names of other people to conceal the fraud.
In addition, when filing her 2014 tax return, Gomez failed to declare more than $800,000 in income. Gomez claimed $213,434 in earnings when she actually had earned $1,110,508. This resulted in a tax liability of $510,999 for tax year 2014.
“Today’s substantial sentencing of Petra Gomez for her role in a conspiracy involving preparation of false tax returns, for both her clients and herself, is a triumph for all honest return preparers,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Putting abusive return preparers out of business is a top priority for IRS-CI. Let this be a reminder to others seeking to enrich themselves - tampering with the integrity of our nation's tax system will result in jail time."
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier and former Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gable.
Onondaga County Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ryan Maher, 35, of Cicero, New York pled guilty today to receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea before Chief United States District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, Maher, who has a prior New York State conviction for Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, admitted that he received child pornography in 2019 and 2020 using a peer-to-peer file sharing service on the internet. Maher also admitted that, on November 17, 2020, he possessed approximately 4,000 child pornography files on a thumb drive.
When Maher is sentenced on December 11, 2021, he faces at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison for receiving child pornography and at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography. In addition, Maher will be required to serve a term of supervised release of between five years and life after his term of incarceration and will be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Oklahoma City Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement to Bank to Open Account for Marijuana BusinessRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, VICTOR NGO, 33, of Oklahoma City, and FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC (FMG), an Oklahoma business, pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to open a bank account under false pretenses to launder proceeds from marijuana sales, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On August 2, 2021, the United States charged Ngo by Information with one count of making a false statement to a bank and FMG with one count of structured money laundering.
According to the Information, between May 29, 2019, and January 22, 2020, Ngo operated Cannabless, a leading medical marijuana company in Oklahoma. At the time, Cannabless was not in full compliance with Oklahoma’s medical marijuana laws.
Due to federal law, many banks in the United States are unwilling to accept deposits from the proceeds of marijuana sales. The Information alleges that Ngo used FMG to open a bank account by falsely stating that FMG was a wellness and fitness company, when in fact FMG engaged in a marijuana-related business. Based on this false statement, the bank opened an account it otherwise would have not opened. The Information alleges this fraudulent conduct allowed Ngo and FMG to illegally access the banking system and deposit proceeds generated by Cannabless’s sale of marijuana.
The Information further alleges that Ngo made cash deposits on nearly a daily basis, breaking up or structuring the transactions to amounts below $10,000 to avoid triggering the bank’s transaction reporting obligations under federal law. According to the Information, FMG laundered more than $770,000 in marijuana proceeds through the bank account during the scheme.
Today, Ngo pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a bank. As part of his plea, Ngo agreed to forfeit $621,570.00. At sentencing, Ngo faces up to 30 years and a potential fine of $1,000,000.00. FMG pleaded guilty to structured money laundering. As part of its plea, FMG admitted to laundering more than $770,000. At sentencing, FMG faces a potential fine of $770,000, or an amount equal to the value of the funds involved in the money laundering transactions.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wilson D. McGarry prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to court filings for more information.
Ninth Defendant Pleads Guilty in TRICARE SchemeRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A ninth defendant has pleaded guilty in connection with a $12 million scheme to generate prescriptions for expensive compounded drugs paid for by TRICARE. Kenneth Myers Jr., 43, of Alpharetta, Georgia (formerly of Little Rock), pled guilty to conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute today before United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
Myers collected nearly $70,000 for recruiting TRICARE beneficiaries to receive expensive compounded drugs, for which TRICARE paid over $340,000. Myers acknowledged offering TRICARE beneficiaries money to receive the drugs and that medical providers, including co-defendant Joe David May a.k.a. Jay May, 40, of Alexander, rubber stamped prescriptions without consulting the TRICARE beneficiaries.
Upon learning a federal agent planned to interview a TRICARE beneficiary about his prescription, Myers instructed the man to lie by claiming he had been examined by a doctor before getting his prescription. When Myers was later interviewed, he lied to the FBI by claiming he played no role in securing prescriptions and instead directed beneficiaries to consult their own doctor.
