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23 September 2021
Former SUNY Student Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Makahi Daevon Bryant, age 20, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to fraudulently obtaining over $13,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the State of California.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
As part of his guilty plea to one count of access device fraud, Bryant admitted that he obtained debit cards containing California unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other individuals. During September and October 2020, while he was a student at the State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi), Bryant effected unauthorized transactions using the debit cards to obtain cash, goods, and services.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2022, in Binghamton, before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. Bryant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by HSI and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the University Police Department at SUNY Delhi, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Chisholm.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Nassau County Fire Rescue Employee Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Images and Videos over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Robert Arthur Ginder (35, Callahan) to seven years and six months in federal prison for receipt of child sex abuse images. The Court also ordered Ginder to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
Ginder had pleaded guilty on April 22, 2021.
According to court documents, an investigation was initiated by law enforcement agents after they had gained access to an online cloud platform and a group chat in which users actively distributed images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The agents observed that, when any user joined the group chat, various members of the group would share numerous image and video files depicting child exploitation .
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified Ginder’s residence as the source of the internet protocol (IP) addresses used by this particular account on the cloud platform and, further, determined that Ginder worked for Nassau County Fire Rescue as a logistics officer.
On October 20, 2020, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at Ginder’s residence and authorities arrested Ginder later that day. Ginder admitted to receiving a link to the cloud platform and joining the group chat of the online cloud platform that contained child exploitation material. He also admitted to viewing and sharing child exploitation materials using the cloud platform. Ginder acknowledged that he had received an image depicting the sexual abuse of a child from this cloud platform over the internet.
A subsequent search and forensic review of Ginder’s electronic devices revealed that Ginder’s cellphone contained thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children.
“The sexual exploitation of children has no place in our communities,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “HSI special agents and our partners at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office will continue to pursue anyone involved in the production, distribution or possession of child pornography, or who target children in our communities in any way.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
This is another case 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Manager of Mascoutah Trucking Company Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Company Out of More Than $600,000Read the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – This morning, Timothy P. Mayer, 42, of Waterloo, Ill., was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for defrauding his former employer, Jung Truck Service (“Jung
Truck”) of Mascoutah, Ill., out of more than $600,000.
In addition to operating its own trucks and warehouse facilities, Jung Truck also provides maintenance services for other trucking companies. Mayer was the manager of Jung
Truck’s East St. Louis location.Mayer pled guilty to the fraud scheme in federal court in East St. Louis on May 4, 2021. When he pled guilty, Mayer admitted that beginning in July 2019, he started charging expensive tires to
Jung Truck’s accounts at a local tire supplier. Mayer then sold the tires on the side and pocketed the cash. The value of the tires that Mayer fraudulently charged to Jung Truck exceeded
$590,000. Mayer also stole tires and brakes from Jung Truck’s inventory and sold those items on the side. In total, Mayer caused Jung Truck to sustain a loss of more than $620,000. The scheme lasted until Mayer was caught in May 2020.In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Mayer to serve a period of 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The court further ordered Mayer to pay $624,807.63 in restitution to Jung Truck.
The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Scott A. Verseman.
Former Louisiana State Police Trooper Indicted on Civil Rights Charge for Assaulting ArresteeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - Jacob Brown, 31, a former trooper with the Louisiana State Police, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Shreveport, Louisiana, for using excessive force against an arrestee, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook of the Western District of Louisiana and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
The indictment charges Brown with a single count of deprivation of rights under color of law. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on May 30, 2019, Brown assaulted an arrestee, identified in the indictment only as A.B., by repeatedly striking him in the head and body with a dangerous weapon (a flashlight modified with a metal tactical cap designed for breaking glass). The indictment further alleges that the incident resulted in bodily injury to A.B.
If convicted of the deprivation of rights charge, Brown faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The United States Attorney’s Office has previously acknowledged that it has open and ongoing criminal investigations into incidents involving Louisiana State Police that resulted in death or bodily injury to arrestees. Those investigations remain ongoing.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Luke Walker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Katherine G. DeVar of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
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Former Fresno Resident Charged with Sending Interstate Threats with Intent to Extort Money from Former Employer and CoworkersRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — William Lee Robinson, 40, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was arrested today after a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging him with sending interstate threats with intent to extort, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to the indictment brought on Aug. 12, 2021, Robinson worked at a business in Fresno from June to November in 2017. After the business fired him, Robinson began sending threatening messages to his former supervisor and other coworkers in an attempt to extort them for money. These threats included graphic statements threatening to physically harm the supervisor’s daughter. Robinson made the threats because he wanted the company to pay him between $10,000 and $20,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincente A. Tennerelli is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Robinson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Analyst Charged with $8 Million Insider Trading Scheme for Front-Running Employer’s Pending TradesRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging SERGEI POLEVIKOV with securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment company fraud in connection with his fraudulent scheme to misappropriate confidential information about pending trades by his employer, an investment adviser, on behalf of its investment company clients. POLEVIKOV was arrested last night and will be presented this afternoon before Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Sergei Polevikov violated not just the terms of his employment but also the law when he exploited material, nonpublic information to make personal trades ahead of large institutional trades, reaping more than $8 million in illicit profits. Despite his alleged efforts to conceal it, Polevikov’s scheme was uncovered, and he is facing serious federal charges.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Using material, nonpublic information to exploit small price movements in his employer’s stock, Polevikov, as we allege, realized significant financial gains for himself through his trades. While these schemes are unfortunately all too common, so is the response of the FBI – if you misappropriate proprietary information for your own personal gain, you should expect to hear from us.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1]:
From at least in or about 2014 through in or about October 2019, SERGEI POLEVIKOV was employed as a quantitative analyst at an asset management firm with headquarters in New York, New York (the “Employer Firm”). In his role at the Employer Firm, POLEVIKOV had regular access to information regarding contemplated securities trades on behalf of the Employer Firm’s clients, which included investment companies. During the period charged in the Complaint, POLEVIKOV engaged in a front-running scheme to misappropriate confidential, material, nonpublic information about the securities trade orders of the Employer Firm on behalf of its clients in order to engage in short-term personal securities trading in a brokerage account opened in his wife’s name. POLEVIKOV’s scheme was designed to profit by executing trades that take advantage of relatively small price movements in a company’s stock that follow from large securities orders executed by the Employer Firm on behalf of its clients. In total, POLEVIKOV’s scheme yielded more than $8.5 million in illicit profits.
To conceal his front-running scheme, and notwithstanding policies of the Employer Firm to prevent insider trading, POLEVIKOV lied to the Employer Firm about his personal trading accounts and securities trades conducted therein in violation of the Investment Company Act.
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POLEVIKOV, 48, of Port Washington, New York, is charged with one count of securities fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of investment company fraud. POLEVIKOV faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the securities fraud and wire fraud charges, and five years in prison on the investment company fraud charge.
The maximum potential sentences in this case 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 investigative work of FBI. Ms. Strauss also thanked the Securities & Exchange Commission, which brought a related civil action against POLEVIKOV that was filed today.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiersten A. Fletcher is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Forged check, stolen identity scheme sends Billings man to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to being a member of group that passed forged checks at various businesses across Montana was sentenced today to 39 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Lawrence Howard Kahle, 54, pleaded guilty on June 11 to wire fraud and to aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. Judge Christensen also ordered Kahle to pay $1,548 restitution.
“This defendant committed serious crimes and victimized numerous people,” said Billings Police Chief Rich St. John. “Detectives from the BPD, working with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, worked very hard to help bring justice to the victims. Hopefully, this sentence will bring them closure and send a strong message to others considering the same behavior.”
The government alleged in court documents that in 2020, Kahle was a member of a group that passed forged and counterfeited checks at businesses across Montana. Members of the group would receive stolen checks, identification or paperwork with personal identifying information, usually through mail thefts, burglaries and car thefts. The stolen documents would be used to forge checks and produce fraudulent identifications. Members would then take the forged checks and pass them at businesses. Kahle confessed to passing some of the checks, including a fraudulent check at the Tap Inn in Billings on Oct. 19, 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Billings Police Department.
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Florida Businessman and CFO of Russian Natural Gas Company Arrested on Tax Charges Related to $93 Million Hidden in Offshore AccountsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Fort Myers, Florida, returned an indictment on Sept. 22 charging a Florida businessman with defrauding the United States by not disclosing his substantial offshore assets, failing to report substantial income on his tax returns, failing to pay millions of dollars of taxes and submitting a false offshore compliance filing with the IRS in an attempt to avoid substantial penalties and criminal prosecution.