In pleading guilty to the kickback conspiracy, Myers joins Albert Glenn Hudson, 40, of Sherwood; Derek Clifton, 39, of Alexander; Donna Crowder, 66, of North Little Rock; Jennifer Crowder (formerly Bracy), 38, of Little Rock; Keith Benson, 50, of North Little Rock; Keith Hunter, 52, of Little Rock; Angie Johnson, 50, of North Little Rock; and Blake Yoder, 40, of Scott.
Conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Trial of the 10th and final defendant, May, is set for December 6, 2021, before Judge Baker. May faces charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, violating the anti-kickback statute, aggravated identity theft, lying to the FBI, and falsifying records in a federal investigation.
Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office, and Miranda Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and HHS-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander D. Morgan.
# # #
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
Nine Men Arrested in Sex Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
Acting United States Dennis R. Holmes announced that the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a joint sex trafficking operation during the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The operation began on August 6, 2021, and continued through August 12, 2021.
As a result, the following nine men were arrested and charged with a variety of offenses:
Alec Walker Daniel, 22, Rapid City, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Alexander Wayne Basaldu, 35, Rapid City, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Jesse James Young, 36, Rapid City, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Joshua Robert Lehmann, 34, Rapid City, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Christopher Thomas Dahl, 28, Wolcott, NY: Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor
Stephen Gregory Fontenot, 39, Black Hawk, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Anthony James Kemp, 54, Spearfish, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
James Dean Hanapel, 20, Ellsworth AFB: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Clayton John Paulson, 36, Spearfish, South Dakota: Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
The mandatory minimum penalty upon conviction for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet is 10 years up to life in federal prison; any term of years, not less than five, up to lifetime supervised release; $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund; and a $5,000 assessment if not indigent. Restitution may also be ordered.
The mandatory minimum penalty upon conviction for Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor is 15 years up to life in federal prison; a $250,000 fine; any term of years, not less than five, up to lifetime supervised release; $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund; and a $5,000 assessment if not indigent. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges are merely accusations and all nine defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The agencies involved in the operation were DCI, ICAC, HSI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ellsworth AFB Office of Special Investigations, Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being federally prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to extend its appreciation to all law enforcement partners involved in the investigations for their efforts and continued cooperation.
Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in Marijuana ConspiracyRead 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 Samuel Zito, 31, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that sometime in August 2020, the defendant and co-conspirators Marquies McTyere and Alexander Schieppati, arranged for a shipment to be delivered to Freightboy Logistics in Niagara Falls, NY, from Canada. Unbeknownst to Zito and his co-conspirators, on August 6, 2020, the shipment, which contained approximately 600 pounds of marijuana packaged in vacuum sealed bags, had been intercepted by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and was searched. The marijuana had been purchased by Zito and Schieppati from a source of supply in Canada and was intended to be distributed in the Niagara Falls and Buffalo areas. The shipment was tracked by investigators and a controlled delivery was conducted on August 7, 2020. Co-defendant Schieppati picked up the shipment and brought it to a motel in Niagara Falls. Zito, McTyere, and Schieppati were arrested, and investigators recovered $239,850 from a storage facility utilized by McTyere. The money was found in the vicinity of drug packaging materials and was packaged in vacuum sealed bags.
McTyere and Schieppati were previously convicted.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 27, 2021, before Judge Vilardo.
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Newburgh Man Charged with Transporting A Minor for Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bruce Campbell, Chief of the Town of Newburgh Police Department, announced that VERNON E. COPELAND III, was indicted today for transporting a minor from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Newburgh, New York, with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with the minor. COPELAND was charged by criminal complaint on November 20, 2020, and arrested on August 3, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. COPELAND will be transported to the Southern District of New York for arraignment and prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Vernon Copeland preyed on a 13-year-old, whom he transported from Bridgeport to Newburgh to engage in sex. Thanks to the FBI and the Town of Newburgh Police, Copeland is in custody and facing this serious federal charge.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “A 13-year-old child should be spending time playing sports and going to school, not worrying about being used by an alleged criminal for his own sexual gratification. We must do better as adults in protecting these innocent children because even one being victimized by a predator is too many. A first step in helping someone who may be a victim - call 1-800-CALL-FBI if you have any information about Mr. Copeland.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment returned today[1]:
On or about February 7, 2020, COPELAND transported a 13-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Newburgh, New York, where he engaged, and attempted to engage, in illegal sexual activity with Victim-1.