According to the indictment, from 2005 to 2016, Mark Anthony Gyetvay allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States by concealing his ownership and control over substantial offshore assets and by failing to file and pay taxes on millions of dollars of income. After working as a certified public accountant (CPA) in the United States and Russia, Gyetvay allegedly became the chief financial officer of a large Russian gas company. As part of his compensation package, Gyetvay allegedly received lucrative stock options and/or stock-based compensation. Beginning in 2005, Gyetvay allegedly opened the first of two different Swiss bank accounts to hold these assets, which at one point had an aggregate value of over $93 million. Over a period of several years, Gyetvay allegedly took steps to conceal his ownership and control over the foreign accounts and associated assets, such as removing himself and making his then-wife, a Russian citizen, the beneficial owner of the accounts. Despite being a CPA, Gyetvay also allegedly did not timely file his U.S. tax returns, nor did he file all of the required Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs) forms certain U.S. taxpayers are required to file annually that disclose their control over assets maintained in foreign bank accounts. Further, some of the tax returns he did file are allegedly false. The indictment also alleges that Gyetvay submitted a false offshore compliance filing with the IRS through the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures in which he attested that his prior failure to file FBARs and tax returns was non-willful.
Gyetvay is scheduled for his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Frazier of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, five years in prison for each failure to file FBAR count, five years in prison for tax evasion, five years in prison for making a false statement, three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and one year in prison for each willful failure to file a tax return count. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti, who 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 made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stanley Okula and Trial Attorneys David Zisserson and Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Former Financial Representative of Wire and Tax Fraud for A Half-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has convicted Sampson Pearson, 44, of Charlotte, of wire and tax fraud for defrauding his clients of more than half a million dollars, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. presided over the three-day trial which ended late yesterday.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, and Mona Passmore, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, from 2004 to 2016, Pearson was a representative for a financial services firm identified in court documents as Company A. In that capacity, Pearson offered and sold life insurance products and annuities as an independent contractor for Company A in Charlotte. As trial evidence established, Pearson used his position to defraud at least 10 victims and Company A of more than $570,000 through a fraudulent loan and disbursement scheme. Pearson executed the scheme by submitting falsified loan applications and requests for disbursements in the victims’ names without their knowledge and approval. Company A authorized the loans and disbursements based on the fraudulent documents submitted by Pearson. Pearson also directed Company A to deposit the fraudulently-obtained funds into an account controlled by the defendant. Pearson used the funds to pay for personal expenses and to fund his lifestyle. Evidence at trial showed that more than half of all the money the defendant had deposited into his bank account between 2011 and 2016 was money he stole from his victims. Evidence also established that Pearson made Ponzi-type payments to some of his victims to further perpetuate his fraud.
The government’s evidence further established that Pearson committed tax fraud for tax years 2013 through 2016, by filing fraudulent tax returns with the IRS that did not reflect the additional personal income.
The jury convicted Pearson of tax fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for using clients’ personally identifiable information (PII) to commit the wire fraud.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. The statutory maximum penalty for filing a false tax return is three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other prison term imposed. A sentencing date for Pearson has not been set.
In making today’s announcement Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked USPIS and IRS-CI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Vento and Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Federal Judge Sends Oxford Man to Prison for 7 Years Following a ShootingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – An Oxford man was sentenced to 84 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. On June 8, 2021, S Daques Shorter pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on April 6, 2020, the Oxford Police Department responded to a report of gunshots at the Oxford Food Mart. Upon arrival, witnesses stated that several men, including Shorter, were engaged in an argument, and that Shorter later retrieved a firearm and shot at two men. Video surveillance captured the incident confirming the witnesses’ account. Spent shell casings were recovered on the scene and the firearm used by Shorter was recovered nearby. Shorter is a convicted felon, having prior convictions for Breaking and Entering, and Attempted Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon. He is also a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang.
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 Terrence W. Boyle. The Oxford Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson 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-224-BO.
Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- SeptemberRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September 2021 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence
Jared Nathan Black. Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Black, 45, of Jenks, is charged with pointing a firearm at the victim’s head and pulling the trigger after the victim intervened in a domestic assault. The gun malfunctioned and did not fire. In this superseding indictment, Black is further charged with discharging the firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Jenks Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Regal is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-9
Cody Buzzard; Dakota Buzzard. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Cody, 27, and Dakota, 20, both of Grove, are charged with the first degree murder of Jerry Tapp. The brothers and others allegedly aided and abetted one another when they shot and killed Mr. Tapp on Aug. 1, 2019. In count 2, the defendants, along with others, allegedly shot a second victim during the same incident. Finally, the defendants are charged with brandishing and discharging a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence. The FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-351
Ty Warren Copeland; Eric Richard Lee Ramey. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country (Count 1); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 2, 3, 4); Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding- Misdemeanor (Count 5) (superseding). Copeland, 29, and Ramey, 24, both of Tulsa, were armed when they broke an outer door to a Sapulpa home and entered on Jan. 4, 2021. Copeland is further alleged to have assaulted an individual (victim 1) in the home by swinging a knife at the victim and stabbing a second victim (victim 2) with the knife. Ramey is alleged to have struck victim 2 on the head and elsewhere using a baseball bat. Finally, Copeland allegedly shoved victim 1 to the ground and kicked the victim. The FBI and Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-89
Joshua Jose Dicristofaro. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On Aug. 31, 2021, Dicristofaro, 30, of Broken Arrow, allegedly swung a machete at the victim, striking the victim’s hands. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-416
Jeffrey Ryan Eaglin. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Eaglin, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of an Israel Military Industries Desert Eagle 9x19 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and with possession of the pistol to further his marijuana trafficking crime. According to court documents, Eaglin is a member of the Irish Mob, and he admitted the drugs were going to be smuggled into jail/prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-417
Jeff Joseph Emery. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Emery, 24, of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted two victims in a road rage incident when he pointed a firearm at them on Nov. 8, 2017. On March 10, 2020, Emery allegedly assaulted a third victim with intent to commit murder. The defendant threatened the victim then shot at him, striking his hand. Emery was also charged with being a felon in possession of a Norinco SKS 7.6 x 39 caliber rifle and ammunition. The FBI and Broken Arrow and Tulsa Police Departments are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-90
Addison Wade Ennis. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Ennis, 19, of Broken Arrow, allegedly sexually abused a minor between the ages of 12 and 16 on March 2, 2021. The FBI and Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Briden is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-418
Robert P. Garcia. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (superseding). Garcia, 39, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol. He is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine. In this superseding indictment, he is also charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more or of Fentanyl. He is further charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes and with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-358
Antonio Damon Gardner. Felony Murder in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country; Causing Death by Carrying, Using, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Causing Death by Carrying, Using, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Causing Death by Carrying, Using, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Gardner, 21, of Tulsa, allegedly engaged in a robbery with another individual on Oct. 12, 2020, and during the crime, shot and killed Philip Luster. Gardner and his accomplice committed the robbery and murder during a meeting to purchase marijuana from the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-328
Denim Lee Blount; Hunter Lee Hobbs. Conspiracy to Carry, Use, Brandish, and Discharge a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 1, 4); Attempted Carjacking (Count 2); Carrying, Using Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 3); Robbery in Indian Country (Count 5); Felony Murder in Indian Country (Count 6); Causing Death by Carrying, Using, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 7) (superseding) On May 8, 2021, at 10:29 pm, two men later identified as Hobbs, 20, of Bixby, and Blount, 19, of Tulsa, approached a man who was attempting to hook up his vehicle and trailer in an apartment complex parking. Based on surveillance footage, Blount pointed a shotgun at him, while Hobbs pointed a rifle at him. The two ordered the victim to get out of his vehicle, and when the victim refused, both men allegedly shot him multiple times. The two then fled, leaving the victim and his vehicle behind. The victim was transported to St. Francis Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. In this superseding indictment, Hobbs and Blount are also charged with conspiring to carry, use, and brandish firearms during a robbery in the early morning hours of May 13, 2021, at Haikey Creek Park in Broken Arrow. During the robbery, the two allegedly shot and killed Caleb Vaughn Collier and Kelly Ray Olen John Landsaw-Davis before fleeing the scene in Collier’s stolen vehicle. The FBI, Tulsa and Broken Arrow Police Departments, and U.S. Marshals Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Paisner and Christopher J. Nassar and are prosecuting the case. 21-CR-233
Alexander Michael Koloff. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor). On Nov. 6, 2020, Koloff, 29, assaulted a dating partner by wrapping his arm around her neck and strangling her. He is further charged with beating and wounding the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko A. Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-419
Kyle Jordan Sanders. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. On Aug. 31, 2021, Sanders, 34, of Colcord, allegedly broke an outer door of a home and entered with an occupant inside with intent to commit a crime. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-425
Dakota Wayne Martin. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country. Martin, 27, of Claremore, is charged with the aggravated sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 years of age. The FBI and Claremore Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra M. Urban is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-408
Jaden Perez. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Perez, 21, of Tulsa, is alleged to have shot a nightclub security guard after an altercation between Perez and security guards at closing time on Aug. 21, 2021. During the shooting, a bullet apparently grazed the security guard who suffered bruising and redness to the left side of his chest. The security guard returned fire and wounded Perez who was taken to a local hospital for treatment. See more details here. The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-420
John Lewis Powell, Jr.; Ernest Charles Baker III. Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country. Powell Jr., 41, of Ralston, is charged with assaulting a victim, with intent to commit murder, when he repeatedly struck the victim in the head, neck and back with a hatchet. Baker III, 63, of Ralston, is charged with assaulting the same victim, with intent to commit murder, when he joined in on the assault and shouted “Go down mother****er” and “Why don’t you die, motherf***er.” The crime occurred on Sept. 8, 2018. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Harder is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-427
Roy Dale Sewell. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 1, 2). Sewell is charged with assaulting two victims by striking the victims with a metal baton. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-421
Chad Eric Smith. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. On Nov. 10, 2016, Smith, 39, currently incarcerated, allegedly broke into a home and attempted to rape a victim, placing the victim in fear of death and serious injury. He further struck the victim on her face and body, resulting in a broken nose. The FBI, Catoosa Police Department and Rogers County District Attorney’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra M. Urban is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-409
Michael David Bradley Vanderburg; Emily Krick. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country; Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16 in Indian Country; Sexual Exploitation of a Child by a Parent or Guardian; Distribution of Child Pornography; Receipt of Child Pornography. In Count 1, Vanderburg, 33, and Krick, 19, both of Tulsa, are charged with sexually abusing a child younger than 12 years of age from May 1, 2021, to Aug. 20, 2021. They are charged with engaging in sexual contact with the victim during the same timeframe. The defendants are further charged in Count 3 with exposing the minor victim and a second minor victim to look upon a sexual act performed in the minors’ presence, from May 1, 2021, to Aug. 20, 2021. In Count 4, Vanderburg is also charged with having a child engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual images from March 31, 2021, to Aug. 20, 2021. Finally, Vandenburg is charged in Count 5 with distribution of child pornography and in Count 6 with receipt of child pornography. The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Christopher J. Nassar are prosecuting the case. 21-CR-410
William Rhea Wadlow Jr. Robbery in Indian country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Wadlow Jr., 22, of Locust Grove, allegedly shot toward and robbed a victim on April 14, 2021. The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Kelly is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-422
District Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Federal Prison for Series of Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Micheal Antonio Smith, 33, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment for robbing three Wells Fargo Bank branches within the District of Columbia.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division Wayne A. Jacobs, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Smith pled guilty in June 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to two counts of bank robbery. A third count charging attempted bank robbery was dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement. He was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2021, by the Honorable Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
Smith robbed all three banks within a span of approximately two hours on Sept. 29, 2020. The first robbery took place at approximately 12:18 p.m. at a branch in the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The others took place at branches in the 600 block of H Street NE and the 1900 block of 14th Street NW. According to the government’s evidence, Smith entered all three branches wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with a prominent BMW logo and a balaclava style face and head covering. In each bank, Smith presented a note to the demanding large bills and no dye pack. During one of the robberies, Smith reached inside his sweatshirt in a way that suggested his possession of a handgun or other weapon.
Smith took the demand note with him after each robbery and robbed the three banks of $1,510 before fleeing the District of Columbia in a rented Tesla Model S. The FBI was able to locate and track that vehicle to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Smith was located and arrested on Oct. 6, 2020. During a search of the Tesla, FBI agents discovered and seized a grey hooded sweatshirt with a BMW logo and a demand note. Smith has been in custody since his arrest.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force, which is composed of FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers from MPD and other law enforcement agencies. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing cases to prosecution against violent offenders within the District of Columbia.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs and Chief Contee commended the work of the MPD officers and FBI agents who investigated the case. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Rommel Pachoca. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Danville Man Who Shot at House Convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Alvin Beasley, 36, of Danville, Ill., on September 22, 2021, for possession of a firearm by a felon. Sentencing for Beasley has been scheduled for January 24, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Urbana.
Over two days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that Beasley had possessed a firearm on May 23, 2019. Danville police had responded to a shots fired call that day in the area of the 1000 block of May Street in Danville. A residence had been shot at several times, and a witness saw a car with a distinctive hood flee the scene. Responding officers stopped the car after seeing a gun thrown out of its window. Alvin Beasley and a passenger were located inside. Over the course of the trial, the United States proved to the jury that Beasley had a romantic connection with the occupant of the residence in question.
Beasley testified in his own defense. He admitted on the stand that he shot up the residence that day but maintained that he was not guilty of the offense charged. Instead, he attempted to convince the jury that he had used a different firearm than the one police recovered to do the shooting that day.
Beasley remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. At sentencing, Beasley faces statutory penalties of fifteen years to life imprisonment due to prior convictions.
“This trial shows that the United States Attorney’s Office, working closely with our state and local partners, will continue to prosecute those who endanger our community by illegally possessing and using firearms,” said Acting United States Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. “A small part of the population is causing the violence problem and targeted prosecutions are an important part of the solution.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Danville Police Department, the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office, the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Freres and William Lynch represented the government at trial, with assistance from the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Dallas Man Sentenced for Distributing Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals that Led to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Gary Collin Bussell, 52, pleaded guilty on Jan. 26, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.
“The Eastern District of Texas remains committed to pursuing the fight against illegal narcotics on all fronts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “This case is a sad reminder that recreational use of prescription drugs—counterfeit or not—can present tremendous risks to the user, including overdose and death. EDTX continues to partner with the DEA in the battle against the trafficking of counterfeit and illegally-obtained pharmaceuticals.”
According to information presented in court, on Dec. 28, 2018, a 29-year-old Fairview resident died as the result of a fentanyl and alprazolam drug overdose. During the investigation of the death, federal drug enforcement agents learned Bussell was involved in the large-scale purchase and distribution of various pharmaceutical medications. Bussell personally distributed drugs, and had others distribute drugs on his behalf. Among his transactions, Bussell distributed the fentanyl and alprazolam that caused the victim’s overdose death.
Another defendant, William Grant Allbrook, 34, of the Colony, was a counterfeit pharmaceutical drug distributor in the Dallas area. Allbrook acquired counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs from another defendant, Peter Yin, 38, of Garland, and distributed those drugs to Bussell and others on behalf of Bussell’s organization.
Earlier this week, Allbrook and Yin were each sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dallas Police Department, the Fairview Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service-CI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Combs.
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Cyprus-Based Shipping Company Fined $2 million for Concealing Unlawful Discharges of Oily Water into Atlantic OceanRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Cyprus-based company was sentenced to pay a fine of $2 million today after pleading guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
“We are firmly committed to enforcing federal environmental laws and will not tolerate conduct that pollutes our water, imperils natural ecosystems, and endangers our wildlife,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “As this case demonstrates, those who contaminate our most precious natural resources by illegally dumping hazardous waste into the ocean will be held accountable, especially when they falsify their records to avoid detection.”
Diana Wilhelmsen Management Limited (DWM) operates several commercial vessels. According to court documents, from mid-April 2020 until before the vessel arrived in Newport News on June 10, 2020, DWM crew members onboard the M/V Protefs, a 40,230 gross-ton, 738-foot ocean-going commercial bulk carrier, knowingly failed to record in the vessel’s oil record book the overboard discharge of oily bilge water. The vessel also arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 1, 2020 with a knowingly false oil record book.
“The United States will vigorously enforce laws that protect our ocean resources,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Holding shipping companies to account when wastes are unlawfully discharged overboard, and covered up through falsified documents, is vital to protecting our environment.”
The crew on the vessel used an emergency de-watering system to illegally discharge oily water directly into the Atlantic Ocean from the vessel’s bilge holding tank, duct keel, and bilge wells. Those discharges were not recorded in the oil record book as required. The chief engineer, Vener Dailisan, 47, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2020 to making a false statement to U.S. Coast Guard inspectors about the existence of a sounding log, which is routinely sought by inspectors in order to ascertain the accuracy of the oil record book.
“The commercial shipping industry is essential to commerce in this region, but their work must ensure they do not neglect their professional and legal obligations,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Today’s announcement emphasizes that our office along with our federal partners are committed to holding accountable all parties whose criminality jeopardizes our environment and places the public and the ecosystem at risk.”
DWM received a term of four years of probation, a fine of $2 million, and supervision under an environmental compliance plan.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division; Duane A. Evans, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana; and William P. Hicks II, Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Kosky of the Eastern District of Virginia, Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth Nelson of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service Chesapeake Region and Coast Guard Sector Virginia provided valuable assistance in this matter.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-6.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Shawn Le, 28, sold fentanyl, a .22 caliber revolver and 214 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition to a confidential informant working with law enforcement on February 19, 2021.
Le pleaded guilty to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life imprisonment when sentenced on January 20, 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Loew is handling the prosecution.
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. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00156.
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Cecil County Cocaine Supplier Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Mark Williams, a/k/a Swanny, age 52, of Elkton, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police; and Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams.
According to his guilty plea, the Maryland State Police, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security identified Williams, Troy Neal, and Kevin Johnson as suppliers of cocaine after an extended investigation dating back to 2019. The conspiracy members distributed crack cocaine to multiple customers in Elkton, Maryland.
During the investigation, the Cecil County Circuit Court issued an order to authorize the interception of wire and electronic communications of Williams and his co-conspirators. Intercepted text and telephone communications revealed Williams as a member of the drug distribution conspiracy.
Law enforcement intercepted at least eight instances in which Williams, or his co-conspirators, conversed in coded conversations about drug activity. For example, on May 27, 2020, after a series of calls between Neal and a customer, police observed Williams and Neal visit a customer’s residence. Shortly after their arrival, two male customers entered the residence. After one of the two male customers left the residence, police conducted a traffic stop and seized 3.6 grams of crack cocaine.