* * *
COPELAND 36, of Newburgh, New York, is charged with one count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the efforts of the FBI and the Town of Newburgh Police Department. She added that the investigation is ongoing.
Any individuals who believe they have information that may be relevant to this investigation should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov/.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Keenan is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Natchez Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Natchez man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Albert Burnell Chatman, 26, possessed a firearm in his truck when he reported to his probation officer. Chatman had previously been convicted of house burglary and was sentenced to 7 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but those 7 years were suspended, and Chatman was ordered to supervised probation.
Chatman was charged in a federal criminal indictment with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He pled guilty on April 29, 2021.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections, Natchez Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Murfreesboro Man Sentenced After Armed Robbery of Conway Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Eric Laneil Beale of Murfreesboro was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm in connection with that crime. Beale pled guilty to the charges on March 9, 2021.
According to court documents and statements made during hearings, on January 10, 2019, at around 6:30 p.m., two men holding guns ran into the Park N Shop convenience store in Conway, North Carolina. One man—wearing all black with a black hood pulled over his face—went to an employee who was working behind a deli counter, grabbed her by her shirt, and pushed her to the front counter with the gun against her head. The other man—wearing bright blue pants and a burgundy hooded sweater with the hood down—went behind the front counter and grabbed the money from the cash register. Both men then fled on foot.
Law enforcement began searching the area, and one officer noticed a man, later identified as Beale, crouching behind a parked car. Beale, still crouching as if trying to not be seen, then walked over and got into the driver’s seat of another car that someone had just parked and stepped away from. The officer ordered Beale out of the car and detained him. A pat down uncovered twenty stacked $5 bills in Beale’s front pants pocket, and Beale admitted that he was involved in the robbery.
At the police station, Beale confessed to going into the store and committing the robbery, identifying himself as the man who had collected the money. He directed officers to an abandoned building near a cemetery, where officers recovered a .380 caliber Hi-Point handgun, a plastic bag containing the rest of the stolen money, and the blue pants and burgundy sweater that he had worn during the robbery.
Law enforcement later identified Beale’s accomplice as co-defendant Isaiah Vaughan based on a distinctive tattoo visible on the surveillance video. Vaughan pled guilty to the same charges on June 8, 2021, and is scheduled to be sentenced during the Court’s October 2021 term.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Conway Police Department and Northampton County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0049-FL.
Menomonie Felon Sentenced to 54 Months for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Xavier Gentry, 33, Menomonie, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 54 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. This prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Gentry pleaded guilty to this charge on May 21, 2021.
On June 7, 2020, while outside of a bar in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Gentry pulled out a loaded firearm and displayed it during an altercation. He then ran from responding officers, who arrested him in a nearby parking lot. Notably, just seven days earlier, Gentry was sentenced to state probation in Eau Claire County Case No. 19CF1767. That case charged Gentry for various crimes after he shot and injured a person and injured a dog during a drug robbery.
The term of imprisonment in this case will run concurrently with a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence Gentry is currently serving in connection to Eau Claire County Case No. 20CF774. Gentry was convicted in that case for possessing cocaine with intent to distribute on the same night as this federal offense.
At sentencing, Judge Conley reasoned that additional prison time was warranted because of the great risk Gentry posed to the community when he chose to display a loaded handgun. Judge Conley also noted that Gentry’s extensive criminal history, which includes 13 prior convictions and crimes of violence, also shows that he has been unable or unwilling to take responsibility or his own actions up until this point.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
The charges against Gentry were the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Eau Claire Sheriff’s Department also provided assistance. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus.
Martell Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Gun After Traffic Stop Search Uncovers Meth and Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a loaded handgun pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Timothy James Hensley, age 44, from Martell, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.
At the plea hearing, Hensley admitted that he unlawfully possessed a gun on October 19, 2020. Evidence at a prior hearing showed that Hensley was stopped by a Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy for driving a truck with a license plate that belonged to a different vehicle. During the stop, the Deputy learned that Hensley was barred from driving and had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for court. During a search of Hensley’s person, the Deputy found a container with methamphetamine, and during a search of a backpack found on the passenger’s seat, officers found approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hensley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hensley faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21‑CR‑00036‑CJW-MAR.