As stated in his plea agreement, after a series of coded calls between Williams and the conspiracy members, law enforcement covertly surveilled Neal, Johnson, and Williams depart Neal’s residence and travel to the Bronx in New York. The next day, on June 14, 2020, law enforcement observed the three men travel back to a Maryland residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at a co-conspirator’s residence and recovered 497 grams of compressed suspected cocaine, several bags of suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and several cell phones.
Police arrested Williams, Neal and Johnson. Each were charged in Cecil County with various drug-related crimes.
Other evidence corroborates Williams’s involvement in drug trafficking including a lack of legitimate employment to support his life expenses. According to the IRS, Williams had reportable wages of approximately $6,000 in 2019 and less than $5,000 in 2020. Additionally, two witnesses would advise that they regularly purchased crack cocaine from Williams and Neal from February 2020 to May 2020.
Co-defendant Kevin Johnson was sentenced to eight years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine on August 23, 2021. Co-defendant Troy Neal pleaded guilty to the same charges on July 16, 2021. Neal’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 26, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Kim Y. Oldham, who are prosecuting the case.
Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network funding provided through Governor Larry Hogan's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, played a key role in this operation.
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Business Executive Pleads Guilty in Conduit Campaign Contribution CaseRead the Press Release
A California business executive pleaded guilty today in the District of Columbia for conspiring to make and conceal conduit and excessive campaign contributions during the U.S. presidential election in 2016 and thereafter.
According to the indictment and other court documents, Stevan Hill, 70, of Santa Monica, conspired with Ahmad “Andy” Khawaja, and others, between March 2016 and June 2018, to make unlawful contributions to several political committees, thereby circumventing contribution limits and causing the political committees to unwittingly submit false reports to the Federal Election Commission. Specifically, according to admissions made in connection with Hill’s plea, in August 2016, Khawaja gave Hill $100,000 to contribute in Hill’s name to a political committee supporting a candidate running for U.S. president in the 2016 election cycle. The purpose of making the contribution in Hill’s name was to allow Khawaja to exceed contribution limits set by federal law. The contribution was made in connection with a political event hosted by Khawaja in October 2016.
In addition, Hill admitted that, in June 2017, Khawaja gave him approximately $50,000 to contribute in Hill’s name to another political committee. Again, the purpose of making the contribution in Hill’s name was to allow Khawaja to exceed contribution limits set by federal law.
Hill also admitted that, in January 2018, Khawaja gave him approximately $50,000 to contribute in Hill’s name to another political committee. Again, the purpose of making the contribution in Hill’s name was to allow Khawaja to exceed contribution limits set by federal law. The contribution was made in connection with a political event hosted by Khawaja in March 2018.
Hill pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make conduit contributions, make excessive contributions, cause false statements to be made, and cause false entries in records. He is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against Khawaja, who is a fugitive, and others in the indictment.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Anutono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado and Trial Attorney Michelle K. Parikh of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) are prosecuting the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney James C. Mann and PIN Trial Attorney Michael J. Romano also provided significant assistance in the investigation.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Box Elder man admits distributing fentanyl on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man admitted today to dealing fentanyl pills on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Timothy Michael Koop, 61, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. Koop faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Jan. 20,2022. Koop was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that the FBI learned from interviews that Koop was a local distributor of fentanyl and other illegal pills on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and worked with out-of-state suppliers. In May and June, law enforcement used confidential sources to make controlled purchases of fentanyl from Koop or arranged to obtain the pills through Koop. Co-defendant Kelli Lamere has pleaded not guilty to charges. Officers obtained a search warrant for the Koop and Lamere residence based on information that an out-of-state supplier was present. When the warrant was executed, officer found Lamere and an individual from Michigan. Koop was located elsewhere and brought back to the residence. Koop told law enforcement that the Michigan individual was distributing fentanyl and claimed the person was paying him and Lamere in pills to stay at the residence. Officers found an Aleve brand pill bottle in the residence. An analysis determined the bottle contained 179 tablets, imprinted with “Aleve,” one of which was tested and determine to contain no controlled substance. The bottle also contained 258 greenish-yellow tablets imprinted with an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other. One of those tablets was tested and determined to contain fentanyl and two other substances.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Tri Agency Task Force, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Boston Man Sentenced for Transporting Women to Texas to Work in Sex TradeRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Boston, Massachusetts man has been sentenced to federal prison for human trafficking related violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Daniel Bennett, 38, pleaded guilty on January 28, 2021 to the transportation of an individual in interstate commerce, knowing they would engage in illegal sex. Bennett was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.
“We know human trafficking is basically modern-day slavery and the victims often feel they have no way out,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Thanks to the great work of law enforcement, Bennett’s victims can now hopefully build a better, safer life. As we have stated before, there is no safe harbor in the Eastern District for human traffickers.”
According to information presented in court, on October 27, 2019, Bennett drove two women from Boston, Massachusetts to Texas for the purpose of having the women engage in commercial sex. The three stayed at hotels in the Eastern District of Texas and the women engaged in illegal sex work around the north Texas metroplex area. Bennett came to the attention of law enforcement on November 2, 2019, when one of the women approached an officer with the Dallas Police Department seeking assistance. Bennett admitted to knowing prostitution and commercial sex are illegal in the State of Texas. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Bennett with federal violations on November 13, 2019.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Dallas Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
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Binghamton Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Register his Change of AddressRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Timmy Rifenburg, age 45, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced today to serve a total of 40 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for violating the terms of his supervised release and failing to register as a sex offender after he moved from Binghamton to Johnson City, New York, without updating his sex offender registration.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and United States Marshal David L. McNulty.
On May 19, 2021, Rifenburg pled guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender. As part of his guilty plea, Rifenburg admitted that due to his 2008 federal conviction for possession of child pornography, he was required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) and keep that registration current. Rifenburg admitted that after he moved, he failed to register his change of address with New York State within 3 business days after his move.
Rifenburg also admitted to three violations of his supervised release conditions. Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy sentenced Rifenburg to 24 months in prison for those violations, to run consecutive to a 16-month sentence for the SORNA offense.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.
Berkeley County man admits to role in firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Detrick Lee Foston, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Foston, 25, pleaded guilty today to one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearms.” Foston admitted to making false statements o a firearms dealer to purchase a .40 caliber pistol and a 9mm pistol in March 2020 in Berkeley County.
Foston faces up to 10 years of incarceration and 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 Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Beaver Falls Man Indicted on Cocaine Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The two-count Indictment, returned on July 14 and unsealed today, named Jamar Kenya Turner, age 46, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about October 9, 2020, Turner possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine. The Indictment further alleges that, on or about January 4, 2021, Turner unlawfully possessed with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration 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.
Altoona, PA Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Pictures and Videos Depicting Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A former resident of Altoona, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Matthew Michael Walter., 34, formerly of Altoona, PA, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on or August 21, 2019 and August 22, 2019, Walter received images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Further, on another occasion,
Walter knowingly possessed pictures and videos in individual computer graphic files which were produced using prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. All computer graphic files were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2022. The law provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, 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 Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Walter.
22 September 2021
Wilmington Man Who Fled Traffic Stop with Stolen Firearm Sentenced to Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Isaiah Council, a 27-year-old Wilmington resident, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison for illegally possessing a stolen 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents and statements in open court, Council was on probation for both a 2017 armed robbery conviction in Wilmington and a 2012 shooting conviction in New York City. Because Council had been convicted of multiple gun-related offenses, he was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On July 28, 2020, Wilmington Police Department officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Council was seated as a passenger. As the vehicle started to pull over, Council fled the car, tripping in the process. When Council tripped, he dropped a black satchel that contained his debit card, 1.4 grams of cocaine, and a tan 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun. Further investigation revealed that the handgun had been stolen from a burglary of a gun shop in Newark.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented on the sentence, “Amidst a scourge of gun violence in Delaware, this defendant decided to arm himself with a stolen handgun. Worse, he had only been released from prison three months earlier following a 2017 conviction for armed robbery. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who break the law by trafficking in illegal guns.”
“Any stolen firearm is a threat to communities, but couple that with being in the possession of convicted felons who intend to commit crime and the danger increases,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones. “We are proud of the strong partnerships we have with the Wilmington Police Department and our shared commitment to stopping gun violence in Wilmington. ATF is committed to relentlessly investigating these cases alongside our partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 20-cr-83-CFC.
Waterloo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Buying Gun for BoyfriendRead the Press Release
A Waterloo woman who purchased a gun for her boyfriend and attempted to purchase at least one other gun for him and a friend was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison.
Ashley Nichole Lies, age 26, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison sentence after an April 12, 2021 guilty plea to making a false statement during purchase of a firearm.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at her plea hearing showed that, in July 2020, Lies purchased a 9mm pistol from a business in Cedar Falls, Iowa. During the purchase, Lies represented to the business that she was purchasing the gun for herself. Lies was actually buying the gun for her boyfriend at the time, who was prohibited from possessing guns because he had a prior conviction for domestic abuse. The gun was seized from Lies’ boyfriend a few weeks after she purchased it. Investigators also determined that Lies attempted to purchase at least one other guns for Lies’ boyfriend and another friend but was denied.
Lies was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lies was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Lies will have to pay $100 to the special assessment fund.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Cedar Falls Police Department, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-02061.
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Washington Man Sentenced to 97 Months’ Imprisonment for His Role in Health Care Fraud Scheme Against TricareRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Washington man was sentenced yesterday to over eight years in federal prison for defrauding Tricare of approximately $19.4 million through a South Florida compounding pharmacy fraud scheme. Tricare is the health care benefit program for the United States Department of Defense.
Jonah Miller, 48, of Shoreline, Washington, pleaded guilty on July 15, to one count of conspiring to commit health care fraud. Miller recruited Tricare beneficiaries to order expensive, medically unnecessary compound drugs from a Broward pharmacy. In furtherance of the scheme, Miller paid doctors to approve pre-printed prescriptions for excessive amounts of the expensive drugs without regard to the beneficiaries’ actual medical needs. Investigation revealed that the drugs were formulated to maximize profit without legitimate therapeutic value. Miller’s fraudulent referrals caused an actual loss to the Tricare program of approximately $19.4 million. In exchange for the referrals, Miller personally received over $4.9 million from the pharmacy. In addition to the prison sentence, the Court imposed restitution in the amount of approximately $19.4 million and a forfeiture judgment of approximately $4.9 million.
Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, Southeast Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI Miami made the announcement.
The DCIS and FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling the asset forfeiture component of the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Two Tampa Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Related to COVID Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Kary Stevenson (47) and Corey Quinn (35), both of Tampa, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and a consecutive two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity count.
According to the plea agreements, from approximately May 2020 and continuing until August 12, 2020, Stevenson and Quinn obtained the personal identifying information of others and used that information to submit, or caused to be submitted, false and fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to various state workforce agencies to obtain UI benefits. These UI benefits were then transferred to bank accounts or loaded onto debits cards issued in the names of other persons. Stevenson and Quinn then used, and attempted to use, the fraudulently obtained debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs and to purchase items from retail establishments. The U.S. Department of Labor calculated the total intended loss from Stevenson and Quinn’s fraudulent UI claims was approximately $1,010,353.
In March 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who were not ordinarily eligible for benefits.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Pizzo and John Cannizzaro.
Two Men Indicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on September 21, 2021, Walter Pruitt, age 34, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Michael Cox, age 38, of Brooklyn, New York were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on August 5, 2021, in Lackawanna County, Pruitt and Cox conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Scranton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce crime.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Two Individuals Charged in Hawaii Tax ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, returned a 15-count indictment charging two individuals with conspiring to defraud the United States, filing false tax returns and money laundering.
According to the indictment, from 2015 to 2019, Hannah Heart, Sook Young Jung and another individual allegedly conspired to defraud the United States by seeking fraudulent refunds from the IRS based on false claims that they had paid sizeable tax withholdings. The conspirators allegedly filed a false 2014 amended individual income tax return that claimed a refund of $464,904 and a false 2015 individual income tax return that claimed a refund of $1,134,902. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators took steps to prevent the IRS from recovering the fraudulently obtained refunds, and that Heart and Jung laundered the fraudulently obtained refunds through a series of financial transactions.
Jung was arrested on Sept. 4 and made her initial court appearance on Sept. 7 before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kate Vaughan of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Jung’s matter was ordered transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Heart was arrested on Sept. 18 and made her initial court appearance on Sept. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom Trader of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
If convicted, Heart and Jung each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. Heart and Jung each face a maximum sentence of three years for filing a false tax return and a maximum sentence of five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. 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 Judith A. Philips for the District of Hawaii made the announcement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Valerie G. Preiss of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii 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.
Two Federal Inmates Charged with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance FraudRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christina Covey, age 34, formerly of Drums, Pennsylvania, and Fredy Mendoza, age 33, formerly of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, were charged yesterday by a federal grand jury with fraudulently obtaining pandemic unemployment benefits between July and October 2020.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was created by the March 2020 CARES Act, as part of the United States government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public’s health and economic well-being. The PUA program was designed to provide unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Covey and Mendoza conspired to file false PUA applications on behalf of Mendoza and another inmate, seeking unemployment benefits for both of them by claiming that they were laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic and available to work, despite their incarceration on underlying federal drug trafficking charges. The conspirators subsequently filed false weekly certifications required to continue receiving PUA benefits, ultimately securing tens of thousands of dollars, which were mailed in debit cards to Covey, prior to her own incarceration in the underlying federal drug trafficking case. Covey also is charged with lying to federal agents about filing PUA applications for Mendoza and another inmate.
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance programs,” stated Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations.”
The case was investigated by the Postal Inspection Service and by the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Criminal Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious offenses is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Two Dominican Nationals Plead Guilty to Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Dominican nationals previously residing in Lawrence pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to distribute hundreds of grams of fentanyl in Lawrence.
Jose Manuel Carmona-Mercedes, 32, and Gabriel Carmona-Pimentel, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2022. The brothers were indicted in December 2020.
In late 2019, law enforcement identified Carmona-Mercedes and Carmona-Pimentel as large-scale fentanyl dealers operating in Lawrence. On four occasions in January and February 2020, an undercover officer ordered fentanyl from Carmona-Mercedes. After the undercover officer ordered a quantity of fentanyl and negotiated the price, Carmona-Pimentel or Carmona-Mercedes, or both, would deliver the fentanyl to the undercover officer from a base of operations on Lexington Street in Lawrence. On Feb. 25, 2020, after Carmona-Pimentel delivered 220 grams of fentanyl to the undercover officer, Carmona-Mercedes and Carmona-Pimentel were arrested. A search of the Lexington Street location resulted in the seizure of 850 grams of fentanyl, 300 grams of cutting agents, documents in Carmona-Mercedes and Carmona-Pimentel’s names, plastic baggies commonly used to package drugs for street-level sales, blenders, suspected cut and digital scales.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque; and Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Two Brockton Men Plead Guilty to Wide-Ranging Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Brockton men pleaded guilty to their roles in a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Cape Cod.
Cody Goncalves, 28, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana; being a felon in possession of ammunition; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 2, 2022.
Jermaine Gonsalves, 34, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana. Judge Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 3, 2022.
According to court documents, in the fall of 2018, law enforcement began investigating a violent Brockton drug crew headed by Djuna Goncalves, Cody Goncalves’s brother. The investigation revealed that the Goncalves brothers worked with others, including Jermaine Gonsalves, to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations on Addison Avenue in Brockton. The investigation also targeted several Boston-based drug suppliers to the Goncalves brothers. Agents seized large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cash and a loaded firearm from Cody Goncalves, who had previously been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and who had distributed drugs while on pre-trial release from a state drug charge. In addition, a loaded firearm and drugs were seized from a residence tied to Jermaine Gonsalves, who had previously been convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
In December 2018, Cody Goncalves and Jermaine Gonsalves were indicted along with 15 others as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy. Of the 17 defendants charged in the indictment, nine have been sentenced. Cody Goncalves and Jermaine Gonsalves are the 12th and 13th defendants to plead guilty in the case, respectively.
The charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a mandatory sentence of five years to be served consecutively to the sentence for the drug trafficking offense and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea E. Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering 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 detailed 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.
Tulsa “Peeping Tom” Pleads Guilty to Numerous Sex Crimes, Including Those Targeting Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man who broke into three homes, attempted to sexually assault two victims, and later solicited a 16-year old for child pornography, pleaded guilty today in federal court.
”Jesse Moore roamed Tulsa’s neighborhoods and terrorized his victims. He peered inside windows, broke into homes, and targeted at least two victims for sexual assault. Then while awaiting trial, he coerced a minor into sending him sexually explicit photographs and videos,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This dangerous criminal no longer poses a threat to our community thanks to dedicated work of Tulsa Police Detectives and federal prosecutor Joel-lyn McCormick.”
“The acts this person committed against the citizens of Tulsa are horrific and incomprehensible. Had intervention not occurred, this criminal behavior would have only worsened. I am very proud of the work done by Tulsa Police Officers involved with bringing this predator to justice, and thankful for the efforts of the United States Attorney's Office for prosecuting Moore,” said Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin. “While this arrest will not eliminate the trauma these families endured, I hope that putting this man behind bars provides them with a bit of closure.”
In a blind plea, Jesse Thomas Moore, 19, admitted to the following charges: lewd acts with a child under 16 in Indian Country; three counts of burglary in the first degree in Indian Country; attempted sexual abuse by threat in Indian Country; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Attempted Production of Child Pornography; and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2021.
On May 5, 2020, Moore broke into a home on South Florence Avenue where a child was sleeping. Once inside, Moore entered the victim’s room and started to masturbate. He then tried to get the minor to go to the bathroom with him. When the victim resisted, he slung ejaculate toward the victim then left the residence.