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Marshall County woman sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Dannielle L. Young, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to three years of probation for a methamphetamine charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Young, 32, pleaded guilty in January 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Young admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine from August 2019 to August 2020 in Marshall County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Market Owner Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine from His StoreRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months’ imprisonment on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Willie Harris, age 42, formerly of Bergman Street, Pittsburgh, PA.
According to information presented to the court, in 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated a wiretap investigation, primarily targeting extensive drug trafficking in and around an area known as the Greenway Projects, located in the West End of the City of Pittsburgh. The wiretap investigation revealed that from in and around November 2017 through in and around June 2018, Willie Harris conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine out of the retail convenience store that he owned, Woogie’s Market, located at 3038 Chartiers Ave., in the West End of the City of Pittsburgh.
Prior to imposing sentence, Senior Judge Schwab stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to comply with the goals of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Yvonne M. Saadi prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Robinson Township Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department, and the McKees Rocks Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Harris.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Settles Fraud Suit Against Tower Maintenance Corp. for False Statements About Disadvantaged Business Participation on Two Federal Construction ProjectsRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has settled civil fraud claims against TOWER MAINTENANCE CORP. (“TOWER”), a Long Island-based steel painting company. The settlement resolves the United States’ allegations that TOWER fraudulently obtained payments on two federally funded construction projects by causing misrepresentations of compliance with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) rules, which require participation of businesses owned by women and minorities. Specifically, the United States alleged that TOWER, a certified DBE, caused the prime contractors on the projects to misrepresent that TOWER, as a DBE, was solely performing work on the two projects, when in fact the work was managed and supervised by codefendant Spectrum Painting Corp. (“Spectrum”), a non-DBE.
Under the settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, TOWER admits and accepts responsibility for conduct alleged in the Government’s amended complaint and agrees to pay $150,000 to the United States. The settlement amount is based on the Office’s assessment of TOWER’s ability to pay based on the financial information it provided. The Office previously reached settlements to resolve its fraud claims against the codefendants in the lawsuit, Spectrum and Ahern Painting Contractors Co. (“Ahern”), under which Spectrum and Ahern were required to pay a total of $3.4 million.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “With this settlement, my Office paints a clear picture that we will pursue any contractor that participates in an unlawful scheme to exploit the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. All contractors are on notice that we are committed to rooting out public works contracting fraud.”
As alleged in the amended complaint filed in Manhattan federal court in August 2019, TOWER performed steel painting work on two federally funded projects to renovate the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza. Contracts for both projects required Ahern to hire DBEs to perform a percentage of the work and to adhere to the DBE regulations. The DBE regulations require DBEs to manage and supervise their own work. Yet TOWER hired Spectrum, a non-DBE painting subcontractor, to manage and supervise the DBE work that was supposed to be performed solely by TOWER. Further, to conceal this scheme, TOWER passed off Spectrum employees as its own in project documents.
As part of the settlement, TOWER admits, acknowledges, and accepts responsibility for the following conduct alleged in the amended complaint:
- In early 2010, TOWER knew that Ahern entered into an agreement with Skanska Koch Inc. (“Skanska”) for industrial painting and rehabilitation work on the Brooklyn Bridge Project. TOWER understood that as a subcontractor on the Brooklyn Bridge Project, Ahern was obligated to meet or exceed Ahern’s DBE participation goal on the project. TOWER also knew that Ahern expected to use TOWER, a certified DBE, to fulfill a substantial part of Ahern’s DBE participation goal for the Brooklyn Bridge Project. In mid-2010, TOWER in fact entered into a subcontract with Ahern to perform painting and blasting work on the Brooklyn Bridge Project, which TOWER expected would be counted toward Ahern’s DBE participation goal for the project.
- In connection with the Brooklyn Bridge Project, TOWER signed and submitted to Ahern various documents stating that the DBE work subcontracted to TOWER would be performed by TOWER alone.