On Nov. 8, 2020, he broke into a home on South Urbana Place with intent to commit a lewd act with a child. Shortly after 7:30 p.m., he entered the backyard of the residence and entered the home through the back door. When the child saw Moore, he screamed. Moore then fled the home. The mother of the child told investigators Moore had been in her back yard and looked into her windows at other times starting in October 2020.
On Dec. 13, 2020, Moore also broke into a home on South Evanston Avenue. Once inside, he discovered the victim and a male sleeping in a bedroom. He began touching the victim, causing her to awaken. He then threatened the victim by stating, “Get the f*** up and don’t say anything or I’ll f***ing kill you.” Moore forced the woman to the living room where he attempted to rape her. As Moore covered her mouth, the victim bit his right hand, causing him to let go and flee the scene.
Video obtained by officers showed Moore stepping onto the front porch, unscrewing the porch light then entering the South Evanston residence at 6:36 a.m. Then video showed Moore exiting the residence at 7:18 a.m., after the attempted rape. The crime occurred after multiple Peeping Tom incidents earlier in the week at the same residence by Moore.
The defendant was eventually arrested and charged for the crimes.
While in custody awaiting trial for charges related to the “Peeping Tom” incidents, Moore began accessing the program JailATM by means of a stationary kiosk or portable smart pad in order to video chat or message with a 16-year-old female whom he referred to as his girlfriend.
During conversations that occurred from Aug. 1, 2021, to Aug. 19, 2021, Moore repeatedly pressured the minor for sexually explicit video and images of herself and to engage in sexually explicit behavior while the two video chatted. The minor attempted to send some pre-recorded videos. Moore received at least one video while others were auto rejected by the system. Moore repeatedly told the minor to figure out how to send the videos differently, like she did before, so they would not be rejected. During one video chat, Moore was able to convince the minor to engage in sexually explicit behavior.
Moore is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
The Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Three Men Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that three men have been charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, on September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Scranton indicted Erwin Montes Deoca, age 27, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on charges alleging that he distributed cocaine and fentanyl in March and April 2021. Additionally, federal criminal complaints were filed today alleging that Alan Kevin Robles Montes Deoca, age 27, and Jonathan Fontanez, age 36, both of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Law enforcement officers arrested the three individuals today and they appeared before United States Magistrate Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for their initial hearings on the charges.
The arrests, in part, are the result of federal search warrants executed this morning at residences in Wilkes-Barre which resulted the following seizures:
- 39 Regent Street, Wilkes-Barre – approximately five kilograms of cocaine; over 3,000 pills of fentanyl; two handguns; tens of thousands of dollars;
- 10 Minden Place, Wilkes-Barre – approximately 100 grams of cocaine; tens of thousands of dollars; approximately 1,000 pills of fentanyl;
- 125 Waller Street, Wilkes-Barre – approximately five kilograms of cocaine; tens of thousands of dollars; thousands of fentanyl pills.
Law enforcement agents arrested (1) Alan Kevin Robles Montes Deoca at 125 Waller Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; (2) Jonathan Orlando Fontanez at 10 Minden Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; and (3) Erwin Montes Deoca at 39 Regent Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in connection with the service of the federal search warrants.
"The allegations against these defendants, and the substantial amount of illegal drugs, cash, and guns that were recovered from the search warrants this morning, are indicative of the threat that drug-traffickers pose to our communities," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Hodnett of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. "I want to thank our partners at the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for our collaboration on this case. Working partnerships like these are what lead to successful investigations."
“The investigation is the result of the cooperative effort of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working within the Wilkes-Barre City and Luzerne County targeting drug trafficking and violent crime,” stated Chief Joseph Coffay, Wilkes-Barre City Police Department. “I personally appreciate the cooperation and effort from all of the investigators involved.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce crime.
Indictments and Criminal Complaints are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses against Erwin Montes Deoca and Jonathan Fontanez is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses against Alan Kevin Robles Montes Deoca is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Takedown Dismantles Drug Trafficking Organization Based in ParkersburgRead the Press Release
Four Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaints; Eleven Arrested on State Criminal Complaints
Six Federal Search Warrants Executed
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced today the arrests of four individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in Parkersburg and elsewhere. The takedown is the result of a nearly year-long investigation, dubbed “Long Time Coming,” led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force (PNTF).
Four individuals were arrested on federal criminal complaints, 11 individuals were arrested on state criminal complaints, and six federal search warrants were executed in Parkersburg during today’s takedown.
Charged in three separate federal criminal complaints with conspiracy to distribute quantities of methamphetamine are: Carlo Ramsey, 56; Robert Sanders, Jr., 29; and Ambera Roberts, 34, all of Parkersburg. Charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine and fentanyl is Floyd D. Ramsey, 41, of Chicago, Illinois. The defendants have been detained pending their upcoming detention hearings in federal court.
“Drug trafficking organizations put our communities in harm’s way,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners whose efforts put long-standing drug dealers in Parkersburg out of business. The arrest of these individuals demonstrates our commitment to keeping highly addictive and dangerous drugs from destroying lives.”
“The individuals arrested today have been slinging poison in this community for too long,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodowich, from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. The dedicated men and women of DEA, working alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts, remain committed to pursuing those who threaten the health and safety of our communities with violence and dangerous drugs, and bringing them to justice.”
“It is our hope that today's arrests will significantly impact the distribution of illegal drugs in the Wood County area,” said Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Lefebure. “This investigation and the subsequent arrests resulted from a collaborative effort between federal and State law enforcement agencies. The Wood County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia remain committed to prosecuting those individuals who bring and sell illegal drugs into our communities."
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the PNTF, the Parkersburg Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Vienna Police Department, the Williamstown Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Boyd County (KY) Sheriff’s Department, the Russell (KY) Police Department and the Raceland (KY) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Please note: A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-mj-00175, 2:21-mj-00177, 2:21-mj-00178, and 2:21-mj-00179.
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South Florida Phony IRS Tax Debt Negotiator Headed to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Vero Beach woman who stole money from clients she was supposed to be helping resolve federal tax debt was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Miami to 63 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $867,593.11 in restitution to her victims.
Between 2013 and 2020, Jocelyn Antonia Lynch, 40, held herself out as a person who could help clients settle outstanding tax debt owed to the Internal Revenue Service. After claiming she negotiated agreements with the IRS, she instructed client taxpayers to deposit payments into her personal bank account based on the false representation that she would forward the money to the IRS. Bank records showed that numerous deposits from the client taxpayers were used to pay her personal expenses, not the client taxpayers’ tax liabilities. To hide her fraudulent behavior, she lied to clients about having made payments and provided multiple clients with fraudulent payment receipts. A total of 16 victims were defrauded.
On April 28, 2021, Lynch pled guilty to eight counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez imposed the sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Morini, Jr. for the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Southern Field Division, announced the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Funk prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-14004.
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Rosebud Man Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter was sentenced on September 20, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Robert Stands And Looks Back, a/k/a Robert Stands, Jr., age 45, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Stands And Looks Back was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 14, 2020. He pled guilty on June 29, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in Todd County, South Dakota, on August 25, 2020. On that date, Stands And Looks Back had been consuming alcohol, and was driving a vehicle on BIA Highway 1 south of Rosebud. Stands And Looks Back was driving southbound when he crossed over into the northbound lane of traffic and struck and killed a man who was lying in the roadway.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Stands And Looks Back was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Images Depicting Sexual Abuse of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT J. MOSLEY, 54, formerly of Bridgeport, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2016, Mosley was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of possession of child pornography in the second degree. He was sentenced for that offense to 10 years in jail, execution suspended after six years, and 20 years of probation. Mosley was released on parole in November 2018.
On January 28, 2020, Connecticut parole officers and Connecticut state troopers conducted a home visit at Mosley’s residence. During the visit, Mosley was found in possession of an unapproved smart phone, and an approved mobile phone that contained suspected child pornography. Investigators seized both phones and Mosley was remanded to custody. Subsequent analysis of the seized phones and a cloud storage account maintained by Mosley revealed thousands of images and hundreds of video depicting the sexual abuse of children, primarily boys between the ages of 2 and 14. In addition, analysis of Mosley’s e-mail account revealed that he sent numerous e-mails soliciting child pornography, sent images of child pornography to others, and sent links to his cloud storage account.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for December 22, 2021, at which time Mosley faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this case are enhanced based on Mosley’s criminal history.
Mosley has been detained since January 28, 2020.
This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Correction Division of Parole and Community Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Red Scaffold Man Sentenced for BurglaryRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Red Scaffold, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Burglary was sentenced on September 20, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
William Collins, age 43, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Collins was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2019. He pled guilty on May 27, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on March 23, 2019, in Red Scaffold. On that date, Collins unlawfully entered a residence with the intent to assault a woman therein.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Collins was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pukwana Woman Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Pukwana, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on September 20, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Casey Harrison, age 30, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Harrison was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2020. She pled guilty on September 20, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on July 24, 2020, in Fort Thompson, South Dakota, in which officers responded to a report of an intoxicated and aggressive individual. Upon arrival, officers attempted to arrest Harrison, who assaulted a law enforcement officer by kicking him, squeezing his genitalia, and spitting on him.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Harrison was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Philadelphia Man Admits Orchestrating $2 Million PPE Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Philadelphia man today admitted orchestrating a $2 million PPE fraud scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Guaravjit Singh, 26, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Court Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Beginning in May 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singh engaged in a scheme to enrich himself by fraudulently inducing 10 victims to send him over $2 million to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE). He stole the money, spending it on personal expenses, and he did not provide the promised PPE to the victims.