- In mid-2011, TOWER knew that Ahern entered into a contract with the MTA to provide overcoat painting on the elevated structure at the Queens Plaza subway station, and that Ahern was obligated to meet or exceed its DBE participation goal for the Queens Plaza Project. TOWER also knew that Ahern was going to use TOWER as the DBE contractor on the Queens Plaza Project to meet Ahern’s DBE participation goal. In 2011, TOWER entered into a subcontract with Ahern to perform painting and blasting work on the Queens Plaza Project, which TOWER expected would be counted toward Ahern’s DBE participation goal for that project.
- In May and June 2011, TOWER and Spectrum memorialized two “consulting agreements” for painting and blasting work on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects. The key terms of the consulting agreements between TOWER and Spectrum – including TOWER’s agreement to pay Spectrum 50% of all of its profits from the two projects, Spectrum’s agreement to provide project management support, and Spectrum’s agreement to furnish equipment to TOWER for the projects – were not formally disclosed in writing to Ahern, nor were they disclosed in any way to Skanska, NYC-DOT, or MTA.
- Consistent with the consulting agreements, TOWER requested that Spectrum provide project management support for the DBE work that TOWER was retained to perform on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects.
- In addition to the Spectrum employee who assisted TOWER in preparing the bid TOWER submitted to Ahern for its anticipated work as a DBE subcontractor on the Brooklyn Bridge project (the “Spectrum Manager), Spectrum had two other employees providing project management support to TOWER for the DBE work subcontracted to TOWER on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects: a superintendent (the “Spectrum Superintendent”) and a health and safety supervisor (the “Spectrum Safety Supervisor”).
- In documents that TOWER submitted to Ahern in 2010, TOWER identified the Spectrum Manager as a “Tower VP” or as a TOWER employee working on the Brooklyn Bridge Project. And in documents TOWER submitted to Ahern in 2011 in connection with the Queens Plaza Project, TOWER identified the Spectrum Manager as a “Director” of TOWER. In addition, the Spectrum Manager, the Spectrum Superintendent, and the Spectrum Safety Supervisor identified themselves to others working on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects as TOWER employees.
- In addition to informing Ahern that Spectrum would perform work on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza projects, TOWER should have disclosed Spectrum’s work to the NYC-DOT and MTA DBE officers designated on the projects, and it should have sought clarification from Ahern regarding whether Ahern disclosed Spectrum’s involvement in accordance with Ahern’s obligations.
- TOWER should have proactively disclosed to the relevant DBE officer the details of its financial arrangement with Spectrum relative to the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects, including that TOWER and Spectrum’s agreements relative to the projects included profit sharing and provisions for Spectrum to provide TOWER financing for TOWER’s performance of work on the projects.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the New York City Department of Investigation, and the Inspector General of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mónica P. Folch and David J. Kennedy are in charge of this case.
- In early 2010, TOWER knew that Ahern entered into an agreement with Skanska Koch Inc. (“Skanska”) for industrial painting and rehabilitation work on the Brooklyn Bridge Project. TOWER understood that as a subcontractor on the Brooklyn Bridge Project, Ahern was obligated to meet or exceed Ahern’s DBE participation goal on the project. TOWER also knew that Ahern expected to use TOWER, a certified DBE, to fulfill a substantial part of Ahern’s DBE participation goal for the Brooklyn Bridge Project. In mid-2010, TOWER in fact entered into a subcontract with Ahern to perform painting and blasting work on the Brooklyn Bridge Project, which TOWER expected would be counted toward Ahern’s DBE participation goal for the project.
Manchester Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Robin Stephan, 43, of Manchester, was sentenced on Monday to 18 months in federal prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 21, 2019, the Manchester Police Department responded to a call of a theft from a motor vehicle. After receiving a description of the suspect, police officers stopped and spoke with Stephan who denied involvement in the theft. As the officers spoke with Stephan, she rummaged through her backpack. The officers observed ammunition and a magazine within Stephan’s backpack. As a convicted felon, Stephan is prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law.
Stephan previously pleaded guilty on April 5, 2021.
“Protecting our communities from violent crime is a high priority,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “In order to keep the public safe, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute armed criminals, including those who unlawfully possess ammunition. As this case demonstrates, there are substantial penalties when convicted felons possess ammunition or firearms.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
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