For instance, Singh induced victims to enter into an agreement pursuant to which Singh would be paid approximately $7.1 million in exchange for approximately 1.5 million medical gowns, which ultimately were to be sourced to the City of New York. Under the terms of the agreement, the victims wired Singh, though his company GJS Solutions LLC, approximately $712,500, representing a 10 percent deposit for the medical gowns. After receiving these funds from the victims, Singh made additional misrepresentations and excuses to the victims, ensuring them that they would receive the medical gowns. Instead of purchasing and delivering medical gowns, Singh used the funds for personal expenses, including transferring funds to his brokerage account and using the funds for online gaming and other personal expenditures.
The count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and intelligence analysts of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Repole of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Pain Doctor Convicted of over $100 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Eastern District of Michigan convicted a Michigan doctor today for his role in masterminding and executing a complex scheme to defraud Medicare and other health insurance programs by administering medically unnecessary spinal injections in exchange for prescriptions of high doses of opioids to patients.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Francisco Patino, 66, of Wayne County, excessively prescribed highly addictive opioids to his patients at his medical clinic in Livonia. In exchange for opioids, these patients would receive (or be billed as if they had received) facet joint or nerve block injections, both lucrative spinal injections. Although these spinal injections were purportedly intended to treat chronic pain, evidence at trial demonstrated that Patino injected patients without regard to medical necessity. Evidence also revealed that if patients refused to accept the injections, Patino would withhold their prescriptions for opioids. From January 2012 through July 2017, Patino billed Medicare for more of these injections than any provider in the country. The evidence at trial also showed that in 2016 and 2017, Patino prescribed more 30-milligram Oxycodone pills than every other provider in the state of Michigan.
Patino also developed illegal kickback relationships with at least one diagnostic laboratory, under which he was paid in exchange for referring his patients’ samples to that lab. The evidence showed that the labs funneled money into bank accounts held by others, who then distributed the money to Patino or spent it on his behalf. Patino also spent funds he derived from these various schemes on jewelry, cars, and vacations. A sizable portion of Patino’s fraud proceeds were devoted toward the promotion of Patino’s specialized diet program and lifestyle and wellness book. Patino paid Ultimate Fighting Championship and other mixed martial arts fighters to promote the Patino Diet.
Patino was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, two counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2022, and faces a maximum total penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI’s Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Steven Scott and Kathleen Cooperstein of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Orangeburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that Abrian Dayquan Sabb, 26, of Orangeburg, pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federal firearms dealer during the purchase of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the morning of April 10, 2019, Abrian Sabb, while armed with a loaded AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine, entered the emergency room of The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg and began shooting in the hallway. A nurse was struck by a bullet to the chest, causing serious bodily injuries. Law enforcement responded and arrested Abrian Sabb at the scene, charging him with various state charges.
The investigation revealed that the day before, April 9, 2019, Abrian Sabb had been involved in a domestic argument at his residence, which resulted in law enforcement responding and confiscating his handgun. Later that day, Abrian Sabb asked his brother, Darius Bernard Sabb, to go with him to a local firearms dealer to purchase him another firearm. Abrian Sabb provided his brother money and requested that he buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a 100 round magazine and two boxes of ammunition for him. Darius Sabb falsely filled out the ATF 4473 form attesting that he was the actual purchaser of the firearm and bought it. Immediately upon leaving the firearms dealer’s store, Darius Sabb turned the items over to Abrian Sabb as they had planned. Later that day, Abrian Sabb’s girlfriend called Darius Sabb and complained about him purchasing the firearm for Abrian Sabb. Darius Sabb then retrieved the rifle and hid it at another person’s home. However, Abrian Sabb found out where the firearm was located and retrieved it.
Abrian Sabb faces of maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Co-defendant Darius Sabb, 23, of Orangeburg, earlier plead guilty to conspiracy to make a false statement to a federal firearms dealer during the purchase of a firearm and is currently awaiting sentencing. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted both guilty pleas and will sentence them both after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The firearm charges were the result of an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office 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.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes is prosecuting the case.
State court charges related to the shooting remain pending, and the defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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North Dakota Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm as Drug UserRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mandan, North Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on September 20, 2021, by District Judge Charles B. Kornmann, U.S. District Court.
Joel Kraft, Jr., age 34, was sentenced to two years of probation, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100, and forfeiture of a firearm and ammunition.
Kraft was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 8, 2020. He pled guilty on June 21, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from a traffic stop that occurred on May 25, 2020, on U.S. Highway 12 in Walworth County, South Dakota. Kraft, then knowingly being an unlawful user of marijuana, knowingly possessed a loaded revolver, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce and foreign commerce.
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. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 76 Months Imprisonment for Violations of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced that on September 21, 2021, the Honorable Greg G. Guidry sentenced JUAN ARMSTEAD (“ARMSTEAD”), age 34, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, to 76 months imprisonment for violations of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud (Count 1) and the Federal Gun Control Act (Count 2), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1344, 1349, and 922(g)(1).
According to court documents, law enforcement identified ARMSTEAD as a member of a group of individuals who recruited homeless people and others to cash counterfeit checks at various financial institutions, primarily in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The checking account information was derived from checks stolen from United States Postal Service mail, primarily in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. ARMSTEAD and his co-conspirators convinced the homeless people to submit counterfeit and forged checks at the financial institutions. The homeless people were allowed to keep a portion of the negotiated check proceeds for themselves.
On January 31, 2019, federal law enforcement officers arrested ARMSTEAD pursuant to a federal search warrant. During their search, law enforcement located a Palmetto State Armory rifle Model PA-15. In April 2015, the federal government convicted ARMSTEAD of a felony offense and he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
For Counts 1 and 2, the Court sentenced ARMSTEAD to 76 months imprisonment for each count to be served concurrently. Upon his release from federal prison, ARMSTEAD faces supervised release terms of 3 years to be served concurrently. ARMSTEAD must also pay $200 in mandatory special assessment fees. While the Court did not impose any fines, ARMSTEAD must pay $80,132.32 in restitution.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana praised the work of the United States Secret Service, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for their work in investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
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New London Man Who Received Cocaine Mailed from Puerto Rico Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joshua W. McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that RAUL ROBLES, 38, of New London, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to a narcotics trafficking offense stemming from his role in a conspiracy in which cocaine was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to southeastern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force in Connecticut intercepted a suspicious package that was destined for a location in Puerto Rico. A court-authorized search of the package revealed $158,900 in cash. Investigators established a connection between Robles and the seized package, and learned that Robles’ New London residence had received approximately 25 parcels from Puerto Rico since September 2019.
Investigators continued to monitor USPS deliveries of parcels mailed from Puerto Rico to Robles’ residence, including multiple parcels addressed to names of individuals who did not reside there. A court-authorized search of one parcel that had been mailed to a fictitious individual at Robles’ residence revealed approximately one kilogram of cocaine.
Robles was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 9, 2021.
Robles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for December 14, 2021, at which time Robles faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
Robles is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.
NJ, NY, CA Defendants Indicted for Nationwide Copyrighted IPTV Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. announced that Bill Omar Carrasquillo, 35, of Swedesboro, NJ; Jesse Gonzales, 42, of Pico Rivera, CA; and Michael Barone, 36, of Richmond Hill, NY, were charged by Indictment with crimes arising out of a wide-ranging and lucrative copyright infringement scheme.
According to the Indictment, from about March 2016 until at least November 2019, the defendants operated a large-scale internet protocol television (IPTV) theft scheme in which they fraudulently obtained cable television accounts and then resold copyrighted content to thousands of their own subscribers, who could then stream or playback content. The defendants also allegedly made fraudulent misrepresentations to banks and merchant processors in an effort to obtain merchant processing accounts. During the period of their scheme, the defendants earned more than $30 million. Carrasquillo, in particular, allegedly converted a large portion of his profits into homes and dozens of vehicles, including high-end sports cars. When agents attempted to seize those items pursuant to judicially-authorized warrants, Carrasquillo made false statements about and attempted to hide some of those vehicles, including a Freightliner recreational vehicle and a McLaren sports vehicle.
A detailed listing of charges against individual defendants is as follows:
Bill Omar Carrasquillo is charged with: one count of conspiracy; one count of violating the Digital Millenium Copyright Act; one count of reproduction of a protected work; 19 counts of public performance of a protected work; four counts of access device fraud; six counts of wire fraud; three counts of making false statements to a bank; nineteen counts of money laundering; two counts of making false statements to law enforcement officers; two counts of removal of property to prevent seizure; and four counts of tax evasion.
In total and if convicted, Mr. Carrasquillo faces a maximum possible sentence of 514 years in prison, as well as supervised release, fines, restitution, and asset forfeiture.
Jesse Gonzales is charged with: one count of conspiracy; one count of violating the Digital Millenium Copyright Act; one count of reproduction of a protected work; 19 counts of public performance of a protected work; four counts of access device fraud; five counts of wire fraud; two counts of making false statements to a bank; and one count of money laundering.
In total and if convicted, Mr. Gonzales faces a maximum possible sentence of 244 years in prisonm, as well as supervised release, fines, restitution, and and asset forfeiture.
Michael Barone is charged with: one count of conspiracy; one count of violating the Digital Millenium Copyright Act; two counts of access device fraud; and five counts of wire fraud.
In total and if convicted, Mr. Barone faces a maximum possible sentence of 130 years in prison, as well as supervised release, fines, restitution, and asset forefeiture.
“These defendants are charged with engaging in a massive, years-long scheme to steal copyrighted content, which is a very serious federal crime” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “As this prosecution shows, protecting intellectual property rights is an important priority of our Office and the entire Department of Justice.”
“We will investigate and take seriously schemes for profit that infringe upon copyrights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The charges announced today should leave no doubt about the department’s continuing commitment to protect copyright holders from theft.”
“You can’t just go and monetize someone else’s copyrighted content with impunity,” said Bradley S. Benavides, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “That’s the whole point of securing a copyright. Theft is theft, and if you’re going to willfully steal another party’s intellectual property, the FBI stands ready to step in and shut you down.”
“All income is taxable, including income derived from illegal means,” said Yury Kruty, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Office for IRS-Criminal Investigation. “In addition, it is a crime to knowingly engage in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000 that is derived from a specified unlawful activity, such as wire fraud. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring charges against individuals who choose to participate in illegal schemes such as this.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher J. Mannion and Matthew T. Newcomer, and DOJ CCIPS Trial Attorney Jeff Pearlman.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Multiple Defendants Indicted in Alleged Intellectual Property Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania charging a New Jersey man, a California man, and a New York man with federal crimes arising out of a wide-ranging and lucrative copyright infringement scheme.
According to court documents, Bill Omar Carrasquillo, 35, of Swedesboro, New Jersey; Jesse Gonzales, 42, of Pico Rivera, California; and Michael Barone, 36, of Richmond Hill, New York, operated a large-scale cable theft scheme between at least March 2016 and at least November 2019, in which they fraudulently obtained cable television accounts and then resold copyrighted content to thousands of their own subscribers. According to the indictment, the defendants also made fraudulent misrepresentations to banks and merchant processors in an effort to obtain merchant processing accounts. The defendants allegedly earned more than $30 million from the scheme.
As alleged, Carrasquillo converted a large portion of his profits into homes and dozens of vehicles, including high-end sports cars. When agents attempted to seize those items pursuant to judicially-authorized warrants, Carrasquillo made false statements about and attempted to hide some of those vehicles, including a Freightliner recreational vehicle and a McLaren sports vehicle.
“We take seriously schemes for profit that infringe upon copyrights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The charges announced today demonstrate the department’s continuing commitment to protect copyright holders from theft.”
“These defendants are charged with engaging in a massive, years-long scheme to steal copyrighted content, which is a serious federal crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “As this prosecution shows, protecting intellectual property rights is an important priority of our office and the entire Department of Justice.”
“You can’t just go and monetize someone else’s copyrighted content with impunity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley S. Benavides of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “That’s the whole point of securing a copyright. Theft is theft, and if you’re going to willfully steal another party’s intellectual property, the FBI stands ready to step in and shut you down.”
“All income is taxable, including income derived from illegal means,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty of the Philadelphia Field Office for IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “In addition, it is a crime to knowingly engage in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000 that is derived from a specified unlawful activity, such as wire fraud. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring charges against individuals who choose to participate in illegal schemes such as that alleged here.”
Carrasquillo was arrested on Sept. 21. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and related offenses; one count of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; one count of reproduction of a protected work; 19 counts of public performance of a protected work; four counts of access device fraud; six counts of wire fraud; three counts of making false statements to a bank; 19 counts of money laundering; two counts of making false statements to law enforcement officers; two counts of removal of property to prevent seizure; and four counts of tax evasion. In total, if convicted of all counts, Carrasquillo faces up to 514 years’ imprisonment.
Gonzalez was arrested on Sept. 21. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and related offenses; one count of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; one count of reproduction of a protected work; 19 counts of public performance of a protected work; four counts of access device fraud; five counts of wire fraud; two counts of making false statements to a bank; and one count of money laundering. In total, if convicted of all counts, Gonzales faces up to 244 years’ imprisonment.
A summons to appear in court was issued to Barone, and he is scheduled to make his initial appearance today in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and related offenses; one count of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; two counts of access device fraud; and five counts of wire fraud. In total, if convicted of all counts, Barone faces up to 130 years’ imprisonment.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Jeff Pearlman of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Mannion and Matthew T. Newcomer of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 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.
Mounds Man Found Guilty of First Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
A jury today convicted a 31-year-old Mounds man for shooting and killing an acquaintance the day the two rekindled an old friendship.
“A federal jury evaluated compelling evidence presented by federal prosecutors and found Kyle Sago guilty of murdering Daniel Morgan. I am thankful for exemplary performance by Assistant U.S Attorneys Ross Lenhardt and Aaron Jolly during the three-day trial,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “As evidenced by two murder convictions in two trials this week, my office and our partners at the FBI and Tulsa Police Department have demonstrated we will uphold the law and fight for justice on behalf of victims of gun violence and their families.”
Kyle Quentin Sago, 31, was found guilty of first degree murder in Indian Country, two counts of felon in possession of ammunition; and causing death by using and discharging a firearm in the commission of first degree murder.
On July 25, 2020, Officers from the Tulsa Police Department were notified of a shooting that occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation. A witness, victim Daniel Morgan’s girlfriend, identified Kyle Sago as having fired the shots that killed the victim.
At trial, Morgan’s girlfriend explained that she woke up at about 3:30 pm the day of the crime and saw Sago visiting with the victim. Morgan introduced Sago as a good friend. She noticed burns on Sago’s arms. Morgan explained that he had saved Sago years ago from a fire at a meth lab. She said the two continued to exchange stories and visited.
After Sago left, the victim lay down for a nap because he had been working the night prior. Morgan’s girlfriend then heard multiple Facebook Messenger calls to the victim’s phone while he was asleep. She noted that Kyle Sago initiated the calls.
The witness stated that Sago soon returned to the residence in a white sedan When she stepped outside, he demanded to speak with Morgan about "business" and she should wake him.
When Morgan walked outside, the witness stated that she heard multiple gunshots. She moved to the door and witnessed Sago shoot at Morgan approximately four more times from the white sedan as the victim retreated around to the side of the house.
Other witnesses called 911 and ran to assist. Morgan’s girlfriend also assisted and called the victim’s mother. She further cooperated with authorities in identifying Sago as the shooter. Daniel Morgan sustained 4 gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
Several witnesses who saw the crime occur confirmed the suspect shot from the same white sedan and continued to drive and fire at the victim as he ran for cover.
Law enforcement testified that during their investigation, they recovered three spent 9mm shell cases from the street near where Sago was located when he shot Morgan. Officers later discovered two spent 9mm shell cases inside Sago’s white sedan and located nine spent 9mm shell cases in the backyard of Sago’s home. The Tulsa Police Department’s crime lab verified the cases found in the victim’s car and at his home matched the 3 shell cases found at the scene of the crime.
After the United States rested its case, Sago took the stand and testified that he and Morgan had been friends since Sago was 15 and he had previously lived with Morgan for one year. He noted that he had reached out to Morgan approximately two months prior to the crime and the two had exchanged messages, agreeing to meet. The day of the murder, Sago admitted that after the initial meeting, he had tried to contact Morgan via Messenger multiple times and told Morgan’s girlfriend to have the victim come outside. He stated that Morgan looked angry, threw down his cell phone, and started walking to the car. He stated that he felt threatened as Morgan approached and fired at the victim to protect himself.
In closing, lead federal prosecutor Ross Lenhardt thanked the jury for their service to the community and to the family and friends who had attended the trial. He then debunked the defendant’s claim of self defense by reviewing the evidence. He reminded the jury that Sago took time to get gas before the shooting, continuously checked up on the victim via Messenger, took his firearm with him when he returned to the home, confirmed his target was present, asked for the victim to come out of the house, and hid his firearm until Morgan got close enough to fire at him. Sago paused… then continued firing at the victim as he ran for cover with his back exposed and hunched over. Sago shot again, and again, and again and again. Sago then hid the gun, his phone, and his car to hinder the investigation. Lenhardt stated the evidence showed that Sago acted with premeditation, and therefore, the jury must find the defendant guilty of first-degree murder.
The jury deliberated for two hours then returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross E. Lenhardt and Aaron M. Jolly prosecuted the case. Mr. Lenhardt is a prosecutor from the Western District of Pennsylvania. He volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to increased jurisdictional responsibilities regarding crimes involving Native American victims or defendants and that occur within the Muscogee Nation and Cherokee Nation Reservations.